This exceptional dress is by Marc Bohan for Christian Dior and it is a wonderful example of his work during this time period.  This dates to the early - mid 1970s when he was doing these wonderful metallic detailed dresses. It is a very easy and comfortable dress to wear and I chose it as one of the pieces when I did an editorial for 10 Magazine as I felt it perfectly represents this time period. His work was integral to the label's development over the decades he headed the atelier and this is a stunning example of his vision. Beyond that, it is just an extraordinarily beautiful dress.

This dress is incredible. It is super light and very easy to wear. The outer layer of it is a fine silk chiffon that is shot through with a gold thread pattern that covers the entire dress. The gold is woven through the silk to give the dress its metallic finish and catch the light from every angle as you move. The neckline is a scooped and there is a yoked detail that runs around the neck and top of the shoulders. The dress billows out from there with an almost caftan feel to it. If you wish you can wear it in this very loose and easy way or you can use its matching rope belt to cinch it in and add shape through the waist. The softness of the body is balanced out by fabulously full sleeves. They each billow out above their buttoned cuffs. The sleeves are not lined so you get this wonderful sense of transparency. The dress comes with a matching elastic waist inner skirt in a deep green and also has its original belt to cinch in the waist. The belt is a treasure in its own right. It is made from gold and green twisted rope cording. Five full cords have been used to make it and they are attached to each other for the part that circles you waist and then fall separately to cascade down you when it ties into place. It is very easy to wear but packs a tremendous amount of style with the gold thread an spectacular fabric and cut. It is made to demi-couture standards. Excellent condition.

The dress has an attached inner green silk lining with the sleeves left unlined. It comes with a separate elastic waist inner skirt that slips on and is made of a green silk taffeta that you can choose to wear with it or not. It slips on to wear with buttons at the back neck. Each sleeve has a three buttons at the cuff. The belt is as described above. Hand finishes.  The loose and easy cut should allow it to fit a range of sizes and you could easily change the separate half slip underneath if it did not fit perfectly

Dress
Sleeves: 25"
Shoulders: no true seams
Bust: to 24" flat across from side seam to side seam
Waist-hips: open
Length: 56" from top of shoulder to hem

Inner half slip
Elastic waist: 12.5-21" flat across from side seam to side seam
Hips: to 23" flat across from side seam to side seam
Length: 36"

Belt: 70" long from end to end and 1" wide

Modern Sizing Equivalent: XS-LRG

Item# DD3935

Reference Photos: Cherie, Owner of Shrimpton Couture, from her feature in 10 Magazine.

This garment has been professionally cleaned, pressed and is odor free. Thoroughly checked over before shipping, it will be ready to wear upon arrival.