This well documented dress walked the runway as part of Jean-Louis Scherrer’s spectacular Fall 1985 haute couture collection. Comprising a maxi-dress and matching shoes, both pieces are tailored from the most decadent fabric: a stiff jacquard with a paisley print rendered in glittering gold, silver, navy-blue and black. The long-sleeved gown has a high, tunic-style neckline that lends it a formal elegance. It fastens down the front with elaborately carved brass buttons detailed with a mirrored background that can be seen between the cut-outs in the metal. The gown is finished with intricately beaded panels that run either side of the buttons down the front, around the drop-waistband, the cuffs and the high collar. The inside of the cuffs have navy zip closures. The skirt is voluminous and is pleated gently below the drop-waistband. Lined throughout with navy matte silk.

The shoes are crafted to a court style and adorned with coordinating glittering gold, silver, navy-blue and black paisley fabric. They have gently curved toe boxes and curved heels that are 2 inches high. The insoles are made from silver leather and are printed with “René Mancini Paris” alongside “Fait Main”. René Mancini is a luxury French shoe house which was founded in 1950. It made shoes for many fashion houses, including Pierre Balmain, Cristobal Balenciaga, Hubert de Givenchy and Yves Saint Laurent, alongside Jean-Louis Scherrer.

The dress is in excellent archival vintage condition with no issues of any note. There is no belt and the dress has no size or composition labels. We estimate the dress is a best fit for around a UK 10-12 or US 6-8. The shoes appear to have been barely worn, if at all. There are hardly any marks to the soles and the uppers are in excellent condition. The shoes will fit a normal UK 5.5 to 6 or EU 38.5 to 39.

MEASUREMENTS DRESS

BUST - 38 in. (97 cm)

WAIST - 35 in. (89 cm)

HIP - 42 in. (107 cm)

LENGTH - 53 in. (134 cm)

MEASUREMENTS SHOES

LENGTH - 10 in. (25 cm)

WIDTH - 3.5 in. (9 cm)