The Shrimpton Couture Archives

• This is a phenomenal Guy Laroche Haute Couture dress. We believe it is from the 1990s,but we have not yet found a reference photo so it could be earlier.
• It is true Haute Couture and would have been made entirely by hand in the Paris atelier.
• The dress is made out of a true rich purple and the silk that it is made out of is of extremely high-quality.
• The bust extends up to a strap that curves over the shoulder to become a part of the back. This leaves the other shoulder bare and exposed. 
• It skims over the bust and then is attached through the waist on one side only. This creates an open cut out on one side of you and I love the juxtaposition of the bare shoulder with the bare expanse of skin showing on opposite sides.
• The side that is open has a little tie bow and the zipper is set underneath that. This helps to add the perfect little extra weight to have that open side fall on a slight downward angle. I love how this visually plays with the angles of the bodice.
• A little bow sits on the opposite side as well to give the impression that the top is all brought in towards that bow. It is just fantastic.
• From there, the skirt falls to the floor and slightly widened out as it near its hem. There is a very high slit up the same side as the cut out. When you walk or move you also get a flash of bare leg. It is very sexy but at the same time manages to stay very elevated and chic.
• The dress is fully lined in a matching purple silk chiffon that has a touch of texture to it. All of the inner work is done by hand to couture standards. It hooks to close at the top of the shoulder and at the side of the bodice above the cut out. There is a zipper/ hook combination set under the waist. An inner silk waist stay hooks to close. At some point the zipper was replaced and there is tiny visible stitching between the base of the zipper and the top of the slit. I think at some point the slit was higher and someone closed it.
• There is no size tag present, so please go by the measurements listed below.
• Excellent condition

Bust: to 16" flat across from side seam to side seam
Waist: to 12" flat across from side seam to side seam
Hips: to 16" flat across from side seam to side seam
Bodice: 15" from the top of the shoulder to the waist
Total length: approx 62" from top of shoulder to hem, with just under 1.5" turned under
Slit: 30" from hem up

Modern Sizing Equivalent: XS-SML

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