The Shrimpton Couture Archives

• This is an incredible and very rare Haute Couture dress by house of Balenciaga. 
• Made under the creative direction of Cristobal Balenciaga
  
• It is completely made by hand and would have been made in his Paris atelier.
• This particular mint green silk was used in both the Spring 1963 collection and the Spring 1964 collection. We did find a reference photo of a skirted ensemble that has a similar feel to this one from 1963 and have included it for reference and so you can get an idea of the shape of the skirt. However, I have been in contact with one of the archivists at Balenciaga and she is certain that this one is from Spring 1964. They are unable to share photos that I can share from their archive but I do have the conversation that verifies this.
• The dress is insanely beautiful. There is the slightest bit of  wear to some of the edges and where that has happened you can see that there is a yellow part of the fabric that is used underneath the top green weave to create this particular shade of pastel green. It is magical.
• Wide straps curve up and over the shoulders and the neck is scooped wide across at the front.
• The dress is made from ten panels that are perfectly pieced together length wise. Each panel has been specifically shaped to create the curving sculptural feel that the dress has. His ability to shape and sculpt fabric at this level is one of his hallmarks and reason that he is noted as being one of the greatest couturiers to have ever lived. 
• The back scoops down lower that the front for a little bit of skin to show. The dress glides over you from shoulder to hem.
• Four vertical panels create the front portion of the dress and then the remaining six are all set at the back. This gives the dress its phenomenal extra volume at the back. It curves down and is cut slightly longer at the back for a bit of a sweeping feel behind you.
• Inside it is lined with a double layer of a silk organza and this allows you to clearly see all of the beautiful inner seams. The inside is almost as beautiful as the outside.
• Three hooks close the top of one shoulder strap and then there is a hand set zipper at one side. There is a little strap on the inner back to hold your bra strap in place and all of the edges have been ribbon finished by hand. It is just a joy to see a piece fully made by hand to this level.
• It has its proper Haute Couture label and numbered tape in place behind the Balenciaga label.
• The dress has no size tag so please go by the measurements listed below.
• There is the tiniest bit of stress to the fabric along the edges here and there. With a piece this important I would call this extremely minor but mentioned for accuracy.
• Excellent condition

Bust: 17.5" flat across from side seam to side seam
Waist: 13" flat across from side seam to side seam
Hips: to 23" flat across from side seam to side seam
Total length: 54" from top of shoulder to front hem, 56" to the back. There is 2.5" turned under the hem but I think if you let it down, you would see where the edge was.

Modern Sizing Equivalent: SML-MED

Reference Photo: Spring 1963 Balenciaga Haute Couture.