c.1977 Lesage Beaded Haute Couture Jean-Louis Scherrer Gown

On the Jean-Louis Scherrer website, Mr Scherrer is described thus: "..this former classical ballet dancer trained in the excellence of couture and this very Parisian form of elegance by his master Christian Dior.From 1971, his prized address of 51 Avenue Montaigne was the sumptuous realm of a certain fashion where  'everything is fluidity, suppleness and virtuosity… with inspiration to boot…'. From 1962 to 1992, Jean-Louis Scherrer dressed the most prestigious women of the times: Farah Diba, the Kennedy family, Princess Paola of Belgium, France’s then-First Lady Mrs Giscard d’Estaing, actresses Michèle Morgan, Sophia Loren, Raquel Welch and Isabelle Adjani, acclaimed writer Françoise Sagan and so many more."

His true Haute Couture pieces are hard to find and this one is exceptional - a true treasure. Haute Couture is the very pinnacle of the fashion experience and I would hazard to say that vintage versions are even a little more special then modern ones. This dress also comes direct from the daughter of the original Haute Couture client so has not been on the market prior to this. All of her dresses were bought in this general time period so the date on this may not be exact but it is certainly within a season or two of this date

When worn as one the effect is of a gown but it is indeed two pieces. The color is amazing  it is a soft dusty lavender pink in color and the silk as fine a silk as one could find during this time period. The skirt has an almost balletic feel with its yards and yards and yards of bias cut silk floating over an more fitted inner skirt that is made of yet more layers of silk. The fabric takes the merest movement to swirl about you and on a real body is quite fantastic. The jacket is of course a work of art. The House of Scherrer worked with the Lesage atelier for their bead and embroidery work and this jacket shows both those classic couture techniques to full advantage. The entire jacket is covered with bands of alternating bead work and embroidery and every stitch is done by hand. All the embellishment is set on a single layer of silk chiffon and that is then backed by a silk gazar so has just a hint of transparency to it as I have shown on one of the attached photos. In person is will far exceed your expectation. It is truly a brilliant work of art and the level of craftsmanship and care put into the construction really exemplifies just why Haute Couture is so very very rare and coveted. A masterpiece. In excellent, museum quality condition.

Both pieces are fully lined in silk. The jacket's lining is a semi transparent silk gazar and it closes with hidden, hand set, silk covered snaps down the front. The skirt has an inner fitted skirt made of a silk interior and covered with the same silk chiffon that the exterior silk is made from. It closes with a hand set fine zipper and flat hook & eye at the waist. Finished to Haute Couture standards and entirely done by hand. Haute Couture label # 000158 present.

Top
Shoulders: 14"
Bust: 16.5" flat across from side seam to side seam
Waist: 14" flat across from side seam to side seam
Hips: 18" flat across from side seam to side seam
Length: 23" from neck to hem

Skirt
Waist: 12" flat across from side seam to side seam
Hips: 17" flat across from side seam to side seam
Length: 38" from waist to hem

Modern Sizing Equivalent: XS-SML

Item# DD2361

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