Pauline Trigere launched her label in 1942. She was from Paris and moved to the US in 1937. That early French influence showed throughout her career. In 1949 she was awarded her first Coty award. She won it again in both 1951 and 1959. The 1959 win coincided with being inducted into the Coty Fashion Hall of Fame. She was a pioneer in the use of cottons and wool for evening and her work with silks is wonderful. In 1961 she made headlines for being the first major fashion house to use an African American model. This is a stunning example of her work from the sixties and it is gorgeous.

This dress is just fantastic and so easy to wear. The colours on it are brilliant and mixes brilliant tropical red, green, pinks and yellow on a black base. The print has those wonderful giant flowers that are scattered over the dress and follow the beautiful drape of the caftan.  The effect that those vivid colours have combined with the drape and flow of the silk is fantastic. I love it. The neck is a simple deep V for a little bit of skin. The sides are closed along the very outer seam so that it is very loose and easy as it falls over the body. The sides are cut to drape outwards to help make room for your arms and there is a defined cuff that your slip your hand through. The cuffs button to close and there are two glittering crystal buttons on each one. Having the defined arms gives it a bit of shape around you without effecting the fullness of the caftan. The fabric is caught up and under those cuffs so from the side you get this gorgeous draping affect. The back is full with  tons of volume. When you walk you get this wonderful billowing effect around you that that is fantastic. The quality of silk is wonderful and it's like wearing a giant scarf. It is as light as a feather. The dress appears to have been worn very little if at all. Excellent condition

Unlined and  slips on to wear. Each cuff buttons to close. Its open cut should allow it to fit a full range of sizes. There is a tiny bit of chipping to the edges of the buttons but I am being pretty picky

Open through the body
Length: approx 50" from neck to front hem and approx 56" to the back hem

Modern Sizing Equivalent: OSFA

Item# DD4410

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

Jean Louis is the designer who created that dress that Marilyn Monroe was sewn into when she sang Happy Birthday to  President John F Kennedy. Louis worked in the movies heading the costume department at Columbia Pictures before starting his own label in 1961. Once he began designing under his own label he concentrated on suits and evening wear and was known for his beautiful fabric choices. This caftan is the perfect example of his eye when it came to choosing fabrics. It is absolutely stunning.

This is an incredible caftan that makes a striking statement with its combination of that vivid pink silk with the gold and silver metallic thread that runs over its entire surface. The base is a ultra light silk organza has a slight iridescent quality to it and this has been layered over a fine tissue silk inner lining. Woven onto that is an over sized floral design done in gold and silver thread. This combination gives it the glamorous and exotic feel that the piece has and is is incredible to see in the light. The front has a thick braiding border that is made from a gold metal thread and pink cording. This is tightly braided and runs around the neckline and down to the hem. On the upper part where it opens one side extends out into loops and the other into little frog knots. The dress is full and easy through the body and the sleeves are cut to be extra wide. It is as light as a feather and it is just beyond. Overall great condition with notes to review below

Fully lined in a pink tissue silk and slips over the head to wear. Some point the hem was cut and not resewn. I have chosen to leave it this way so that you have every available inch and you can have it to your perfect length. There is some light fraying and the beginning of separation here in there along the edge of the sleeve. I see a bit of fraying and separation here and there along other seams and some small tearing to the fabric here and there. It is perfectly wearable as it is without doing a thing but these are pointed out for accuracy. The loose and easy cut should allow it to fit a variety of sizes.

Sleeves: approx 22" from natural shoulder
Shoulders: no true defined seam
Bust-hips: 28-29" flat across from side seam to side seam
Length: 54" from neck to unfinished hem

Modern Sizing Equivalent: OSFA

Item# DD4392

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