Jean-Louis Scherrer was a Parisian fashion designer and couturier. He trained under both Christian Dior and then Yves Saint Laurent when he started his career at Dior. He worked briefly for Louis Feraud and then launched his own fashion house in 1962. From 1962 to 1992, Jean-Louis Scherrer dressed some of the most prestigious women in the world including Jacqueline Kennedy, Princess Paola of Belgium, Sophia Loren, Raquel Welch and many more. His work was known for known for being opulent with lavish trimming like the buttons in this dress. He sourced and used the very best of fabrics for his pieces. It is wonderful to have such a beautiful piece of his work in the shop. The dress has no labeled but comes to me from its original owner who removed the tag at some point 

This dress is exceptional and a remarkable example of his work during this time period. The colour is amazing. If you love it in the photos you will be even happier with it in real life because there is a richness to the silk that the camera could never capture. It is a bright spring green that is mixed with white and a slightly deeper green. This creates that spectacular floral print that covers the entire dress. The fabric that the print is screened onto is a fine silk gazar that has a secondary floral print that is woven directly into the silk. This adds to the rich feel of the fabric. The dress is light in weight because of this fabric choice but at the same time this particular silk allows the dress to hold its incredible shape. I did not add any additional crinolines under the skirt. That fullness is all created by seaming, how it is pieced together and the inner skirts that are there already. The print is huge and exuberant, covering the entire dress from head to toe. The skirt is wonderfully full and has been made from several yards of bias cut silk. This floats over inner silk and tulle skirts that create the shape and volume that you see. The bodice is constructed so that it has the feel of a sculpted evening jacket but it is actually fully attached and a part of the dress. The collar is set so that is sits slightly raised up so that it frames the neck and face. It is also cut wider across the front so that you get this lovely glimpse of the collarbones before it plunges into a V at the front. Large jewelled poured glass gripoix buttons run down the front giving it a slight Chanel feel. The sleeves are long and taper in as they near each wrist. The waist curves in and then the fabric flares out over the hips and curves down and around the back. An attached half belt is finished with that perfect oversized bow at the back. It is absolutely beautiful. Excellent condition with a minor note below

Fully lined in a deep green silk and closes with zipper set down the middle of the back. Each sleeve has a zipper at its cuff. Under the buttons at the front are hidden hand set silk covered snaps. The skirt has an two inner attached skirts. There is a silk layer as described above and then there is an inner tulle layer that is attached starting just under the hips. The belt closes with velcro and that was almost certainly a later addition so that tar belt sits more flat. Hand finishes. There is one small repair and small marks near the hem of the back skirt near the side seam. Please see the last two photos. Very minor. 

Sleeves: 22"
Shoulders: 14.5"
Bust: 17" flat across from side seam to side seam
Waist: 13.25" flat across from side seam to side seam
Innermost lining hips: 19.5" flat across from side seam to side seam
Bodice: 15" from top of bodice to waist
Skirt: 44" from waist to hem

Modern Sizing Equivalent: SML-MED

Item# DD3279

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

In 1923, Jacques Heim took over the family business and started producing a line of couture that used original fabrics, most notably, those of Sonia Delauney. In 1930 the official Haute Couture label, Jacques Heim, was born, Jacques remained at the helm of his business until his death in 1967. The label was shuttered by 1969. This dress was sold to my client many years ago from the famed couture vintage seller Didier Ludot and was dated by him to that final year of Heim's presence at the label. I have included a photo provided to me by the owner.

I love the classic but still mod cut of this dress that reflects what was happening in fashion during this time period. It is cut to skim over your curves of the bodice and then the cut out under that sits higher up under the bust. The waist nips in and the skirt is cut so that it flares out as it reaches the hem. The base of the dress is a fine black velvet with a dense pile so it almost seems to absorb the light. This is in perfect contrast to the transparent panel set around the waist and that details each cuff. These panels are a fine black silk chiffon that is intricately hand detailed with glossy black bead work and those amazing and huge glossy acrylic pieces you see, It is simplicity mixed with a masterful seaming and extraordinary detailing. His pieces are very rare from this rime period and this is a real treat to have in the shop. Excellent condition with a note on the bead work below

Fully lined in a fine black silk and closes with a back painted metal zipper. Hand finished throughout. All of the bead work and those tremendous glossy, thin acrylic pieces are hand set. All but two of the large plastic cut outs have breaks. All are fully intact with no pieces missing but they have cracked over the years. It is for this fact that I have priced it lower but I would like to emphasize that it is perfectly wearable and there are no huge gaps or missing pieces. The cracks are so fine that when on everything sits really well still. I have included a couple of closer shots of the breaks after the label photo.

Sleeves: 21"
Shoulders: 15'
Bust: 17" flat across from side seam to side seam
Waist: 14" flat across from side seam to side seam
Hips: 19" flat across from side seam to side seam
Bodice: 11.5" from shoulder to top seam of transparent band
Transparent band: 4.25"
Skirt: 17.25" from bottom seam of transparent band to hem

Modern Sizing Equivalent: SML-MED

Item# DD3269

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