Jean-Louis Scherrer was a Parisian fashion designer and couturier. He trained under both Christian Dior and Yves Saint Laurent while 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 hand-beading, embroidered and lavish trimmings, all done on the very best of fabrics. It is wonderful to have such a beautiful piece of his work in the shop. This example is unlabeled but comes to me from its original owner. 

This dress is exceptional and a remarkable example of Mr. Scherrer's work. The color is amazing. It is a bright spring green that is mixed with a slightly deeper green and then a white to create the floral print that you see. This is screened onto a fine silk gazar that has a secondary floral print woven directly into the silk, adding to the rich feel of the fabric. The print is huge and exuberant, covering the entire dress from head to toe. The skirt is wonderfully full with yards and yards of bias cut silk. This floats over a series of inner silk and tulle skirts that create shape and volume. The bodice is constructed so that it has the feel of a sculpted evening jacket but it is fully attached. The collar is set so that is sits slightly raised and frames the neck. It is also cut wider across so you get this lovely glimpse of the collar bones before it plunges into a mid-V at the front. Large bejeweled gripoix poured glass buttons detail the front. The sleeves taper in as they near each wrist. The waist curves in with a beautiful line and then flares over the hips, curving down and around the back. An attached half belt that is finished with a bow adds additional shaping through the lower back. It is beautiful and has a lovely formal feel but without feeling too stuffy. In excellent condition with one minor note to review below

Both pieces are fully lined in in a fine deep green silk. It closes with middle set zipper at the back and 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 skirts, one of which has a tulle layer attached starting just under the hip. 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 photo provided

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.