Heart-breakingly beautiful, this silk chiffon Hanae Mori gown is a rare example of her true Haute Couture work. The dress just an absolute work of art from the Spring 2000 collection. It is an interesting example of how the client is really the driving force behind what they buy. The dress is an adaptation of look seven from the runway and uses a print from the Fall 1990 collection. I have included a reference photo of both the 2000 runway dress and the 1990 one as they were presented.  It has her signature east meets west feel and it is an honor to have a piece of her couture work in the shop. Hanae was the first woman of Japanese descent to have presented on the Paris and New York Runways and the first Asian woman to be admitted as an official Haute Couture house to La Chambre Syndicale de la Couture Parisienne.

The dress features one of her custom designed prints, depicting a forest of trees rising up along the side of a mountain. She has screened this onto the top layer of the skirt that is made from a feather light silk chiffon. The inner layer of the skirt is made from a fine silk twill and this is also screened with that same design. The layering of the two fabrics gives the print depth and a touch of the surreal as they move over each other. Interspersed here and there over the silk are her signature butterflies. These are screened onto the silk with such a light touch that they seem almost ghostly as they flit randomly over the silk. The bodice is highly structured in contrast and uses different shades of grey silk to add to the contrast of the layers. Here the silk is hand pleated and gathered into soft folds that shape and mold the upper body. The dress is suspended from tiny straps that curve up and over each shoulder. At the back, the silk flows out into a soft train. A matching shawl of the same silk chiffon is screened with more of that beautiful art work. Inside the dress is her proper Haute Couture label and it's numbered couture tape underneath. Excellent condition with a tiny note to review below

Fully lined in a hand set cream silk. It has a fully built in inner boned bodice that closes with its own independent zipper. A second, hidden set zipper closes the exterior. The top silk chiffon layer of the skirt hides the zipper below the waist with fabric covered snaps. Inner waist stay. Hand finished to couture standards. Haute Couture tape #C 1109 5.4.2000. There is the very faintest of tiny marks to the silk just below the waist line with the tiniest of pulls to the fabric here and there. A small bit if scuffing to the inner lining of the train. All extremely minor and when on it appears unworn.

Bust: 18" flat across from side seam to side seam

Waist: 14.5" flat across from side seam to side seam
Hips: to 20.5" flat across from side seam to side seam
Bodice: 15.5" from top of bodice to waist
Skirt: 44" from waist to shortest point of front hem, 59" to the back hem
Shawl: 36" x 124"

Modern Sizing Equivalent: MED-LRG

Item# DD3020

Reference Photo: (1) Hanae Mori F/W 1990 Haute Couture Collection.  /  (2) Hanae Mori S/S 2000 Haute Couture Collection. (3-4) Cherie, Owner of Shrimpton Couture, by Erin Leydon. Cherie is wearing a Magnetic Midnight X Shrimpton Couture 'Shooting Stars' Headpiece - available on the site here >

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