nina ricci

Exceptional c.1990 Nina Ricci by Gerard Pipart Haute Couture Strapless Red & Black Silk Dress

  • This dress best matches the look of the collections that were being done around the 1990 time period. 
  • It was made under the creative direction of Gerard Pipart.
  • The Nina Ricci brand was founded in 1932 at 20 Rue de Capucines in Paris. In 1964 Gérard Pipart succeeded Jules-François Crahay, Nina Ricci's former designer assistant, as head of the brand. Pipart, who had previously worked for Balmain, Fath, and Patou, brought a wide range of experience in all aspects of fashion to the brand. 
  • Over the following three decades, Pipart's couture vision 'celebrated a flamboyant woman and his ready-to-wear found a loyal following among the most stylish women of the day.' He headed the Couture division until 1998.
  • This is an incredible and very beautiful piece of Haute Couture and would have been made entirely by hand in the Paris atelier.
  • This dress is a masterpiece and really showcases how beautiful a piece of true couture can be. Everything about its construction goes above and beyond.
  • The bodice and hem are made out of a red silk that has a bit of very fine ribbing through the fabric. That same fabric in a black is used for the main part of the skirt and then the band around the top of the bodice and the band around the waist are detailed with a wide black velvet ribbon.
  • The bodice is strapless and curves across the front and around to the back. There is a built-in  inner structure to hold the dress in place and it is fitted to the waist where it nips in.
  • The way that the skirt falls is just extraordinary. It is so full and voluminous as it curves outward and down to the floor. To achieve that shape there is an elaborate built-in underskirt that is all hidden. It is made out of a stiffened net that is hidden between the outer layer and the inner silk lining.
  • The silk of the skirt is set in beautiful rounded pleats in the hidden structure underneath is what gives the support needed to hold the shapes. I have not added any crinolines under the skirt - all of the shape and volume is there because of the brilliant hidden structure underneath.
  • The back of the skirt is cut slightly longer then the front for a beautiful sweeping feel behind you.
  • A final band of black velvet circles its way around the lower skirt, topping a wide panel made from the same red silk as the bodice.
  • The contrast between the red and black is absolutely stunning. It is an exceptional piece of Couture.
  • The dress is fully lined in a handset black silk and closes with a handset back zipper. An inner waist stay hooks to close. There is hidden boning through the bodice and structure through the hips as described above. I see that the zipper was let out a bit at some point and there is some grubbiness and tiny breaks along the edge of the hem. All minor but mentioned for accuracy.
  • The proper Haute Couture label is present.
  • There is no size tag since it is a couture piece. Please go by the measurements below.
  • Excellent condition with the minor note abovewith the minor note above

Bust: 16.5" flat across from side seam to side seam
Waist: 12.5" flat across from side seam to side seam
Hips: open
Bodice: 9.5" from top of bodice to waist
Total length: 52" from top of bodice to front hem, 60" to the back hem

Modern Sizing Equivalent: XS-SML

Item# DD5575

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SIZE GUIDE

Please review all measurements carefully. More often than not, vintage garments do not fit any size category exactly. If in doubt, measure a garment of your own that fits and is a similar cut and compare it's measurements to the listed measurements below.

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