christian dior

Minimalist Fall 1970 Christian Dior Haute Couture by Marc Bohan Black Velvet Sheath Dress

  • This dress is from the Fall 1970 Haute Couture collection.
  • It was made under the creative direction of Marc Bohan.
  • The book Dior:Catwalk noted that Vogue proclaimed that season that "Any woman anywhere on earth would want to own these total feminine clothes".
  • In the few photos that survive of pieces from this collection, it is interesting to note that he showed most of these long full length shift dresses under capes. A combination that would still work now if you wished.
  • The dress would have been made entirely by hand in the Paris atelier. 
  • It is made out of a jet black silk velvet that is extremely soft to the touch and has beautiful drape. This is the highest possible quality velvet. 
  • The silhouette is simple and I love the nod to classic minimalism that the dress has. At the same time don't let it simplicity fool you. It is masterfully tailored.
  • Black velvet straps that are a touch on the wider side curve up and over your shoulders. The front and back neckline have a gentle bit of a scoop. Just enough to take away the harshness a straight line would have.
  • It skims over the bust and is cut more generously over the waist so that it falls in a perfect shift or column feel around you. If you wanted to add more shape you could easily add a belt or a fabric sash.
  • It curves slightly out over the hips and then the skirt falls from there widening out a touch as it nears the hem. 
  • The dress closes down one side with glossy black buttons and I love the deliberate contrast in texture that it has against the black velvet. That pop of gloss from the buttons is the perfect subtle detail against the inky texture of the velvet.
  • The buttons close the dress down one side to just past the hip and then the rest of that seam is completely open all the way to the hem. This gives a flash of bare leg all the way up that one side when you move. It is almost startling to have that flash of bare skin against the column of black and I love this play between elegance and sexiness.
  • It is a dress that appears to be so simple in shape but every seam and line of the dress was purposefully and masterfully executed.
  • This is an extraordinary example of his couture work during this era and it is an absolutely stunning dress.
  • The dress is fully lined in a matching hand set black silk and closes at the side with the row of buttons. All of the work is done by hand to Couture standards. The appropriately dated couture tag is present. It appears to have been worn very little at all.
  • There is no size tag present because it is Couture. Please go by the measurements listed below.
  • Excellent condition

Bust: to 16.5" flat across from side seam to side seam
Waist: to 15" flat across from side seam to side seam
Hips: to 18.5" flat across from side seam to side seam
Total length: 57" from top of shoulder to hem and the slit is 29" from the hem up to the last button.

Modern Sizing Equivalent: SML-MED

Item# DD5833

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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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