Circa 1940-1944

France haute Couture

Majestic grand soir dress in Duchesse Champagne satin by Lucien Lelong, 16 Avenue Matignon Paris and numbered 53368. Dress with large balconned neckline, held in place by a neck loop, side zipper.  Sun skirt with very large bottom, finely pleated at the waist. Embroidery applied with curled cordonnets with golden blades drawing a baroque decoration with large arabesques and floral stems. Gold and silver sequins amplify the shimmering effect reminiscent of the Hall of Mirrors at the Château de Versaille, a fashionable theme since Elsa Schiaparelli's 1939 collection. Slight soiling at the bottom of the skirt with a small train, otherwise stable, solid satin without holes. Good general condition of colour and conservation.

Dimensions: Equivalent size France 36. Total height 147 cm, skirt height 106 cm. Chest 90 cm, waist 65 cm, skirt 600 cm !

Lucien Lelong (1889-1958) is one of the great names of French Haute Couture. Based at 16 Avenue Matignon in Paris, his company operated from 1921 to 1948. President of the Chambre Syndicale de la Haute Couture during the Second World War, Lucien Lelong trained future generations of couturiers in his workshops, including Christian Dior and Pierre Balmain.