Circa 1958

France

A yellow banana ottoman silk faille ball-gown or ceremonial long dress. Boned bodice with large plunge neckline and cream oblique pleated shape faille on the chest adorned with a side knot. High waist effect obtained by a high bust from the waist widening in the bottom of the skirt. Skillful bodice work with included bra, grosgrain waistband and sheath on the hips with garters. Skirt highly structured by a white cotton lining, two petticoats of rigid tulle and a cream silk under-skirt lined with tarlatane. Cream woven satin label, black graphics Pierre Balmain Paris. Numbered 83213 under the label. Very clean and undamaged dress, little or not worn. Very good condition of colour and conservation. A Collector's dress.

Dimensions: Equivalent size 35/36 France. Height in front from neckline 138 cm, skirt height 106 cm, waist 68 cm, bust 81 to 85 cm, skirt bottom 650 cm !

The large evening dresses are the masterpieces of Pierre Balmain's collections entitled "Jolies Madame" from 1952, a name borrowed from the perfume of the same name. In the 1950s, he embodied French elegance through the sobriety and simplicity of the lines that hugged the body, with an underlined bust and a refined waist that was often enhanced. A former architecture student, he presented his first sketches to Lanvin, Piguet and Lucien Lelong. The latter hired him in 1941, where he met Christian Dior. Pierre Balmain presented his first collection on 12 October 1945 with a team of workers from Balenciaga. He excelled in audacious colour combinations or, as here, in pastel tones, which he handled in a subtle manner.