Circa 1968

France

Milleraie wool cocktail mini-dress with silver lurex circles by Marc Vaughan, dating from the designer's heyday. Chasuble cut, crew neck and long sleeves with notched circle edging. Front zip and two large pockets. White nylon lining (slightly soiled) and Marc Vaughan Paris label. A few threads pulled from the lurex, no other flaws to report. Good colour and condition.

Dimensions: Equivalent to French size 39-40. Height 103 cm, shoulders 38 cm, chest 95 cm, waist 93 cm, hips 106 cm, sleeves 43 cm.

Marc Vaughan (1932-2009), of Algerian origin, is relatively unknown but a major figure in the history of French Haute Couture. In 1952, he travelled to Italy and France. He graduated from a model-making school in Paris. The following year[2], he moved to Avenue Kleber to work as a fashion designer[3], and in 1954 took the name Marc Vaughan. A talented modeller, he lived in the wake of haute couture, and his aim was to democratise haute couture. In 1962, he moved to 62 rue François-Ier in Paris. In 1964, Hattie Carnegie in New York reserved its collection for him. By this time, 95% of his sales were exports, including Switzerland. In 1965, he was described by the press as a young couturier, and in 1966 he received the approval of the Couture Creation Commission of the Ministry of Industry. That same year, he presented his coll