Circa 1990-1995

France

Haute couture skirt suit by Gianfranco Ferré for Christian Dior dating from the 1990s. Tuxedo jacket and fitted skirt in cardinal purple wool twill. Hip-length fitted jacket with large shawl collar closed and crossed at the front by a single matching button with the Dior logo on the back. Square cut without epaulettes and long sleeves with slits at the cuffs. Close-fitting skirt with fine darts and back zip. Fully lined in matching purple silk satin with a beautiful Couture finish. Christian Dior haute couture Paris label. Exemplary sobriety and elegance. No flaws, little or no wear. Very good colour and condition.

Dimensions: French size equivalent 36-38. Jacket: height 70 cm, shoulders 44 cm, chest 91 cm, sleeves 57 cm, waist 76 cm, hips 99 cm. Skirt: height 51 cm, waist 73 cm, hips 95 cm.

Following Marc Bohan, the famous Milanese Gianfranco Ferré (1944-2007) became artistic director of Christian Dior in 1989. Gianfranco Ferré was awarded the Dé d'Or, haute couture's highest distinction, for his first Ascot-Cecil Beaton collection in 1989. It was on this occasion that he was dubbed "the architect of fashion". Despite the quality of his creations, he left Dior and was replaced by John Galliano at the end of 1996. He continued a brilliant career in Italy under his own name.