This rare, documented gown was created by French couturier Christian Lacroix. The mini-dress version walked the runway as look 21/58 in the Fall 2006 show and we have featured a couple of other designs from the same collection which showcase the fabric and the beadwork on the bodice. This dress is fashioned from swathes of sheer silk-chiffon printed with a patchwork of floral and paisley prints that demonstrates Lacroix’s talent for combining outlandish colours in a highly wearable way. The black, chocolate brown and white backgrounds of the silk makes the colours really pop.

As a strapless design, the dress is tailored to look almost like a sarong knotted around the body. At the bodice sits a short, black satin corset and this is boned the whole way around. The printed chiffon is gathered at the bust, with generous pleats of fabric falling from this centralised point and flowing down and around the body. It is trimmed with pretty blue and ochre striped ribbon, detailed with flowers. At the central point of the bust sits a large bow created from twisted rows of high-shine black glass beads, the ears of which flow around to the back of the dress. The fabric is again gathered at the bottom of the back, creating avant-garde tailoring that almost looks like wings. At the front, it falls to a floor-sweeping length but, at the back, it has a flamboyant train which flares out behind the wearer as they walk. The bodice is lined in a decadent blue rose-printed, magenta silk and the body of the dress in pale pink silk-satin. The back of the dress fastens with a black tonal zip and hook-and-eye clasp, and the chiffon is secured over the top by two poppers. The dress is labelled “Christian Lacroix” in white font on a red label.

In excellent archival vintage condition with no flaws of any note and appears to be unaltered. It is labelled 100% Silk with a lining of 100% Silk. A size French size 36, UK 8, or US 2-4 but please check the below measurements as the fabric has no stretch.

MEASUREMENTS

BUST - 30 in. (76 cm)

WAIST - 26 in. (66 cm)

HIP - 44 in. (112 cm)

LENGTH FRONT- 51 in. (130 cm)

TRAIN LENGTH - 74 in. (188 cm)