The Shrimpton Couture Archives

This is without a doubt, one of my favourite dresses from the Spring 2008 collection. Its near twin walked the runway for Look 29 and I love that this lets you see how fantastic it is on the body. This collection marked Dior's 60th anniversary and it was also Johns 10th year with the label. He celebrated those milestones with a show that was a nod to both the archives and Old Hollywood glamour. Pieces were wait-listed worldwide. It is a spectacular piece.

The dress is made out of a feather light silk chiffon in a leopard print that is backed in a pale top silk chiffon. It feels almost weightless once on the body and it is all cut on the bias. The bodice is shaped with pieces of the leopard print set on angles that extend up and over the shoulders. They turn into thin straps that run down the side of the back and this leaves your back bare and exposed. The waist is shaped by having all of the panels gather in towards that spot. From there it curves over the hips and the panels have been shaped to exaggerate the feel of the hip. At the back, the silk is all gathered in a ruching down the center. Again, this emphasizes the hourglass shape of the body. The front skirt wraps over itself and narrows down and curves around the hem. Between this nod to the sarong and his signature bias cut, the dress skims and drapes over you so that is shows every curve but is not overly fitted. The wrapping at the front also allows your leg to show as you move. You can see this in the reference photos. John's pieces only truly come to life when worn and as good as this looks on the dress form, it is better once on the body. It is an incredible example of his work and looks to have been worn very little if at all. Excellent condition.

Fully lined in a pale taupe silk and closes at the side with a hidden set zipper. The inner bodice is lightly boned. The bias cut gives it some give in the measurements and I've given the comfortable range when the dress is laying flat below. It appears to have been more very little if at all. Tagged and FR38, GB8, IT40, US4.

Bust: 14-18" flat across from side seam to side seam
Waist: to 12" flat across from side seam to side seam
Hips: to 17" flat across from side seam to side seam
Bodice: 16.5" from the top of the shoulder to waist
Total length: 46" from top of the bodice to longest point of the hem

Modern Sizing Equivalent: XS-SML

Reference Photos/Video: Spring 2008 Christian Dior, Look 29. Model Ali Michael.

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