• This set is from the Spring 2000 Balmain collection.
• It was made under the creative direction of Oscar de la Renta.
  
• The Spring 2001 show featured Spanish and Russian influences and you can see the impact of Oscar in the beautiful floral print that covers this set.
• This is the full set that includes the jacket, a long full length skirt and a little bandeau style top.
• All three pieces are made from a silk that has a floral pattern scattered over the surface and then each piece has been covered in iridescent clear sequins over the print.
• The skirt has a small band around the waist for definition. From there it curves over the hips before falling to the floor. It widens out slightly and there are high slits that run up both sides of the skirt. When you walk or move you get a flash of this unexpected bare skin on both sides. Pockets sit on each hip that are still lightly tacked shut.
• The top is cut like a bandeau and is suspended from the shoulders by tiny little bands of a piped ivory silk. There is a horizontal seam that runs just under the top edge of the top. This continues all the way around you and then it zippers with a hidden set zipper at one side. The bandeau is wide enough to cover the bust but still gives you a bare expanse of skin between it and the top of the skirt.
• Last is the most beautifully cut and tailored jacket. It has lightly padded shoulders and the sleeves are long. The collar is notched and it is cut so that it comes in at the waist for shape. There is a single hidden hook at the waist to hold it closed and then it curves back out over the hips. I love the two top set pockets on either hip.
• The silk that all three pieces are made from is light in weight and easy-to-wear. With the added iridescent sequins over the fabric the entire set catches the light from every angle. It is phenomenal.
• I love that the three pieces give you the versatility to wear together as a set or mix and match with existing pieces in your wardrobe.
• All three pieces are lined in an ivory silk. The skirt closes at the side with a hidden set zipper and has a hook and eye at the waist. The bandeau has a hidden set zipper at the side that opens from the bottom up leaving an inch of the top closed. If you need more room to get into it you could have the zipper switched for one that opens it completely. The jacket has a single hook at the waist to close and the shoulders are lightly padded. The front pockets are functional. I see a tiny bit of grubbiness on the edges of the inner arm of the jacket. 
• There is no size tag present. Please go by the measurements listed below.
• Excellent condition

Jacket
Sleeves: 23"
Shoulders: 15"
Bust: to 17.5" flat across from side seam to side seam
Waist: 14" flat across from side seam to side seam
Hips: 17.5" flat across from side seam to side seam
Total length: 25.5" from neck to hem

Bandeau
Top seam: to 16" flat across from side seam to side seam
Bottom seam: to 14.5" flat across from side seam to side seam
Total length: 14" from top of shoulder to bottom hem and the bandeau itself is just under 6" wide at its widest point.

Skirt
Waist: 12.5" flat across from side seam to side seam
Hips: 17.5" flat across from side seam to side seam
Total length: 44" from waist to hem with about 2" turned under the hem.
Slits: 20" from hem up

Modern Sizing Equivalent: XS-SML

Item# DD5588

All items are thoroughly checked over before shipping. Unless noted everything in our shop has been professionally cleaned. All sales are final. Overseas clients will be emailed to obtain agreement to our final sales policy before the order is shipped as per our return policy.

• This is a phenomenal dress by Pierre Balmain from the late 1980s - early 1990s.
• At this point in history the Couture line was called simply Pierre Balmain and the main ready-to-wear line was called Ivoire de Balmain. Depending if it was late 1980s or early 90s, the creative Director would have been either Erik Mortensen (up 1989) or Alistair Blair (who joined in 1990 to over see the RTW line while Erik continued Couture).
• The dress is made from a beautiful silk that is extremely light in weight. When this is on it is almost like wearing nothing.
• Onto the silk is an over-sized check pattern that mixes pastel yellow with shades of soft blues. Some parts have an almost iridescent pale green finish to them and there are also muted deep golds and taupe.
• It is strapless and fitted at the waist. The lower skirt widens out considerably from there to the hem. There are yards and yards of silk making up the skirt. 
• The back is cut longer than the front so you get this beautiful sweeping feel behind you. The silk that was used is so very light in weight and it is all cut on the bias which allows it to float and moves around you with your slightest movement.
• I love the way there is extra fabric built-in at the back. The fabric wraps over itself for a few inches to hook into the inside the waist and also on the outer part of the waist. This adds extra fabric to the gorgeous sweep of volume of the back skirt.
• Inside the bodice is a lightly boned and cupped inner corset that holds the dress in place. It is made out of the same fabric. The rest of the skirt is unlined. The dress closes at the back with a hidden set zipper and an inner waist stay hooks to close. The silk at the very back of the skirt hooks over itself as described above.
• It is tagged a vintage Balmain 36
• Excellent condition

Bust: 16" flat across from side seam to side seam
Inner waist: 12.5" flat across from side seam to side seam
Hips: open 
Bodice: 9.5" from top of bodice to inner waist
Total length: 55.5" from top of bodice to front hem and the back extends another 14" beyond that.

Modern Sizing Equivalent: XS-SML

Item# DD5385

All items are thoroughly checked over before shipping. Unless noted everything in our shop has been professionally cleaned. All sales are final. Overseas clients will be emailed to obtain agreement to our final sales policy before the order is shipped as per our return policy.