1971 Pauline Trigere Museum Held Black Jersey & Fox Fur Coat or Dress

Pauline Trigere launched her label in 1942. She had moved to the US from Paris in 1937 and her designs always have that bit of a French feel to them. By 1949 she had been awarded a Coty and won one again in both 1951 and 1959. The 1959 win coincided with being inducted into the Coty Fashion Hall of Fame. She as a pioneer in the use of cottons and wool for evening. In 1961 she made headlines for being the first major fashion house to use amply an African American model. The twin of this 1971 piece is held in the Met Museums permanent archives. There is is referred to as being a dress but you would easily wear this as a coat as well

The dress, or coat, depending on how you decide to wear it, is made out a black knit jersey that is then edged in a sweeping panel of back dyed fox fur. It is very reminiscent of pieces that you would have seen being produced in the 1920s. It draws heavily on that silhouette but without feeling like a copy with the use of the modern jersey for the fabric choice. The sleeves are cut long so that you can wear them down over the wrist or push them up. The body of the coat is slim cut but not overtly fitted. It wraps and buttons to close and has that famous cocoon shape of the roaring twenties. The fur panel is wide and follows the curves of the piece as it wraps around the back, down the front and curves around the hem. It is cut so very simply but yet is so very dramatic one on an actual body. It is a wonderful example of her work and the time period. The fact that the Met Museum holds the exact twin of it should give you an idea of just how collectible it is. It really is one of the best cut pieces I have ever had in the shop. Excellent condition.

Fully lined in a second layer of the same fabric. Beautifully finished inside. It closes with buttons that follow the curve you see at the front. Each sleeve has a zipper at its cuff. It appears to have been worn very little if at all. Beautifully made. The jersey does have some stretch. The easy cut should allow it to fit a range of sizes

Sleeves: 24"
Shoulders: 15.5"
Bust: to 20" flat across from side seam to side seam
Waist: to 21" flat across from side seam to side seam
Hips: to 22" flat across from side seam to side seam
Length: 58" from neck to hem

Modern Sizing Equivalent: SML-MED

Item# DD3412

Reference Photo: (1) 1971 Trigere Evening Dress/coat from The MET Online Collection.  /  (2) Cherie, Owner of Shrimpton Couture.  /  (3) Model in Trigere, Vogue UK, 1971.

This garment has been professionally cleaned, pressed and is odor free. Thoroughly checked over before shipping, it will be ready to wear upon arrival.

I have a small collection of historically important, key designer labelled vintage furs and fur trimmed pieces stored away in my archives that I will be slowly posting on the site over the next couple of years until I have none left. I will no longer be buying furs for the shop moving forward and have not purchased anything for several years now. I feel like times have changed and while there still is a place for vintage furs for some, including collectors and historians, many modern girls are choosing other options. Many of the pieces in my collection are representative of the designer during a set time period in history that was different then our modern outlook. I have decided that the best course to handle this controversial issue is to let the pieces I have go rather then sit in a cold storage unit. Fur coats are final sale.