Beautiful 1974 Jean Louis Scherrer Haute Couture Hand Beaded & Applique Silk Chiffon Dress

This embroidered and beaded silk chiffon dress is from the from the Fall 1974 Jean Louis Scherrer Haute Couture collection. We found a version with no sleeves that walked the runway that season and you can see the similar bead work on the bust and that same incredible bias cut full skirt. Jean-Louis launched his own label in 1962 after assisting both Christian Dior and later for Yves Saint Laurent during his time there. He also designed on a freelance basis for Louis Feraud from 1959-1962. He studied fashion at the Chambre Syndicale de la Couture in Paris with the intention of opening his own couture house one day. In 1971 Scherrer that dream came true and he officially became a couturier. His Haute Couture work was some of the most expensive you could buy at the time and women happily paid for it. British Vogue to christen him 'The Aladdin of Couture' and in 1974 he shared his thoughts on the world of couture telling Vogue 'You can use marvelous fabrics, have wonderful, impossible embroidery – in fact, be superluxe, and superluxe is what the couture is all about.'

This dress is gorgeous. The color is a soft, dusty burgundy done in a bias cut silk chiffon that is light as air. The silk is feather light in weight and floats beautifully over the body once on. The neckline has a pointed slightly exaggerated collar and then the neckline dips into a V. It close down the front with a series of hand set, silk covered hidden snaps. Using hidden snaps eliminates the need for buttons and keeps all of the attention on the applique and bead work at the front. The bodice is cut to be very loose and full over an inner silk piece The bead work is all done on that top layer of silk and it's an extensive and detailed floral pattern. They start at the waist and follow the neckline to go up and under that fantastic collar and then they go all the way around to the back of the neck. I love the soft pastel colours and how the appliqué work combines silk floral cut outs along with beautiful embroidery work, beads and the tiniest possible sequins. Having the bodice only partially lined behind the top silk layer also gives you this beautiful see-through feel around the upper chest and back. That feel of transparency is carried over to the sleeves. Each sleeve is a single layer of the silk chiffon and cut to be very full so that they billow out above a buttoned cuff. The waist is seamed and the dress comes with original matching silk sash that you can tie around the waist for added detail and to create more shape. The skirt falls to the floor under that with many yards of chiffon. When you move the lightness of the silk allows the skirt to float and billow around you. You get a sense of the fullness in the runway photo attached. This is a couture piece so that means all of the seams are completely finished by hand and it is beautifully constructed. It a just gorgeous and even better in person. Excellent overall condition with a note below

Lined in a matching silk. It closes with hidden set snaps down the front on the top layer and there is a zipper on the inner layer. The cuffs button to close. Has it original tie belt. There are some faint larks on the skirt hem but you have to lay it flat to see. There is so many yard of silk in the skirt that when on this gets lost in the fold. There are also two pinhead size dots near the front waist which get hidden by the tie belt. Please see the photos after the label shot. Proper numbered couture label present

Sleeves: 24"
Shoulders: 14"
Bust: 16" flat across from side seam to side seam
Waist: 12.5" flat across from side seam to side seam
Hips: to 19" flat across from side seam to side seam
Bodice: 15" from top of bodice to waist
Skirt: 41" from waist to hem

Modern Sizing Equivalent: XS-SML

Item# DD4185

Reference Photo: Fall 1974 Jean Louis Scherrer Runway.

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