Extraordinary 1970s Hanae Mori Couture Pastel Turquoise Floral Print Silk Chiffon Dress & Jacket

Hanae was the first woman of Japanese descent to have presented on the Paris and New York runways and the first Asian woman to be admitted as an official Haute Couture house to La Chambre Syndicale de la Couture Parisienne. Her work is exceptional. This set is a little extra special since it still has its matching jacket which gives you more versatility in how you can choose to wear it. Hanae Mori excelled at these beautiful floral prints and when I find pieces with one of her oversized florals done in a mix of her signature soft and dreamy pastels I am very happy. I feel that pieces like this are among the very best representations of her work.

This is everything you look for in a Hanae piece. It has that wonderful custom designed print screened onto feather light silk layers on both the exterior layer and on the inner dress. This allows the two prints on each layer to be slightly offset as they layer over each other. This gives the print an extra dimension of depth. Doing this is one of her signatures and she used two types of silks to achieve this effect. This one takes that concept even further with multiple layers used in its construction. The innermost layer is a silk twill that takes colour exceptionally well. This has been printed with the her customs design and then it is interlined in a layer of tissue silk. Then there is a layer of the palest pink silk chiffon that defuses the print between the top and bottom layer. The outermost top layer is a printed silk chiffon that gives the dress its light and airy feel and has a touch of transparency to it. The dress is suspended from the shoulder with two padded silk straps that curve up and over the shoulders. It dips into a wide flattened V at the front and scoops low at the back. From the neckline it cascades and skims loosely over the body, gently widening out until it reaches the hem. It is cut to be very long and I love how the pattern changes and gets more intricate as it nears the hem. Over this is a gorgeous little silk chiffon jacket. The sleeves are cut extra wide and have that same pale pink silk chiffon layer under the top layer. Slits run partway up the inner seam of each sleeve so that you get a very wide feel to them as you move your arms. The body of the jacket is loose and full with an inner pink silk lining and is cut to mirror the widening of the lower part of the dress. It has a high rounded collar and closes down the front with three large frog knots made out of the same silk chiffon over inner padding. It is a stunning example of her work and beautifully made. I have included a photo of the hand finished interior seams cut in the traditional couture manner. I love it. Excellent condition with a minor note below

The inner silk twill dress is interlined in tissue silk and then has two layers of silk chiffon over that. It closes with a back zipper and then each silk chiffon layer closes with her signature silk covered teeny snaps. The jacket closes with the frog knots at the front. The loose and easy bias cut should allow it to fit a variety of sizes. Hand finished throughout. Hand rolled edges. The very upper edge of the collar is starting to fray and I see the tiniest faintest of marks on the front that you would never see when on

Dress
Bust: to 21" flat across from side seam to side seam
Inner waist: to 17" flat across from side seam to side seam
Inner hips: to 21" flat across from side seam to side seam
Length: 60" from top of straps to hem

Jacket
Sleeves: 24"
Shoulders: 15"
Bust: to 21" flat across from side seam to side seam
Waist- hips: open
Length: 24" from neck to hem

Modern Sizing Equivalent: SML-LRG

Item# DD3589

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