2006 Runway Documented Christian Lacroix Floral Print Bias Cut Dress

This rare, documented gown was created by French couturier Christian Lacroix. The mini-dress version walked the runway as part of the Fall 2006 show. The silhouette is playful and the fabric unusual - signature traits in the French designer’s collectable designs. This dress is tailored from swathes of sheer silk-chiffon printed with blown-up butterflies in an assortment of rainbow hues that demonstrates Lacroix’s talent for combining outlandish colours in a highly wearable way. The black background of the silk makes the colours really pop. This dress is strapless and is tailored to look almost like a sarong knotted around a body. At the bodice sits a short, black satin corset and this is boned the whole way around. The printed chiffon is gathered at the bust, with generous pleats of fabric falling from this centralised point and flowing down and around the body. It is trimmed with pretty blue and ochre striped ribbon, detailed with flowers. At the central point of the bust sits a large bow created from twisted rows of high-shine black beads, the ears of which flow around to the back of the dress. The fabric is again gathered at the bottom of the back, creating avant-garde tailoring that almost looks like wings - playing to the butterfly theme. At the front, it falls to a floor-sweeping length but, at the back, it has a flamboyant train which flares out behind the wearer as they walk. The bodice is lined in a decadent blue rose-printed, magenta silk and the body of the dress in black silk-satin. The back of the dress fastens with a black tonal zip and hook-and-eye clasp, and the chiffon is secured over the top by two poppers. The dress is labelled “Christian Lacroix” in white font on a red label.

This piece is in excellent archival vintage condition with no flaws of any note and appears to be unaltered. It is labelled 100% Silk with a lining of 100% Silk. It is a French size 40, UK 12, or US 8 but may suit sizes smaller so please check the below measurements. The fabric has no stretch.

MEASUREMENTS

BUST - 34 in. (86 cm)

WAIST - 30 in. (76 cm)

HIP - 40 in. (102 cm)

LENGTH - 62 in. (157 cm)