1950s Jacques Esterel Haute Couture Blue Linen Dress Suit

Mid 1950s French haute couture Jacques Esterel dress suit. A textured, French blue loose knit silk/linen blend with a striking, white over-stitched arrangement that highlights the neckline, arm holes on the dress, waistband and cuffs. The dress has French darting on the bodice and the skirt is slightly flared to just below the knee. The back of the dress has a lower V back and it fastens with a rear central seamed zip hidden underneath a little bow. The jacket is a cropped double-breasted design and paler blue wooden buttons for decoration. With a belted waist, wide lapels and three quarter length sleeves, both pieces are fully lined in a blue satin. The bottom hem of the dress is weighted and with a very generous allowance of over 4 1/2 in or 12 cm. As it has been only gently pressed, it could be lengthened if desired.

In very good to excellent condition for its age and displays beautifully - very Audrey Hepburn! We note on very close inspection that there is colour variation across the shoulders - this is very, very slight indeed on the jacket only. The belt buckle fabric has darkened with age, again very minor but could be recovered with matching fabric from the seam allowance if desired. The dress has a very slight colour variation towards the bottom hem on the front which is very difficult to see and only in certain lights. Some fraying to a seam on the lining which of course is not visible. Of note, it's a very petite size and we estimate that this dress is a size UK 6-8 or US 2-4 and would proportionally suit someone under 5'5". Our model is this size and height and this fit her well. 

We've been rather conservative on describing this outfit but its very wearable and a remarkable design by a couturier of great note. Under the presidency of Charles de Gaulle, Esterel was appointed designer of the presidents wife, Yvonne de Gaulle. His most prominent clients were Sophia Loren, Queen Fabiola of Belgium, Mamie Eisenhower and Gloria Swanson.

MEASUREMENTS
DRESS
Bust - 34 in. (86.4 cm)
Waist - 24 in. (61 cm)
Hip - 32 in. (81.3 cm)
Length - 40 in. (101.6 cm)
Shoulders - 14.5 in. (36.8 cm)

JACKET
Bust - 36 in. (91.4 cm)
Waist - 30 in. (76.2 cm)
Hip - N/A
Length - 19 in. (48.3 cm)
Shoulders - 17 in. (43.2 cm)