1988 Runway Documented Karl Lagerfeld Floral Marie Antionette Dress

Known as the Marie Antionette dress, this outstanding design walked the runway as part of Karl Lagerfeld's memorable Spring/Summer 1988 collection. A true statement piece, this dress features a corseted bodice with internal boning, and ruching around the top section to add definition. The waist is beautifully fitted all the way through to the top of the hip, where the skirt section is attached and finished with thick rolled cotton piping. The skirt is heavily padded at each hip using intricate layers of fine white mesh, to mimic the exaggerated silhouettes of 18th century court dresses, like those worn by Marie Antionette. The fabric of the dress is a soft, structured cotton with an abstract, almost painterly floral pattern in shades of lemon yellow, pale grey, pale green and dusty pink. The inside of the skirt is lined in a fine layer of white mesh, which helps to create a sense of volume, and the dress fastens at the back with a central zip and hook and eye. 

This piece is in excellent vintage condition, with no discernible faults we could spot. It is labelled as 100% Cotton. Although labelled a French 40, or UK 12, the dress would best fit up to a UK size 8-10, with a small waist, as seen here on our model, or a US size 4-6. The fabric has no stretch.

MEASUREMENTS
Bust - 35 in. (88.9 cm)
Waist - 25 in. (63.5 cm)
Hip - 58 in. (147.3 cm)
Length - 35 in. (88.9 cm)