1960s Balmain Demi Couture Red Boucle Wool Coat

A superb 1960s Pierre Balmain demi-couture 3/4 length red boucle wool coat. Balmain studied architecture alongside dress design at the École des Beaux-Arts in the 1930s and worked with a young Christian Dior and Hubert de Givenchy at the haute couture atelier, Lucien Lelong. Extolled for the sculptural quality that characterised his work, Balmain lovingly described dressmaking as "the architecture of movement". The designer dressed many Hollywood icons including Marlene Dietrich, Katharine Hepburn, Ava Gardner and Brigitte Bardot.

Made in France, this coat is tailored from bouclé wool in a vivacious raspberry-red hue and cut to a chic and classic A-line. Designed for the brand’s ready-to-wear line “Florilége”, Pierre Balmain’s eye for detail really sets this piece apart. The line was created by the couture seamstresses when they were low on couture orders to fulfil and the quality is exceptional. The collar is trimmed the whole way around with tonal bouclé baubles topped with high-shine gold-toned studs. The same baubles adorn the two large slit pockets on the front of the coat. The gold studs match the gold mirror-shine buttons which secure the front of the coat. The coat is lined with raspberry silk for a comfortable, luxurious wear.

The original white-on-black label reads "Florilége Balmain Original Paris” and it is in wonderful vintage condition with no issues of any note. It has no size or composition labels. It will fit a range of sizes, depending on what the wearer has on underneath, up to a UK size 10-12 or US 6-8.

MEASUREMENTS

BUST - 40 in. (102 cm)

WAIST - 40 in. (102 cm)

HIP - 46 in. (117 cm)

LENGTH - 40 in. (102 cm)

SHOULDERS - 18 in. (46 cm)