1960s Pierre Balmain Demi Couture Pink Silk Shift Dress

This superb demi-couture shift-dress was created by Pierre Balmain in the 1960s. 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 dress is tailored from a thick, smooth silk in a vivacious raspberry pink hue. The silhouette is cocooning, cut to an hourglass shape it curves in at the waist and out at the skirt. Pierre Balmain’s eye for detail really sets this piece apart. The elegant, elaborate neckline is curved and wide. It is detailed with bands of pink silk, woven together, and christened at the left hand side with a floppy bow crafted from multiple strands of pink silk. The dress is lined with raspberry silk for a comfortable, luxurious wear. It fastens at the back with a hidden tonal pink zip and hook-and-eye.

The original black-on-white label reads "Boutique Pierre Balmain Paris” and it is in wonderful vintage condition with no issues of any note. It has no size or composition labels. The fabric has no stretch. Our model's sizes are: Bust: 37” (94cm), Waist: 31” (80cm), Hips: 45” (114cm) and Height: 5' 10.5" (180cm). She's a size UK 12, US 8 - this fit her very well.

MEASUREMENTS

BUST - 38 in. (97 cm)

WAIST - 32 in. (81 cm)

HIP - 43 in. (109 cm)

LENGTH - 39 in. (99 cm)