1960s Red Silk Chiffon Pleated Dress with Train

This lively, crimson party dress was designed in the early 1960s or possibly even late 1950s and echoes the famous draping of the French couturier, Jean Desses. It has been delicately crafted from swathes of pleated, pillar-box red silk chiffon which fall across the front in petal shapes that encircle the body, flatteringly echoing the wearer’s curves. This gown has a romantic sweetheart neckline with wide chiffon straps. The bust is boned the whole way around. At the back, the chiffon is tailored in horizontal pleats, broken up by a pretty, sweeping train that falls from the base of the back to just below the bottom hem. The back is fastened by a tonal red zip and two hook-and-eye clasps on a tab of grosgrain ribbon.

Fully lined in red satin and is in excellent vintage condition with no flaws of any note, remarkable for a piece of this age and intricacy. The dress is beautifully tailored but without labels and probably retailed in a top department store of the day. The fabric has no stretch. We estimate a best fit for up to a size UK 10 or US 6. Our model (5ft 4in / 163 cm) is a UK 6-8 or US 2-4 and there was room to spare but it looks great on her.

MEASUREMENTS

BUST - 34 in. (86 cm)

WAIST - 29 in. (74 cm)

HIP - 40 in. (102 cm)

LENGTH - 44 in. (112 cm)