Pauline Trigere launched her label in 1942. She was from Paris and moved to the US in 1937. That early French influence showed throughout her career. In 1949 she was awarded her first Coty award. She won it again in both 1951 and 1959. The 1959 win coincided with being inducted into the Coty Fashion Hall of Fame. She was a pioneer in the use of cottons and wool for evening and her work with silk chiffon is wonderful. In 1961 she made headlines for being the first major fashion house to use an African American model. This is a stunning example of her later work and it is gorgeous.

The dress is made from a black ribbon silk that has a red and taupe print running over parts of it. A gold metallic thread runs through the silk and follows the edges of the little rectangles that are woven into the fabric. These catch the light from every angle that you look at the dress from. The dress has an inner, more fitted dress, and then a panel of silk falls over that all around you. The dress is suspended from the shoulders from two tiny silk straps in the same fabric. The chiffon has a touch of transparency and she plays on this by backing the inner dress with a nude lining to give the illusion that under the caped part you are just wear a single layer of silk. The outer layer is attached around the neckline and meets at the front where it is slit up the center to allow movement. When the dress is on the outer layer of silk billows and moves around you when you move The dress comes with a matching extra long wide silk sash. I have showed a couple of ways it could be worn in these photos, around the inner waist and peaking out the front; around both layers; around the neck and as a shawl/cape. It is long enough that you could also wear it as a headpiece or turban. As pretty as it is on the dress form it really needs an actual body to fully come to life. It is gorgeous. Excellent condition

Fully lined with a nude silk chiffon and zips to close at the back. Hand finishes throughout. It appears to have been worn very little if at all.

Bust: 17" flat across from side seam to side seam
Waist: 14" flat across from side seam to side seam
Hips: 20" flat across from side seam to side seam
Length: 57" from top of shoulder to hem
Scarf: just under 9 feet long x 21" wide

Modern Sizing Equivalent: SML-MED

Item# DD3441

Reference Photos: Cherie, Owner of Shrimpton Couture.

This garment has been professionally cleaned, pressed and is odor free. Thoroughly checked over before shipping, it will be ready to wear upon arrival.