christian lacroix dress Exuberant Spring 1988 Christian Lacroix Luxe Demi-Couture Runway & Doc – Shrimpton Couture

christian lacroix dress Exuberant Spring 1988 Christian Lacroix Luxe Demi-Couture Runway & Doc – Shrimpton CoutureThe near twin of this dress with a separate lace underlay styled underneath it walked the runway for the Spring 1988 collection. It was made under the creative direction of Christian Lacroix The dress and print are very well documented. Its near twin was shot for Vogue that season and a similar dress is held in the V&A permanent collection. Lacroix's Luxe label was only produced the very first couple of seasons after launching his label. It was a very

• The near twin of this dress with a separate lace underlay styled underneath it walked the runway for the Spring 1988 collection. 
• It was made under the creative direction of Christian Lacroix
• The dress and print are very well documented. Its near twin was shot for Vogue that season and a similar dress is held in the V&A permanent collection.
• Lacroix's Luxe label was only produced the very first couple of seasons after launching his label. It was a very high-end (very expensive) ready-to-wear line that was made to demi-couture standards. It was available primarily to his couture clients and a select few beyond that. It was the predecessor to his regular ready-to-wear collections. The label only lasted the first two seasons because some of the couture clients complained at how close the garments were to their Haute Couture pieces. Very few pieces were made so they are almost as rare as finding one of his Haute Couture pieces.
• The dress is spectacular. It is made from a beautifully vibrant pink floral covered silk that has a secondary texture worked into the silk. The added texture makes the dress even more interesting as you get closer.
• It is fitted through the bodice and I love how this counteracts the volume of the skirt. The bodice is sharply peaked and has built-in boning inside for shape structure. At the back it dips down on a curve to leave most of your upper back bare and exposed.
• It is seamed so that it cinches in at the waist. The dress comes with its original matching silk belt that hooks into place around the waist. A large soft bow hides where it hooks together. I have styled it with the bow to the front for most of the photos but also showed it with the bow to the back. You could also style it to either side (not photoed).
• The skirt is phenomenal. It is one of his signature bubble skirts that has inspired thousands of designer since. It is made from a single layer of the same floral printed silk. All of the incredible volume that you see is created by the way it is shaped, cut and set in around the waist. I love how it extravagantly curves outward around you and then comes back in at the hem.
• The dress is fully lined through the bodice in a black silk and the skirt is lined in a stiffened  transparent black fabric that helps to hold the shape. There is built in boning through the bodice. An inner waist stay hooks at the waist and the dress zips to close at the back. Hand finishes throughout. It appears to have been worn very little if at all.
• There is no size tag so please go by the measurements listed below
• Excellent condition

Bust: to 17.5" flat across from side seam to side seam
Waist: 13-13.5" flat across from side seam to side seam
Hips: open
Bodice: 11" from top of the peak of the bodice to waist
Total length: 28" from top of the peak of the bodice to hem

Modern Sizing Equivalent: XS-SML

Item# DD5438

Reference Photos: (1-2) Spring 1988 Christian Lacroix.  /  (3) Vogue, March 1988.  /  (4-5) Christian Lacroix dress from the V&A Museum Collection.

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