This is the twin of the dress shown on the Christian Dior Fall 2002 runway for Look 32. It is an incredibly cut dress and the fabric choice is equally impressive. At the time Vogue commented that: "this fall collection is almost classic in its Dior-isms containing all the patterns, symbols and accessories on which Galliano has re-built the house foundations. That means ethnic color and print, love of the eighteenth century, an obsession with bias-cut dresses, a "sauvage" method of cutting all his own. Galliano's girls stormed out in Peruvian knitted hats sprouting huge Mohawks, their feet bound up in fur moccasin-boots." and indeed, this look was shown in that exact way. It is an incredible dress to see in person and it is so unusual in its cut and design.

So many Dior/Galliano pieces that come onto market are ones that were made for production for the shops and they do not match the runway pieces. So it is always extra special when you find one that does. The dress is incredibly light and incredibly soft. The fabric is a black silk velvet devore in a beautiful floral pattern. In the spaces between the velvet the chiffon has a touch of transparency to it so that you see glimpses of the body underneath. This lets you choose just how bare you want to be underneath it. At the front the dress sits high across the neck and the shoulders are soft. The sleeves are nod to the 1940s and 30s with their unusual design. They are full across the top and when laid out flat they extend out on a sharp angle. Once on, the lightness of the fabric lets them to create the illusion of a bit of a caped feel across your shoulders. Each sleeve is cut on a curve to follow the shape of the arm and then there is a little curved protruding bump out above each wrist that gives you that final shape that you can see in the photos. The body of the dress is completely cut on the bias. It skims over your bust, waist and hips. Set from the back of the dress and curving over and down the sides is a series of top stitched seams. Some of these cleverly hide built-in panels that open up when they reach the skirt. This fantastic technique both shapes the dress around you and it also add to the fullness in the skirt. The skirt has incredible volume and I love the way it falls in those soft folds all the way around you. It flares out even when you're standing still and then when you move the movement it has is incredible. The amount of fabric that is in the skirt is deceptive. When laid out flat the material in the skirt actually goes out beyond a full circle. In the photo where we hold it out you get a sense of just how much fabric is in there. The skirt alone is a master class in cut and execution.  The back is equally as incredible and there is an extremely deep V that leaves the entire upper back bare. even though you do get a sense of how fabulous this is in the reference photos and video, even those photos don't truly convey how much better this one is in real life. Excellent condition.

Unlined and slips on with no closures completely cut on the bias and an incredible piece. It appears to have been worn very little if at all.

Sleeves: 25.5" and 13" around the upper shoulder
Shoulders: no true defined seams
Bust: 16-17" flat across from side seam to side seam
Waist: 12-13" flat across from side seam to side seam
Hips: 15-17" flat across from side seam to side seam
Total length: 46" from top of shoulder to hem

Modern Sizing Equivalent: XS-SML

Item# DD4774

Reference Photos/Video: Fall 2002 Christian Dior, Look 32.

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