• The twin of this dress walked the runway for the Fall 1979 Givenchy show.
• It was made under the creative direction of Hubert de Givenchy.
• On the runway they showed it belted with a wide wrap belt. From what I understand that was sold separately. We have added a thin black ribbon for ours and I prefer it with a more narrow belt as it really allows the beautiful softness of the bodice to show better. I love that you can choose to wear it either way, or with no belt.
• The dress is two separate pieces. It has an inner black silk chiffon slip and then the outer silk chiffon layer pops over that. I love the large silk velvet dots fused onto the silk chiffon of the outer layer and that the chiffon of the outer layer has a slight texture. There is a fantastic play on transparency that this creates between the two layers.
• The inner slip is suspended from ivory mesh straps and is made out of a black silk chiffon. The front is scooped and the upper back is bare. It skims over the body and then widens out to the hem.
• Over that is the phenomenal outer dress. It falls from top gathered shoulders and is cut wide and easy so that it softly blouses to the waist. Each side is open from shoulder to waist for your arms to slip through. From the side you see the inner chiffon piece for coverage. It hooks to close at the back of the neck and then there is an open slit there that runs all the way to the waist.
• We cinched in the waist with a ribbon, that will be sent with the dress, and it looks equally good with a more structured belt or worn without any.
• From the waist the dress falls to the floor in a long sweep of silk. The silk is gathered into the waist and the fabric is set so that it extends past the waist on both sides with a little opening at the top as a fabric folds from the front to the back. Once this is on, that extra fabric drapes down and over each hip. This is a ingenious way to add subtle shape that still feels soft and feminine. It also picks up on the way that the sides of the bodice falls.
• The silk of the skirt is all cut on the bias and when you are standing still it falls in a beautiful column to the floor but there is an incredible amount of fabric in the skirt. The bottom flares out a touch and it has incredible movement when you move.
• The silk slip acts as a lining. It closes with a back zipper. The outer dress closes with a hook at the back of the neck and then it snaps to close at the waist. Snapped continue slightly under the waist as well. An inner waist stay hooks to close.
• Tagged a vintage Givenchy 40
• Excellent condition

Inner Slip
Bust: 16.5" flat across from side seam to side seam
Waist: 14" flat across from side seam to side seam
Hips: 18.5" flat across from side seam to side seam
Total length: 58" from top of the shoulder to him

Outer dress
Bust: open with no true side seams
Waist: to 13" flat across from side seam to side seam
Hips: open
Bodice: approx 15" from top of shoulder to waist
Total length: 65" from top of shoulder to hem

Modern Sizing Equivalent: XS-MED

Item# DD5163

Reference Photo: Fall 1979 Givenchy.

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