This might be one my favourite dress that I have ever had in the shop from this time period. It photoed great and yet it is still somehow 10x better in person. It is meant to be on an actual body and my dress form is not doing it the true justice it deserves. The dress has a label that says it is by Ramon de la Vergne Paris and in 1946 he was registered as being one of the 106 Couture Houses of those days. It is very well made and just one the prettiest pieces I have seen from this time period.
It is now so rare and so hard to find these in such amazing condition as this one is in. The dress is also surprisingly long for a piece from this time period. It has been beautifully finished and it obviously is a high end piece. The fabric is an early silk net that is just wonderful. It has been dyed to the deep grey blue tone and then bright joyful flowers are screened across the entire surface. The neckline is scooped and cut wide across the shoulders. The fabric is gathered all along the neckline and I think that if you wanted this to be an off-shoulder dress it would be easy to switch out to an elastic through the seam at the neck to allow it to do that. The bodice is cut in that loose and easy way of the time period and skims over the bust. The waist is seamed but cut to be more on the full and loose side. I added a pretty velvet bow that will be included with the dress but it could be worn without it as well for an easier feel. The skirt falls to the floor under that and is made from several yards of the netting. I love the gathered detail that runs around the skirt just below the knees and then the wide ruffle that finishes the hem. When you stand still it falls in a smooth column but when you move you see just how much volume is there. This pops over an inner blue silk satin underdress and you could get many different looks by switching this out for another colour or even being very daring and wearing g the outer net dress over nude foundation garments. The big pouf sleeves are the perfect finish to this spectacular dress and I love that even the inner dress has the same full round sleeves that the netted layer does. It is truly incredible and if you are a fan of these pieces from the late twenties and into the thirties you know just how exceptional and rare it is. Excellent condition with a note below about the underdress
Both piece are unlined and both close at the back with a series of snaps and hooks. The outer net dress is in wonderful condition and appears to have been worn very little. The inner dress has a spot on the neckline where it looks like it was stitched in two spots. The inner dress shows scuffing and I see a couple of small marks on it. I have added the arm opening measurements and would like to note that you could probably remove the band on the outer dress arm and make it elastic. It is quite gathered so you should be able to get up to 16” as well I think. For a garment almost 100 years old it is truly amazing.
Dress
Shoulders: approx 15"
Bust: to 20" flat across from side seam to side seam
Waist: 13.5" flat across from side seam to side seam
Hips: open
Bodice: 15" from neck to waist
Skirt: 46" from waist to hem
Arm opening: 11” around
Inner dress
Slightly inset shoulders: 14"
Bust: to 18" flat across from side seam to side seam
Waist: 13.5" flat across from side seam to side seam
Hips: open
Bodice: 14" from neck to top seam of waist
Skirt: 42" from top seam of waist and including the 2" band to hem
Arm opening: 16” around
Modern Sizing Equivalent: SML-MED
Item# DD3879
This garment has been professionally cleaned, pressed and is odor free. Thoroughly checked over before shipping, it will be ready to wear upon arrival.
