It is so rare to have such great documentation on dress and this one not only has a ton of documentation from the 1978 season that it originally debuted in but it also has the added modern provenance of being the twin of the dress that Kate Hudson and Jamie Mizrahi both wore a version of while pregnant in 2018. I think that three different versions of this dress were made. We found the runway pictures of the version that went more over the shoulder, there was this version with no straps and then there is a version that has the gorgeous little ribbon straps. Bohan often did this within his collections during these years to meet the various expectations of his clients and it was a clever way to sell more than one of a similar dress. It is a very special dress and even without any of the documentation it has it is an absolutely beautiful in its own right.

The attention to detail shown in every stitch of this dress is breathtaking. The workmanship is very fine. The silk chiffon is of the highest possible grade and as fine and light as a feather. The dress is suspended from the shoulders from little blue ribbons. They turn into long ties where they meet the edge of the bodice and these trail down the top at both the front and back. The top is cut straight across and then has a wide ruffle panel that falls from the top edge of the neckline to float over the bodice. Under that is a bandeau feeling panel that wraps around the bodice to hold it in place. There is a seam just under the bust but when the dress is on that floating panel hides it from view so you just get this lovely caftan feel through the body of the dress. The skirt falls from that seam under the bust to the floor in a soft floating expanse of the same silk chiffon as the top. At the hem there is another ruffle to balance out the one at the bust. The silk is entirely covered in an explosion of soft blue flowers mixed with pink pastels. The cut through the body is loose and open so it is very easy to wear. And the entire dress would change dramatically if you added a belt and created shape. I also love the suggestion of wearing a flower at the neck as in the references photos here and staying true to Mr. Bohan's vision. It is truly a wonderful dress and when you see it in person you will love it even more. It is just beautiful and so very special. Excellent condition.

Fully lined in a pale pink blue chiffon and closes with a side set painted metal zipper. Hand work throughout. It appears to have been worn very little. Slight elastic through the top and underbust seams. The full bottom ruffle is the same fabric doubled over itself. So in theory this could be let down so it's a single layer (or you could back it with a silk chiffon) and you would have 12 inches to play with if you needed it to be longer

Bust: to 17" flat across from side seam to side seam
Seam under the bust: to 16" flat across from side seam to side seam
Natural waist-hips: open
Bodice: 13" from top of the shoulder to seam under the bust
Total length: 59"" from top of the shoulder to hem

Modern Sizing Equivalent: SML-MED

Item# DD4532

Reference Photos: (1) Spring 1978 Christian Dior Runway.  /  (2) Model on right in Dior. Photographed by Ray Wolkmann for Marie France, March 1978.  /  (3) Model in Christian Dior. Photographed by Patrick Bertrand for  L'Officiel, April 1978.  /  (4) Jamie Mizrahi wearing this dress, with Kate Hudson in a pink version, June 2018.

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