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Cocktail Dress
Cocktail dress of yellow lace and organza. The strapless, knee-length dress is of yellow inlay Spanish lace, with a slim line skirt that gathers at empire waist. It has a center back zipper with hook & eye closure at top. The bodice has a built-in corset-like support of boning and white net with white grosgrain ribbon waist band, the whole securing at back with 8 hook & eye closures. Lined in yellow silk. A removable, wide band of pleated yellow organza with tapered ends embellished with matching lace appliqués attaches with hooks and eyes at the waist of the dress, giving the effect of a narrow stole. The dress also has an accompanying very large matching yellow organza stole/wrap with matching lace appliqués at each end.
Day dress
Dress of blue wool with round neckline and 3/4 length raglan sleeves.
Dress
Dress of black wool crepe. Bows at sides. Hook & eye closure curved across back with 3/4 sleeves. Bateau neckline. Unlined.
Dress
Cocktail dress of black silk faille peau de soie. Short sleeves. Vertical rouched gather down center back of skirt with bow of self at top and bottom of gather.
Pillbox Hat
Pillbox hat covered with draped silk scarf of black with pink polka dot print. Knotted accent on back states "Balenciaga" on pink border with frayed ends.
Hatlet
Fascinator hat of yellow silk satin. Small pillbox style crown with large matching satin bow at back. Lined in golden fabric with golden yellow headband of grosgrain ribbon. Two small plastic combs to secure hat to wearer's head. Designer's label inside crown at back: "Balenciaga / 10 Avenue George V Paris" Second label sewn to bottom of designer's label: "Made in France". Measurements: 15 cm. front to back; 13 cm. side to side (crown); 21 cm. wide (bow at back); 9 cm. from top of crown to base of knot of bow at back.
Calotte Hat
Calotte hat of brown velvet. One hatpin with black, avocado shaped head. Brim and top center seam meet to form V-shaped opening. Designer's label on inside hat band: "Balenciaga Hats . Paris" Retailer's label beneath designer's label: "Neiman-Marcus / Salon"
Ensemble - Jacket and Dress
Ensemble of printed silk. This cocktail or dinner ensemble in the "New Look" consists of a dress and bolero-style jacket of printed floral ikat silk with a black ground and floral design in gray, browns and dark brown/mauve shades. A) The dress is mid-calf-length, sleeveless, and with a boat neckline. Tailored to fit, with side bust and waist darts. Self fabric bow at top of waist gore which releases into a box pleat at the skirt. Slightly dropped waist. Under the sides of front box pleat edges are two knife pleats to create fullness, with darts for slimmer waist. On either side of front bock pleat is a small 1"intake pleat to balance fullness of skirt. Side seams have a lapping box pleat and an small triangular insert from front side seams. Back waist has 4 sets of box pleats, two on either side of center back zipper closure. The dress has built-in under-structure consisting of inner half-slip of off-white satin, and three layers of stiffened netting petticoats, all with horsehair braid at hem. B) The matching jacket is of the same cloth, cropped short in the bolero style. The center-front opening has no closures and is collarless. Raglan style sleeves are tea elbow length. Under sleeve and sleeve cuff is slightly ruched creating a faux cuff look. It is fully lined in a brown silk organza. 4-way underarm gusset. Sewn into the hem are French weights. There is no label in the dress. The jacket has a single designer's label: "Printemps-Ete 1956 / Christian Dior / Paris" which has stamped on it "80615". The "1956" appears embossed, not printed, and the black backing of the label is cut away behind the "1956".
Underskirt
Underskirt of black satin, full length. 1" waistband, full skirt gathers into 3 7/8" yoke. Two seams in front, CB seam, no side seams, unlined.
Day dress
Daytime dress of beige silk faille. Princess type fitted waist and midriff, with short "blousey" top. Street length. 3/4 length sleeves. High, slightly "turtleneck" neckline. Waistline with two lines of self-covered circular buttons forming a slight trapezoid across lower stomach area, the lower two on each side securing slit pockets. Center back opening with 8 circular self-covered buttons and two hidden hook-and-eyes from neck to waist, and zipper on inner silk lining layer from neckline to waist, then exterior from waist down. Inner silk lining layer with low squared neckline and sleeveless, which is worn to pull up the lower part of the dress, causing the bodice to "blouse". Bodice lined in off-white polished cotton. Designer's label at inside back neckline to left side of zipper: "Pierre Balmain / Paris" "Made in France" tag below designer's label. Handwritten tape tag near hem: "Fall 1956"
Dress Ensemble
Dress ensemble of tan silk.
Skirt suit
Bright yellow faille suit including a single-breasted jacket with a rounded neckline and a street-length skirt.
Skirt suit
Two-piece suit of pink and white hounds-tooth check wool. a) Short princess line jacket in pink and white medium scale wool hounds-tooth. Exaggerated jewel neckline. 3/4 length, two piece set in sleeves. Lapped center front opening with three large, round, pink plastic buttons and bound buttonholes. Fully lined in ivory silk. Designer's label at inside back below collar: "Balenciaga / 10, Avenue George V. Paris" Model tag behind designer's label: "4491" b) Matching knee length, straight skirt with 2" folded waistband. Skirt has slight gathers around sides. Patch pockets at front hip level measure 8-1/2" long x 5" high and are lined in ivory silk. Offset left side back zipper closure supplemented by three hook and eye closures on waistband. Folded hem. Fully lined in ivory silk. No labels in skirt.
Mushroom hat
Cocktail mushroom hat of black silk gazar. Over-sized, with flat top and slightly downward turned 6" brim. Pillbox shaped inner crown with black grosgrain ribbon inner headband. Lined in black net. Comb at front for securing hat to head. No labels.
Hat
Hat created with a tan silk scarf printed with black "leopard print". The framework is a pillbox style low, cylindrical, slightly domed crown, over which the silk scarf is fastened, pulled to back forming knotted ornament with trailing end. Lined in white silk, with inner black grosgrain ribbon hatband, with translucent brown plastic comb at inside front to secure to wearer's head. Designer's label: "EISA" Scarf signed in print: "Balenciaga"
Hat
Medium value blue-green silk "handker-chief" pillbox hat draped with rose effect at back; White lining.
Hat
Red leaf hat. Rounded conical hat of netting partly covered with red and pink silk leaves. Inside the hat, which has aspects of both a cloche and a toque, at the base of the crown, is a band of red grosgrain ribbon. Sewn into the ribbon band is designer's label: "Balenciaga / 10 Avenue George V Paris".
Suit Hat
Suit hat of black velour. Rounded 4" deep crown. 2" wide front upward turned brim. 1/2" wider at sides, turning downward at center back. Has large black ostrich feather tassel at center back. Lined in netting with gray grosgrain ribbon headband. Comb at center front for securing hat to wearer's head.
Hat
Domed hat of lavender wool felt with a tubular stylized bow accent. Narrow rolled brim. Purple grosgrain ribbon headband and felt inner frame.
Hat
Mushroom hat of red/orange baku straw. Uniquely cut crown is square with points at front and back. Four side panels are formed off of sides of square crown. Lined in white gauze material with red/orange grosgrain ribbon inner headband.
Hat
Hat of white organza. High pillbox crown, 4" deep. Bottom edge of crown encircled with 3" wide bias organdy that ties in large bow at center front. Lined in white silk with white grosgrain ribbon inner headband. Covered wires at sides for securing hat to wearer's head.
Wrap dress
Coat dress of white textured silk; fitted back and loose draped front ending over left bust line with long flange to hem. Designer's Label at inside center back below collar " Printemps - Ete 1956 / Christian Dior / Paris / Made in France" and stamped on label: "789[(?) last number is illegible]"
Ensemble - Blouse and Skirt
Ensemble of navy ribbed silk. A) Blouse in New Look style with V-shaped neckline and 1" collar. Elbow length sleeves with 1" folded cuffs. Center front opening with hook & eye closure. Patch pockets at side hips. Unlined; petersham of black grosgrain ribbon with hook & eye. Designer's label at left side seam: "Christian Dior Original / Made In U.S.A. / Christian Dior-New York Inc." B) Skirt of matching silk. Street length, A lined with pleats at 1" waistband. Center back zipper. Unlined.
Evening dress
Ballgown of pink silk satin. Strapless edged in a band of same. High waist. Very full balloon/bubble skirt, heavily gathered at waist. Wide vertical pleated panel attaches at waist and extends down and under front of skirt creating a slight pick up with bow at waist. Bodice is boned and lined in crepe silk. Inner panels of horsehair and hoop for support. Bodice has center back zipper which continues as inner skirt zipper and is concealed with a hook and eye and small bow at top. Skirt has snaps at center back.
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