Pierre Cardin Haute Couture Tiered Flounce Lace Dress, 1987

Known primarily for his sculptural silhouettes and flat planes of color, Cardin’s intermittent use of lace in his oeuvre indicates a departure from his norm. Similar examples using horsehair bands and lace reside in the collections of the Philadelphia Museum and Metropolitan Museum of Art.

Haute Couture red lace dress with tiered pink synthetic crinoline flounces around the neckline and cascading down the body, and center back zipper closure.
Label: Pierre Cardin
Size Label: Unlabeled
Style/Serial No.: N/A

Approximate Measurements:
Shoulders: 15.5"
Chest: 35.5"
Waist: 26.25"
Hips: 32.75"
Length (high shoulder point to hem): 54.5"

Property from the Collection of Countess Anita von Galen

This lot is one of sixty-seven in this auction from Countess Anita von Galen, a German aristocrat and socialite known for her avant-garde sense of style and brilliant entertaining. Over the years, the Countess von Galen has used her visionary eye and a penchant for unique silhouettes to build an extraordinary collection of haute couture. She considered Hubert de Givenchy (Lots 1-18) and his partner, Philippe Venet, also a couturier (Lots 19-20), close friends, with Givenchy designing the baptismal gown (Lot 1) for her only son, Ferdinand Otto von Galen. Beyond her friendship with the couple, Countess von Galen was an ardent supporter of emerging, avant-garde designers including Pierre Cardin (Lots 25-48), Kansai Yamamoto (Lots 61-62), and Yohji Yamamoto (Lot 63).