This spectacular archival wedding dress was designed by Gianfranco Ferré for Christian Dior in the early 1990s. Throughout its history, the house of Dior has defined bridal opulence, setting the standard for a full-skirted aesthetic with the “New Look” in the 1940s. In the 1990s, under the creative direction of Gianfranco Ferré, the brand reimagined these silhouettes with a maximalist influence creating voluminous ball gowns featuring sculptural layering and opulent materials.

This magnificent wedding dress is fashioned from a creamy shot-silk with a cinched waist and full, fairy tale skirt. The top is tailored to a wide off-shoulder cut with short-sleeves and there are two ruffled fabric spaghetti straps which sit atop the shoulder. Three layers of silk form a pleated look that sweeps in waves across the decolletage, fastening at the back with delicate fabric-covered buttons. The dress is corseted and has a sculpted, nipped waist that gives way to a basque waistband at the front and back. The top is lined with satin. The skirt is where the house of Dior’s fantastical tailoring shines. The shot-silk parts in a petal-shaped peplum over the top of a full-skirted tulle skirt, sweeping across the hips and down the back of the skirt where it gathers and is knotted together. From below this knot, a small train is formed which hangs over the tulle skirt underneath. The skirt is composed of six layers crafted from tulle, mesh, shot-silk and satin. Under this, there is an attached petticoat formed of ruffled-tulle and a final layer of satin. The gown fastens at the back with a hidden tonal zip which is lined in white lace on the interior. We have referenced a very similar dress design from the 1993 Dior bridal collection and a 1949 Dior wedding dress showing the original design for the back reimaged here.

The gown comes with a veil that was made for the original wearer of the gown. It is composed of a matching cream shot-silk plaited headband with a long white tulle veil attached.

This dress and veil are in superb vintage condition; there is a tiny natural flaw to the silk near the top of the skirt as pictured. The materials are: 100% Silk, the lining 100% Polyester and the inner lining 100% Acetate. Made in the USA, it retains the ILGWU label for the time period 1974 -1995. There is no size label so please check our measurements below as the fabric has no stretch. Our model's sizes are: Bust: 33" (84cm), Waist: 26" (66cm), Hips: 34" (86cm) and Height: 5' 7" (170cm). She's a size UK 6, US 2 and this fit her well with room to spare in the hips.

MEASUREMENTS

BUST - 30 in. (76 cm)

WAIST - 26 in. (66 cm)

HIP - 54 in. (137 cm)

LENGTH - 55 in. (139 cm)

TRAIN LENGTH - 88 in. (224 cm)

MEASUREMENTS VEIL LENGTH - 101 in. (257 cm)