Vintage 1950s Black Silk Cocktail Party Dress Dupuis Freres Montreal Size S / M

This is a beautifully styled vintage silk crepe cocktail dress dating to the 1950s.  The dress has a scoop neckline and is gathered in tucks along a V shaped seamed bodice.  Similarly, the skirt is tucked along the waistline and structured with a wide pleat down the front.  The bow at the center front waistline becomes a focal point due to the tucked sides and skirt pulling towards it.  The back is gathered above the waistline and the center bottom of the skirt has a kick pleat.  The sleeves have metal zipper cuffs and the back of the dress closes with a metal zipper.  The dress is made in a below the knee length.  

Age: 1950s

Label: Le Petit Salon Dupuis Freres Montreal.  During the 50s and 60s, Canadian department stores would have a boutique within the store that carried higher end fashion and catered to a wealthy clientele.  After WWII, European markets had dried up due to the devastation suffered from the war, so Paris design houses found export markets, such as Canada.  Canadian retailers would buy haute couture for their customers every season and offer French made private labels. Le Petit Salon at Dupuis Freres was such a boutique within a store and its competitors in Montreal would have been the Salon Vendome at Simpsons, The Ensemble Shop at Eaton’s and the Fur Salon at Ogilvy’s and Holt Renfrew.  Dupuis Freres catered to a French Canadian clientele, more so than the other aforementioned Montreal department stores, which were located west of St Laurent Blvd while Dupuis Freres was located to the east end of the city and catered more to the French population in Montreal.

Color: Black

Material: silk crepe

Sizing: No size is indicated, but this should fit a small to medium size - please rely on the following measurements for fit, taken from the exterior (please take the thickness of the fur into consideration): 

Shoulders: 13 1/2” across shoulder seam-to-seam , shoulders extend into the sleeve cap

Sleeves: 25” from shoulder seam

Sleeve Inseam: 19” long

Bust: 36” around, taken under the arms

Waist: 26” around

Hips:  36”

Overall length: 43 1/2“, measured flat

Condition: This jacket is in very good condition with no pronounced wear, tear, stains or odors. It looks like this it saw little use and was very well kept over the years.  

This is a wonderful quality cocktail party dress - beautifully styled, rather sophisticated!