1980s Jean Louis Scherrer Haute Couture Silk Cut Out Dress
French couturier Jean Louis Scherrer trained at the House of Dior until the late 1950s. In 1962, he opened his eponymous couture house going on to dress some of the wealthiest women in the world in his elegant eveningwear. We believe this dress was designed in the 1980s, before the designer left his eponymous fashion house in 1992. After extensive research, we have found a very similar runway design which references the draped silhouette and a similar fuchsia leopard print in the Spring ready-to-wear 1987 collection (pictured above). Very similar leopard print fabrics were also used by Yves Saint Laurent for his haute couture collection in 1987. Master couturiers would often mix design elements to create bespoke pieces for the most prestigious haute couture clients. This dress was recently worn by actor Amelia Gething for a private event and she wore it backwards to amazing effect!
The dress is tailored from incredible fuchsia, almost neon hued leopard print silk chiffon - still as vibrant as the day it was made 30 years ago. The skirt is draped in a tulip style which gathers around the sides of the hips like layers of petals. There is a bandeau crop-top which attaches to the skirt on one side. Above this, a long shawl of leopard silk attaches to the top of the bandeau with a row of snap closures - this can be removed, worn around the shoulders or cascading down the dress. The dress is fully lined with fuchsia silk. The bust is boned and detailed with an internal modesty strap wrapped in fuchsia silk. The top of the skirt is also boned, securing the draped fabric around the hips and waist. The dress fastens with a hidden tonal zip and hook-and-eye clasp inside the panel that joins the bust and skirt.
This garment is in archival vintage condition and handmade of such fine silk it can be worn and displayed with care. On inspection we noted a small trailing edge where the hem has needed to be re-rolled and stitched but this would never be noticed when worn. It does not have a size or composition label so please check our below measurements carefully. The fabric has no stretch. We believe this will be a good fit for a small busted UK size 8-10 or US 4-6. Amelia is sample size and this was a great fit on her with room to spare.
MEASUREMENTS
BUST - 32 in. (81 cm)
WAIST - 34 in. (86 cm)
HIP - 40 in. (102 cm)
LENGTH -51.5 in. (130 cm)
Pickup available at CIRCA VINTAGE
Usually ready in 24 hours
F.A.Q.
Where can I find more information about this item?
We are more than happy to answer any questions you may have about any item on our site. Please get in touch at shop@circavintage.com or on +44 (0)20 7365053.
Will you set anything aside for me for my appointment?
We are happy to find anything you may be interested in from our website. We have an extensive offline collection. It is helpful if you can let us know your size, style, favourite colour to wear and perhaps your budget in advance of your appointment.
Do I need to bring anything to my appointment?
Clients may wish to bring modern shapewear. You may also wish to bring favourite footwear. We often find a classic pair of nude shoes work well when trying-on, or gold and silver. We have a huge variety of slip dresses and petticoats to complete your look. Many of which are also for sale.
Do you have a price range at the showroom?
Many of our lower priced pieces, under £250, are not available to buy online. Dresses usually start at £150 and go up to £30,000 for the very best archival couture. Our bridalwear price points range from £1,000 to £20,000.
Can I bring anyone with me to my appointment?
Yes but please do let us know the size of your party in advance.
Where can I have my circa garment altered?
We offer some alterations in house. Should you need alterations we cannot provide, we can refer you to one of our tried and trusted tailors.
Does Circa have an after-care service?
We will advise you on the best way to clean and preserve your vintage purchases and can also recommend trusted local dry cleaners.
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Our address is Circa Vintage, 87A Lansdowne Way London SW8 2PB
Upon arrival, buzz the 87A button on the gate or call us 020 7736 5038 to let you in.
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We offer free, secure, off-street parking but it is a tight squeeze – so do let us know in advance if you will be needing this and we can make sure that there is space available.
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Underground:
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What is archival fashion?
Archival fashion refers to historically significant designer garments preserved for their cultural, aesthetic, or technical importance. At Circa, archival fashion includes couture archive pieces, runway garments, early designer work, and museum-quality vintage that document the evolution of fashion history.
How is archival fashion different from vintage?
While vintage typically describes clothing over 20 years old, archival vintage is selected for its rarity, provenance, and relevance to a designer’s archive or fashion history. Circa specialises in archival pieces rather than general vintage.