The Shrimpton Couture Archives

• I have included a reference photos from 1964 that shows similar versions of this dress. This dress does not have its Sarmi label, but it does have a Bergdorf's label that has the 1968 date on it. I believe it was custom ordered based on those earlier dresses.
• Under the creative direction of Ferdinando Sarmi
  
• The bodice has an ivory silk base that is covered in a white mink fur. It has an inner built-in lightly boned bodice.
• The skirt is made from multiple layers of a slightly stiffened ivory tulle with silk organza and silk layers under that.
• Onto the top layer of the skirt are little various size dots made of eyelash tinsel in metallic silver, gold, blue and green.
• It has an empire feel with a large silk wide ribbon done in a bow at the front
• The sleeves are just stitched onto the the top so I think you could easily remove them if you prefer this as a strapless.
• Made by hand throughout to Demi Couture level
• Presents as excellent. I do see some slight overall feel of grubbiness that I feel is a natural patina from something of this age.

Bust: to 16" flat across from side seam to side seam
Seam under the bust: 14.5" flat across from side seam to side seam
Hips: open
Bodice: 13.5" from top of shoulder to bottom of the waist band and that band is 2" wide
Total length: 57" from top of shoulder to hem

Modern Sizing Equivalent: XS-SML

Reference Photos: (1) Brigitte Bauer in chiffon evening gown with mink bodice by Sarmi, photo by Howell Conant at the Lunar Fountain in New York's World Fair, 1964. Shown in Life Magazine, August 1964.  /  (2) Model wearing Sarmi, 1964.  /  (3) 1964 Sarmi Evening Dress in Collection.  /  (4) Mrs. Cornelius Vanderbilt in Sarmi, 1964.

This garment has been professionally cleaned, pressed and is odor free. Thoroughly checked over before shipping, it will be ready to wear upon arrival.

I have a small collection of historically important, key designer labelled vintage furs and fur trimmed pieces stored away in my archives that I will be slowly posting on the site over the next couple of years until I have none left. I will no longer be buying furs for the shop moving forward and have not purchased anything for several years now. I feel like times have changed and while there still is a place for vintage furs for some, including collectors and historians, many modern girls are choosing other options. Many of the pieces in my collection are representative of the designer during a set time period in history that was different then our modern outlook. I have decided that the best course to handle this controversial issue is to let the pieces I have go rather then sit in a cold storage unit. Fur pieces are final sale.