1980s Vintage Cocktail Dress by Serge et Real Montreal in Brown Lace

Age: 1980s

Label: Serge et Real Montreal

Color(s): Brown 

Material(s): Lace and taffeta

Description: Simple and easy to wear.  Features lace laid over a brown taffeta slip. Taffeta slip has spaghetti straps and lace is unbacked across the upper bodice and on the arms. Sleeves are made in a “princess” style. Taffeta slip fastens with a zipper down the back while the lace closes up the back with 20 black glass buttons.  Cuffs of the sleeves fasten with 3 black glass buttons. Waist is accented with black satin ribbon/banding with a bow at either side. Lace features a daffodil floral pattern.

Sizing: No size is indicated, but this should fit a medium size. Please note the following measurements for fit:

• Shoulders: 15” across seam-to-seam
• Sleeves: 23” from shoulder seam
• Sleeve Inseam: 16” long
• Bust: 35” around, taken under the arms
• Waist: 32”
• Hips: 37”
• Overall length: 37”

Condition: 

• Very good with no wear, tear, holes in the lace, stains or odors.
• This looks like it saw little use and was very well kept over the years. 

About the designers: This '80s era cocktail dress was made by Montreal couturier Serge et Real (Serge Senecal and Real Bastien). Serge et Real has been in business since 1972, and dressed Canadian high society since then, including the wife of a former Canadian prime minister, a former Canadian governor general, Quebec entertainers and wives of captains of industry. Both apprenticed at Parisian design houses during the '60s and decided to open a couture business in Montreal at a time when pret a porter was cutting deeply into couture. They now work in Palm Beach and New York, as well as out of their Westmount (Montreal) atelier. Their creations can cost many thousands of dollars.   

This is a super quality dress - Serge and Real produces only couture, so this is handmade dress with attention to detail.  An expensive dress to buy new, it still looks contemporary and easy to wear, a testament to good design.