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Le cocktail en Givenchy

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Givenchy dress in Abraham crepe de Chine; silk suit, necktie, and pocket square, Givenchy Gentleman, L’Officiel, March 1978. Photo: Rodolphe Haussaire. Image: jalougallery.

In 1978, the Brussels Hilton had been freshly redecorated by Hubert de Givenchy, and L’Officiel publicized it with an editorial showing a pair of models as hotel guests dressed in Givenchy designs. The female model wears Spring 1978 Givenchy couture:

“[R]obe en crêpe de Chine façonné à pois blancs sur fond bleu marine, d’Abraham, avec des manches kimono et un décolleté croisé sur la poitrine ; deux ceintures en vernis marine marquent la taille, jupe portefeuille s’ouvrant sur le côté ; deux fleurs marine sont piquées dans les cheveux ; boucles d’oreilles dorées ; chaussures en vernis noir”

(Dress in crepe de Chine woven with white polka dots on a navy background, from Abraham, with kimono sleeves and a wrap neckline; two navy patent belts define the waist, wrap skirt with side opening; two navy flowers are pinned in the hair; golden earrings; black patent leather shoes)

The “cocktail” dress seen above was also licensed as a Very Easy Vogue Paris Original, Vogue 2042, where the envelope shows the same Abraham fabric.

I made this dress in a stretch rayon/poly metallic print from Gorgeous Fabrics (and grabbed it to wear to a last-minute event — no photos, though). I can’t quite call it a wrap dress, since it consists of two separate halves that you put on one after the other. The disco-era Givenchy construction and finishing were familiar from two other Very Easy Vogue patterns I’ve made: Vogue 1909 and Vogue 2014, which is also from the Spring 1978 couture:

Late 1970s Very Easy Vogue / Vogue Paris Originals 1909 and 2014 by Hubert de Givenchy, photographed in blue with red tassel belt and light pink
Very Easy Vogue patterns by Givenchy, ca. 1978. Models: Karen Bjornson, Gia Carangi. Images: PatternVault shop.

Having worn these three designs, it’s clear they share an ease and relaxed elegance that makes them perfect for travel, cocktails, lounging, or a combination of all three at one’s favourite hotel.

You can see more of L’Officiels editorial on Flickr.

Two evening looks in Givenchy’s Spring-Summer 1978 haute couture collection. Photo: Fairchild Archive/Penske Media via Getty Images.

3 responses to “Le cocktail en Givenchy”

  1. […] As discussed in a more recent post, the design is from the Spring 1978 haute couture collection. The original tassel detail can be […]

  2. Joan Kendrick Avatar
    Joan Kendrick

    Thank you for this very interesting post; the 70s had Vogue designer patterns that are still some of my favorites. I appreciate your research.

    1. Sarah Sheehan Avatar

      Thanks so much, Joan. I’ve always loved ’70s high fashion, so it’s been good to see the decade come into its own in recent years.

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