Antique-Gown

GUSTAVE BEER Reception and Society Dress, ca. 1906

Antique two piece reception and society dress, ca. 1906. Petersham label: “Beer, 7 Place Vendôme, Paris * 31 Sachville Street, London W.”. Some specifications of the dress: black silk velvet and chiffon, boned bodice with bone silk lace high-neck insert and lower sleeve, decorated with white seed and bugle beads, blue lace, pastel silk satin stitch embroidery and grey velvet bows, trained full chiffon skirt having deep velvet hem and velvet appliqués, decorated with floral sprays and swags with strawberries. Very good condition with a few flaws: Lining shattered, waistband torn, minor bead losses, browning to lace and velvet. All of this detracts in no wise the unimaginably beautiful appearance of this ensemble. It’s a rare to find antique ensembles from the “Opulent Era”. Provenance: A Midwestern Museum, USA. The decoration is not included.
Gustav Beer or Gustave Beer was born in Germany around 1870. He moved to Paris and opened the first couture house in the fashionable Place Vendome. He was afterwards followed there by almost all the great couturiers who set up shop in this same famous area. The Place Vendome became the Paris centre for great couture salons. Beer produced feminine dresses both for day and evening wear, and was particularly popular for lingerie. Beer's clothes became so successful that he opened two more stores, one in Nizza, Italy and one in Monte Carlo. In 1931 the house merged with Agnes-Drecoll although Beer dresses continued to be made till 1953 (http://www.fashionmodeldirectory.com).

Bust: ~ 85 cm
Waist: ~ 60 cm
Front Length: ~ 145 cm
Back Length: ~ 175  cm