Nina Ricci 1980s Ballgown Skirt

Based on the label, this extraordinary Nina Ricci skirt dates to the 1980s. Entirely crafted from lipstick-red silk taffeta and fully lined in the same fabric, the piece demonstrates an exceptional level of workmanship rarely seen today outside demi-couture production. Gérard Pipart was the creative director of Nina Ricci from 1963 to 1998 and was known for his flamboyant silhouettes and luxurious, voluminous skirts.

The skirt is crafted with a dramatically sculpted puffball hem and cascading waterfall front, while the back is elongated and softly pleated at the waist to add volume. There is a cummerbund-style waistband in matching silk taffeta. Whether couture or an exceptionally made salon piece, this is a piece ready-made for collectors or the red carpet.

The design bears a striking resemblance to many of the dramatic ballgowns designed by Gérard Pipart for Nina Ricci - seen in an editorial shot from Vogue Italy in 1986, another image from Town & Country's November 1989 issue, and also in the brand's own Fall 1991 and Fall 1996 couture shows. Red taffeta waterfall construction appeared again in the Fall 2009 Ready-to-Wear show, suggesting creative director Olivier Theyskens revisited this silhouette in its archives. More recently, Harris Reed’s brief but spectacular tenure at the house brought more spectacular crimson ballgowns.

• Nina Ricci • Silk taffeta • Ballgown skirt • Cummerbund waist • Waterfall front • Puffball hem • Lined in Silk • Made in France

Fabric: Silk
Lining: Silk
Stretch: No
Size on Label: French 38, UK 10, US 6 (measures small)
Care: Dry clean only
Condition: Excellent

Waist: 63.5 cm (25 inch)
Hips: Full-skirt so flexible
Length: 147.5 cm (58 inch)