42 - Christian Dior by John Galliano.

Christian Dior by John Galliano. An embellished lace cocktail dress from the Resort 2011 collection, look 38, in black rose-patterned lace over an ivory lining, featuring a strapless scalloped neckline, internally boned bodice, fitted silhouette and scalloped hem, with a trompe-l’œil bow across the waist decorated with black beads and sequins. Main fabric 80% cotton and 20% polyamide, lining 100% silk, additional textile 100% polyamide, embellishments of glass, crystal and Rhodoid, labelled French size 40 (UK 12), made in France. Grade A-B Notes: John Galliano’s Resort 2011 collection for Christian Dior was presented on Shanghai’s Bund in May 2010, marking the house’s first runway show in the city. Inspired by the French New Wave and the spirit of 1960s Paris, the collection combined gamine tailoring with romantic dresses, bows and recurring rose motifs. The presentation brought together ready-to-wear and couture, with corseted lace dresses and embroidered gowns expressing Galliano’s theatrical approach to femininity. The present dress reflects this interplay of youthful charm and carefully constructed glamour. Black rose-patterned lace stands sharply against the ivory silk lining, highlighting the floral design, while the internally boned bodice shapes the strapless silhouette. Scalloped edges at the neckline and hem soften the fitted outline, balancing structural precision with the delicacy of the lace. The embellished trompe-l’œil bow is a particularly distinctive feature. Rendered through black beads and sequins, it creates the illusion of a tied ornament across the waist without interrupting the dress’s close-fitting line. Its reflective surface adds depth to the floral lace, bringing together two prominent motifs of the collection—the rose and the bow—in a refined cocktail silhouette.