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:
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’Officiel’s editorial on Flickr.
