Coat Dress

The one-piece coat dress, with narrow waist, exaggerated hips and wide swinging skirt, illustrates the line launched by Christian Dior (1905-1957) in 1947 and now called the “New Look”. It revolutionised post-war fashion and, after years of a masculine-influenced clothing, initiated a return to femininity, luxury and opulence. The dress closes in the front centre with five buttons. The lowest of these sits at hip level and beneath this the two front lengths fall open. A high, scarf-like collar complements the accented waistline. It is tailored at the top and opens out to a wide neckline that is curtailed by a pierced insert. Shawl collars were a favourite motif of Christian Dior: they flattered the female form and varied the curved lines of bust and hip.