Fall 1996 Pierre Balmain by Oscar de la Renta Haute Couture Layered Silk Chiffon Dress w Embroidered Bodice Shop By Size Reference Photos: "Alaia Throws A

Reference Photos: "Alaia Throws A Curve" by Jean Baptiste Mondino Mode for Vogue US November 1991  /  Runway photo Alaia F/W 1991 from vogue

You can top this with the little cropped jacket for a bit more coverage or you can add the wide belt that will completely hide the bare middle and turn it into a proper dress

In the oversized photo portfolio for the 1997 Chanel Cruise Collection there is an all black version of this dress shown on the last page where the entire collection is shown in thumbnails

At the waist

I love the short cropped cut to it and the way the feathers are set in distinct rows with a border of feathers around that to add a little interest and contrast

Fall 1996 Pierre Balmain by Oscar de la Renta Haute Couture Layered Silk Chiffon Dress w Embroidered Bodice Shop By Size Reference Photos: "Alaia Throws AIn 1993 Oscar de la Renta took over as Creative Director at Balmain where he designed the Haute Couture collections until 2002. The house had been floundering at that point and he had a huge impact on the reviving the sales of the couture pieces, mainly by catering to private clients, much like Balmain had originally. It is extraordinary to think that Oscar never produced a Haute Couture line under his own label and these few short years at Balmain