PARIS VINTAGE #13

PARIS VINTAGE #13 opens with a legendary couple: Mistinguett and Maurice Chevalier. Their likenesses appear on an extraordinary pair of shoes hand-painted by André Perugia, a visionary figure in 20th-century footwear, to whom the Bata Shoe Museum in Toronto is currently dedicating a major exhibition. Testament to an era when fashion interacted naturally with the performing arts, these exceptional shoes are accompanied by several other creations by Perugia, true manifestos of elegance and innovation.

From this same period, several 1930s dresses captivate with their charming prints, refined details, and skillful construction, reminding us of how fashion at that time was able to blend whimsy and sophistication.

Christian Dior’s “Abandon” dress, created for the Fall-Winter 1948 collection, is reborn here in a spectacular reissue crafted by the Haute Couture ateliers. Preserved in the house’s heritage collections and regularly exhibited, the original design remains one of the most famous silhouettes of the postwar era. A striking demonstration of the ability of certain creations to stand the test of time without losing their impact.

A few decades later, a completely different vision of femininity was expressed through two iconic lamé ensembles designed by Thierry Mugler for the Fall-Winter 1978/79 collection. Bold shoulders, a sculpted waist, and unapologetic glamour: the designer was already establishing the spectacular aesthetic that would make him one of the great architects of the 1980s silhouette.

This celebration of spectacular fashion continues with several evening gowns by Jacqueline de Ribes. Majestic volumes, theatrical drapery, and vibrant colors: these creations embody the regal elegance of the woman who was nicknamed “the last queen of Paris.” Several similar designs are now part of the collections at the Costume Institute of the Metropolitan Museum of Art in New York.

In stark contrast, a vest from Maison Martin Margiela’s Ligne Artisanale collection, dating from Spring/Summer 1993, charts a completely different course: that of minimalism, upcycling, and conceptual design.

And because a look is often defined by the details, the sale also features numerous accessories, including two rare Hermès bags: a rust-colored Kelly Ado and a red Médor bag from the 2025 collection.

Alaïa, Chanel, Pierre Balmain, Yves Saint Laurent, Jean-Paul Gaultier, Prada, Balenciaga, Valentino, Givenchy … Nearly 400 lots thus offer a free-flowing journey through the history of fashion, where masterpieces, rarities, and personal favorites come together with a shared purpose: the pleasure of looking, collecting, and, above all, wearing.