This stunning dress sold in the summer of 2008. I purchased it from an amazing estate loaded with treasures the likes of which I have not seen since. This was, however, the crowning glory of the collection, without a doubt. Although I did not know at the time it was Boue Souers, it is something I later learned to some chagrin. But although the label had been lost to time, the quality and exquisite details were impossible to miss. It is why I saved photos, when I kept photos of very little in my short stint on ebay. A late teens transitioning to the shorter 20's style, it is still primarily Edwardian. The black silk underdress, however, could have as easily been styled by a couturier in France in the 1950s as earlier. It features this amazing side drape, which was later to be copied and adapted decades later. As beautiful as the netted cotton overdress is with its gorgeous Alencon lace, it was really almost tragic to cover up the underdress. Of course, this would be ten times more lovely shown in my current set on one of my beautiful models - but it deserves to be shown off anyway.
These days, I would recognize Boue Souers work, but this business can come with a steep learning curve. It did go to a museum in Japan, so it is being preserved.
The draped wiggle skirt of the dress:
The interior:
And with the overdress:
From the sturdy cotton net, to the extremely fine silk taffeta, amazing drape and style - to those incredible details in the form of handmade silk flower arrangements - I will never see another like this. It was exquisite. The photos are all I have, but I was honored to help preserve this piece.
