antique 1940s crepe beaded dress

antique 1940s silk crepe beaded dress thick fabric (silk or faux silk?) in dark muted purple, pale mauve collar with swirls & meandering patterns of silvery glass beadwork shoulder pads, side metal Talon zipper closure had two thin belt loops (belt is missing, one loop is broken: eaten by the zipper next to it) manikin picture is a picture of a the same style dress from a fashion archive Puritan Forever Young Authorized Reproduction of Catherine Parel, 22 Avenue Montaigne Paris armpit to armpit: 22” total length: 48” waist: 37” (all around) skirt length: 29” arm length: 18” made very, very well. overall fading and some small stains not stained in armpits has a dusty smell (not mildew!) possibly antique cigarette smoke? has not been cleaned Puritan Dress Company made licensed reproductions of European designs in the 40s-60s. This style of label dates from the late ‘40s. Catherine Parel was Russian-born Yekaterina Bobrikova, a former model for House of Lanvin who released two small collections per year in 1936-48 for her clients including Parisian actresses/singers Michèle Morgan and Lys Gauty. She also created costumes for French cinema, most famously 1946's La Symphonie Pastorale. #1940s #french #beaded