Vintage Pierre Cardin 1970s Two-Piece

Detail: A wonderful two piece ensemble by Pierre Cardin, dating to the late 1960s or early 1970s. Delicious geometric print. Worn together, this two piece delivers a very sleek silhouette. Buttons fasten (shirt style) to the top (unlined). Skirt closure with zip to hip. Skirt is fully lined.

Period: Late 1960s - early 1970s

Colour: Shades of blue, mauve, dusty pink and white

Sizing: Top - Shoulders seam to seam 13.5. Sleeve, shoulder seam to cuff 21. Bust 34. Waist upto 30. Length 26. Skirt - Waist 29 (should be worn drop waisted). Hips upto 36. Length 37. (inches). Size Conversion Chart

Fabric: Woll mix jersey

Condition: Excellent. Vintage Condition Chart

Care: Dry Clean

Styling tip: Perhaps a wide purple belt to accentuate the waist-line

Delivery Costs: UK FREE, Europe £15.00, International £31.00

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Aged 17, Cardin started working for French fashion designer Paquin in Paris. While working for Paquin, Cardin met many French intellectuals and heads of society. Using these connections, Cardin began designing and making the elaborate costumes for theatrical presentations and motion pictures. In 1946, Cardin's work could be seen in French film director Jean Cocteau's Beauty and the Beast. Cocteau was very impressed with the young Cardin and introduced him to designer Christian Dior, and soon started working for him as part of a 13 strong team who supported the launch of the all important “New Look” collection in 1947.

In 1949, Cardin left the House of Dior and in 1950, with the help of Marcel Escoffier, struck out on his own and became a costume designer in an attic shop where he would design many costumes for the French capital city's numerous balls and create his own line of suits for a clientele that would continue to expand. In 1953, he moved his operations into a six-story eighteenth-century mansion on the very fashionable Faubourg Saint-Honore and established the House of Cardin. In 1957 Cardin presented his first full fashion collection of over 120 styles. The show was an immediate success and Cardin soon became a member of the Chambre Syndicale de la Couture (Couture Employers' Federation) as one of the best designers in France.

Throughout the 1960s Cardin continued to design clothes for both men and women that became increasingly fanciful and replete with bright colors. But, knowing that some of his customers would not wear many of the avantgarde creations that he was producing, he soon began designing a separate and more traditional collection. Enormous success followed in America and then Japan, where the more traditional lines of Japanese clothing continued to make an impression on his designs that followed in the 70s.

In 1977, Cardin received the Golden Thimble of French Haute-Couture Award, made by Cartier, as designing the most creative collection of the season. In 1992, Cardin accepted a seat in the French Academy of Fine Arts as the nations highest-ranking fashion designer.