I had the twin of the dress ages ago and I was so pleased to find another one for the shop. Ungaro passed away in December of 2019 and that always makes you look at a designer's work with a new appreciation. He launched his label in 1965 after stints at Balenciaga and Courrreges. His pret-a-porter line, Ungaro Parallele, was created in 1968. He was a brilliant designer who was known for his of colours and flamboyance. I have included several reference photos of the couture version of the dress from the Fall 1985 collection so you can see how amazing it is on the body. It is a gorgeous dress. 

I absolutely love this dress. The color is wonderful. It is perfect shade of a pretty purple. He has used two types of fabric for the dress. The structured and shaped bust is done in a solid and then for the skirt the fabric has a secondary pattern of dots woven through it in a tone on tone application. The fabric is light in weight so despite the elaborate construction of the bodice the dress is not heavy to wear. It has enough structure built into the bust to hold the shape but the skirt just draped lightly over you and seems to float around the body. The strapless bodice is peaked and plunged at the centre. It is elaborately pleated and fitted around the bust with hand placed and gathered folds. Inside there is  structure and wiring to hold the shape. The bodice has a touch of asymmetry to it with one peak sitting slightly higher then the other. Under that the skirt falls from under the bust and is set into that seam with soft gathers all around. It wraps around you and closes at the back with an intricate closure of silk covered snaps that are hidden along the back seam. It unusual to have a dress close like this and it gives an interesting effect at the back where the fabric wraps over itself and leave a long graceful curve down one side. This allows a bit of leg to show at the back when you walk too. Excellent overall condition with a minor note below

Fully lined in a purple silk chiffon and closes with a back zipper on the corseted interior and then the skirt snaps into place along the seam line. The bodice is boned and shaped. There is a touch of fading to the fabric along the edge of the back panel. Please see the photo after the label shot. Hand finishes

Bust: 17" flat across from side seam to side seam
Inner waist: 13.5" flat across from side seam to side seam
Hips: open
Length: 54" from top of bodice to hem

Modern Sizing Equivalent: SML-MED

Item# DD3353

Reference Photo: (1) F/W 1985/86 Emanuel Ungaro Haute Couture Runway.  /  (2) F/W 85/86 Emanuel Ungaro Haute Couture. Photo by Hiro.  /  (3) F/W 85/86 Emanuel Ungaro Haute Couture. Photo by Marco Glaviano.

This garment has been professionally cleaned, pressed and is odor free. Thoroughly checked over before shipping, it will be ready to wear upon arrival.