Replies

1. 
   Ckbklady | Sep 12, 2007 07:18pm | #1

   Hello!

   I came across this online - while it is only black and white pic of the Mantle Coat it may help you or other forum readers who want a visual reference for searching for a color pic. It is of Lisa Fonssagrieves, aka Mrs. Irving Penn, wife of the photographer, and is possibly the best known photo of the coat:

   http://alaintruong.canalblog.com/albums/balenciaga/photos/9760651-balenciaga_mantle_coat__a___paris_1950__photo_irving_penn.html

   Also, while not giving you what you're after, here is a lovely collection of enlargeable thumbnail photos of the Met's designer silk collection of the era:

   http://www.metmuseum.org/toah/hi/hi_txsi.htm

   Also not entirely useful but nice to look at along the way is this series of pics from the Met of their Balenciagas:

   http://www.metmuseum.org/toah/hd/bale/hd_bale.htm

   Perhaps to save you postage a forum member could scan the pic and present it here - is that permitted? I'm surprised that I cannot find a color pic of the coat on the vast Internet.

   Good luck!

   :) Mary

    

    

    

    

1. 
   auntmolly | Sep 12, 2007 09:08pm | #3

   Thank you

2. 
   BernaWeaves | Sep 12, 2007 08:15pm | #2

   The coat was in the June 1987 Threads.

   It's also on page 83 of "Great Sewn Clothes from Threads Magazine."

   I think it's just a very wide kimono with open sides, and then the shoulders and tops of the sleeves are just tucked up.

   The color photo shows it in dark tan colored wool, and describes it as a scarf-coat.

   "The sleeves and shoulder pleats are formed by a narrow taffeta ribon that runs inside the sleeves, from neckline to cuff, with each pleat tacked at approximately 4 inch intervals.  Despite its dramatic effect, the coat's armhole construction is actually a simple variation of the kimono."  Page 83  "Great Sewn Clothes from Threads Magazine" photo caption.

    

   Berna

1. 
   auntmolly | Sep 12, 2007 09:09pm | #4

   Wow!  Now I have to find that issue somehwere through inter-library loan -- if that's possible.

   Thank you.