Sybil Connolly Dublin 2pc green pleated linen top and maxi skirt from the 1960s. Sybil Connolly made her debut as a designer in 1952, by the following year, one her gowns was featured on the cover of Life magazine titled. ‘Irish invade Fashion World’ . Her ball gowns were photographed by Norman Parkinson for the July 1954 edition of Vogue. Her legendary pleated dresses were made of Irish handkerchief linen, Connolly said that she first discovered this featherweight weave in a Northern Ireland factory where it had been manufactured many years earlier to be made into fine linen handkerchiefs for the monarchs of Europe, but after the First World War, there weren’t enough of them (monarchs) left. The pleating technique she devised took nine yards of linen to create one yard of finished material! A white evening dress called, First Love, made of three hundred linen handkerchiefs with five thousand pleats caused a sensation in the US. It took approximately five weeks to create one of her exclusive pleated linen gowns. She told the Los Angeles Examiner in 1955 that her work was rarely copied due to the amount of handwork involved. Jacqueline Kennedy wore one of Connolly's pleated linen dresses for her official White House portrait. From the early 1960s, a lime green pleated handkerchief linen evening dress consisting of top & evening skirt with the original coordinating silk stripe belt...The top, a sleeveless wrap bodice, the neckline framed in a deep ruffle of pleated linen. The bodice front and back is done in horizontal pleating with a deep linen peplum below (to be tucked into the skirt), fully backed in white taffeta (you can see the immaculate stitching, as the pleats are attached to the lining!). The top closes at the side with hand covered hooks and handmade eyes. The matching long skirt is pleated in four panels, the front and back form an A line shape of horizontal pleats with vertical cording at each front & back side, each side is a separate panel. The skirt closes with hooks at the narrow banded waist and is fully lined in white taffeta. There are a couple of spots to mention one on the ruffle at the bodice front and a couple on the skirt 3 on the lower side one small and probably age related, the other along the cord edge and one on the skirt lower back. The lining of the bodice has light yellowing at the upper back, possibly makeup. We have not had this amazing piece cleaned. As it is, it could be worn with a little adjustment to a pleat here and there, the spotting isn't blatant! The fabric is fresh and strong, with no weakness. Please email for detailed photos of the spotting! In excellent wearable condition.
All our clothing is inspected for condition and is ready to wear. Any condition issues will be noted. For visual comparison our mannequin is a size 4. Please check the measurements provided below and compare with your own measurements for the best possible fit!
Please contact us if you have any questions about this item or need more photos.
Measurements are in inches:
Top note: the bodice will fit a larger bust & waist
Bust 40
Waist 34
Shoulder top to edge of pleated fabric 16
Linen peplum 7 1/4
Skirt
Waist 31
Hip 40
Length 41 1/2
Contour silk wast belt 35 1/2, end to end 2 1/2 wide
