A rare museum calibre example from Vivienne Westwood's celebrated F/W 1990 Portrait collection, this sculptural black velvet dress is printed throughout with Westwood's iconic metallic Boulle motif, inspired by the ornate marquetry of seventeenth-century French cabinetmaker André-Charles Boulle. One of the designer's most important collections, Portrait marked Westwood's shift towards historical dress as high fashion, with the Boulle print becoming one of the defining textiles of the collection and remaining among the most sought after motifs in the Vivienne Westwood archive.

This midi length velvet dress follows the body with a clean, elongated silhouette, allowing the richly detailed gilt print to take centre stage. Unlike the more commonly encountered bodysuits and jersey variations, the velvet dress is exceptionally scarce and possesses a depth and luminosity that gives the metallic print remarkable presence. The identical version of this dress was worn by Vivienne Westwood herself to close her F/W 1991 runway show in Paris and variations have since been worn by Marisa Tomei, Dorit Kemsley, and featured in the cult British television series Absolutely Fabulous, cementing its status as one of the designer's enduring archival signatures. An exceptionally rare collector's piece from one of the most influential collections in late twentieth-century fashion.

Made in England.

Reference Photos: (1-2) Vivienne Westwood Fashion Show F/W 1991, (3) Vivienne Westwood Lookbook F/W 1990, (4) Jennifer Saunders in Absolutely Fabulous, (5) Marisa Tomei, (6) Dorit Kelsmley

Marked size: 2

Best for: M

Measurements (taken with garment laid flat, fastened & unstretched): shoulder to shoulder: 16"/41cm, bust: 15.5"/40cm, waist: 13.5"/35cm, hips: 17.5"/45cm, length: 34.5″/88cm, sleeve length: 22″/56.5cm

Material: unmarked

Condition: Excellent/Very Good; minor signs of wear to print