Renowned for its refined femininity and masterful tailoring, Carven built its haute couture legacy on sculpted silhouettes that balanced structure with elegance. This late 1960s to early 1970s Carven haute couture skirt suit is crafted from navy wool with a narrow pinstripe formed from tiny dashed lines, lending subtle texture and depth to the cloth. Of complex construction, the jacket is beautifully shaped with a wide pointed collar that echoes the curved lines of the design, a tightly nipped-in waist and softly flared hips. A trompe-l’œil white “shirt” is integrated beneath the jacket, rendered in a thick cotton fabric with a shawl collar just visible behind the lapels. It reappears at the centre waist, forming two crossing points that fasten onto the exterior of the jacket with pearlescent buttons. Additional faux white cuffs emerge at the sleeves, finished with matching buttons. The jacket fastens discreetly below the shirt points with tonal hidden snap closures and is lined in blue-grey satin. The matching skirt is cut from the same pinstripe wool in a high-waisted, below-the-knee A-line silhouette. It fastens at the back with a concealed zip and hook-and-eye and fully lined in coordinating blue-grey satin.

This ensemble is in truly excellent vintage condition and you would never know it was over half a century old. It has no size or composition labels being couture made and the fabric has no stretch. The suit would fit up to a size UK 8-10 or US 4-6 with a smaller waist measurement. Our model's sizes are: Bust: 33" (84cm), Waist: 26" (66cm), Hips: 34" (86cm) and Height: 5' 7" (170cm). She's a size UK 6, US 2.

Notes on Designer: Founded in 1945 by Marie-Louise Carven (born Carmen de Tommaso), the House of Carven was among the earliest French fashion houses to take its collections abroad soon after the end of World War II. Carven’s work was especially celebrated for its lightweight fabrics, fresh colors, and garments designed for petite women — a gap she identified from her own experience. Carven staged runway shows internationally, helping establish French ready-to-wear and couture on the global stage. Her 1946 perfume launch for “Ma Griffe” was famously promoted by dropping sample bottles over Paris from parachutes — a now-legendary PR stunt.

MEASUREMENTS JACKET

BUST - 38 in. (97 cm)

WAIST - 34 in. (86 cm)

HIP - 38 in. (97 cm)

LENGTH - 22 in. (56 cm)

SHOULDERS - 16 in. (41 cm)

MEASUREMENTS SKIRT

WAIST - 27 in. (69 cm)

HIP - 38 in. (97 cm)

LENGTH - 27.5 in. (68 cm)