A rare and early Beer day and evening ensemble, circa 1905, labelled 'Beer, 7 Place Vendôme' to the waistbands, comprising day and evening bodices and matching over-skirt, of black Chantilly lace with ivory, rose-printed organza panels outlined in chain-stitch in fine gold thread, black velvet ribbon stripes, ivory tulle edgings with pale blue ribbon and chemical lace bands, black taffeta cummerbund waistbands, the evening bodice with wide neckline and flounced cuffs with paste inset buckles to the back, the day bodice with high neck and long sleeves trimmed with ribbons, bust approx 92cm, 36in, waist 66cm, 26in (3) Gustave Beer was the first couturier to open a fashion house on Place Vendôme, which he did c.1905. Known for conservative, lady-like fashions and fine lingerie his success was partly due to the aggressive sales techniques of his vendeuses who were known to visit all the best hotels of Paris to in order to solicit foreign tourists for business. Like many great pre-war houses, it struggled with the more minimal gamine looks of the 1920s. In 1929 Beer merged with Drecoll becoming Drecoll-Beer. From 1929 to 1930, L'Officiel shows Drecoll-Beer having moved to 24 Place Vendôme. When Drecoll merged with Agnes in 1931, the Beer name was finally dropped.

• Evening bodice is good condition, very fresh with good taffeta lining. The tulle edging is a bit frayed but the bodice itself is stable and good. Plain ivory organza area (concealed by closure) is fragile. • Day bodice is fragile. There are splits around the neck and collar areas. Grease marks to collar lining. Splits in the black organza at rear shoulders and underarms, ivory chiffon ruffles are fragile, tulle bands applied with small ribbon bows to each side of the central rose printed panel are fragile and disintegrating. Most of the taffeta lining is good apart from the underarm and neck areas. Back of the bodice is generally good. Front of bodice – plain ivory organza and tulle areas (underneath the printed floral organza panel) are poor condition or lacking. Tulle band with bows which edges from closure is fragile. Rhinestones missing from gilt buttons. • The overskirt is lacking the waistband and ivory taffeta underskirt but the overskirt itself is good condition.