Exceptionally Rare Original 1920s Volup Navy Blue Flapper Blouse With Red Beading By French Couturier Adair House Of France

This exceptional tunic blouse was made in the 1920s from deep navy blue crepe. It was cut in the classic loose fitting style of the flapper era with a low slung silk tie belt to accentuate the drop waist. The line of the belt has been adorned with exquisite beadwork buckles and couture quality, hand applied beadwork decorates the piece throughout. Red beaded accents add a further highlight and draw the attention to the structural lines of the garment. A drawstring tie fastens the blouse at the intricately beaded V neckline and the tops of the sleeves echo the shape of the neck through beautiful pierced work. Inside, there is a maker’s label for Adair, House of France.

Adair were a Paris based atelier producing intricately beaded pieces for export to the UK, US and Canada. They were renowned for their exquisitely hand beaded garments with contrasting colours of beadwork and this tunic is a prime example of their work. Adair’s production peaked in the mid-1920s and we would date this blouse to circa 1923 based on the wonderful original advertising for a similar piece we found. Adair pieces are highly collectible due to their unusual use of multicoloured beading and a beautiful example is exhibited at the MET Museum in New York.

Please note the below are the maximum garment measurement but the tunic should be loose fitting and drape. The photographs show the garment on a mannequin measuring 32” bust and 24” waist with no pinning and only the integral belt used to tighten it. It will thus be suitable for a range of dress sizes up to a maximum of 2” smaller than the below measurements. 

Bust: 52”

Waist: 46”

Length: 27 1/2”

The tunic is in good condition with a few areas of bead loss, a seam split and some discolouration at the underarms (could not capture in the photographs as only shows in certain light) and on the front as pictured.

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