GIANFRANCO FERRE Crinkled Purple Silk & Black Lurex Cocktail Dress, SZ 8

Sleeveless cocktail dress from Gianfranco Ferre features a stunning purple silk faille fabric enhanced with black jacquard lurex that looks like repoussé. The purple fabric is sewn in sections on top of a black stretchy knit shell that is the actual dress. It's not labeled but is most likely a synthetic blend with elastane or something similar for stretch. Closure is with a back zipper, and there's a shorter zipper at the bottom of the dress that can be used to create a walking vent. The square black designer label dates the dress from the mid-1980s to the early 1990s. It's labeled Italian size 42, which was equivalent to a US size 6. However, the dress appears to have been ingeniously altered  - so expertly in fact that it took a while for me to realize that the black stripes down the sides are probably not original to the dress. Current measurements indicate the dress is a modern size 8. Review the photos carefully because they too are part of the description. MEASUREMENTS* - Underarm chest is 37" - Waist is 29" - Hips are 37" - Length is 39" down center back. *Do not rely only on the size label or estimated size to determine fit. Always compare actual measurements with a similar garment that fits you. CONDITION Excellent condition with possible addition of one-inch wide black elastic stripe to each side of the dress, adding about two inches to each measurement. The workmanship is excellent, and the stripes are totally in keeping with the design of the dress.