Hi Carla,

Thank you for contacting Mearto with your appraisal inquiry.

Mike Benet was an American formalwear designer and manufacturer, best known for elaborate women's evening gowns, prom dresses, pageant dresses and bridal/formal wear. The company was established in the early 1960s, in Pittsburg, Texas. It remained associated with the Crowell family, with it eventually being owned by Jan and Mickey Crowell, the founder's daughter and son-in-law. In the 1990s, they moved the company to Dallas; I have not been able to find out when they closed or sold the company but it does not appear to be a company currently in production.

The company's records do not seem to be publicly available and I can't find anything about the company or this specific style number online. This is not uncommon in small, boutique companies...

Mike Benet gowns do not come to market often. I've found a handful currently listed online for prices retailing between $600 and $1,400, with ones more similar to yours priced at the higher end of that range. Looking at auction prices, the dozen or so that have sold at auctions have all sold for less than $150.

If you're looking to sell this, given the never-worn condition of this gown I would suggest pricing this at $2,000, which may be far less than what it was once worth. It's unlikely you will get anything near that amount if you took this to auction to sell (Augusta Auctions in Vermont is the best couture auctioneer in the country - they might have a different opinion and you might want to get their advice).

Please let us know if you have additional items to appraise, or questions/concerns, and thank you again for using Mearto.
~ Delia