Hi Elizabeth,

Thank you for contacting Mearto with your appraisal inquiry.

According to Couture Allure, Bob Bugnand was born in France in 1924. He trained in top Paris couture houses, including working with celebrated designers such as Lucien Lelong, Jacques Heim, and Robert Piguet, honing skills in couture tailoring and elegant garment construction. In the 1950s, Bugnand established his own couture workroom in Paris, where he created elegant custom fashions for a high-end clientele.

In 1957, he opened a couture salon on East 62nd Street in New York City. Here, wealthy American clients could be measured and select designs, which were then sent to Paris, crafted, and returned for final fittings — giving Americans access to true Paris couture without traveling overseas. He was accepted into the prestigious French haute couture Chambre Syndicale in 1960, an indicator of his standing within the couture world.

In 1962, Bugnand collaborated with the U.S. dress manufacturer Sam Friedlander, designing couture-quality cocktail and evening dresses that were more accessible in price yet still finely made. You have one of these dresses.

Increasingly more auction houses (Bonhams and Christie's alongside long-standing fashion house Augusta) are holding couture sales and this might be well-suited to one such, where other Bugnand x Friedlander designs of similar style and vintage have sold in the range of $300-500. Given the wear to yours, a more conservative range should be expected, likely $200-400.

Based on the photos and information provided, and subject to examination, this is:

A vintage shantung silk, chiffon and beaded shift dress
Bob Bugnand for Sam Friedlander, circa 1960s
In silver shantung silk, with silk chiffon and bead upper bodice, sleeveless, above/knee length.
(DIMENSIONS)
CONDITION: With deterioration of the silk chiffon at the shoulders and some slight bead loss
PROVENANCE: Unknown
$ 200-400*
*represents a fair-market value for auction purposes; retail or asking price may vary.

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