Description
A high-waisted peplum skirt from the late 1980s or early 90s, this darkest navy blue rayon beauty was designed by Mitsuhiro Matsuda. An influential designer and ready-to-wear pioneer in 1960s and 70s Japan, Matsuda became one of the Tokyo Designer Six in 1974. TD6 was a collective whose aim was to establish Tokyo as a center for fashion innovation, and was responsible for creating the first official Fashion Week in Tokyo. He became better known internationally in the 1980s, under both the Matsuda name and his label Nicole.
This knee-length skirt has a double-layered front, with the outer, over-layer of the peplum falling to mid-thigh, over the longer under-layer. The front of the skirt is quite full and swingy, below the extra-high, wide fitted waistband, in front only. In back, the skirt is fit more closely to the body, creating a unique shape! The back waist is a no-waistband, “Hollywood-waist” style: clean, with darts but no waist seam, and still fitting quite high above the natural waist. The soft, mid-weight, and beautifully drapey, dark blue rayon has a diagonal rib texture, quite similar to 1940s rayon gabardine. The front half of the skirt only is lined in rayon taffeta; the back half is unlined. The skirt fastens with a heavy-weight metal zipper at the center back. Its high waistband starts at the natural waist at its bottom edge, and rises about 2.5 inches above the natural waist at its top edge.
This circa late 80s Matsuda peplum skirt, as nicely-made as any 1940s skirt I’ve encountered, is in excellent condition. It has been freshly dry-cleaned and looks great!
Size: S.
- Natural waist (at bottom of waistband): 28 inches flat, to fit up to 27.5 max.
- High waist/lower ribcage (at top of waistband): 29.5 inches flat, to fit up to 29 max.
- Hip: 40 inches flat (measured across back and doubled) to fit up to 38 max.
- Length: 26 inches total (23.5 from natural waist to hem).
- Waistband width: 2.5 inches.
- Label: Matsuda Nicole Tokyo Japan, Made in Japan, 100% Rayon
