Hubert de Givenchy created this haute couture black silk taffeta dress for Spring 1955. Having learned pattern drafting many years ago, I view this dress from a sewer's standpoint. I can't look at this photo without wondering how in the world Givenchy made the fabric do what it does here and what do the pattern pieces for that skirt look like? I'm sure the dress is built upon a stiff foundation so the skirt holds its bell shape. There appear to be seams between the front buttoned panel and the draped side pieces. That front panel probably falls straight to the hem and the side panels are pulled around to the front and sewn one on top of the other at the hem And, even though you can't see them, I am sure those soft folds are held in place with hundreds of tiny invisible hand-worked stitches. In the end, what looks like a dress with lots of movement and softness is actually just the opposite. And that is one example of the art of couture.
