PARIS.- For the first time in Paris, Sotheby’s, in association with Kerry Taylor Auctions, announces the sale of fine haute couture from the renowned Didier Ludot collection on 8 July at the Galerie Charpentier.

Didier Ludot, France's greatest "fashion antiquarian”, surely needs no introduction. The magical showcase of his legendary Palais-Royal gallery is a must for any fashion-lover visiting Paris. Specialising and dealing in vintage fashion for more than forty years, he has carefully selected and set aside for his own personal collection many of the most important pieces he has handled.

With designs by Paul Poiret, Yohji Yamamoto, Madame Grès, Christian Dior, Cristobal Balenciaga, Azzedine Alaïa, Jean-Charles de Castelbajac, John Galliano and Comme des Garçons, Didier Ludot’s collection provides a comprehensive overview of 20th century fashion. The 150 items in the sale are a vibrant tribute to French haute couture and the time-honoured expertise of its craftspeople, who include tailors, embroiderers, leatherworkers, feather merchants, and lace makers.

Each piece was carefully chosen by Monsieur Ludot for its technical skill and beauty, sometimes to reflect the trademark style of the couturier who created it, or the elegance of the woman who wore it. It is to these women, famous and anonymous alike, to whom Didier Ludot owes his vocation.

This sale unveils their wardrobes and individual style: the Chanel “little black dress” with sequins owned by Romy Schneider; the Duchess of Windsor's psychedelic 60’s dress; Loulou de la Falaise's Yves Saint Laurent hat; Mona Bismarck's Balenciaga cape; the sculptural dresses Alaïa created for Bettina; the impeccable Dior jacket designed for Josette Day; Barbara Hutton's Cartier jewel box – and so the list goes on. These elegant women of past and present are an endless inspiration for our fantasies.

There are some stunning surprises among the 150 garments and accessories, produced between 1924 and the early 2000s. These unique pieces still in their original condition – all redolent with history, all emblematic of a moment in fashion, or a designer's style – make up a collection of extraordinary quality. They will appeal to private collectors, museums and stylish women the world over who buy vintage fashion to wear.

Today, Sotheby’s and Kerry Taylor Auctions are proud to assist a passionate, wholehearted collector who has now decided to pass on his treasures. Through this sale, Didier Ludot gives new life and new owners to his dresses, as the harbinger of a world where the exquisite meets the timeless.