Sherrer trained as a professional dancer in Paris. He danced until he had an injury. He then focused on fashion design. In 1956 he was the assistant designer to Christian Dior and YSL. He learned how to design evening clothes as well as coats to match. In the mid sixties he opened his house, with exclusive rights at Bergdof Goodmans. This evening coat is probably from one of his last collections in 1981 where a French company bought him out a year or two before. The base silk has gold and black velvet appliqué in a floral pattern. There is a slight puff in the shoulders, there is no closure so you can see the vending gown underneath. The back has two large pleats in it which is a very Dior feature. The coat was worn to Ronald’s Reagan inaugural ball in Paris in January of 1981. Measures: shoulders 16, sleeves 25, armhole 9, bust 40, waist 42, hips 46, length 52.5.