Jean Louis

During the 1960s and 70s, the Bing Crosby Christmas Show became a beloved holiday tradition, bringing Bing together with his wife Kathryn and their children in a warmly staged celebration of family and song. To add to the festivity of the occasion, Kathryn and her daughter frequently appeared in matching mother–daughter outfits, most often elegant floor-length gowns. These ensembles conveyed holiday cheer through rich colors and luxurious fabrics, while also reflecting the importance of modesty and refinement.

This ivory matelassé evening coat, designed for Kathryn Crosby by celebrated Hollywood couturier Jean Louis and worn during the show in 1967, perfectly embodies that balance. Floor-length in cut with a fox-trimmed collar, large covered buttons at the bust, and an attached interior tulle petticoat, the piece exemplifies Jean Louis’s gift for pairing opulent materials with refined silhouettes. The luminous matelassé and fur trim impart seasonal splendor, while the structured underlayer ensured graceful movement on screen.