1stDibs ExpertOctober 15, 2024
No, Jacques Marcel was not a real designer. He was a fictional character mentioned on the television show I Love Lucy in the 1956 episode “Lucy Gets a Paris Gown.” In the show, Lucy wants to purchase an expensive gown from a Parisian fashion designer, but Ricky attempts to trick her by sewing a Jacques Marcel label into a dress made of a flour sack. Today, the faux Marcel-designed frock is displayed at the Lucille Ball & Desi Arnaz Museum in Jamestown, New York. Although his dress wasn't made of burlap, Hubert de Givenchy did unveil a dress nicknamed the Sack dress in the 1950s. It featured a straight cut and was fashioned out of soft materials, giving it a fluid, draped appearance. On 1stDibs, explore a wide range of vintage dresses.