Who's Mary Vickers ?

In the scene where Julie (Bette Davis) is having her ball gown fitted at Madame Pullard's, there is a mention of a woman named Mary Vickers. Madame Pullard says something in Creole-French but mentions Mary Vickers. Aunt Belle says to Julie, "You heard Madame Pullard. That infamous Vickers woman". Julie replies, "Mary Vickers couldn't do it justice." It was very confusing but I've tried to figure it out. They mention that name the minute Julie decides to wear the red dress. I assumed the red dress actually belonged to Mary Vickers, a woman who was scorned and treated as an outcast, possibly because she had done the same thing Julie did- wore red to the ball when she was supposed to wear white.