emilio pucci
Wonderful 1960s Emilio Pucci Two Piece Cotton & Cotton Voile Pink & Yellow Skirt & Top Set
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I am always thrilled to find a really great Emilio Pucci piece. The truly great ones are getting very hard to find and this set is fabulous. By the 1960s, the time period that this set is from, Pucci was a well established world-wide phenomenon. Hollywood stars like Marilyn Monroe, Sophia Loren and even Jackie Kennedy were huge fans. all of the jet society and Palm Beach women were wearing Pucci. This was the heyday of the label and the pieces are some of the best ever made. For all of the many attempts since to catapult the label back to the height of its glory, the days when Emilio himself oversaw the label and designed the prints will always be the most special to me.
Both pieces are made out of one of his signature cottons in two different weights. The skirt is made out of a thicker cotton that allows it to hold its shape and then the top is made out of a more cotton voile that is light and easy with thicker cotton used for the borders and cuffs. Like his silk jerseys this was a fabric that he preferred because of the way it held colour. Both the skirt and the top are screened with one of his custom prints that he has laid out onto the fabric in a very deliberate way to highlight the cut and line of the pieces. An explosion of tiny pink flowers in fronds of grass cover the set from head to toe. I love that you can wear the pieces together or mix and match them with things you already own. The sleeves on the top are long and cuffed so that they pouf out slightly over the cuffs once on. The collar is notched and it buttons down the front with matching fabric covered buttons. The collar, down the front, around the hem and around the cuffs are all edged with a contrasting border. The fabric of the cuffs and collar is a little heavier weight than the lighter cotton of the body of the top. It is also has this tiny edging of a solid pink and I love this extra bit of contrast. You can wear the shirt out or tuck it as we have in most of the shots. The skirt wraps to close and then buttons down one side with matching fabric covered buttons. We see that same contrasting border run around the waist, behind the buttons and around the hem. The fabric of the skirt is a thicker cotton that does not have any transparency. I love how there is a second border just above the hem for a little extra detail. It falls from the waist and and then over the hips in an easy way before falling to the floor. Both pieces are absolutely gorgeous in this colour combination and print. Both pieces appear to have worn very little if at all. Excellent condition.
Both the top and the skirt are unlined and close with buttons as seen. Each cuff buttons to close. Both pieces are tagged a vintage Pucci 12.
Top
Sleeves: 22" and 13" around the upper arm
Shoulders: 15"
Bust: 17.5" flat across from side seam to side seam
Waist: 16" flat across from side seam to side seam
Bottom seam: 19" flat across from side seam to side seam
Length: 26" from top of bodice to waist
Skirt
Waist: 13.5" flat across from side seam to side seam
Hips: 17" flat across from side seam to side seam
Length: 37" from waist to hem
Modern Sizing Equivalent: SML-MED
Item# DD4682
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oscar de la renta
Dreamy 2000s Oscar de la Renta Pink Net & Floral Silk Dress w Bead & Flower Sequin Detailing
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This is one of the prettiest Oscar dresses I have ever had in the shop and I love it. The movement it has when it is on and you walk is just incredible. We found some examples starting in 1997 and into collections in the early 2000s that had dresses with the similar cut but have not yet been able to find the exact date yet. This dress is definitely a dress that could walk a carpet and it would also make an amazing alternative dress in a more extended wedding celebration or as a guest. It is just the prettiest.
This is a truly gorgeous dress. The inner dress is pale pink silk chiffon with a pink silk lining under that. Onto the silk chiffon layer he added little pastel coral flowers that have individual petals that have been cut out and secured to the silk by clusters of little pink sequins. These cover the entire inner dress from the top of the bodice to the hem of the skirt. Over that is a layer of pale pink silk netting. The netting starts at the top of the shoulders and is unlined above the neckline. It continues from there to cover the entire to the hem. On that top unlined part of the netting little flower shaped pink sequins secured by little beads have been scattered over the netting. It hooks to close at the back of the neck and then there is an open keyhole from there to where the zipper starts. Onto the remainder of the netting are extensive curving patterns of silver tube beads and more of those flower shaped sequins in two shades of pale pink and ivory. These are places to sit perfectly over the silk chiffon flowers on that chiffon layer underneath. The effect this creates is just absolutely stunning. It is like wearing a pretty spring bouquet from head to toe. The beading and sequins are very subtle and have a slightly more matte feel to them that I love. It is absolutely lovely. Excellent condition with a minor note below.
Fully lined as described above, and the bodice has a full built in boned and cupped corset. The corset closes with its own zipper and then the dress zips to close over that and it buttons with a rhinestone button at the back of the neck. Perhaps the occasional sequin missing and loose thread. There is one tear in the netting at the back near the zipper. Please see the photo after the label shot
Bust: 16" flat across from side seam to side seam with room for an A to B cup at the front
Waist: 12.5" flat across from side seam to side seam
Hips: to 21" flat across from side seam to side seam
Bodice: 17" from top of shoulder to waist
Total length: 61" from top of the shoulder to hem
Modern Sizing Equivalent: XS-SML
Item# DD4683
All items are thoroughly checked over before shipping. Unless noted everything in our shop has been professionally cleaned. All sales are final. Overseas clients will be emailed to obtain agreement to our final sales policy before the order is shipped as per our return policy.
valentino
Fall 2016 Valentino by Pierpaolo Piccioli & Maria Grazia Chiuri Runway Look 26 Dusty Pink Printed Silk Dress
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The colours for the Fall 2016 Valentino show were muted dusty pinks, greys, neutrals and blacks. The theme of the Valentino show was all about the ballet and modern dance. Maria told Vogue that “We always think fashion is cultural, not just about delivering clothes. We want this show to be about living your moments, feeling each moment uniquely. I really love fashion. This job we do is a good opportunity to describe the time we’re in.” The twin of the dress walk the runway for Look 26 and it is an incredibly easy to wear and flattering piece once on the body.
This is a thoroughly Valentino feeling dress. The dress is made from a single layer of a feather light weight silk chiffon in the prettiest possible pale dusty pink. Think scarf weight. This is what lets it move so beautifully over the body once it is on. When you walk the fabric of the dress catches the air and billows out around you. The front is cut high to frame the neck and then falls from there, extending out from the neckline to the floor. The dress is incredibly full by the time it reaches the hem with the skirt widening out quite a bit. The dress has an amazing amount of fabric in it and it floats and moves beautifully around you. You can see the amount of fabric just by the way it falls in the photos and in the video we have added. The silk has a beautiful geometric pattern that covers the entire dress. A seam run down the centre and you can see the care that has been taken to match up the pattern on the seams there and elsewhere on the dress. The sleeves are long and the pattern continues to be matched up there. The precision in cut to have this all match and still move so beautifully should not be underestimated. It is an utterly beautiful dress and will take your breath away in person. Excellent overall condition with a note below.
Fully lined in a matching pale, dusty pink silk chiffon and closes with a hidden set back zipper. In it's original uncut length. There are some very faint watermarks near the collar, the waist of the dress and some small areas on the hem. Please see the photos after the label shot. Tagged a Valentino 8. The easy and generous cut should fit a range of sizes as long as the shoulders work.
Neck: 16" around
Sleeves: 22.5" and 13" around the upper arm
Shoulders: 15"
Bust: 21" flat across from side seam to side seam
Waist: 22.5" flat across from side seam to side seam
Hips: open
Total length: 59" from top of the shoulder to hem
Modern Sizing Equivalent: SML-LRG
Item# DD4684
Reference Photos/Video: (1-5) Fall 2016 Valentino, Look 26. Model Allyson Chalmers. / (6) Fall 2016 Valentino Ad Campaign by Steven Meisel.
All items are thoroughly checked over before shipping. Unless noted everything in our shop has been professionally cleaned. All sales are final. Overseas clients will be emailed to obtain agreement to our final sales policy before the order is shipped as per our return policy.
andre courreges
Cutest 1970s Andre Courreges Paris Numbered Hyperbole Blue & White Check Skirt & Jacket Suit Set
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This is such a gorgeous spring / summer set. Both pieces are made from a textured white and blue checked fabric that feels like it is a cotton or cotton mix. Within each little square is a bit of ribbing texture and then there is stitching between the squares. This all adds a very nice subtle dimension to the fabric. The additional stitching helps to hold its shape so that it sits perfectly once on the body. The jacket is tailored with a sleek and simple cut. There is no collar and the neckline simply scoops down at the front with a white border. The fabric of the border has a touch stiffer to it. The border circles around the cuffs, the bottom hem of the jacket and also details the skirt. It snaps to close down the front with painted white snaps which was a signature of his work. The shoulders are soft and the sleeves are short and simple. The shape of the jacket is boxy through the body and it is cropped to the waist. The skirt is equally simple in shape with a simple A-line cut. It snaps down the front as well with two more on the waist band at the front. That same white border circles the waist, runs down the front behind the snaps and then goes around the hem. At the back there is an inverted pleat and this gives a little kick when you walk. This is prettier in real life than how it photoed and is a perfect little suit for spring. Excellent condition
The jacket is unlined, and the skirt is lined in a white silky rayon. Both the jacket and the skirt snapped to close as shown. The jacket is numbered. Tagged a Courreges size 0
Jacket
Sleeves: 8" and 10.5" around the bottom sleeve
Shoulders: 13"
Bust: to 14.5" flat across from side seam to side seam
Bottom hem: to 13.5" flat across from side seam to side seam
Length: 16" from neck to hem
Skirt
Waist: to 12" flat across from side seam to side seam
Hip: 16" flat across from side seam to side seam
Total length: 20.5" from waist to hem
Modern Sizing Equivalent: XXS-XS
Item# DD4681
All items are thoroughly checked over before shipping. Unless noted everything in our shop has been professionally cleaned. All sales are final. Overseas clients will be emailed to obtain agreement to our final sales policy before the order is shipped as per our return policy.
chanel
Spectacular Cruise 2007 Chanel by Karl Lagerfeld Chanel Logo Print Dress & Stripe Cashmere Cardigan
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This dress and cardigan set has come to me direct from one of my avid Couture and Chanel collectors. It is an exceptional piece for the collector and is extremely special. These pieces were sold separately in the Chanel boutiques and it was difficult for clients to be able to purchase both pieces because they were not sent to all boutiques. My client did manage to get the two pieces and it is lovely to have them together. Two versions of this look were shown on the runway and then this dress was produced as well and it falls between those two in length. This one has the extra added provenance that a version was also shot on Kate Moss that season. I love it as a set and I love that you can wear the dress or the cardigan on its own which extends their life as pieces in your wardrobe even more.
The dress is a work of art and the silk chiffon used to make it is some of the finest, lightest chiffon I have seen. The fabric is notoriously difficult to work with and with all the intricate detailing putting this together with the lace would have taken a ton of man hours especially at this level of workmanship. It is just spectacular. The silk has a slight texture to it which adds to the interest of the dress. It is covered in various renditions of the Chanel logo and most have an almost graffiti like feel to them. I love the pops of pink and blue that this adds. The tiny cap sleeves have a layer of lace over them and sit on the top of your shoulder. The neckline scoops down at the front and the silk is gathered up into a knot at the base of the scoop. A wide panel of lace wraps around the waist and at the back the lace extends from the sleeves all the way down to the back seam where the zipper starts. There is a open slit from the top of the neck to where the zipper begins. The skirt falls from under that band of lace at the waist and falls in a swoop of feather light silk chiffon to a raw hem. Another wide band of lace circles around the skirt just above the hem. This beautifully ties the whole dress together. The movement this dress has once on is incredible. The sweater is equally incredible. It is made out of 100% cashmere and is a beautiful striped design in a deep dusky pink an ivory and a blue. It has no collar and it buttons down the front with two pockets on each hip. I love the ribbing at the end of each cuff and around the bottom of the sweater. Pink enamel and silver double C embossed dome buttons run down the front and sit on each pocket. It is the perfect contrasting complement to the print of the dress. This is a phenomenal Chanel set. Excellent condition with a minor note below.
The dress is lined with the same fabric through the bodice and a black silk chiffon for the skirt. It closes at the back with hidden set zipper and a hook and eye at the top of the neck. The cardigan buttons to close down the front. I see the tiniest bit of stress to the fabric and a tiny repair at the edge of the arms. Please see the photo after the label shot. The dress is tagged a modern Chanel 40 and the cardigan is tagged a Chanel 42. The cardigan does have some stretch and the measurements below are of it flat and not stretched.
Dress
Bust: to 17" flat across from side seam to side seam
Waist: 14" flat across from side seam to side seam
Inner hips: to 19" flat across from side seam to side seam
Bodice: 15" from top of shoulder to waist
Total length: 45.5" from top of shoulder to hem
Cardigan
Sleeves: 24" and 12" around the upper arm
Shoulders: 14.5"
Bust: 18" flat across from side seam to side seam
Waist: 16" flat across from side seam to side seam
Hips: 14" flat across from side seam to side seam
Total length: 23" from shoulder to hem
Modern Sizing Equivalent: SML-MED
Item# DD4680
Reference Photos/Videos: (1-4) Cruise 2007 Chanel, Look 26 & 30. / (5-6) Kate Moss by Bruce Weber for Vogue, November 2006.
All items are thoroughly checked over before shipping. Unless noted everything in our shop has been professionally cleaned. All sales are final. Overseas clients will be emailed to obtain agreement to our final sales policy before the order is shipped as per our return policy.
oscar de la renta
Prettiest 1980s Oscar de la Renta Tiny Spring Rose Print Skirt & Short Sleeve Jacket Suit Set
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This is such a pretty little spring / summer set. Both pieces are made from a textured white fabric that feels like it has a bit of a cotton mix in it. The added texture in the fabric helps to hold its shape and sit perfectly once on the body. It is then detailed with the prettiest little pink and red rose print with a green stem and leaves. These tiny little flowers are scattered over both pieces. The jacket is tailored with a sleek and simple cut. The collar is neat and notched and it buttons down the front with matching fabric covered buttons. All of the buttonholes are properly made. The shoulders are lightly padded for shape and the sleeves are short and simple in feel. It curves in at the waist by the way that it seamed and then there are two decorative flaps on each hip. It is to curve out and over the hips and I love the pretty and feminine feel this gives the jacket. The skirt is simple in shape with an A-line cut and a band at the waist and hidden set zipper. The set is even prettier in real life than how it photoed and it is a perfect little suit for spring. Good condition with notes below
Both pieces are lined in a white silk. The jacket closes with four buttons at the front and the skirt zips to close at the back with hook & eye at the waistband. Light padding in the shoulders. A tiny bit of colour run to the fabric on the front of the jacket, faint marks under the arms inside and out, and perhaps a tiny faint mark here and there. All minor and it presents well. Please see the photo after the label shot. The jacket is tagged a vintage ODLR 6 and the skirt has no size tag
Jacket
Sleeves: 10.5" and it is 12" around the upper arm
Shoulders: 15"
Bust: to 18.5" flat across from side seam to side seam
Waist: to 15" flat across from side seam to side seam
Bottom hem: to 19" flat across from side seam to side seam
Length: 23" from neck to hem
Skirt
Waist: to 14" flat across from side seam to side seam
Hip: 19" flat across from side seam to side seam
Total length: 22" from waist to hem
Modern Sizing Equivalent: SML-MED
Item# DD4679
All items are thoroughly checked over before shipping. Unless noted everything in our shop has been professionally cleaned. All sales are final. Overseas clients will be emailed to obtain agreement to our final sales policy before the order is shipped as per our return policy.
oscar de la renta
Incredible Pre-Fall 2015 Oscar de la Renta Runway Look 36 Pale Muted Metallic Gold Applique & Net Dress
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This dress was the final look on the runway and it is absolutely stunning. The pieces from this collection feel to me like they have an extra bit of sentiment to them. As Vogue noted in their review. "Pre-Fall 2015 was the last collection he (Oscar de la Renta) had a hand in designing. The house's new creative director, Peter Copping, advised the studio a bit on how to finish it after de la Renta's death in October but this wasn't his debut. Copping sat in the front row taking it all in as a bystander." They continue the review saying, "How does one review a collection like this—one that operates not as a swan song, not as an homage, but as a coda to a great career, now definitively over? On its merits, of course. And though these clothes didn't serve to turn the fashion dial in any way, they manifested the soigné de la Renta signature in spades....It spoke loudest in the collection's clutch of cocktail frocks and gowns, particularly the champagne-toned finale gowns with allover gold or silver embellishment." This is one of those dresses and it is very beautiful.
This is truly a beautiful piece and it might even make an amazing wedding dress for the bride looking for a non-traditional choice or as an alternative dress in a more extended wedding celebration. The dress is made from a fine ivory net that is covered in beautiful curving appliques that form flowers and pretty patterns. Each applique has a pale muted silver gold lame fabric sewn inside the design. The lame has a tiny bit of a vertical ribbing in it and this adds a beautiful texture. I love how the appliques catch the light in a subtle way from every angle and how the neckline follows the curves of the appliques across the front. It also makes the dress feel more gold in person then how it photographed here. it sits wide across the front, and the straps are sent to the edge of the shoulder. The bodice curves up and over your shoulders and then at the back it falls in a V for a bit of bare skin to show. There is a lining inside the bodice that has a sweetheart neckline and then the netting has a touch of transparency above that. It skims over you from there, past the waist to the seam that sits at the top of the hip. From there the skirt explodes outwards in two tiers. Underneath each tier is a layer of tulle and then another layer of netting under that. This second layer has a stiffened edge to help hold the shape of the skirts. Inside the skirt there is a built in underskirt that has rows of that same stiffened fabric so it holds the volume that you see in the photos. I have added no extra crinolines underneath for this one. All of the volume that you see is all built into the dress. The dress is shorter at the front and then the back is cut long so that it trails out behind you past the floor. The lightness of the tulle and netting allows the dress to billow out around you when you walk. This is dress that feels like a fairy tale come true once it is on the body. It appears to have never been worn or worn very little. Excellent condition.
The skirt is fully lined in layers of tulle and netting as described above. The bodice has an inner layer of silk and netting. The dress closes with a hidden set back zipper. Tagged a modern OLDR US2
Bust: to 16.5" flat across from side seam to side seam with room at the front for at least a B cup
Waist: 13" flat across from side seam to side seam
Seam at the top of the hips: 18" flat across from side seam to side seam
Natural hips: open
Bodice: 19" from top of the shoulder to the seam at the top of the hip
Total length: 49" from top of the shoulder to the front hem, 80" to the back
Modern Sizing Equivalent: XS-MED
Item# DD4673
Reference Photos: Pre-Fall 2015 Oscar de la Renta, Look 36.
All items are thoroughly checked over before shipping. Unless noted everything in our shop has been professionally cleaned. All sales are final. Overseas clients will be emailed to obtain agreement to our final sales policy before the order is shipped as per our return policy.
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Full on vintage feather coats in such excellent condition are a rare find these days and this one is gorgeous. This is the coat that you will reach for over and over. It is made from fluffy white down feathers that create a tremendous volume and sense of drama. Little pale grey feathers are worked through that and these pop out from the white feathers on long thin stalks to add a gorgeous contrast. In person the depth and texture of all of those thousands and thousands of feathers have an even better effect then how it photoed. The feathers are tightly set together onto the base fabric so that you don't see any of that fabric between the feathers. This creates an almost bias cut like effect and allows the coat to billow and move around you fantastically when you move. It has a little collar that you can flip up or down depending on how much of the feathers you want around your neck. It is meant to skim over the body to the floor and widens out as it nears the hem. The sleeves are incredibly wide and they are a full 30" around by the time they reach their ends. You may remember that moment when Tracee Ellis Ross wore a feather coat from me to host the American Music Awards in 2017. She dropped it on stage and it fell from her shoulder like a cloud (I have that moment captured on my Instagram if you want to pop over there to see). This has that same feel. Once on the body the line of the coat is long and it always seems to sit perfectly in place no matter how you move. It definitely has volume but this just adds to its appeal. You could also belt it to add more shape like Tracee did backstage that day. It feels like next to nothing on and it is a full maxi coat length that falls right to the floor. It is truly amazing. The feathers give it a rich, deep texture and you will be able to wear it over anything. This also might make an amazing piece for a bride who needs something to top her dress. Excellent condition.
Fully lined in an ivory silk satin with a hook and eye at the neck and another one just below that and then it is open under that. Some minor marks on the inside and yellowing along the edge of the inner arms. This is cut loose and easy and it should fit a variety of sizes.
Sleeves: approx 27" including feather tips
Shoulders: 15.5"
Bust: to 26" flat across from side seam to side seam
Waist-hips: open
Length: approx 68" from neck to hem including feather tips
Modern Sizing Equivalent: SML-LRG
Item# DD4677
All items are thoroughly checked over before shipping. Unless noted everything in our shop has been professionally cleaned. All sales are final. Overseas clients will be emailed to obtain agreement to our final sales policy before the order is shipped as per our return policy.
alexander mcqueen
Dreamist Spring 2012 Alexander McQueen by Sarah Burton Soft Gold Lace on Ivory Net Wedding Dress
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This is a stunning dress from the Alexander McQueen label and it is also a very early example of the work that Sarah Burton was doing for the house once she took over the label after Lee's passing. I have a friend who worked for the McQueen bridal division and had her look at it. She also shared it with some other colleagues at McQueen and we all agree that it is from the Spring/Resort 2012 season. If you look at those two collections you can see that this type of gold lace was prevalent in her designs during that time period. That date also fits in what little I know of the dress. It is stunningly beautiful and the photos do not do it full justice. It is beyond gorgeous and would be a stunning choice for a bride.
This is a stunning dress. The impact that the gold lace has is gorgeous and it is like something out of a fairy tale. It has a beautiful and simple design that really allows that gold lace to take central stage. Wide straps sit to the outsides of the top of your shoulders and there is a shallow V at the front. Another V is at the back that sits a little bit deeper then the front one. The straps are wide and I love how the lace has been placed along the edge of the neckline so you get that pretty lace finish against the skin. It skims down over the bust, curves in at the waist and then curves back out to the seam at the top of the hips. At the back it dips down on the slight angle and the dress has a row of buttons and loops over a hidden set zipper. The lace netting is applied over top of the bodice and the lace is laid out to highlight the curves of the dress. The flowers within the design of the lace trail across the pale gold netting behind them for the prettiest effect. From there the skirt falls to the floor and the skirt is stunning. It expands outward from that seam at the top of the hips and it gets very full by the time it reaches the hem. The lace trails down over it and the pattern becomes more dense all around the hem. Built-in underneath the skirt are five layers of tulle, then an inner net layer that has a wire ruffled finish and finally an innermost silk layer under that. I have not added any additional underskirts. All the volume that you see is from the built in underskirts that the gown has. I think that you could even add an additional underskirt if you wanted even more volume. The way this moves around you is magical. The layers are all feather light and it is just stunning to see in person. The back has a sweeping train that extends out past the hem to create a bit of a train and there is extra fullness at the back. It is really a wonderful dress and so romantic feeling. Excellent condition
Fully lined an ivory silk with seaming and soft boning inside the bodice to create shape. It closes with a back zipper and then the exterior layer of lace buttons to close over that. The skirt is lined as described above. I do not see any heavy evidence of alterations but I feel like the zipper may have been replaced at some time so I think there might have been some small alterations done to originally fit the dress. Hand finishes.
Bust: to 16.5-17" flat across from side seam to side seam with an A-B cup
Waist: 13" flat across from side seam to side seam
Seam at the top of the hips: 17" flat across from side seam to side seam
Hips: open
Bodice: 18.5" from top of the shoulder to the seam at the top of the hips
Total length: 56" from the top of the bodice to the front hem, 72" to the back hem
Modern Sizing Equivalent: SML-MED
Item# DD4678
All items are thoroughly checked over before shipping. Unless noted everything in our shop has been professionally cleaned. All sales are final. Overseas clients will be emailed to obtain agreement to our final sales policy before the order is shipped as per our return policy.
andre courreges
Rare 1965 Courreges for Samuel Robert Special Collaboration Muted Metallic Gold Jacket Coat
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This coat represents an unusual little piece of fashion history. In 1965 Andre Courreges designed a line of pieces for Samuel Robert. For whatever reason this collaboration only lasted that one single year which makes pieces from it extremely rare. When researching this we found a picture of Jean Shrimpton wearing a suit with a similar front double button cut that was also made for this line. I love finding these unusual little pieces of history and it is fabulous.
It's made out of a muted gold brocade that is has a stitched woven design through it that makes the amazing pattern that you see. Where it's not stitched the fabric creates almost a slightly puffed 3-D effect and the colour is a deeper muted gold. This is what creates that fantastic pattern that covers the entire coat. In person you get more of a sense of a muted flat gold feel to it then you do in the photos. The cut of the coat is classic. It has sleeves to just below the elbows and there is a strap and button that wraps around each cuff. The collar is small and neat. The coat wraps and buttons with a double row buttons down the front. At the back you have a strap that goes across the small of the back with two more buttons to hold it in place. A panel of fabric begins just below the button and it runs down to the hem. The overall feel of it is kind of like a little mod trench coat. It has a little side pockets on each hip and we took a photo of it laying flat so you can see how it flares out slightly into an A-line. The coat has a bit of weight to it so that once it is on it holds the shape but it is not so heavy that it feels cumbersome. This is a fantastic coat that represents a very known piece of Cardin history. Excellent condition.
Fully lined in a camel coloured jersey. It buttons to close at the front and there are pockets on each hip. Hand finishes throughout. I see a tiny repair and some small grazes to the lining and some minor wear along the edges. I'm being pretty picky though.
Sleeves: 19" and 14" around the upper arm
Shoulders: 15"
Bust: 19" flat across from side seam to side seam
Waist: 19" flat across from side seam to side seam
Hips: 20" flat across from side seam to side seam
Length: 39" from neck to hem
Modern Sizing Equivalent: SML-MED
Item# DD4673
Reference Photo: Jean Shrimpton in André Courrèges for Samuel Robert in Harper's Bazaar, February 1965.
All items are thoroughly checked over before shipping. Unless noted everything in our shop has been professionally cleaned. All sales are final. Overseas clients will be emailed to obtain agreement to our final sales policy before the order is shipped as per our return policy.
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This gorgeous little 1960s dress is one of those things you will only ever find in vintage. It has no label and it is so fabulous. In this particular case, the dress.doesn't really need a label to justify how amazing it is. It is made out of a red chiffon that has been pleated into sharp little knife pleats. These run around the entire dress and each one is perfectly match to its neighbour. It has no sleeves and the dress simply falls from the shoulders down to the hem where it opens up to be quite full. The lightness of the fabric combined with the pleating give it a swinging bouncy f that I love. This is a dress that will move and float around you at your slightest movement. The hem has been finished with a an edge of stiffening so it gives it a slightly ruffled effect. This adds to the movement that the dress has even more. The neckline on this one is the star of the show. It is. extremely and densely embellished with a brilliant array of beads sequins and glass rhinestones in a variety of gold and colours. These have been applied with a heavy hand and create a fabulous 3D jewelled bib. It runs down in a point at the front over the shoulders and circles the back of the neck. It is like it has its own built-in jewels. Such a great dress. Excellent condition.
Fully lined in a red silk and zips to close at the back, and then the top chiffon layer buttons to close over the zipper I see a touch grubbiness along the inside of the neck and edges of the arm on the lining only. Unlabelled.
Bust: to 18" flat across from side seam to side seam
Inner waist: 17.5" flat across from side seam to side seam
Hips: 18.5" flat across from side seam to side seam
Total length: 37.5" from top of the shoulder to hem
Modern Sizing Equivalent: SML-MED
Item# DD4674
All items are thoroughly checked over before shipping. Unless noted everything in our shop has been professionally cleaned. All sales are final. Overseas clients will be emailed to obtain agreement to our final sales policy before the order is shipped as per our return policy.
hanae mori
Exquisite Fall 1974 Hanae Mori Metallic Gold Brocade 3/4 Sleeve Coat w Pops of Turqoise & Red
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This is a phenomenal Hanae Mori coat. An example using a brocade in the same feel is held in the Met Museum's permanent collection and I believe this is from that same collection. Mori was the first woman of Japanese descent to have presented on both the Paris and New York runways and the first Asian woman to be admitted as an official Haute Couture house to La Chambre Syndicale de la Couture Parisienne. Her work is exceptional. I have only ever seen a couple of her brocade pieces for sale outside of seeing one in a museum. When I find pieces like this one that is so stunningly beautiful I am very happy.
The fabric on this coat is amazing. A gold thread woven through an ivory and black black background creates that stunning design that you see. The pattern on the coat is divided into hexagon medallions that are done with either the ivory or black backing. Then each design within that is a striking flower or cluster of flowers. The flowers are done in pale pinks, white, turquoise and a bright coral red. The final effect of all that colour with the gold thread mixed in is absolutely beautiful to see. The cut is classic and the fabric has a bit of weight to it. It is not so heavy that it is unwieldy but it has enough of a weight that once on the body the shape that you see is held perfectly. Each sleeve is cut to just below the elbow and they are cut straight and wide. You can flip the end of the sleeves over and when you do that you see that band of black silk satin. We followed it with the sleeves flipped, but you could also wear them straight and then the pattern just continues to the end of the sleeve. I love that.the black band perfectly pick up the black silk satin covered buttons down the front to perfectly tie all the elements together. The collar is simple and frames the neck. The shoulders are soft, and have a slight sloping cut. From there the coat flares out to a slight A-line and we took a photo of it laying flat so you can see the shape. It is just spectacular and the simplicity of the cut only further highlights the drama of that rich bold fabric. It is very couture in feel and one of the best vintage coats I have ever seen. Excellent condition
Fully lined in a pale yellow silk and closes at the front with black silk covered buttons. I see some foxing and marks to the inner lining. Tag a vintage Hanae Mori 8. It appears to have been worn very little if at all. The colours and metallic feel of it are even better in person.
Sleeves: approx 17" with the cuffs flipped up and 19 if they are not flipped. 14" around the upper arm.
Shoulders: no true defined seam
Bust: to 21" flat across from side seam to side seam
Waist: to 22" flat across from side seam to side seam
Hips: to 23" flat across from side seam to side seam
Length: 38" from neck to hem
Modern Sizing Equivalent: SML-MED
Item# DD4675
Reference Photo: Fall 1974/75 Hanae Mori Brocade Coat in The MET Collection.
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Vogue said of this collection that "On the evidence of this showing, she (Phoebe Philo) remains committed to building an iconic wardrobe, and there's little doubt that in the short time she's been at the French luxury goods house, she's designed some iconic pieces." This entire collection was hailed by the press and the twin of this suit was shown for a Look 23. It was a standout piece of the colletion. Pheobe herself chose to to wear a black version of it to the 2011 CFDA Fashion Awards. I love it
On the runway this suit was shown belted. Once it hit the shops the belts were sold separately but you can easily add any belt of your choice to get that same look. Phoebe is known for her attention to detail and this suit is the perfect showcase for that. It is made from a crisp white fabric that is light in weight and it was backed so that it is not fully transparent. The jacket is gorgeous. Sleeves are cut long and simple and the shoulders are soft with the smallest amount of padding inside to hold the shape. The front lapel is done in a muted ivory silk satin. It comes down the front in a tuxedo reminiscent shape. I love that the outer edge of the pants also pick up on that tux feel with a line of the same silk satin running down their length. The jacket has an easy and open shape that expands out a touch as it nears the hem. There are no closures and the front is cut so that it overlaps one side over the other. There are small open slits on the side seams of the jacket and this is where you can slip a belt through to add some shape at the front if you wanted or belt it all the way around yourself for even more shape. Four slit pockets are edged in the same silk satin as the collar to continue that nod to a tux. The pants also play on a classic men's tuxedo. They have a flat front with a banded waist that is done in that same satin finish as the label. They are cut to sit slightly low on the hip. There is a sharp fold running down the front and back of the pants. The pants narrow down as they reach the hem and they will sit slightly cropped depending on your height. I love that you can wear these together or break the set up and mix and match with pieces in your existing wardrobe. The jacket has a slightly oversized fit and I love that contrast to the peg leg pants. Original tags attached still in the pants. Excellent condition.
The jacket is lined in a white silk and the pants are unlined. The jacket has no closures but do have slits on the side seam to add a belt. The pants zip to close and then have a hidden button and hook and eye at the band of the waist. You can see a bit of the inner structure where it shows through on the front of the jacket, the inner seams throughout and around the pockets on both pieces. This is intentional but I am pointing it out for your reference. I see the faintest of a mark on the back of one shoulder. Please see the photo after the label shot. Tagged a Celine 38. It has its original tag still attached inside the pants and a packet with an extra button.
Jacket
Sleeves: 25" and 12.5" around the upper arm
Slightly dropped shoulders: 16"
Bust: to 20.5" flat across from side seam to side seam
Waist-hips: open to
Length: 27.5 from neck to front hem, 22.5" to back hem
Pant
Waist: 16" flat across from side seam to side seam
Hips: to 20" flat across from side seam to side seam
Length: 37" waist to hem
Inseam: 27" from inner seam to hem
Rise: 16" from back waist to inner seam
Modern Sizing Equivalent: SML-MED
Item# DD4667
Reference Photos: (1) Resort 2011 Celine Runway, Look 23. / (2) Phoebe Philo, in Celine, at the 2011 CFDA Fashion Awards.
All items are thoroughly checked over before shipping. Unless noted everything in our shop has been professionally cleaned. All sales are final. Overseas clients will be emailed to obtain agreement to our final sales policy before the order is shipped as per our return policy.
bill gibb
Important 1972 Bill Gibb Couture Debut Collection Lizard Detailed Cream Jacket & Scalloped Edged Skirt
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This suit is from the debut collection of Bill Gibb for the Fall 1972. In the book, Bill Gibb: Fashion and Fantasy, they note that the theme of the collection was the natural world and you can see that in this suit. As the book describes what was presented in the runway, they specifically mentioned that "there were also a lizard trim cream wool suit" which is of course this set. The book quotes fashion journalist, Suzy Menkes saying that "this is Bill Gibbs great day... for the first time showing a collection all his own. It marks the beginning of his career as a designer of the jet set." Twiggy said to Gibbs backstage "they were incredible, I loved every one, I want them all... is it possible to have one to wear tonight?". At this moment in Bill Gibbs history he was the star of fashion set. The suit is spectacular and I love that a version in black is held in the permanent collection of the Aberdeen Art Gallery and Museum. The twin of this suit was also photoed for British Vogue that season and this gives you a chance to see how fantastic it is once on. This is an incredibly important suit in terms of British Fashion history.
The suit is fantastic. The jacket has an incredible cut to it. It is cropped to the top of the hip and this adds a pretty shape. The collar is rounded and wide. Onto the collar Gibb added an amazing hand cut lizard detailing on either side which perfectly fits into his nature theme of the show. He also added snakeskin strips over the seams and this detailing of the seams like this went on to become a signature for him. It is also a clever way to highlight the cut of the jacket. I love the way the front of the jacket curves down at the front. Snakeskin straps buckles across the front and then the back has another set of buckles. We also see that same detailing over the seams there as well. The sleeves are phenomenal. They begin just above the waist and at the shoulder they are gathered in and capped. This gathering lets them sit up and off of the shoulder. They are extremely wide through the upper arm and then they narrow down to those fantastic cuffs. The cuffs have that same beautiful rounding curve to them and they are split up the middle to meet two metal buttons at the top of the snakeskin detailing. The skirt is equally as fabulous. It has a small band around the waist and then skims over the hips to flare out to be quite full by the time it reaches the hem. This skirt is made by eight panels that have been sewn together. Each panel is rounded at the bottoms and this creates that beautiful scalloped effect that you see. We took one photo with the skirt laid out flat so you could see the remarkable shape that it has. The skirt is also detailed with snakeskin that runs over the top portion of each seam where the panels are joined. A third hand cut out lizard sits across the front of the skirt to tie it all together. Hand work throughout and it is just a phenomenal piece of fashion history. It also fits in perfectly with the couture cowboy core movement we are seeing. I love that you can wear the pieces together or mix and match with things you already have. Excellent condition with a tiny note below.
Both pieces are fully lined in a white silky rayon. The jacket buckles to close at the front and the skirt zips to close under a hook and eye on the waistband. Hand finishing throughout. I see two tiny pin sized marks on one shoulder and some of the snake skin shows very minor peeling here and there that is natural to aging.
Jacket
Sleeves: 25" and 20" around the upper arm
Slightly inset shoulders: 14"
Bust: approx 18" flat across from side seam to side seam
Waist: 15-16" flat across from side seam to side seam
Length: 22" from neck to the longest point of the front hem, 18" to the back
Skirt
Waist: 13-14" flat across from side seam to side seam
Hips: to 21" flat across from side seam to side seam
Length: 38" waist to hem
Modern Sizing Equivalent: SML-MED
Item# DD4668
Reference Photos: (1) Model in Bill Gibb, Vogue UK, 1972. / (2) 1972 Bill Gibb Suit in the Collection of the Aberdeen Art Gallery & Museums.
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christian dior
Chic Spring 1993 or 1996 Christian Dior by Gianfranco Ferre Numbered White Tux Pant Suit
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The wonderful crisp white suit is a beautiful example of Gianfranco Ferre’s work during his time as Creative Director for Christian Dior. We found examples from the runway for Spring 1996 that have a similar feel and cut through the collar that this piece has and also pieces from the Spring 1993 collection that are very similar to this suit as well. I have included all as they give you an idea of how this sits on the body. The tag is numbered which for the boutique line label usually denotes a custom order or an order by an established client during this time period. It is a gorgeous little suit and might even work for a twist on a wedding weekend. I love it.
Both pieces are made from a white fabric that is light in weight and easy to wear. The jacket is gorgeous. Sleeves are cut to just above the elbow have a simple straight cut. The shoulders are soft with the smallest amount of padding inside to hold the shape. The front lapel is slightly oversized and the lower half of it is done in a muted silk satin. It comes down at the front in a tuxedo reminiscent shape but is cut wider then a tux collar would be. I love that the outer edge of the pants also pick up on that tux feel and have a line of the same silk satin running down their length. The jacket has an easy shape that skims over you to the cropped just above the waist length. It closes with a simple French button made up of two pearls suspended on a chain that loops through the button holes near the waist. The pants are fabulous and also a play on a classic men's tuxedo. They have a flat front with no band at waist. There is a sharp fold running down the front and back of the pants. The pants are cut wide and full all the way to their hem. That strip of satin down sides is perfection and ties the entire suit together. I love that you can wear the pieces together or mix a match with things in your existing wardrobe. This would also make a great addition to a wedding weekend for someone not wanting to stay full traditional. Excellent condition with one small note below
Both pieces are lined in a white silk. The jacket closures with the French buttons at the base of the collar.and the pants zip to close with a hidden set side zipper. I see a signs of slight over-pressing on the seams here and there and there are some teeny tiny marks on the jacket near the buttons, evidence that a snap was added and removed near the base of the collar, a teeny blue smudge on the edge of the collar and a very faint mark on the back of the pants just under the waist. All minor. Please see the photos after the label shot. Tagged a vintage Dior 40. Note that the jacket looks a different colour because it is lined and so it photoed a slightly different shade than the unlined pants. It's fine in person.
Jacket
Sleeves: 11.5" and 13" around the upper arm
Shoulders: 15"
Bust: to 18" flat across from side seam to side seam
Bottom seam: 13" flat across from side seam to side seam
Length: 18 from neck to hem
Pant
Waist: 13.5" flat across from side seam to side seam
Hips: to 18" flat across from side seam to side seam
Length: 41.5" waist to hem
Inseam: 31" from inner seam to hem
Rise: 16.5" from back waist to inner seam
Modern Sizing Equivalent: SML-MED
Item# DD4669
Reference Photos: (1-3) Spring 1996 Christian Dior Runway. / (4-5) Spring 1993 Christian Dior Runway.
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The book Givenchy Catwalk says of this collection that "Hubert de Givenchy presented a collection made up of soft lines with dresses that suddenly highlighted the shape of the body before the pleated skirts flared out towards the bottom." It is interesting to note that some of the looser more flowing designs from this collection were a part of the November 28 1973 presentation at the Royal Opera at the Palace of Versailles as part of the fashion show that later became to know become known as the "Battle of Versailles". The book notes that "Givenchy took part in the evening event to raise money for the château restoration, presenting his dresses alongside designers by four other Persian Couture houses competing against five American design designers". I have found nothing that suggests that this dress was a part of that show but it definitely has the feel of what went. This dress was shot that year both for Vogue Paris and British Vogue and I love having those reference shots for you to see just how amazing this dress is on the body.
This is an amazing true Haute Couture Givenchy dress that is a very rare and special find. It is entirely cut on the bias and then the silk has been pleated into perfectly matched knife pleats. The cut is tremendously flattering to the body and it feels a little bit sexy with the way the top sits on the bodice. The fabric is a beautiful and very light red crepe silk chiffon that moves and drapes fantastically. The bodice is done with its own panel that wraps around to the back. It is set wide and open at the front and then the pleats wrap on a slight curve to follow the shape of the halter to the back where it is set with a wedge of open space between the two sides. Silk straps come out from the peak of the front and then curve over your shoulders to connect to the back. The skirt flares out from there and it has a ton of movement when you move. It is spectacular. The silk is very fine and light and it is cut on the bias and then pleated in long vertical lines. There are yards of it in the skirt and that and the lightness of the skirt picks up the air when you move so that it moves fantastically around you as you walk. This is a very beautiful example of Givenchy from this time period. It is easy to see why his work is the subject of so many books and retrospective shows at museums worldwide. It also comes with a matching curved shawl in the same fabric. Excellent overall condition with notes below.
The dress is fully lined in a matching hand set red silk. It zips to close at the back and then an inner wider waist stay hooks to close at the inner waist. Light. boning through the inner built-in corset. Hand finished throughout to couture standards. I see some wear and patching on the straps. A small repair at the top of one peak and and some repairs/ small shattering to the inner lining near the arms. A small thinned spot near the zipper and a mark here and there and also near the hem. Presents wonderfully but these are mentioned for accuracy. Proper couture tag and numbered tape present.
Bust: 15.5-18" flat across from side seam to side seam
Seam under the bust: 14-15.5" flat across from side seam to side seam
Inner waist: 13" flat across from side seam to side seam
Hips: 19.5" flat across from side seam to side seam
Bodice: approx 12" from top of straps to seam under the bust
Total length: 61" from top of straps to hem
Modern Sizing Equivalent: XS-MED
Item# DD4664
Reference Photos: (1) Photos by Guy Bourdin for Vogue Paris Special Collections Issue, 1973. / (2) Susan Moncur in Givenchy by David Bailey for British Vogue 1973.
All items are thoroughly checked over before shipping. Unless noted everything in our shop has been professionally cleaned. All sales are final. Overseas clients will be emailed to obtain agreement to our final sales policy before the order is shipped as per our return policy.
yves saint laurent
Incredible 1972 Yves Saint Laurent Red Floral Silk Chiffon & Red Silk Dress w Balloon Sleeves & Pleat Detailing
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When dating this extraordinary Yves Saint Laurent dress, we found a photo of a piece with almost an identical cut bodice from 1972 along with several runway photos that show other pieces with that same cut to the bodice. I have included those here for you and it is interesting to note that the pleating technique that is used around the upper hip of the skirt was also done in a more intricate fashion for the 1974 Couture show. Yves often use ideas from both collections. - Rive Gauche and Couture - to build and develop ideas and it is fascinating to see the progression of his work from garment to garment. This is an incredibly beautiful example of his work from this time period.
This dress combines a floral silk chiffon with a muted red silk on the skirt. This combination is absolutely gorgeous. Is combination of silks give the dress just enough weight and structure to be able to create the impressive lines and volume that you see but while still making it feel soft and romantic. The colours are spectacular. The top is a printed silk chiffon, and it has a stunning floral pattern in red purples and greens that float over the entire bodice and the sleeves. The bodice is cut to skim over you and the waist nips in. It plunges at the front and crosses over itself, and the neckline has been detailed with ruffles that begin at the back of the neck and circle around to follow the V at the front and then run down to the waist. piping in the same fabric detail. The waste and ties have been left off to the side to hang down and create a pretty little detail. The skirt falls to the floor from there and it has yards and yards of fabric in it that creates the fullness and volume that you see. The skirt falls in a gently widening line and is quite full by the time it reaches the hem. I love the volume that this type of fabric creates and how it billows around you as you move but at the same time it is as light as a feather. Around the entire upper hip area, and starting at the waist or a series of tiny cleats that gradually open out to create the volume underneath. This intricate detail is a beautiful addition to the dress. The sleeves are outstanding. Each is a single layer of the silk chiffon and are wide and very full. They are caught up at the wrist with a circle full circle ruffle underneath. This creates a beautiful and dramatic finish to the top. I love everything about this dress. Excellent condition.
Fully lined in a red silk and closes at the back with a hidden set painted met zipper. Attached ties at the waist and elastic in each cuff. The silk skirt and the exterior layer is a tool ruffle that helps keep the volume through the skirt. Tagged a vintage YSL 38. I see some light marks around the hem of the skirt.
Sleeves: 24" and 14" around the upper arm
Slightly inset shoulders: 14"
Bust: to 18" flat across from side seam to side seam
Waist: 13" flat across from side seam to side seam
Hips: open
Bodice: 16" from neck to waist
Total length: 60" from waist to hem
Modern Sizing Equivalent: SML-MED
Item# DD4665
Reference Photos: Fall 1972 Yves Saint Laurent.
All items are thoroughly checked over before shipping. Unless noted everything in our shop has been professionally cleaned. All sales are final. Overseas clients will be emailed to obtain agreement to our final sales policy before the order is shipped as per our return policy.
valentino
Spring 2000 Valentino Strapless Red Silk Crepe Dress Re-issue of the 1965 Couture Original
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This is such an interesting dress because it is a re-issue of the original and iconic 1965 dress that is so well documented and associated with the Valentino label. The original debuted in the Spring 1965 Haute Couture collection and it is remarkable how forward feeling that design was for its time. It has grazed the cover of the Valentino book, was worn by Linda Evangelista in an editorial that looked back at the label in 1992. It was originally seen on the likes of Verushka and Virna Lisi. Recently Gwyneth Paltrow wore the again and it is a beloved museum piece. On the Spring 2000 Haute Couture catwalk it was shown in a pink on Esther Canadas and then Elizabeth Hurley wore one to the American Fashion Awards. This dress is a re-issue of the original that released to shops that year under the main label. From what I understand they were done in limited quantities and only available at select locations. It is an incredible piece that is instantly recognizable and very special.
This is fashion history. The dress is beautiful. It is strapless with built in moulded and padded cups at the front that top an interior boned corseted panel. The fabric is draped over that inner construction and the cups curve up and over each breast.I love how each side sits up and there is eternal wiring and boning to keep the shape. They are slit down the front in the middle for a little slice of skin to show and then a panel loops over between the cups and falls down the front all the way to the hem. There is a tiny burst of flat peaks plats under one cup, and then that panel wraps underneath the other panel. It skins over the waist and hips falling to the floor in a beautiful column of the red silk crepe. A high open slit is hidden under the overlapping of the skirt where it sweeps up under that front panel and when you walk or sit you get a fantastic length of bare leg. You can see this in the video that we've included here. This is fantastic dress and a very special piece. Excellent condition
The bust has built in moulded, padded cups and then there is a boned half corset under that inside. The inner corset zips with its own zipper and then the dress zippers to close over that with a hidden set zipper. The skirt is unlined. I see a touch stress to the fabric on the inner part of the hem. This does not show when on but mentioned for accuracy.
Bust: 14-16" flat across from side seam to side seam with a A-B cup
Seam under the bust: 12-13.5" flat across from side seam to side seam
Inner waist: 12" flat across from side seam to side seam
Hips: open
Bodice: 5.5" from top of bodice to seam under the bust at the middle
Total length: 49" from top of bodice to front hem, 51" to the back hem
Modern Sizing Equivalent: XS-SML
Item# DD4666
Reference Photos/Video: (1-2) Spring 1965 Valentino Couture. / (3) Virna Lisi Virna in Valentino's signature red evening ensemble of chiffon gown with long satin coat covered in ostrich feathers, photo by Angelo Frontoni, 1965. / (4) Virna Lisi in the Valentino Atelier, 1965. / (5) Veruschka in Valentino Couture 1965. Photo by Henry Clarke. / (6-7) Linda Evangelista in 1965 Valentino, W Magazine, September 1992. / (8) Valentino Book Cover. / (9) Katarina Scola in Fall 1965 Valentino Couture. Photo by James Moore for Valentino's Red Book, 2000. From the book "A Grand Italian Epic: Valentino Garavani" by Taschen. / (10) 1965 Valentino Haute Couture Dress from the Valentino Garavani Online Museum. / (11-13) Spring 2000 Valentino Haute Couture. Model Esther Canadas. / (14-15) Elizabeth Hurley in Valentino at the American Fashion Awards, 2000. / (16) Erin O'Connor on The Sunday Telegraph Magazine, April 2003. / (17) Gwyneth Paltrow in Vintage Valentino at the British Fashion Awards, December 2023.
All items are thoroughly checked over before shipping. Unless noted everything in our shop has been professionally cleaned. All sales are final. Overseas clients will be emailed to obtain agreement to our final sales policy before the order is shipped as per our return policy.
halston
Spectacular Spring 1973 Halston Runway Side Cut Out Black Jersey Bias Cut Dress w Open Back
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This dress is a stunning and rare piece of Halston history. Its twin walked the runway for the Spring 1973 show and you can see how spectacular this is on the body. This is classic Halston from his main label couture line. It is incredibly chic and sexy and one of two important Halston pieces I have for you today. This is an incredible example of his work from this time period.
This is an amazing couture Halston dress that is a very rare and special find. It is entirely cut on the bias and utilizes his signature minimal seaming. Halston defined how woman dressed in the 1970s and these jersey dresses that he did were tremendously flattering to the body. It is also insanely sexy with the side cut outs that wrap all the way around the back leaving your back completely bare except for that one strap that goes across and hooks to close. It also eaves almost your entire stomach and your sides completely bare. The fabric is a beautiful black silk jersey that is heavy enough to be opaque and the dress is backed in a second attached layer of the same silk jersey. The use of this fabric allows the dress to move and drape fantastically. The neckline is high and scooped around the neck and it hooks to close at the back. Then this extends down into the front panel that has straps that come out from the sides to hook at the back. From there it creates a upward curve that meets the downward curve of the top of the skirt in the middle centre of your front bodice. I love the way that the panels curve and create these cut outs on either side of your middle. At the back the top of the skirt curves down and it can sit quite low depending on the shape of your body. It also leaves the top of your hip exposed at the sides and it is so sexy. The skirt flares out to the floor from there in a sleek column of silk jersey that flares outward as it nears the hem. It is spectacular. The jersey is cut on the bias and there are yards of it in the skirt. The second layer of silk jersey is attached all the way around the hem and having the second layer helps to soften out any bumps underneath the top layer and helps to make it very flattering to wear. This is a very rare example of Halston at the top of his game. It really showcases how he use the absolute minimal amount of seaming to create these absolutely stunning pieces. It is easy to see why his work is the subject of so many books and retrospective shows at museums worldwide. Excellent condition with a tiny note below.
The entire dress is made from two layers of the silk jersey. The dress hooks to close behind the neck and then again at the strap that wraps around the back. Hand finished. At some point the ham appears to have been let down but it's well finished along the edge so I've left it as isThere is darkening along the original edge and I see a small area on the front that looks a tiny bit darker than the rest of the dress, but it wouldn't photo well and I'm being pretty picky. If you find that the neck seems to sit high you could add a little extension to the back where it hooks to close if you needed a little more length and have it sit a little lower.
Neck: 14-15" around from hook to hook
Bust: The front halter should accommodate a variety of cup sizes. From end to end of where it hooks to close around the back it is 32 to 36 inches total in length
Opening of the skirt: 13-18" flat across from side seam to side seam
Total length: approx 67" from neck to hem
Modern Sizing Equivalent: XS-MED
Item# DD4663
Reference Photo: Spring 1973 Halston Runway.
All items are thoroughly checked over before shipping. Unless noted everything in our shop has been professionally cleaned. All sales are final. Overseas clients will be emailed to obtain agreement to our final sales policy before the order is shipped as per our return policy.
roberto cavalli
Amazing 2015 Roberto Cavalli Gold bead &sequin embellished silk and silk netFeather Dress
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This Roberto Cavalli dress is from 2015 and it is beyond gorgeous. Its twin was worn by Naomi Campbell to Fashion for Relief where she walked the runway and I am happy to have some reference photos from the show so you can see how spectacular this dress is once on the body. It is exceptional and extremely beautiful.
The dress is made from a combination of black netting and silk chiffon. The entire bodice is made from the netting and then it has a layer of that spectacular bead work applied with a bit of silk chiffon behind the bead work so that it is opaque enough to wear. The parts that are not beaded have a touch of transparency to them and I love how this plays on the curves of the body. The bead work on the dress is amazing. Heavy applied gold tube beads, gold seed beads and gold sequins are set in swirling patterns across the bodice. As a pattern runs down over the waist and the hips the colours of the sequins gradually changed to a more muted gold and then to a silver. There are prong set glass crystals in gold and clear scattered in and among the pattern. The edge of the neck and arms are lined with silver tube beads and little silver sequins. All of these embellishments catch the light from every angle and I love the depth and 3D texture that it gives the piece. The skirt is remarkable. It is in its original uncut length and has a beautiful cut. When you are standing still you still get the feeling of fullness as it widens out to the hem but when you move the skirt has incredible movement around you. The fabric is so light and airy that when you walk it creates this incredible floating sensation. As good as it looks here it only really comes to life once on. Besides the cut this is further empathized by the addition of thousands of feathers. Each is attached around the hip area with either a sequin or a little prong set crystal and then they are applied directly to the silk chiffon under that. The feathers have incredible movement when you walk and I love how the back of the dress is cut longer than the front so you have a sweeping feel behind you. It is an incredibly beautiful dress and no matter how good it looks in the photos the sensation and tactile feeling of the fabric and lightness when you have it in hand is just phenomenal. It looks to have been worn very little if at all. Excellent condition.
The embellished parts of the halter are backed with a black silk so it is opaque and the skirt has an inner silk chiffon lining. It closes with a back hidden set zipper. The occcasional bead missing here and there. Tagged a Cavalli 38.
Bust: has no fixed side seams. The front covers to approx 15-17" flat across
Waist: 12-13" flat across from side seam to side seam
Hips: to 18" flat across from side seam to side seam
Total length: 62" from neck to front hem, 70" to the longest point of the back hem
Modern Sizing Equivalent: XS-MED
Item# DD4662
Reference Photos/Video: Naomi Campbell in Roberto Cavalli for the Fashion For Relief charity fashion show at London Fashion Week, February 2015. (Video by Tashie Tinks)
All items are thoroughly checked over before shipping. Unless noted everything in our shop has been professionally cleaned. All sales are final. Overseas clients will be emailed to obtain agreement to our final sales policy before the order is shipped as per our return policy.
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This dress is an incredible piece of Halston history. Its near twin walked the runway for the Resort 1982 show and version in white were shot for the press advance looks that year as well. The original sketch appears in one of the Halston books and it has the added provenance of the dress that was lent to and worn by Emmanuelle Chriqui in 2002. This is classic Halston from his main label couture line. It is incredibly chic and sexy and one of two important Halston pieces I have for you today. This is an incredible example of his work from this time period.
This is an amazing couture Halston dress that is a very rare and special find. It is entirely cut on the bias and utilizes his signature minimal seaming. Halston defined how woman dressed in the 1970s and these jersey dresses that he did were tremendously flattering to the body. It is also insanely sexy with the cut out at the front that leaves your stomach bare. The fabric is a beautiful and very light black silk jersey that moves and drapes fantastically. The neckline is scooped with a piped edge that extends up and behind the neck where it hooks into place. On either side of the scoop at the front the fabric extends into panels that create a halter shape. The panels curve down on an angle and secure into the sides of the waist. This leaves the middle part of the stomach bare and open. The panels are then gathered into the piping at the top and wrap around the back in a low curve. The entire back is completely bare and exposed and it is so sexy. The skirt flares out from there and it has a ton of movement when you move. It is spectacular. The jersey is very fine and light and it is cut on the bias and there are yards of it in the skirt. I love that he cut the sides of the skirt slightly longer then the front so you get a bit of a sweeping feel around you. This also helps the skirt to pick up the air when you move so that it billows around you as you walk. Inside the skirt there is an inner layer of silk chiffon and that helps to soften out any bumps underneath the top layer and helps to make it very flattering to wear. This is a very rare example of Halston at the top of his game. It is easy to see why his work is the subject of so many books and retrospective shows at museums worldwide. Excellent condition with a tiny note below.
The bodice is made from two layers of the silk jersey and the skirt has an inner silk chiffon lining. The dress hooks to close with two set so of hooks and then it snaps and hooks below the back of the waist. Hand finished. I see some tiny, snags and pin holes along the hem here and there. The fabric has some stretch but the waist has no give.
Bust: The front halter should accommodate a variety of cup sizes. It is approximately 14 to 17" flat across the front
Waist: 12"
Hips: open
Bodice: approx 15" from neck to waist
Total length: approx 50" from shoulder to longest points of the hem
Modern Sizing Equivalent: XXS-SML
Item# DD4661
Reference Photos: (1) Models Chris Royer and Margaret Donohoe in looks from Halston’s Resort 1982 Halston Ready-to-wear Advance. / (2) Resort 1982 Halston Runway. / (3) Resort 1979 Halston Runway. / (4) Sketches from 1978-79 Halston. / (5-6) Emmanuelle Chriqui in this dress at the 2022 Environmental Media Association Awards Gala, October 2022.
All items are thoroughly checked over before shipping. Unless noted everything in our shop has been professionally cleaned. All sales are final. Overseas clients will be emailed to obtain agreement to our final sales policy before the order is shipped as per our return policy.
yves saint laurent
Iconic Fall 1988 Yves Saint Laurent Runway Chic & Minimalist Feeling Taupe Full Length Wool Cape
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This beautiful cape is from the Fall 1988 collection and several versions of it were shown on the runway that season. It was an integral piece to the direction of the show and we have included several photos from the runway. I personally have several versions of his capes myself and have worn them countless times. It is literally the perfect thing to pop over a dress at night time. It is a very versatile and easy-to-wear piece that is the perfect neutral that will work with everything.
The cape is in a very beautiful soft taupe and it is made from a high end wool that has a little bit of weight just due to the sheer amount of it in the cape but is still still comfortable and easy side to wear. The cape itself is effortless to make a part of your wardrobe. You just slip it over your shoulders and it drapes in place. The long and simple lines of it are perfect for a very minimalist feel while the sheer length and amount of fabric in it add all the drama of a cape. A stitched border highlights, the lines and seams of the coat and I love that the stitches are the perfect match to the colour so it really keeps within that minimalist feel. It has no collar and closes with one perfect colour matched button at the nape of the neck. There is a ton of fabric in the body of the cape so that when you move you get wonderful movement as it floats and billows around you. The cut is impeccable and it is a great piece of YSL's fashion history. Excellent condition
Unlined and has a button at the neck with no other closures. Tagged a 38 but there are no true defined shoulder seams and that combined with the open fit endure that will fit pretty much anyone. It even has an extra button sewn into the inner hem
Length: 57" from shoulder to hem
Modern Sizing Equivalent: OSFA
Item# DD4660
Reference Photos/Videos: Fall 1988 Yves Saint Laurent Runway.
This garment has been professionally cleaned, pressed and is odor free. Thoroughly checked over before shipping, it will be ready to wear upon arrival.
biba
1973 Biba by Barbara Hulanicki Oversized Houndstooth Jacket w Incredible Sleeves & Shoulders
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A version of this 1973 coat in a different pattern is featured in one of the Biba books and you can see the same shape through the shoulder and sleeve. I have had this for many years now and it is a very hard piece to let go of. It really showcases her love for all things Art Deco and the cut of this coat is phenomenal. 1973 marked the year that the Big Biba store opened in a seven-story building on Kensington High Street. Every floor had its own theme with floors and millions of people visited.
This coat is absolutely wonderful. It has those fabulous Art Deco lines that Barbara Hulanicki excelled at and that so many of the best of her pieces reference. It is made out of a woven wool that creates a giant houndstooth pattern. The neutral colour combination of the taupe and black is so easy to mix and match with everything. The coat has some weight to it but feels balanced once on the body. I love that you can see the actual weave of the wool. This adds extra texture and dimension to the pattern. The coat falls beautifully once on. It has a single large flat metal hook at the front and then swings open under that. There is no collar, and it simply falls into a V to that hook and then carries on to the hem. It is more fitted through the shoulders and then falls outwards with all of the volume created by the way the fabric has been cut and pieced together. The shoulders and sleeves are spectacular. Each shoulder is set with a high capped and rounded cut. This was something that Hulanicki became known for and pieces with this cut are among the most coveted. The sleeves are equally as fabulous. They are cut wide and full and then the ends flip over to create that huge 7" cuff. Hidden set pockets along one of the more inner vertical seams is the perfect finish. It is just exceptional and I think it is one of the best Biba coats I've ever personally seen. Excellent condition
Fully lined in black silk. It has one hook to close at the front. Light padding in each shoulder. Pockets on each hip. I see some light water marks on the inner lining here and there. The open should fit a variety of sizes as long as the upper shoulders fit.
Sleeves: 21" and 14" around the upper arm
Shoulder: 17.5" flat across the exterior of the entire upper shoulder
Bust: to 18" flat across from side seam to side seam
Waist-hips: open
Length: 43" from neck to hem
Modern Sizing Equivalent: XS-MED
Item# DD4659
Reference Photo: Photo feature of the first Autumn collection at Big Biba in 1973 from the book “Welcome To Big Biba” by Steven Thomas and Alwyn W Turner.
All items are thoroughly checked over before shipping. Unless noted everything in our shop has been professionally cleaned. All sales are final. Overseas clients will be emailed to obtain agreement to our final sales policy before the order is shipped as per our return policy.
yves saint laurent
Well Documented Fall 1976 Yves Saint Laurent Hooded Cape w Braided Edges & Tassel Details
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This fantastic cape is from the Fall 1976 collection and it is the second one from this collection I have had in the shop this week. Several versions of it were produced that season including this and the longer and slightly more elaborate deep purple one I listed earlier this week. We have included photos from the runway pieces here and we also found an ad campaign shot with its twin and have included that for you to see. I personally have several versions of his capes myself and have worn them countless times. It is literally the perfect thing to pop over a dress at night time. It is a very versatile and so easy to wear piece.
The cape is in a very beautiful pale taupe combined with a black flat braided edging. The fabric is a high end wool that has a little bit of weight just due to the sheer amount of it in the cape but is still comfortable and easy-to-wear. This is one of those effortless pieces that is easy to make a part of your wardrobe. You just slip it over your shoulders and it drapes in place. A slightly oversized hood extends out from the neck and this added addition of the hood adds the perfect amount of detail and drama. A flat blue braided rope finished all the edges and I love the elaborate braided knots that closes it in place at the neck. A long fringed tassel sits on either side of that closure for added drama. I love the bit of movement these create when you move. There is a ton of fabric in the body of the cape so that when you move you get wonderful movement as it floats and billows around you. The cut is impeccable and it is a great piece of YSL's fashion history. Excellent condition
Unlined and drapes over the shoulder to wear with a knot closure at the neck as seen. The occasional graze to the surface. The easy open cut should allow fit just about any size
Length: 50" from shoulder to hem
Modern Sizing Equivalent: OSFA
Item# DD4658
Reference Photos: Fall 1976 Yves Saint Laurent.
All items are thoroughly checked over before shipping. Unless noted everything in our shop has been professionally cleaned. All sales are final. Overseas clients will be emailed to obtain agreement to our final sales policy before the order is shipped as per our return policy.
christian lacroix
Rare Spring 1988 Christian Lacroix Well Documented Brilliant Silk Floral Dress w Back Bustle
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This dress is very special and an extremely well documented piece from Spring 1988. It has the special added provenance of being the twin of one of the four dresses portrayed in that instantly recognizable photo taken in his atelier that year. That photo is perhaps one of the most famous photos in the Lacroix history. The dress is from his Luxe label that was only produced the very first couple of seasons. It was very high end expensive ready-to-wear that was made to near couture standards and was available primarily to his couture clients and a select few beyond that. It was the predecessor to his later regular ready-to-wear collections. It is said that this label only lasted a couple of seasons because some of the couture clients complained at how close the garments were to their Haute Couture pieces. We found numerous reference photos of the dress as it appeared on the runway so you have an amazing idea of how this dress looks on the body.
The dress is gorgeous. It is made out of a textured silk organza that has a slight texture running through it. Onto that is a glorious floral pattern in pinks and yellow with pops of green. It feels so vibrant and beautiful with that gorgeous print. The sleeves are long and they are cut on a slight curve in the traditional couture manner. The shoulders are lightly shaped and the front falls into a shallow V. The dress has a little bit of gathering just at the bust area down the centre seam and then it falls smoothly to the hem under that. It is cut to skim over you through the body with just a suggestion of shape through the waist. At the back the bottom 9 inches of the skirt has an inset bustle. The fabric there is gathered into a curving seam and there are three black organza half bows stacked one on top of the other to create a bustle feel. This is one of his most famous dresses and its amazing. It appears to have been worn very little if at all. Excellent condition
The body of the dress is fully lined in a black silk and the sleeves are lined in a white silk. The dress zips to close at the back and each cuff has a zipper to close it. Light padding in the shoulders. Tagged a vintage Lacroix 44
Sleeves: 22.5" and 13" around the upper arm
Slightly dropped shoulders: 17"
Bust: to 19.5" flat across from side seam to side seam
Waist: to 16.5" flat across from side seam to side seam
Hips: to 19.5" flat across from side seam to side seam
Total length: 35" from top of shoulder to hem with 2" turned under the hem
Modern Sizing Equivalent: MED-LRG
Item# DD4401
Reference Photos: (1-5) Spring 1988 Christian Lacroix Collection. / (6-7) Models in Christian Lacroix Haute Couture Atelier, Paris, 1988. Photos by Arthur Elgort.
All items are thoroughly checked over before shipping. Unless noted everything in our shop has been professionally cleaned. All sales are final. Overseas clients will be emailed to obtain agreement to our final sales policy before the order is shipped as per our return policy.
chanel
Prettiest Spring 2011 Chanel by Karl Lagerfeld Runway Look 48 Pleated Sleeveless Floral Silk Dress
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This pretty Chanel dress is very well documented. Not only was it's twin presented on the Spring 2011 Chanel runway for Look 48 that season, but it was featured in the ad campaign that year and Anna Wintour has worn hers several times. Lydia Hearst wore a shortened version of it and Sarah Chapman wore one. In Vogue's review of the show, Tim Blanks said in part; "Karl Lagerfeld gets a lot of his inspiration from dreams, but he didn't need any help from them today, because he already had Last Year at Marienbad, that hallucinatory slice of avant-garde celluloid from the early sixties, on his mind. Some would say that, despite its storied reputation, it's the most boring movie ever made, but for Lagerfeld—and Chanel—it inspired a breathtakingly surreal setting: a monochrome ornamental garden, complete with fountains, which mirrored one of the film's most famous scenes." It is so pretty and a very easy-to-wear dress
This dress is one of the prettiest I have seen from Chanel. The quality of the silk can only be appreciated when you have it in hand. The top is sleeveless and this makes it easy to wear on its own or under a jacket or sweater. It is cut to skim over the body and has a beautiful romantic and feminine feel. The bodice is vertically pleated in these perfect little pleats that have top stitching which is a subtle extra little detail . I also love how the pleating makes the floral print feel more interesting to see. The waist is defined with band of matching silk but its cut is a touch more on the generous side. This gives it that easy feel to it that many Chanel pieces have. Pleats circle around the hips and then they open up from there so that when you move the skirt moves and floats around you. Last, but certainly not least, is the fact that the famous double C logo is worked all through the print of the dress making it impossible to not know that you are wearing Chanel. It has never been worn and still has its original tag and Chanel packet. Excellent condition
The dress is lined through the bodice in a black silk chiffon and the skirt is unlined. It closes with a hidden set back zipper and a Chanel logo button at the back of the neck. It is tagged a Chanel 38 and has its original tag and Chanel packet. Current Chanel day dresses start at $5500 and range up to $8500USD + for similar pieces.
Bust: 16-18" flat across from side seam to side seam
Waist: 14.5" flat across from side seam to side seam
Hips: to 18" flat across from side seam to side seam
Bodice: 12" from top of shoulder to top of band at the waist
Total length: 42" from top of shoulder to hem
Modern Sizing Equivalent: XS-MED
Item# DD4497
Reference Photos/Video: (1-2) Spring 2011 Chanel, Look 48, Model Lisanne De Jong. / (3) Spring 2011 Chanel Ad Campaign. Photographed by Karl Lagerfeld. / (4-5) Anna Wintour in Chanel at the 2011 Tribeca Film Festival. / (6) Anna Wintour, June 2011. / (7) Anna Wintour attending the Fall 2011 Chanel Fashion Show. / (8) Lydia Hearst attends CHANEL and Liz Goldwyn Celebrate "Chanel: Her Life" By Justine Picardie, September 2011. / (9) Sarah Chapman in Chanel, 2015.
All items are thoroughly checked over before shipping. Unless noted everything in our shop has been professionally cleaned. All sales are final. Overseas clients will be emailed to obtain agreement to our final sales policy before the order is shipped as per our return policy.
thea porter
Rare 1971 Thea Porter Actual Book Piece Silk Cotton Gauze Dress w Sheila Hudson Horseman Print
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This is the actual dress that is in the book on Thea Porter's work and appears on page 111. The book notes that this dress has "Two prints based on Persian paintings, designed by Sheila Hudson, combined on the dress. One on the bodice with polo players, while on the sleeves and skirt is a single horseman with Persian style calligraphy at the hem of the skirt." We've also included photos of a jumpsuit with the same print that appeared at the July 1971 press view and several other versions of the dress from editorials from that time period. A Version of the dress was also part of the Thea Porter exhibit. This print was very well documented and Thea made a small series of pieces from this fabric. Each piece was made specifically so that it was cut to follow the print perfectly. This is the only one I've ever seen made in this length and in this style. Given her extremely limited run on certain pieces, it may in fact be the only one that exists. It is truly a very special piece.
The cut of this dress is exceptional. It has a small neat collar and the collar hooks at the front. It is then slit to the waist with one single hook just under the halfway point to hold it in place. This leaves a large slice of skin showing when it is on the body. The bodice is unlined and has a single layer of the printed silk cotton gauze which gives it a touch of transparency. Horsemen romp over the bodice with dogs following in pursuit through flowers and trees. The sleeves are phenomenal. Each is gathered into the top of the shoulder and then are a huge balloon sleeves under that. More horseman sit at the top of each sleeve and then you have the calligraphy mentioned above wrapping around the gathered cuffs. The waist is elastic and this make the dress extremely easy-to-wear and comfortable on the body. Under that, the skirt has an incredible amount of fabric and here again we see horsemen wrapping all the way around the dress and then the bottom displays more calligraphy, flowers all in those beautiful colours of blue. There is an incredible amount of fabric in the skirt so it moves beautifully once on the body. This is an exceptional and extremely rare example of her work. Excellent condition with a small note below
Unlined and slips onto wear. There are hook and eye at the top of the neck and then another just under the halfway point of the slit down the front. The waist is elastic. I see some darkening to the inside of the collar and slight darkening on the exterior collar near where it hooks to close at the neck. Please see the photo after the label shot.
Sleeves: 24.5"
Shoulders are really inset so no true seams
Bust: 15-17.5" flat across from side seam to side seam
Elastic waist: 10-16" flat across from side seam to side seam
Hips: open
Bodice: 14" from top of shoulder to waist
Total length: 42" from top of shoulder to hem with 1.5" turned under the hem
Modern Sizing Equivalent: XXS-SML
Item# DD4657
Reference Photos: (1) Model in Thea Porter, Flair Magazine, 1971. / (2) Marina Schiano in Thea Porter's Persian miniature inspired print dress. Photo by Bill King for Harper's Bazaar, March 1972. / (3) Model in Thea Porter, Vogue UK, 1971. / (4) Thea Porter Press Viewing, July 1971. / (5) 1971 Thea Porter Cotton dress, Textile by Sheila Hudson, Collection of Susanne Deeken. Shown on display at the Thea Porter 70s Bohemian Chic Exhibit at the Fashion and Textile Museum. / (6-8) This dress shown in the book "Thea Porter: Bohemian Chic" by Laura McLaws Helms and Venetia Porter.
All items are thoroughly checked over before shipping. Unless noted everything in our shop has been professionally cleaned. All sales are final. Overseas clients will be emailed to obtain agreement to our final sales policy before the order is shipped as per our return policy.
valentino
Dreamy 1970s Valentino Black Silk Wide Ruffled Hem Dress w Matching Wide Bell Sleeve Cropped Jacket
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Valentino launched his ready-to-wear label in 1962 two years after opening his atelier in Rome. He eventually expanded and added other boutiques. His first New York boutique launched in the fall of 1970 and it caused a sensation. Traffic was backed up 3 blocks with everyone who was anyone trying to get in on opening night. More boutiques followed including one at Bergdorfs. He encouraged his couture clients to also shop in his boutiques. He wanted everyone to have the Valentino experience and noted that he often carried the lines he created for his Couture label into the boutique work. The fabric and construction details were still remarkably close in quality to his couture pieces at this point in time. The line between the two was often blurred and on this set you can see that in the hand finishing that is has. I absolutely love this set. It is gorgeous.
The dress is made out of a black silk that holds its shape and volume beautifully. This is a two piece set made up of a dress and its matching jacket. They are fantastically beautiful worn together but I also love that by having the two pieces it gives you more styling options and you can wear then separately and mix and match with other things you already own. The dress is suspended by two tiny straps that curve up and over each shoulder. A wide set V sits at the front and then it dips lower across at the back to leave a bare expanse of open skin. It is cut to be more fitted to the waist and then under that it is all volume. The skirt has an incredible amount of silk in it that really shows best when you move. The lightness of the silk causes the skirt to billow out and move around you as you move, yet it still has enough weight that it holds that full feeling when you stand still. When this is on and you are walking the effect that this creates is absolutely gorgeous. A full 13" ruffle circles the lower hem and it has been sewn is on top of the skirt and not simple seamed onto the edge. This is a clever technique that leaves fabric inside and behind the skirt and this helps to hold its shape. This uses extra fabric so it's not something you see as much anymore. And it has pockets. The jacket is a thing of beauty in its own right. It widens out from a soft shoulder and curves around and up from the hem to the neckline. I love the tiny ruffled finish that follows the edge. The sleeves are incredible and each is cut to be a wide bell shape. By their ends they are each a full 20" around and the ruffle that finishes each sleeve is a little more then that even. It is absolutely beautiful. This is a stunning Valentino from this time period. Excellent condition.
Fully lined in a black silk. The dress closes with a back zipper and there are two hidden hook and eye at the base of the jacket at the front. Tagged a vintage Valentino size 6.
Dress
Bust: to 16.25" flat across from side seam to side seam
Waist: 12" flat across from side seam to side seam
Hips: open
Bodice: 14.5" from top of shoulder to waist
Skirt: 43" from waist to hem
Jacket
Slightly inset shoulders: 13"
Sleeves: 22.5" long and 14" around the top part of the arm
Bust: 17" flat across from side seam to side seam
Waist: 14" flat across from side seam to side seam
Length: 17.5" from neck to hem
Modern Sizing Equivalent: XS-SML
Item# DD4054
All items are thoroughly checked over before shipping. Unless noted everything in our shop has been professionally cleaned. All sales are final. Overseas clients will be emailed to obtain agreement to our final sales policy before the order is shipped as per our return policy.
jean paul gaultier
Masterpiece Fall 2001 Jean Paul Gaultier Runway Haute Couture Beaded & Embroidered Pant w Silk Jersey Top Set
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Jean Paul Gaultier's illustrious career spans decades. His first show was in 1976 and his avant garde designs quickly gained him the reputation of being fashion's 'l'enfant terrible'. His designs mixed cultures with abandon, gender norms were blurred through his pieces and the body was presented encased in ways unimaginable prior to his brilliant vision. In 1997 he entered the sanctified world of Haute Couture and for just over two decades produced stunning work cumulating with his final show for Spring 2020. His pieces of couture rarely come to market and I am very pleased to have this unbelievably beautiful ensemble. This was look 33 for the Fall 2001 Haute Couture presentation entitled 'China and Spain'. For this season Gaultier combined elements from those two countries in a beautiful homage. Pieces from this collection were featured in the The Fashion World of Jean Paul Gaultier: From the Sidewalk to the Catwalk exhibit of 2013 and to have a piece available for purchase is almost as rare as being able to have bought it as a couture client in the first place. After the show Gaultier said of this collection “I wanted to do something more sensual than sexy. The idea was to bring together everything that you imagine when you think of China and Spain—theater, movement, color, history and richness.” The twin of this look was worn by Alec Wek on the runway with a huge red bib neckpiece over the top. We believe that this may have been the only piece ever produced beyond the runway set.
It is extraordinary to think that Jean Paul Gaultier has only produced a Haute Couture line for two short decades given his long career. Like most Haute Couture, this is a set that only truly comes to life when it is on an actual body and the reference photos and video show you just how amazing it is on. The pants are a work of art. They are heavy and densely beaded with glass tube beads in tightly spaced rows to cover every inch of the pants. Worked in and among the sequins are brilliantly coloured hand embroidered flowers. These trail over the pants and wrap around the legs. The work to place each of these beads individually and do the embroidery would have taken hundreds of hours to complete. They are cut with a flat front and straight leg that gets a touch wider by the hem. When you the light catches the beads and the colours of the embroidered flowers is fantastic. The top is made out of a fine black silk jersey. It closes with a complex mix of a hidden zipper front and two separate areas of silk covered snaps and hooks. It wraps around the body and drapes down one side. The collar is high and you can see the nod to China within its shape. Each sleeve is incredibly long and they are meant to be pushed up to create a row of rounded gathers forming around the entire lower part of the arm. I love the long trailing panel of the silk jersey set on one hip. It falls over that pant on that side to the floor. It is meant to have a nod to the trade de luces cape, which is part of the traditional clothing that Spanish bullfighters wear. It is a brilliant piece of Haute Couture and is everything you want to see in a Haute Couture piece. It appears to have never been worn or worn very little. Excellent condition.
The upper portion of the top is lined in silk and it zips to close at the inside front. A jersey panel wraps over this and closes with a series of silk covered snaps and hook & eye along the side near the neck. More hook & eye sits along the waist and hip area on that same side. The pants are fully lined in a silk and close with a hand set zipper. Made by hand to Haute Couture standards. Proper Couture tags on both pieces.
Top
Sleeves: 45.5" and push up to wear
Shoulders: 15"
Bust: to 19" flat across from side seam to side seam
Interior waist: to 13" flat across from side seam to side seam, inner waist stay hooks at 14"
Hips: open
Length: 29" from neck to shortest point of the front side, 37" to longest point of the back
Hip swag: 47" from waist to longest point of the hem
Pant
Waist: 13" flat across from side seam to side seam
Hips: 19" flat across from side seam to side seam
Length: 42" from top of bodice to waist
Inseam: 30" from inner seam to hem
Modern Sizing Equivalent: SML-MED
Item# DD3581
Reference Photos/Video: Alek Wek for Fall 2001 Jean Paul Gaultier Haute Couture Collection.
All items are thoroughly checked over before shipping. Unless noted everything in our shop has been professionally cleaned. All sales are final. Overseas clients will be emailed to obtain agreement to our final sales policy before the order is shipped as per our return policy.
bill blass
Prettiest 1970s Bill Blass Black Silk Organza Dress w Extensive Ruffle Detailing & Full Puff Sleeves
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Bill Blass launched his label in 1970 when he bought out the Maurice Rentner label and re-launched it under his own name. Blass was arguably one of the most famous of the American designers. His forte was the ability to mix simple styles with luxurious materials and his evening wear in particular seemed to have a way of flattering the wearer. He knew how to walk that line perfectly. This is a beautiful example of his work from this time period.
The dress is made from a light weight black silk organza and it is an easy-to-wear and very pretty dress. The dress is made to look as if it wraps around you but it actually is fully secured all the way around. The bodice has a cross over the front and is meant to skim over you to the waist. At the back it closes with a hook and eye at the top of the neck and then there is an open keyhole slit to where the zipper begins just above the waist. I love how the back and upper part of the shoulders are made from only one layer of the organza so that it has a touch of transparency. This transparency has been carried over to the sleeves as well. The sleeves are spectacular. Each one is extremely full and balloons out over the cuffs. They are also open with a keyhole from the top of the shoulder to the wrist. The wrist is highlighted with a bow made from the same organza and then you have a huge double ruffle of silk that falls over your hands. The waist is brought in and has an attached band of the same organza that you tied to one side. Under that the skirt falls to the floor and widen out beautifully. It is scooped up at the front to one side and there is another double layer of ruffles that begins at the top of the hip and then falls all the way to the floor. It follows the edge of the skirt all the way around the back and then scoops up the other side. This adds that incredible volume and drama to the skirt that you see. The skirt is lined underneath and the inner skirt has a smaller open slit so that your full leg is not exposed. If you wanted to, you could easily expand that inner slit so that opened all the way up and you did see all of your leg. It is gorgeous and even more beautiful in person. Excellent condition with a minor note below.
Fully lined in a black silk. It closes at the back of the neck with a hook at the top of the neck and a zipper starting just above the waist. Each cuff hooks to close, and the belt at the waist snaps into place. Perhaps the tiniest bit of fading to an edge here or there, but this is a natural occurrence with this type of fabric in this age of garment and I'm being pretty picky.
Sleeves: 29" including the 6 inch ruffle. 15" around the upper arm.
Shoulders: 16"
Bust: to 19" flat across from side seam to side seam
Waist: to 14" flat across from side seam to side seam
Inner hips: to 19" flat across from side seam to side seam
Bodice: 14" from top of shoulder to top of the band at the waist
Total length: 61" from top of the shoulder to hem
Modern Sizing Equivalent: MED-LRG
Item# DD4656
All items are thoroughly checked over before shipping. Unless noted everything in our shop has been professionally cleaned. All sales are final. Overseas clients will be emailed to obtain agreement to our final sales policy before the order is shipped as per our return policy.
christian dior
Resort 2018 Christian Dior by Maria Grazia Chiuri Runway Look 47 Plunge Yellow Silk Chiffon Dress Size 42
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I have two of these in the shop today and this one is the larger one and it is a FR42/US10 in size. The twin of this dress in a different colour walked the runway as Look 47 for the 2018 resort season. The show was held in the remote Upper Las Virgenes Canyon Open Space Preserve in Calabasas, California and Rihanna, Charlize Theron and Solange Knowles were there alongside the fashion pack. The inspiration for the show came from the archives and Chiuri said 'she went to the archives, where she came across the house founder’s Lascaux collection of 1951, inspired by the ancient cave paintings discovered in southwestern France a decade earlier.' The twin of it with the front tacked closed a bit was also worn by Kate Mara in 2017 which shows you how it looks when you do close the plunge a bit. It is also interesting because a very similar dress was shown for the Resort 2008 collection and you can see that progression from the Dior archives to this piece.
This is a dress that is insanely sexy and bare feeling. I love its bright joyful yellow colour and minimal lines. The dress is a made out of a feather light silk chiffon that tops inner layers of silk tulle and silk. This fabric combination makes it very light and easy to wear and it feels like a dream once on the body. The lightness of it lets it move and float around you beautifully as you walk and move. The front plunges low to the seam at the slightly empire set to the waist. It crosses over itself a touch at the front and the seam under the bust is detailed with a tiny little ruffle in the same silk. The shoulders twist as they curve over your shoulders and then it falls into another deep V at the back. The panels there sit a wider apart where it meets the waist so you get a more open back feel. The sides are equally as dramatic as the plunge in long Vs to the waist. Under that the skirt flows to the floor and widens out as it nears the hem. There is a tremendous amount of fabric in the skirt and this lets the skirt billow out around you as you move. The top layer of the skirt is a silk chiffon that has a touch of texture to it. There are two layers of silk tulle under that and a final inner layer of silk that acts as the lining. The effect all of these layers have once it is on and moving around you is fantastic. It is fabulous on the body. It appears to have been worn very little if at all. Excellent condition
Lined as described above and closes with a back hidden set zipper. Tagged a FR42, UK14, IT46, US10. A tiny pinhole in the lining of the bust. The easy cut should work on a range of sizes.
Bust: no true side seams but each triangle will cover 7-9" across
Waist: 15" flat across from side seam to side seam
Innermost hips: to 24" flat across from side seam to side seam, the outer layers are full and open
Bodice: 14" from top of shoulder to waist
Total length: 56" from top of shoulder to hem
Modern Sizing Equivalent: SML-LRG
Item# DD4653
Reference Photos/Video: (1-2) Resort 2018 Christian Dior Runway, Look 47. Model Cara Taylor. / (3-4) Kate Mara in Dior at the 2017 Guggenheim International Gala.
All items are thoroughly checked over before shipping. Unless noted everything in our shop has been professionally cleaned. All sales are final. Overseas clients will be emailed to obtain agreement to our final sales policy before the order is shipped as per our return policy.
Gorgeous Spring 2020 Alexandre Vauthier Yellow Silk Jersey Dress w Plunge & High Front Slit
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Alexandre Vauthier launched his label in 2009. He started his fashion career in 1993 working for Thierry Mugler as an intern and working his way up to assistant designer to Mugler himself. In 1997 he joined Jean Paul Gaultier where he in charge of the Couture collections for the following eight years. He left in 2008 to open his own couture atelier showing his first collection in 2009. From 2011 to 2014 the label was a designated guest member of the Chambre Syndicale de haute couture and since December 2014 he has been a full Couture member. He also designs ready-to-wear and this gorgeous dress is from that part of the label. Versions of the dress where made in a pale blue and this beautiful yellow.
The dress is made from a beautiful yellow stretch jersey that has enough weight and drape to it so that is falls perfectly in the sharp angular lines that he intended it to be shaped in. I love the precisely shaped strong shoulders and how the shape of it narrows in as it reaches the hem. The dress is cut to skim over the body and highlight it everywhere. The sleeves are cut extra long so that once on the arm they bunch up a touch. The low cut V at the front goes right to the waist. The dress is shaped around the hips so that it sits snugly on the body and there is an inner body suit bottom to hold the dress and the plunge perfectly in place. The fabric is gathered in towards one hip under the plunge and a large panel wraps around you for a bit of a sarong feel. The skirt is crazy sexy. It is slit right up to the base of the panel that wraps around the hips for a mile of leg to show. The skirt itself is cut in an almost long triangle shape that trails out past the hem. It is amazing on the body and it is just a beautiful and very sexy dress. It appears to have been worn very little if at all. Excellent condition
Made from a double layer of the jersey so it is opaque. It zips to close at the back with a hidden set zipper. The inner body suit snaps to close. Padding in each shoulder. A tiny darkening near the end of the skirt hem. The fabric does have stretch and is meant to stretch to accommodate the curves of the body
Sleeves: 29"
Shoulders: 15"
Bust: 15-18" flat across from side seam to side seam
Waist: 11-15" flat across from side seam to side seam
Hips: 16-22" flat across from side seam to side seam
Total length: 67" from top of the shoulder to waist
Slit: 45" from hem up
Modern Sizing Equivalent: XS-MED
Item# DD4654
Reference Photo: Spring 2020 Alexandre Vauthier, Look 10.
All items are thoroughly checked over before shipping. Unless noted everything in our shop has been professionally cleaned. All sales are final. Overseas clients will be emailed to obtain agreement to our final sales policy before the order is shipped as per our return policy.
christian dior
Resort 2018 Christian Dior by Maria Grazia Chiuri Runway Look 47 Plunge Yellow Silk Chiffon Dress Size 38
I Have a Question
I have two of these in the shop today and this one is the smaller one that is a FR38/US6 in size. The twin of this dress in a different colour walked the runway as Look 47 for the 2018 resort season. The show was held in the remote Upper Las Virgenes Canyon Open Space Preserve in Calabasas, California and Rihanna, Charlize Theron and Solange Knowles were there alongside the fashion pack. The inspiration for the show came from the archives and Chiuri said 'she went to the archives, where she came across the house founder’s Lascaux collection of 1951, inspired by the ancient cave paintings discovered in southwestern France a decade earlier.' The twin of it with the front tacked closed a bit was also worn by Kate Mara in 2017 which shows you how it looks when you do close the plunge a bit. It is also interesting because a very similar dress was shown for the Resort 2008 collection and you can see that progression from the Dior archives to this piece.
This is a dress that is insanely sexy and bare feeling. I love its bright joyful yellow colour and minimal lines. The dress is a made out of a feather light silk chiffon that tops inner layers of silk tulle and silk. This fabric combination makes it very light and easy to wear and it feels like a dream once on the body. The lightness of it lets it move and float around you beautifully as you walk and move. The front plunges low to the seam at the slightly empire set to the waist. It crosses over itself a touch at the front and the seam under the bust is detailed with a tiny little ruffle in the same silk. The shoulders twist as they curve over your shoulders and then it falls into another deep V at the back. The panels there sit a wider apart where it meets the waist so you get a more open back feel. The sides are equally as dramatic as the plunge in long Vs to the waist. Under that the skirt flows to the floor and widens out as it nears the hem. There is a tremendous amount of fabric in the skirt and this lets the skirt billow out around you as you move. The top layer of the skirt is a silk chiffon that has a touch of texture to it. There are two layers of silk tulle under that and a final inner layer of silk that acts as the lining. The effect all of these layers have once it is on and moving around you is fantastic. It is fabulous on the body. It appears to have been worn very little if at all. Excellent condition
Lined as described above and closes with a back hidden set zipper. Tagged a FR38, UK10, IT42, US6.
Bust: no true side seams but each triangle will cover 7-8" across
Waist: 13.5" flat across from side seam to side seam
Innermost hips: to 21" flat across from side seam to side seam, the outer layers are full and open
Bodice: 14" from top of shoulder to waist
Total length: 57" from top of shoulder to hem
Modern Sizing Equivalent: XS-MED
Item# DD4655
Reference Photos/Video: (1-2) Resort 2018 Christian Dior Runway, Look 47. Model Cara Taylor. / (3-4) Kate Mara in Dior at the 2017 Guggenheim International Gala.
All items are thoroughly checked over before shipping. Unless noted everything in our shop has been professionally cleaned. All sales are final. Overseas clients will be emailed to obtain agreement to our final sales policy before the order is shipped as per our return policy.
chanel
Fantastic Spring 2011 Chanel by Karl Lagerfeld Runway Look 48 Leather Jacket w Floral Silk Detailing
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This jacket is extremely well documented. Its twin walked the Spring 2011 Chanel runway for Look 48. It was featured in the ad campaign that year and Anna Wintour owns one. In Vogue's review of the show, Tim Blanks said in part; "Karl Lagerfeld gets a lot of his inspiration from dreams, but he didn't need any help from them today, because he already had Last Year at Marienbad, that hallucinatory slice of avant-garde celluloid from the early sixties, on his mind. Some would say that, despite its storied reputation, it's the most boring movie ever made, but for Lagerfeld—and Chanel—it inspired a breathtakingly surreal setting: a monochrome ornamental garden, complete with fountains, which mirrored one of the film's most famous scenes." Karl himself said that new fabrics were one of his touchstones for the collection, but "he distressed them with selvedge, ragged edges, and a lattice of perforations. That chaotic quality persisted in dégradé chiffon florals or a monochrome tweed patchwork.... It loaned an enthralling urgency, and the fierce young spirit in the collection could be read as a swingeing riposte to the cutesiness that sometimes overtakes Chanel's ready-to-wear." The jacket is fantastic.
This amazing little jacket is made from a butter soft black leather. I love how Karl used that floral printed silk to weave through the open perforated cut outs on the leather. This creates a gorgeous lattice effect that adds a wonderful and unusual detail to the jacket. The collar is done with the same technique and then he ran it down the front of the jacket in a wide panel. The most dramatic usage of it is how he has replaced the entire lower parts of the sleeves with this silk and leather detailing. This lets you see glimpses of your bare arms through the cut outs or see what you choose to wear underneath the jacket. More of that silk is wrapped all the way around the hem as well. The impact of the pink and ivory silk against the black is so pretty and softens the jacket for a bit of a romantic and whimsical feel. The jacket is beautifully cut with a notched collar and long straight sleeves. It skims over the body with the waist brought in just a touch for shape. It is beautifully tailored and finished. It closes at the front with a series of large flat metal hook & eye. A simple zipped pockets sits on each hip and each one has a perfect little double Cs on the zipper pull. Excellent condition
The jacket hooks to close at the front with a series of flat metal hook & eye. It is lined in a black Chanel logo embossed silk. Tagged a modern Chanel 40
Sleeves: 25" and 14" around the upper arm
Shoulders: 14.5"
Bust: 17.5" flat across from side seam to side seam
Waist: 16.5" flat across from side seam to side seam
Hips: 18" flat across from side seam to side seam
Length: 26" from neck to hem
Modern Sizing Equivalent: SML-MED
Item# DD4650
Reference Photos/Video: (1-2) Spring 2011 Chanel, Look 48, Model Lisanne De Jong. / (3) Spring 2011 Chanel Ad Campaign. Photographed by Karl Lagerfeld. / (4-5) Anna Wintour in Chanel at the 2011 Tribeca Film Festival. / (6) Anna Wintour attending the Fall 2011 Chanel Fashion Show.
All items are thoroughly checked over before shipping. Unless noted everything in our shop has been professionally cleaned. All sales are final. Overseas clients will be emailed to obtain agreement to our final sales policy before the order is shipped as per our return policy.
christian lacroix
Pretty 2000s Christian Lacroix Bazar Black Silk Chiffon Top or Light Jacket w Lace Finishes
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Christian LaCroix launched his Haute Couture house in 1987 and was an instant success on the worldwide stage. Ready-to-wear lines soon followed along with perfumes and menswear. His collections are always exotic lavish affairs and his designs seemed to span the decades with their eccentric glamour pulled from multiple sources of inspiration. This is a very easy to wear piece for the Bazar line and it is a beauty.
This is such a pretty top. It is a piece that you can wear open and layered over other things for more of a light evening jacket feel or tie it closed down the front and wear it more like a top on its own. It is made out of a double layer of black silk chiffon mixed with a lace and it is insanely soft to the touch. It has a touch of transparency, which is very pretty. Everything about it is meant to convey ease and luxury. It slips on and then ties down the front. The shoulders are soft and the sleeves end in lace cuffs. The body of the top has a more loose and generous cut. The collar is finished with lace that starts around the neck and the sits on either side of the front plunge. It goes all the way to the hem and then circles around. It is gorgeous. Excellent condition.
Made of two layers of the silk chiffon and ties to close at the front. Tagged a vintage Lacroix 38
Sleeves: 20" from dropped shoulder and 12" around
Slightly dropped shoulders: 15.5"
Bust: 18" flat across from side seam to side seam
Waist: 15" flat across from side seam to side seam
Hips: 18" flat across from side seam to side seam
Length: 22" from neck to hem
Modern Sizing Equivalent: XS-MED
Item# DD4651
All items are thoroughly checked over before shipping. Unless noted everything in our shop has been professionally cleaned. All sales are final. Overseas clients will be emailed to obtain agreement to our final sales policy before the order is shipped as per our return policy.
prada
Spring 2005 Prada Runway & Ad Canmpaign Brown Silk Jacket w Extensive Beading & Embellishments
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The Spring 2005 Prada show is one of the label's most iconic and recognizable of the Prada collections. I have had a one shoulder dress in the same fabric with the same beading from the show in the past and I was excited to have this jacket come in. The twin of the.jacket was shown in blue for the runway presentation and a longer, more coat feeling version in this same colour was also presented. The blue version was featured in the ad campaign that year. I love that you can see how versatile this jacket is and how you can change the look of it by belting it.
These embellished pieces were some of my personal favourites presented that season. The.colour of this jacket is amazing and when Vogue reviewed the show, they referred to it as being 'a brown-ochre-rust colour' and that perfectly describes it. The silk shantung that it is made out of has a slight metallic finish that adds a very subtle touch of glamour to the jacket. The cut of the jacket is simple. It has no collar and opens down the front with hidden hook and eye if you wish to close it. The shoulders are soft and slightly slope down which gives it an easy feel. The sleeves are long and the cut through the body is meant to just skim over you and it has a slight box shape. Starting around the collar and going down the front and curving around partway to the back is a band of heavily embellishments that mix large paillettes, large beads and colourful crystals. These are all set on a lighter coloured silk ribbon with a black silk netting behind the various clusters. Bands of that same elaborate detailing run around each cuff. We took lots of close-ups so you can see just how beautiful the work is . It is very well made and this is classically beautiful Prada. Excellent condition
Fully lined in a brown silk and closes down the front with hidden set hook and eye. Tagged a modern Prada 40
Sleeves: 21" and 11.75" around the upper arm
Shoulders: 15"
Bust: 17" flat across from side seam to side seam
Waist: 17" flat across from side seam to side seam
Hips: 18" flat across from side seam to side seam
Length: 20.5" from neck to hem
Modern Sizing Equivalent: SML-MED
Item# DD4652
Reference Photos/Videos: (1-2) Spring 2005 Prada, Look 44. Model Kristen McMenamy. / (2-3) Spring 2005 Prada, Look 46. Model Jessica Stam. / (4) Karen Elson for Spring 2005 Prada Ad Campaign.
All items are thoroughly checked over before shipping. Unless noted everything in our shop has been professionally cleaned. All sales are final. Overseas clients will be emailed to obtain agreement to our final sales policy before the order is shipped as per our return policy.