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: 16" flat across from side seam to side seam
Waist: 12-12.5" flat across from side seam to side seam
Seam at the top of the hips: 30" 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-SML
Item# DD4673
Reference Photos: Pre-Fall 2015 Oscar de la Renta, Look 36.
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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: 16" 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
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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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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.
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.
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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.
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.
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.
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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.
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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.
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.
christian dior
Resort 2018 Christian Dior by Maria Grazia Chiuri Runway Look 47 Plunge Yellow Silk Chiffon Dress Size 38
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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.
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 42
I Have a Question
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.