This is the actual dress that is in the book on Thea Porter's work that accompanied the exhibit n her work. The photo appears on page 88. The caption in the book notes that this dress is a "Faye dress in ikat silk chiffon, designed by Sandra Munro, with a bodice of Damascus brocade". The Faye dress was named after Faye Dunaway and she made these in various fabrications starting in 1968. It also has a Giorgio Beverly Hills tag where she sold her designs starting in 1969. It was said that when word got out that Thea had new things in the Girorgio boutique, women ran to be able to get a piece for themselves. 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 and this is a highly recognizable design from Thea. The neckline is scooped and edged in a gold cord that wraps around the neck and then runs down the front. It buttons to close at the front in three groups of buttons. I love how each of the buttons are covered in the same silk as the skirt and sleeves. As noted in the book the fabric of the bodice is a Damascus brocade in a muted gold with pops of turquoise and orange. Thea was known for picking up antique fabrics in her journeys and this is undoubtedly a piece or sample of fabric she sourced on her travels. I love that you feel fully covered but there is a tiny gap between the two sides of the front bodice so depending on how you move you get the tiniest glimpse of bare skin. The sleeves are phenomenal. Each is gathered into the top of the shoulder and then they are a huge balloon sleeve under that. They are made from a single layer of the Ikat printed silk chiffon and the pattern is set horizontally on the sleeves. This makes it feels like it wraps around the arm right down to the elastic cuffs. The waist is finished with a wide horizontal band of that same silk and it is cut with a more generous feel. These Faye dresses were not a true caftan but they did have that easy to wear feel to them that her caftan pieces also have. The skirt has an incredible amount of fabric. Here the Ikat print was set vertically which perfectly contrasts all the other elements of the dress and adds visual length. There is a good 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

Fully lined in a green silk and zips to close at the back. The buttons at the front are functional but meant to be decorative. Each sleeve ends with an elastic. I see a tiny bit of colour change to the lining near one arm and a slight darkening to the brocade on that side as well but it is very minor. The tiniest bit of a run in the fabric near the base of the zipper. Please see the photos after the label shot. The easy cut should fit a range of sizes

Sleeves: 24.5" and they are very full
Slightly inset shoulders: 14"
Bust: 19.5" flat across from side seam to side seam
Waist: 16" flat across from side seam to side seam
Hips: open
Bodice: 12.5" from top of shoulder to top of the band at the waist
Total length: 42" from top of shoulder to hem with 1.5" turned under the hem

Modern Sizing Equivalent: SML-LRG

Item# DD4690

Reference Photo: From 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.

I have had this tucked away in my archives for quite some time and it is spectacular. This is it gorgeous little dress that is easy to wear and an extremely beautiful example of her work. It has a touch of a caftan feel to it and that combined with those spectacular sleeves makes it very special piece. Of all of Thea's pieces, her caftans and the dresses that had that caftan like feel, have come to represent Thea's work like no other pieces of her clothing that she designed. Everyone who was anyone wore her work back in the day, including the great Elizabeth Taylor who was a huge fan and collector. This dress is just spectacular and a very special piece.

The dress is very beautiful and is made from a printed silk chiffon. The fabric has a swirling paisley feeling design with a black backdrop and then the print is done in a greens mixed with pops of blue. The print runs over the entire dress. The bodice has an empire cut and the front scoops low and wide. Detailing the edge of the neck and down the front is an added antique gold metal cord embellishment. This goes all the way around the neckline to the back and then runs part way down the front where it closes with hand made frog knots made of the same cording. The cording also details the seam where the sleeves are set in and more of it sit above the scalloping detail of the skirt. Thea was known to hunt antique stores and markets during her extensive travels and use what she found in her designs and this is certainly a found antique textile. The dress buttons down the front to just past the waist. There is a seam set under the bust and then the dress falls from there in a loose and easy feel. The sleeves are magnificent. They are slim through the upper arm and then from just above the elbow to the cuff they balloon out to be spectacularly full. They are not lined for the lower balloon part of each sleeve and I love the touch of transparency this creates. The rest of the dress is lined in a black silk and the chiffon over it is semi-transparent like the sleeves. This see-through quality gives the fabric depth and a floating feel over the inner lining. The final detail is that little scalloped panel that runs around the skirt above the bottom hem. It adds just a tiny touch of movement, and added detail that is lovely. This is very special and rare piece of Thea's work and it is also very beautiful. Excellent condition

Fully lined in a hand set black silk lining. It closes down the front with gold antique cord loops and knots. Each cuff hooks to close. Tagged a vintage UK 12. Finished by hand throughout. There is some patina to the cording that is a natural occurrence of its age. A tiny bit of grubbiness to the seam under each arm on the inner lining. It is spectacular

Sleeves: 26" and 11" around the upper arm
Slightly inset shoulders: 14"
Bust: 17" flat across from side seam to side seam
Seam under the bust: 14.5" flat across from side seam to side seam
Hips: to 21" flat across from side seam to side seam
Bodice: 10.5" from the top of the shoulder to the seam under the bust
Total length: 56" from neck to hem

Modern Sizing Equivalent: XS-SML

Item# DD4570

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.

This same print was used on dress from one of Thea's very first fashion shows that was held at her Greek street shop in London. But the label on this dress was unusual and did not match the ones that would have been used for that show so I reached out to fashion historian and author Laura McClaws Helms. Laura wrote the book on Thea Porter released a few years back and she also curated the museum exhibit on her work. She told me that in the very early days Thea would sometimes meet with boutique owners and agree to sell select pieces to them. This dress is from one of those collaborations and that makes this dress a very rare piece. Once that was known we ended up finding a photo of the twin of this dress within Laura's photo archives dating it to 1969. It is a stunning and early example of what was to come and it is just a beautiful dress besides.

The dress is stunning. It feels a bit like her 'Faye' dress in its design but with the addition of those incredible sleeves. I love the stark mix of black white and red and how the print is done in panels that run down the front and back of the dress. The the sleeves and side of the dress are made from a semi-transparent black silk chiffon and that touch of transparently is very sexy. The printed parts are also a silk chiffon that has been completely covered in a graphic swirling pattern of red, white and black. The body of the dress is backed in a layer of silk chiffon to make it slightly more opaque and wearable but the sleeves are a single layer of chiffon. Their volume is partly created by how they come out from the waist and because of how they are set from the waist like that you get a glimpse of the transparency along the sides of the bodice when you move which is just insanely sexy. It is still subtle though because of how full the sleeves are cut. Each one falls from the shoulder and connect down right to the waist. Each wrist is finished with a tie made from the printed chiffon. Once on they will sit up more and billow around you. There is banding at the slightly empire set waist and this extends out at the back into long ties that you can cinch to add more shape. The print runs down the front of the  entire dress, circles round the hem and then meets the panel that runs down the back. Beyond its rarity and place in fashion history it is just a gorgeous dress. Excellent condition with a small note below

Fully lined in a black silk chiffon except for the sleeves which are unlined. The dress zips to close at the back. Stiffened tulle set into each shoulder to hold the shape. The band at the waist extend to ties that you can cinch in the waist as desired. Hand finishes throughout. One of the ties at the wrist has a tiny bit missing from its edge that you do not see when it is tied. I see a couple of tiny pinholes near one shoulder. Please see the photos after the label shot

Sleeves: approx 28"
Shoulders: no true defined seam
Bust: no true side seams
Seam under the bust: 14.5" flat across from side seam to side seam
Hips: open
Bodice: 12" from top of shoulder to seam under the bust
Skirt: 45" from waist to hem

Modern Sizing Equivalent: XS-SML

Item# DD3491

Reference Photo: (1) Model in Thea Porter, 1969. Photo courtesy of Laura McLaws Helms.  /  (2) 1969 Thea Porter 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.

This is a fabulous three-piece complete set circa 1972 from the Valentino boutique label. Valentino launched his ready-to-wear label in 1962 just two years after opening his first salon in Rome. His work was so popular that when he launched the New York boutique in the fall of 1970 it shut down the city. Traffic was backed up 3 blocks with everyone who was anyone trying to get in on opening night. He wanted everyone to have access to the Valentino experience and he often brought in the designs that he created for his main couture label into the boutique work. In these early days pieces were remarkably close in quality and the line between the two labels was often blurred. On this set you can see that in the hand finishing that is has. Though I have seen various combinations of these pieces this is the first time I've seen all three sold as a proper full set. I love it.

This really is an incredible set and it shows his love of prints. I love how all three pieces use the same print layered on top of each other and the combination of the two fabrics. The skirt and jacket are made out of a flat pile cotton velvet and the top is made out of a scarf weight silk. A charming acorn pattern combined with flowers covers all three pieces and you will notice how the design on the skirt and jacket are weighted heavier towards the bottom. This draws the eye downwards and cleverly gives added length to the wearer. On the top the pattern is scattered evenly over the entire bodice which gives a slight contrast to the other two pieces. The skirt is banded at the waist and skims over the hips. There are pockets on each hip for the perfect slouchy feel. It falls to the floor in a slight A-line that perfectly showcases that gorgeous print. The jacket is also made of a velvet and it has an equally simple cut. It has soft shoulders and the sleeves end just above each wrist depending on the length of your arms. There is a yoked seam across the top of the bodice on the front and the back and then the jacket falls in a soft A0line from there to just past the hips. The jacket also has pockets and these are sat at each hip on a slight slant. It has no closures and is meant to just sit over the little silk top underneath. The top is everything you want from a piece from the 1970s. It has a structured and very pointed little collar and it buttons down the front. It is shaped to follow the curves of the body and then the sleeves are phenomenal. Each is cuffed and above that there is that beautifully shaped arm that balloons out extensively just above the cuff. I love that the three pieces are phenomenal when worn together but they are also pieces that you can easily mix-and-match with everything else in your wardrobe. Excellent condition.

The top is unlined and buttons to close at the front. There are two buttons on each cuff. It is tagged a size 6 and I see evidence that the back was let out a touch. The jacket is fully lined in a brown silk. It has no closures and it is tagged a vintage Valentino 10. The skirt closes with a flat hook and eye at the waist and a zipper below that. It is lined in a black silk and it is tagged a vintage Valentino size 8. It has pockets on each hip

Top
Sleeves: 26" and the upper arm measures 12" around
Shoulders: 14.25"
Bust: 16" flat across from side seam to side seam
Waist: 14.5" flat across from side seam to side seam
Hips: 17.5" flat across from side seam to side seam
Total length: 22" from neck to hem

Jacket
Sleeves: 21" and the upper arm measures 12" around
Shoulders: 15"
Bust: 19" flat across from side seam to side seam
Waist-hips: open
Total length: 31" from neck to hem

Skirt
Waist: 12.5" flat across from side seam to side seam
Hips: to 21" flat across from side seam to side seam
Total length: 40" from waist to hem with 5.5" turned under

Modern Sizing Equivalent: XS-SML

Item# DD4705

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.

This is a very beautiful example of Halston's work using cashmere during this time period. He was a master at combining function and ease but without sacrificing glamour. He did this with the absolute minimum of seaming that a garment required. They seem so very simple but they are not. This one had a Halston tag when I acquired it many years ago but unfortunately it was lost during the cleaning process. 

This is a great jumpsuitl. It is  made out of a soft black cashmere and is strapless. Inside is a fall, built and boned corset that holds the jumpsuit into place. This inner core set closes with a series of lingerie hook and eye, and then the jumpsuit zips to close over that. The cashmere is attached along the top edge of the neckline, and then just glides over that inner peace. The waist is easy on the outside, but you're cinched in inside. It skims over the hips, and then the lay. The width of the legs gives it some movement when it's on, and elevate the feel of the jumpsuit. I love the simplicity of the peace, and how you can change it by layering something underneath it over it, or just simply wear it on its own. In the book 'Halston; An American Original' they talk about Halston's cashmere pieces and quote Polly Mellen as saying: "His cashmere pieces to the floor... they were very cozy and at the same time elegant". It is said that all of his cashmere pieces were inspired by a close associate that was a dance instructor and were intended to give the body complete freedom because of their ease of movement they have when you wear one. Excellent condition.

Unlined and with a built-in inner boned corset. The corset hooks to close at the back and the jumpsuit zips to close with a hidden sets zipper over that. Unlabeled

Bust: 15.5" flat across from side seam to side seam
Inner waist: 12" flat across from side seam to side seam
Hips: 20-23" flat across from side seam to side seam
Length: 54" from top of bodice to hem
Inseam: 33.5"
Gusset: 21.5" from the top of the back to the inner seam

Modern Sizing Equivalent: XXS-XS

Item# DD4699

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 was the first woman of Japanese descent to have presented on 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. Hanae Mori excelled at these beautiful prints that combined nature with elements of her homeland. When I find pieces like this one with such a stunningly beautify example of her early prints I am very happy. I feel that pieces like this are among the very best representations of her work. This one in its pretty and fresh green colour palette is just so pretty.

This is everything you look for in a piece by Hanae Mori. It has one of her custom designed prints screened onto a feather light silk chiffon. Think the finest silk scarf you could have in terms of weight and feel. The entire dress has been printed with a gorgeous and romantic flower design that combines several types of flowers. I love that it includes some tiny little insects and birds flying over the flowers in the print. The neckline is high with a neat little collar. The sleeves are incredible. The silk has been gathered into the shoulders and this is the secret behind their fullness. From there they open out to be incredibly full and balloon over the wrists. I love that she used the parts of the silk that have the most extensive amount of the print on it for the sleeves. This perfectly picks up on the hem of the dress where that same extensive and dense floral print has been used. The fullness of the sleeves allow them to billow out around the cuff and create such a pretty effect once on the body. From the neckline it cascades and skims loosely over the body and gently widens out until it reaches the hem. The dress is cut to simply float over the body. It does come with its original wide sash belt that is done in a solid green and has been top stitched. This gives you the option of wearing it more cinched in through the waist. I have photoed it both ways for you to see and I love that you can add shape and completely change the look of the dress by adding the belt. This is a dress that you slip on and feel completely comfortable when wearing and yet it has as much drama and impact as you could ask for. It is a stunning example of her work and beautifully made. I love it. Excellent condition with a minor note below

Fully lined with a green silk and a full second layer of silk chiffon under the top printed layer. It closes with a back zipper. The sleeves are unlined. Each cuff closes with a two hidden silk covered snaps. The original tie belt is included. Hand finished throughout. The hem is finished by hand, but it looks like it was redone at some point by someone and I see a tiny little stitch of a repair on one sleeve. The loose and easy cut should allow it to fit a variety of sizes. It will just drape more on a smaller frame and be more fitted on a larger frame.

Sleeves: approx 25" and very full through the arm
Slightly inset shoulders: 14"
Bust: to 19" flat across from side seam to side seam
Waist: to 19" flat across from side seam to side seam
Inner hips: to 22" flat across from side seam to side seam
Length: 58" from top of shoulder to hem

Modern Sizing Equivalent: XS-MED

Item# DD4688

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.

This is the actual dress that is in the book on Thea Porter's work that accompanied the exhibit n her work. The photo appears on page 88. The caption in the book notes that this dress is a "Faye dress in ikat silk chiffon, designed by Sandra Munro, with a bodice of Damascus brocade". The Faye dress was named after Faye Dunaway and she made these in various fabrications starting in 1968. It also has a Giorgio Beverly Hills tag where she sold her designs starting in 1969. It was said that when word got out that Thea had new things in the Girorgio boutique, women ran to be able to get a piece for themselves. 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 and this is a highly recognizable design from Thea. The neckline is scooped and edged in a gold cord that wraps around the neck and then runs down the front. It buttons to close at the front in three groups of buttons. I love how each of the buttons are covered in the same silk as the skirt and sleeves. As noted in the book the fabric of the bodice is a Damascus brocade in a muted gold with pops of turquoise and orange. Thea was known for picking up antique fabrics in her journeys and this is undoubtedly a piece or sample of fabric she sourced on her travels. I love that you feel fully covered but there is a tiny gap between the two sides of the front bodice so depending on how you move you get the tiniest glimpse of bare skin. The sleeves are phenomenal. Each is gathered into the top of the shoulder and then they are a huge balloon sleeve under that. They are made from a single layer of the Ikat printed silk chiffon and the pattern is set horizontally on the sleeves. This makes it feels like it wraps around the arm right down to the elastic cuffs. The waist is finished with a wide horizontal band of that same silk and it is cut with a more generous feel. These Faye dresses were not a true caftan but they did have that easy to wear feel to them that her caftan pieces also have. The skirt has an incredible amount of fabric. Here the Ikat print was set vertically which perfectly contrasts all the other elements of the dress and adds visual length. There is a good 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

Fully lined in a green silk and zips to close at the back. The buttons at the front are functional but meant to be decorative. Each sleeve ends with an elastic. I see a tiny bit of colour change to the lining near one arm and a slight darkening to the brocade on that side as well but it is very minor. The tiniest bit of a run in the fabric near the base of the zipper. Please see the photos after the label shot. The easy cut should fit a range of sizes

Sleeves: 24.5" and they are very full
Slightly inset shoulders: 14"
Bust: 19.5" flat across from side seam to side seam
Waist: 16" flat across from side seam to side seam
Hips: open
Bodice: 12.5" from top of shoulder to top of the band at the waist
Total length: 42" from top of shoulder to hem with 1.5" turned under the hem

Modern Sizing Equivalent: SML-LRG

Item# DD4690

Reference Photo: From 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.

Michael Novarese was an American designer based out of California who designed dresses for many of the Hollywood stars during the sixties and seventies including Jane Russell, Liza Minnelli, Judy Garland, Dinah Shore and Elizabeth Taylor to name just a few. He launched his label in 1957 with just 8 dresses and landed a deal with Saks. He focused on creating high end pieces that always started from the fabric. He was a master at picking beautiful fabrics and used proper couture sewing techniques in his design. He especially loved a good sleeve so this dress is a great representation of his work with the dramatic sleeves that is has. By the 1970s he was selling dresses upwards of $1000-$2500 which is about $7000- $18000 in modern dollars. 

Once on the body this dress glides into place spectacularly. The fabric is a feather light black silk chiffon. The upper shoulders and sleeves are a single layer of the chiffon and I love how this gives them a touch of transparency. The neckline is simple with no collar. It is finished with a piping in the same fabric and this extends into ties at the front. These tie into place above a small open keyhole. The shoulders are soft and the sleeves are spectacular. Each is a very full balloon sleeve that billows out above a piped cuff. You can see how good they are in the photos and they are even better in person. The dress is cut to simply skim over the bust and then it is seamed through the waist. The silk of the bodice is gathered into the waist, Under that it is pleated in little sets of three flat pleats all the way around the top of the hips. The skirt swoops out under the pleats to falls in a soft swing that allows for beautiful movement when you move. You could also add a belt on this one to change up the look and add more shape. It is a stunning. Excellent condition with a minor note below

The body of the dress is lined in a black silk and it closes with a back hidden set zipper. Each sleeve hooks to close and there is a tie at the neck. I see some grubbiness and minor discoloration along the inner edges of the arms and inner lining. Nothing shows on the exterior. Hand finishes

Sleeves: approx 26" and 14" around the upper arm 
Shoulders: no true defined seam
Bust: to 17-19" flat across from side seam to side seam
Waist: to 14.5" flat across from side seam to side seam
Hips: to 19" flat across from side seam to side seam
Bodice: 16" from neck to waist
Total Length: 44" from top of the shoulder to hem

Modern Sizing Equivalent: SML-MED

Item#DD4685

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.