What's New
jean patou
Incredible 1970s Jean Patou Printed Silk Organza Dress w Layered Ruffled Neckline & Hem
I Have a Question
- This is an exceptionally beautiful Jean Patou dress.
- Jean Patou once said "Certain dressmakers desire to pass for an artist. I have one ambition: that is to have good taste." This dress is the very epitome of that statement.
- It is one of the most beautiful dresses that I have had come through my hands.
- The dress combines a crepe chiffon for the ruffles and sash with a beautifully printed bias cut silk organza through the body.
- It is suspended from tiny straps made out of the printed silk organza and these curve up and over each shoulder. The neckline is cut fairly straight across at the front and has a slight scoop at the back.
- All the way around the edge of the neckline are three stacked layers of softly pleated ruffles. There are two that are in a deep fuchsia pink that has a slight red undertone and then a blue layer sits in between those. The movement these create once on is fantastic.
- Around the hem is a double layer of ruffles with the pink on top and a blue underneath. The ruffles at the hem are wider and tie everything beautifully together.
- Under the ruffles the bodice skims over to a seamed waist. The pattern on the bodice has a blue base with yellow and pink flowers.
- At the waist the pattern between there and where the ruffle start on the hem changes to a more intricate print that brings in yellows, soft pink and greens. It is spectacular.
- The skirt widens out quite substantially as it reaches the hem. They add just enough weight so that it moves beautifully around you as you move as well as adding to the beauty of the dress.
- The dress comes with it's original matching wide sash that hooks in place around the waist. It is the same colour as the pink parts of the ruffles. I love how this cinches in the shape. It is the perfect finishing touch. You could also wear a thinner belt if you wished or even wear no belt, but it does look spectacular once altogether.
- The dress is fully lined in a blue silk and has a ton of hand finishes inside. I have photoed an inner seam for you to see. It closes with a back zipper. The lining has a hidden panels of stiffening throughout the lower portion of the skirt so that the shape is held better. I see some slight fading around the very inside edge of the top but it is nothing that shows outside. Some minor fraying to the top of the straps. Please see the photos after the label shot. The sash hooks to close.
- There is no size tag present. Please go by the measurements listed below.
- Excellent condition with the minor notes above
Bust: 17.5" flat across from side seam to side seam
Waist: 14" flat across from side seam to side seam
Hips: open
Bodice: 17" from top of shoulder to waist
Total length: 58" from top of shoulder to hem
Sash: 29" from end to end and it is 6.5" and it's wide this part
Modern Sizing Equivalent: SML-MED
Item# DD5792
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
Spring 1977 Christian Dior by Marc Bohan Runway Striped Silk Chiffon Elastic Shoulder Caftan Dress
I Have a Question
- The twin of this dress walked the runway for the Spring 1977 Dior show.
- It was made under the creative direction of Marc Bohan.
- I have had several other dresses from this collection and it is a personal favourite season in Dior's history.
- I am very happy to have photo references so you can see how fantastic this dress sits on the body and how it can also be worn belted for added shape.
- The dress is made out of a feather light silk chiffon and comes with its original matching ivory silk slip that can be worn underneath.
- I shot the dress with the shoulders up because the slip underneath has a little straps. On the runway it was shown off the shoulder and I love that you have the option of wearing it either way.
- It has a red and two different blue tone abstract stripe print that runs over the entire dress. You can see how he has manipulated the directions of the stripe to highlight the detailing and shape of the dress.
- Matching ties run through the neckline and this is what allows you to bring the neckline in or to wear it more loos and off of the shoulder. Two more ties close the front under that.
- The sleeves are fantastic. They are very wide where they come out from the body of the dress and then are gathered in at the wrist. They each have a little tie bow and elastic around the cuff with a ruffled finish.
- The body of the dress is very full and open and should fit just about any size.
- I love the inset at the front and how it has just the perfect amount of detail and contrast with the stripes going the other way.
- Around the hem is a wide band that also has the stripes placed the other way to the rest of the dress.
- At the back it falls with a more caped feel if you choose to wear it without a belt. If you do add a belt, you can bring the length up as much as you wish. The styling possibilities are endless.
- The outer dress is unlined and it comes with its matching inner slip. You could switch the switch out for another colour to get a different feel. The dress slips over the head to wear and then ties at the front as described above. The inner slip zips to close at the side. I see some minor pulls in the silk here and there. Please see the photo after the label shot. It is an extraordinary dress from this time period. The dress should fit pretty much any frame and you could always wear a different sized slip underneath if you need more room. Hand finishes throughout.
- There is no size tag present. Please go by the measurements list listed below.
- Excellent condition with the minor note above.
Dress
Sleeves: approximately 22"and they are full and open around the upper arm
Bust:-hips: to 33" flat across from side seam to side seam
Total length: approximately 56" from shoulder to hem
Slip:
Bust: 17" flat across from side seam to side seam
Waist: 15.5" flat across from side seam to side seam
Hips: to 19" flat across from side seam to side seam
Total length: 48" from shoulder to hem
Modern Sizing Equivalent: Outer dress OSFA, slip SML-MED
Item# DD5793
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.
ossie clark
Rare 1969 Ossie Clark Documented Wide Leg Pant & Tie Front Overcoat Set w Celia Birtwell Print
I Have a Question
- This incredible set dates to 1969.
- It was made under the creative direction of Ossie Clark.
- At this stage in Ossie's journey each piece would have been made individually. The jacket on its own was photoed for Vogue UK that summer and it also appears in the book "Celia Birtwell" by Celia Birtwell. The V&A museum holds a dress version and that same dress version appears in the book "Ossie Clark 1965|74" by Judith Watt.
- I personally have never seen another set like this one available for sale in the 20 years I have been doing this. It is an exceedingly rare set.
- The set was loved and worn. It is not perfect but it presents fabulously once on the body. Its value is largely based on its rarity and special place in Ossie Clark's history.
- Both pieces are made out of printed rayon crepe with one of Celia Birtwell's prints.
- The print is an early appearance of one of Celia Birtwell's most famous. In the book "Celia Birtwell" they describe a yellow version of the same print as a "splashy large Candyflower - a flower enclosed in a swirly motif - one of her most iconic designs.". That same book noted that "Celia's prints brought Ossie's designs to life. The clever way the patterns combine different scales through the eye from one part of the dress to another."
- The check that you see was also developed by Celia and it offered a graphic contrast to the softness of the flower prints that she was doing in this era.
- The pants have a flat banded front and they zip at the front. They fall over the hips and then widen out to be incredibly wide pant legs. Each leg is a full 29 inches around by it's hem.
- The base colour on the pants is a bright clear red and then Celia's flower print in black, white and a deep blue cover the pants entirely.
- Over that is the most incredible piece that is kind of a combination of a jacket and a top. It slips onto wear and then has ties that extend out from the front and tie just under the bust to hold it in place.
- The collar is a classic wide pointed and notched collar that you see in this era.
- The front bodice, the back, the collar and the tie are all made out of the blue and ivory check. That same fabric is also used for the bottom portion of the sleeves. A wide band sits under the bust that made of the flower pattern and you see the flower pattern at the top of each arm. The shoulders have a slight puff to them which is more apparent once it is on an actual body.
- Under that the jacket falls all the way to just a touch above the hem of the pants. It is completely open at the front and it widens out quite a bit as it near it's hem.
- This open front and extra fabric as it opens gives it fantastic movement around you as you move.
- When it is worn over top of the pants, the effect of the print on print is just fantastic.
- This is an extremely rare and early piece of Ossie and Celia's partnership.
- Both pieces are unlined. The pants zip to close at the front and the top ties at the waist as described above. Both pieces have been worn and loved over the years. There is light fading and some small minor marks/grubbiness throughout on both pieces. I have photoed some of the worst for you to see. There is fading around the bum area of the pants and I have photoed that for you. Please see the photos after the label shot. This fabric does fade over time so it is part wear and part natural patina. It presents fantastically once on the body.
- The top is tagged a UK 12 and the pants have no size tag. Please go by the measurements listed below.
- Great condition
Top/jacket
Sleeves: 22" and they are 14" around the upper arm
Shoulders: 14"
Bust: to 16" flat across from side seam to side seam but can be tied looser at the front to get more room.
Waist: 13.5" flat across from side seam to side seam but can be tied looser at the front to get more room.
Hips: open
Bodice: 13.5" from neck to top of the band around the waist
Total length: 60" from neck to hem
Pants
Waist: 12.75" flat across from side seam to side seam
Hips: 18.5" flat across from side seam to side seam
Total length: 42" from waist to hem
The inseam is 31" and the gusset is 15.5"from the top of the back waist to the inseam
Modern Sizing Equivalent: XS-SML
Item# DD5791
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.
Shop The Look
GOING FOR GOLD
Thierry Mugler
Museum Held 1986 Thierry Mugler Gold Feather Light Lame Dress w Gathered Sides
GOING FOR GOLD
Thierry Mugler
Fabulous c.1986 Thierry Mugler Strapless Metallic Gold Lurex Mini Dress w Buckle Detail
From its humble beginnings in 2006 with just a dozen or so vintage pieces, Shrimpton Couture has grown to be one of the most respected online shopping destinations for vintage shoppers world-wide.
It is our mission to find the timeliness and special pieces that are cherished and coveted by designers, museums, celebrities and countless fabulous women around the world.




