• The dress dates to the 1959 Balenciaga Couture collection. Based on the information provided by the Balenciaga archives there is a possibility that it was made in 1960.
• It was made under the creative direction of Cristobal Balenciaga. 
• I was able to date this dress after speaking with the Balenciaga archives and they confirmed that this was 1959–1960. They hold its twin in yellow. They do not allow sharing of photos from their archives but I have seen the photos so know they exist with them.
• The dress would have been made completely by hand and the Paris atelier. 
• The bodice is strapless and completely embroidered and covered in silver thread and prong set glass rhinestones.
• All of the embroidery and embellishment covering the bodice was done by hand.
• The skirt is made from a fine silk organza and falls outward from the waist on a pretty curvy line to the floor. Soft fold, gather it in around the waist and hope to hold the volume exactly Cristobal intended.
• Underneath the top silk layer is an attached silk underskirt that helps hold the shape and make the skirt opaque enough to wear. If you wanted to add even more fullness, you could add an additional underskirt for added support.
• Built inside the bodice is a cupped and boned inner corset that holds the dress in place. This is all perfectly done to couture standards. 
• The dress is fully lined in silk and closes with two back zippers and snaps. There is an inner waist stay that hooks to close. The dress has its proper Haute Couture and numbered tag. I see some faint marks on the skirt and some minor fraying of the metal threads on the bodice here and there. On the interior bodice, the silk ribbon that goes around the edge of the neckline has started to fray. Please see the photos after the label shot and know that the dress is in good great condition, but it is not perfect.
• There is no size tag present because it is true Couture. Please go by the measurements listed below.
• Good condition with the notes above.

Bust: 16" flat across from side seam to side seam
Waist: 12-13" flat across from side seam to side seam
Inner hips: to 20" flat across from side seam to side seam
Bodice: 9" from top of bodice to waist
Total length: 50" from top of bodice to hem

Modern Sizing Equivalent: XS-SML

Item# DD5557

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 gorgeous early-mid 1970s YSL piece.
• It was made under the creative direction of Yves Saint Laurent 
  
• The dress is so romantic and dreamy feeling. I love that you have the option of wearing it full and open in more of a tent/ caftan dress style or you can use its matching belt to cinch in the waist as much as you wish.
• The dress is made out of a feather light ivory silk that has a touch of crispness to it.
• The sleeves are magnificent. Each is set high into the shoulder and gathered along the top. They puff out around the upper shoulder and then narrow down to a ruffle cuff with a single button and loop.
• The neck is set a touch wider across and the dress is gathered into the neck line down the centre of both the front and back.
• From there the dress falls wide and open to the floor. I love that the back skirt is cut a touch longer than the front. It gives it this beautiful sweeping feel behind you. The very bottom hem is finished with a ruffle to pick up the ruffle on the sleeves.
• The dress comes with its original matching wide tie belt in the same fabric. You can tie the belt right under the bust for a more empire feel or you can cinch it around your natural waist. I love the versatility of this.
• The dress is unlined and has no closures. It simply slips on to wear. Each cuff buttons with a single button and loop and the belt is original to the dress. I think the fabric has softened to touch as it has aged but it is still in beautiful condition
• Tagged a vintage YSL 36 but the loose and easy cut should fit a variety of sizes.
• Excellent condition

Sleeves: 26.5" and are 18" around the upper arm
Shoulders: approximately 15.5"
Bust: to 20" flat across from side seam to side seam
Waist-hips: open
Total length: 58" from top of shoulder to front hem, and the back extends another 4" beyond that.

Modern Sizing Equivalent: XS-MED

Item# DD5556

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 from the Fall 1989 Haute Couture collection
• It was made under the creative direction of Emanuel Ungaro
• The dress is made of out of a handmade embroidered lace in a deep ivory that sits on a silk chiffon base with a silk lining under that. Embroidered cut outs of a leaf and flower design have been added on top of the lace so the dress has a fabulous 3D feel and texture.
• It would have been completely made by hand in the Paris Atelier.
• At the front it is strapless with a more fitted and shaped bodice. Inside there is a built-in inner bodice that has hidden set internal boning and structure.
• The flower part of the dress goes all the way to past the hips so you get this fantastic hourglass feel.
• The waist comes in and then the dress curves back out over the hips. It narrows down a touch under that. Again adding to the hourglass feel of the dress.
• A knife pleated silk skirt is set in underneath the bottom of the flower part to make up the lower portion of the dress. There are yards of fabric in this lower skirting that allow it to move beautifully around you when you walk. The back extends quite a bit for a train feel behind you. 
• The upper portion of the dress is fully lined in an ivory silk with the built-in corset as described above.
• The dress was worn and loved. I have had it specialty cleaned but there are still marks and staining along the hem where it trails out behind you especially. I still see some grubbiness along the front of the hem as well. Because of the way it is constructed you could easily have the bottom portion replaced if this bothered you and its priced with that in mind. There are some loose threads here and there where the floral parts of the pattern connect to each other. It is in great condition overall. A bit of minor grubbiness around the inside edge of the bodice that is very minor but mentioned for accuracy.
• The proper Haute Couture label present
• It closes with a hand set back zipper and the flowers overlap and snap into place over it so it is hidden. An inner waist stay hooks to close. It is completely made by hand to Haute Couture standards.
• There is no sized tag present so please go by the measurements listed below.
• The upper part of the dress is in great overall condition and the skirt in good condition with the flaws as mentioned above

Bust: 16-17" flat across from side seam to side seam
Waist: 13" flat across from side seam to side seam
Hips: to 18" flat across from side seam to side seam
Total length: 53" from top of bodice to shortest part of front hem, the back 15" past that.

Modern Sizing Equivalent: SML-MED

Item# DD5555

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.