This is one of the most iconic of Halston's designs and instantly recognizable as his work. Halston used this flat applied sequin technique predominantly between about 1977 to 1982. Instead of layering and overlapping the sequins, they were laid out flat in rows, side by side, to create a pattern over the silk base. It creates a beautiful visual effect. This is a stunning example of his work from this time period and was made even more famous when Rachel Zoe wore her longer version while pregnant for her Hollywood Reporter cover.

This dress is phenomenal and a rare find. The base is a nude silk chiffon that is cut on the bias and has a touch of transparency to it. That silk is then covered with thousands of tightly spaced iridescent sequins with a slight gold tinge to them mixed with glossy black sequins. Halston imported these sequin fabrics from India and during this time period India is where some of the best sequin work in the world was being done. The mix of the two colours create that fabulous tiger effect and the thousands of sequins  allows the dress to catch the light from every single angle. It is stunning to see. Besides creating that tiger effect, the sequin design also effectively highlights the curves of the body and visually create more curves. To wear the dress you slip it on and zip it at the back. The dress then simply falls into place over the body in his signature simple sheath silhouette skimming over you from bust to hip. It falls to just past the knee depending on your height. The sleeves are long and and straight cut. The have a slightly more gold feel then the rest of the dress and I love this tiny subtle contrast. The edges of the hem, cuffs and collar are edged with a band of back sequins for a near and simple finishing detail. It is very simple yet genius at the same time. You end up entirely covered and yet with the lightness of the fabric, it's slight transparency and bias cut movement of the fabric, is still very sensual and sexy. This is a balance that Halston excelled at. The dress is feather light and feels like a dream on. It is stunning and a wonderful and rare example of his work. It looks to have been worn very little if at all. Excellent condition with a couple of minor notes below

Unlined and closes at the back with a metal and nylon zipper. Hand finished. Very minor sequin loss near the seam of the shoulders, which you don't see when on, and a teeny area on the back hip. Maybe the occasional sequin missing elsewhere but this is all very minor. A reinforced spot along the shoulder with invisible mending tape. A very rare dress.

Sleeves: 23"
Shoulders: 15"
Bust: to 18" flat across from side seam to side seam
Waist: to 16" flat across from side seam to side seam
Hips: to 18.5" flat across from side seam to side seam
Length: 46.5" from neck to hem

Modern Sizing Equivalent: SML-MED

Item# DD4000

Reference Photo: Rachel Zoe for The Hollywood Reporter March 2011

This garment has been professionally cleaned, pressed and is odor free. Thoroughly checked over before shipping, it will be ready to wear upon arrival.

The Vogue review of the Spring 2003 show was done at the height of Ford's vision for Gucci and he could do no wrong in their eyes. The review said 'The Gucci girl’s got legs—long, tan, flawless ones striding along on silver peep-toe sling-back pumps. Follow them all the way up, and around two weeks later, they eventually meet the hem of the minutest piece of clothing that was ever called a skirt or dress. For spring, in a word, Tom Ford says short. Using lustrous fabrics in subtle makeup colors from blush to tawny brown, pearly gray and silver, Ford draped and wrapped his gorgeous girls in clothes that navigated that dangerous Gucci line between innovation and vulgarity. The tousled hair, the jackets and tops poised to fall off shoulders—the whole presentation stirred sensations that fashion hasn’t felt since the last days of the great supermodels. Still, don’t think tacky. Ford’s obsession now is integrating fine workmanship into abbreviated silhouettes." The feather dresses were mentioned specifically; "He brought couture finesse to racer-back feathered dresses with the merest flip of a skirt....it was a confident statement in the power of glamour. And fashion needs that.' To this day this is one of the most recognizable and desirable of his shows to find and collect pieces from. This is the twin of Look 27 from the runway and it is an exceptional piece of Gucci History. It was also featured in Vogue that season on Natalia Vodianova

When researching this look I came across a few references that declared this dress one of the top ten Gucci Tom Ford pieces. While you often see the other version of this dress in a brown and white feather, this pale yellow version that is the twin of the runway dress shown is a true rarity. One of the things that makes this dress exceptional is that it is true to the runway. It is also entirely original and according to the former stylist that it cane from was never worn. The dress is meant to be worn very short and daring. Once on you just see miles of legs topped by this extraordinary piece. The top plunges low at the front and the back curves in to create a sexy racer-back. It skims over the waist and hips and then flares out at the skirt. The skirt is actually two tiers of feather detailed ruffles and this extra little flounce gives it movement when you move. The body of the dress is made from two layers of virtually weightless silk with a silk grosgrain ribbon edging and detailing the lines of the design. It has an almost twenties feel to it and it is fantastic. The feathers are a mix of a dyed soft pale yellow mixed with some soft light taupe natural feathers for depth and interest. I took a photo of the back of the silk of the skirt and you can see that each feather was hand applied and fused into place onto the silk. Hence the couture reference in the Vogue review above. It snaps to close under the ribbon at the side so there is no break anywhere with a zipper. It just looks like it somehow magically formed around you. It is an incredible piece of the Tom Ford history with the brand and is one of the most recognizable pieces from his tenure with the label. It appears to have been worn very little if at all. Excellent condition. 

Fully lined in a pale taupe nude silk chiffon and has hidden set snaps at the  side to close. Tagged a YSL 42. Some of the ends of the feathers have separated a bit on the natural spots it curves but this is just part of aging for a piece like this. I don't consider this a flaw but its mentioned for accuracy.

Bust: approx 16" flat across from side seam to side seam with open sides. each halter is 6" wide at its widest point
Underbust - waist: 13.5" flat across from side seam to side seam
Seam at top of hips: 16.5" flat across from side seam to side seam
Length: 30" from neck to hem but can be pulled up as short as you want

Modern Sizing Equivalent: XXS-XS

Item# DD4001

Reference Photos/Video: (1-8) Spring 2003 Gucci Runway Collection, Look 27. Model: Louise Pedersen.  /  (9) Natalia Vodianova, wearing Gucci, Vogue, February 2003. Photo by Steven Klein.

This garment has been professionally cleaned, pressed and is odor free. Thoroughly checked over before shipping, it will be ready to wear upon arrival.

Madame Gres' work has had profound effects on Haute Couture and her influence still resonates to this day. Her attention to detail, master draping techniques and respect for the female form is unparalleled. She was known for designing and creating garments directly on her models and this became a signature of her work. She opened her first atelier, La Maison Alix in 1932. A partnership briefly changed the house's name to Alix Barton and then the label went to simply Alix. In 1942 she married, and the label made its last change to became Madame Gres, which was a partial anagram of Serge, her husband's first name. Her work spans over five full decades with the vast majority of it, with the exception of a short-lived RTW line begun in 1980, dedicated solely to creating Haute Couture. She is one of the greatest couturiers of our time and her pieces are very rare and hard to find. This one is exceptional

This dress is a wonderful example of the range that Gres had. She had a brilliant way of using of print and colour combined with soft fluid tailoring. This gorgeous little day dress is simple in cut but it is gorgeous once on an actual body. These little day dresses are often underrated when it comes to Haute Couture but they should not be. They are beautifully made and the quality is beyond anything you will find in modern Ready-to-Wear. The dress is made out of a fine high end silk that has a very 60s print print covering its surface. Shades of taupe and muted olives cover the silk for a pretty and refined feel. The sleeves are straight and cut to just above the elbow. The neckline is high and scooped. It skims over the bust, waist and waist and falls to just below the knee depending on your height. As you get closet you realize that it is made from four tiers of the silk constructed so finely that it is almost unnoticeable. The fall over each other in perfect overlapping layers to build a slight A-line cut into the silhouette. This gives is a loose and easy shift dress feel or you can cinch it in for added shape. The fabric is very light in weight and each layer is attached to an inner fine silk lining. It is made completely by hand to Haute Couture standards and is even better in person and on an actual body. Excellent condition with one note below about one of the zippers

Fully lined in a hand set silk of very high quality. It closes with two hand set, painted metal zippers. There is one that runs down the back on the inner lining and then the tier buttons over that with a row of silk covered buttons. The second tier that the zipper runs into at the back then snaps into place along its edge and then snaps to close down the side. There is a second zipper under those side snaps. This second zipper is broken and off its track. At some point it caught in the silk edging and took a piece out of that. Because of the snaps over it the dress is wearable without doing this zipper up as it does not affect the exterior. Since it is all original I decided to leave it as found. It could easily be replaced if preffered. Please see the shot after the label shot. Done by hand to Haute Couture standards. Proper Haute Couture label present. Hand finished inner seams

Sleeves: 9"
Slightly inset shoulders: 13.5"
Bust: 16.5" 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
Length: 42.5" from neck to hem

Modern Sizing Equivalent: XS-SML

Item# DD4002

This garment has been professionally cleaned, pressed and is odor free. Thoroughly checked over before shipping, it will be ready to wear upon arrival.