From the Spring 2015 collection comes this fabulous little mini from Balmain. On the runway it was shown in a longer length but was also produced as this micro mini for retail. With the craze for micro short pieces still going strong it almost feels more relevant now then it did when it came out. The skirt is made from a denim feeling thick cotton canvas fabric that both holds its shape and shapes the wearer. The design is a graphic white on black and the white is placed to highlight the lines of the skirt and the cures of the girl wearing it. It is cut to sit higher up on the waist to really give you a curved feel. It cinches in at the waist and flares out slightly as it nears the hem. I love the stark lines and the two pockets that sit on either hip. Unworn and with original tags. Excellent condition

Fully lined in a black ribbed silk and closes with their signature chunky back zipper. Tagged a 40. New and unworn with original hang tag still attached

Waist: 14.5" flat across from side seam to side seam
Hips: 18" flat across from side seam to side seam
Length: 18" from waist to hem

Modern Sizing Equivalent: SML-MED

Item# S836

Reference photo: Balmain Spring 2015, Look 18, model: Andreea Diaconu

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

From the Fall 2014 collection comes this fabulous little mini from designer Fausto Puglisi. With the craze for micro short pieces still going string it almost feels more relevant now then it did when it came out. The main portion of the skirt is made from a beautiful silk twill that has Lady Liberty printed on it in a repeating pattern of squares. They are printed in shades of a graduated grey on an ivory backdrop. The waist and edges are finished in a a border of black that has a little more weight to it so the shape of the skirt is held when on. It cinches in at the waist and flares out as it nears the hem. The front is made to look like a wrap and comes up slightly shorter for even more leg to show. Unworn and with original tags. Excellent condition

Fully lined in a black silk and closes with a hidden set back zipper. Tagged a 42. New and unworn with original hang tag still attached

Waist: 14" flat across from side seam to side seam
Hips: 19" flat across from side seam to side seam
Length: 16.5" from waist to the shortest point of the front hem, 18" to the back hem

Modern Sizing Equivalent: SML-MED

Item# S834

Reference Photo: (1) F/W 2014 Fausto Puglisi, Look 26, Model: Tami Williams. / (2) Chanel Iman, April 29th 2014

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

This skirt is part of the same ensemble that Yves commissioned the talented Antonio Lopez  to illustrate for the F/W 1984 Yves Saint Laurent Rive Gauche ad campaign, giving us a firm date that we can document it by.

This beautiful Yves Saint Laurent skirt is from the Fall 1984 Rive Gauche collection. The first thing you notice about it is that gorgeous fabric. It is a gorgeous metallic lame that glimmers in the light and gives the skirt a beautiful sheen. The colors are mix of gold with shots of blues, reds and corals in its design. The skirt is quite full and is set into the waist with a series of sharp knife pleats to help give it that volume you see. Its a great larger size and I love the movement that those pleats give it. Excellent condition.

The skirt  is unlined and closes at the side with a painted zipper, snap and flat hook and eye at the waist.

Waist: 16" flat across from side seam to side seam
Hips: open
Length: 37" from waist to hem

Modern Sizing Equivalent: LRG-XL

Item# S832

Reference Photo: Antonio Lopez illustration for F/W 1984 Yves Saint Laurent Collection.

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

This is a lovely full length skirt that is made up of layers of an ivory silk chiffon. I picked this up as part of a larger lot and though I don't normally buy many newer pieces I felt that this one has a real timeless quality to it. The waist is banded along the inner part so there is no broken line on the outside. The chiffon falls over an inner stretch jersey skirt so it is very comfortable to wear. The hem is cut to come up slightly at the front and is longer at the back. It has a very floating, ethereal feel to it. Excellent condition

Closes with a back zipper and the waist has a touch of elastic stretch to it. The inner skirt is ivory in color and made from a light stretch net jersey skirt. There is a touch of a raw finish to the front part of the waist. Perhaps there was something attached at some point? Unsure but otherwise looks to have never been worn. Sold as found. Tagged a FR42

Waist: 14-16" flat across from side seam to side seam
Hips: open
Length: 40" from waist to shortest point of the front hem, 59" to the back hem

Modern Sizing Equivalent: MED-LRG

Item# S831

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

Stephen Burrows was a truly amazing American Designer. He was the first African American fashion designer to really achieve international recognition for his work. His clientele included celebrities like Diana Ross, Cher and Barbra Streisand. Burrows won three Coty awards in 1973, 1974 and 1977. He was also one of the five American designers to show at Versailles in 1973 when America was pitted against the French couturiers. As his career progressed he became more well known for his use of jerseys but earlier pieces often incorporated the use of prints. This is one of those printed pieces and I love the beautiful flowers that cover the surface of the cotton. The skirt falls from the waist in a long, dramatic swoop that gets wider as it nears the floor. It skims over the hips and then there are just yards and yards of that beautifully printed fabric by the time you reach the hem. The waist band extends into long ties that wrap around you and cinch it in. I love the ruffle finish along the edges. He became know for his lettuce hem finishes as his career progressed and this feels like an early predecessor to that. It is fabulous. Excellent condition

Unlined and wraps and ties at the waist. Pockets sit along the seam at both hips. It appears to have been worn very little if at all. The wrap waist will allow it to foit a variety of sizes

Waist: 15" flat across from side seam to side seam, but is adjustable with the ties
Hips: open
Length: 45" from waist to hem

Modern Sizing Equivalent: SML-LRG

Item# S816

Reference Photos: Cherie, Owner of Shrimpton Couture, by Erin Leydon.

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

This is a very pretty full length skirt made out of a feather light Thai silk. Silk from this period from Thailand was some of the finest in the world. The print is fresh and pretty with a pink print that covers the entire surface. I love how it changes from a white with pink to a pink with white as it goes around the body. The waist band is fitted and the cut widens out as it nears the hem with a touch of fullness to it. There are yards of silk in that skirt. It also has a huge silk scarf in a matching print that you can use in various ways. It is really pretty and a great piece to mix with modern items from your wardrobe. Excellent condition

Unlined and closes with hook & eye at the waist. No pockets and the fabric is very light. The scarf has hand rolled edges. You could adjust where the hooks sit to go up or down around the waist an inch or two in either direction if needed

Skirt
Waist: 14.25" flat across from side seam to side seam
Hips: open
Length: 40.5" from waist to hem

Scarf: 42" x 72"

Modern Sizing Equivalent: SML-MED

Item# S817

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

Arnold Scaasi did exquisite work and as time passes I feel his designs are coming to be appreciated by a new audience. He apprenticed for Paquin before moving ot New York and working for Charles James. He launched a ready to wear label in 1956 but 1964 launched a couture salon and scaled back everything else to concentrate  on made-to-order. He cut and created his designs to extremely high standards and the workmanship is fabulous. This skirt is from those early days of his couture salon and is both innovative and exquisite. The fabric is wonderful. It is a cotton patchwork with multiple floral designs making up the squares. The fabric has been cut so that it is set on an angle so that you get that diamond pattern. The flowers are all stitched along their edges so the skirt has a subtle bit of a quilted texture. White lace ribbon is hand set along the lines that separate each square. It has a high set, corset feeling waist that cinches in the waistline severely and then rises above that in a beautiful curved and sculpted line. The skirt widens out as it nears the hem with soft pleats set on either hip just below the waist to help give it the volume and shape you see. It's glorious. Excellent condition.

Fully self- lined in a cream silk and hand finished. It closes with a back, hand set painted metal zipper and a series of hook & eye at the waist. The waist banding has backing to give it additional shape and support.

Hips: to 21"" flat across from side seam to side seam
Length: 40" from top of waist to hem, the front rises an additional 5"aboce the waist at the front

Modern Sizing Equivalent: XS-SML

Item# S818

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

This really spectacular piece by Pauline Trigere that is one of her best documented pieces. It was photoed for Vogue in 1966 by Henry Clark while on location in Turkey. The fashion details in that issue described this piece: "High waisted drift of sun printed chiffon with a toga-scarf, and its own little body stocking to wear underneath. By Trigere of Staron silk". This editorial is instantly recognizable and it is a pleasure to have this piece in the shop. 

When you look at the photos from Vogue at first glance, especially the published one, you think this is a dress. However it is actually an extremely wide cut legged jumpsuit. It is also surprising in how it is constructed - it seems to lie half way between a dress and a half jumpsuit. Looking at the photos again the model appears to be wearing a nude halter underneath in the shots. There is a built in body suit inside and you can see that on the mannequin it is sitting too low. If you are short through the body it might come up just to, or over your bust line, otherwise you would wear it as a high waisted full pant. A long panel of fabric is attached at the front. This can be swooped up and over one shoulder. Again, referring to the shoot photos you can see that this is what they did. It  is constructed from layers of a printed silk chiffon that combine pink, pale mint and tangerine The silk used is almost weightless. It flows to the floor and when on you can barely tell that it is indeed pants as they are so wide and full. The front panel extends down past the hem and I have just scooped it up and over one shoulder. It is a very unusual design and will take some styling but it is a rare and historically documented piece. I purchased this years ago I and was told it came from a models closet so suspect that it might just be the actual piece used in this shoot. It is very beautiful. Excellent condition with one small note below.

Has an attached crepe bodysuit in a nude color. This zips up the back with a painted metal zipper. The silk over this snaps in place to close. Hand finished. Has a hand numbered tag inside #159. Slight wear to the fabric on the inside band of the waist where it hooks to close. 

Top band of waist/Underbust: to 14" flat across from side seam to side seam
Hips of inner body suit: 19.5" flat across from side seam to side seam
Length of inner suit: 23.5" from top of band to inner seams
Pant length: 45" from top of band to hem with a 4.5" turned up interior hem
The front attached fabric panel is 56" long from where it is inset to the hem

Modern Sizing Equivalent: XS-MED depending on how how you wear it

Item# DD2996

(1) Editha Dussler in Pauline Trigere, from the editorial Eastward to Eden, Vogue, December 1966. Shot by Henry Clarke. (2) Outtake from that same shoot.

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

I love this full circle skirt by Yves Saint Laurent with its strong nod back to the 1950s in feel. It is made out of a crisp cotton that has been printed with a wonderfully bright, abstract tangerine design that covers the entire skirt from waist to hem. It cinches in with a fitted waist and below that the skirt is a full circle skirt. I styled it both over a light crinoline and without. There is enough room that you could actually do a very full crinoline under it if you really wanted that true fifties look. The pretty print and options on how full you can wear the skirt depending on what goes underneath make it very versatile and you will be able to dress it up or wear it casually. Excellent condition

Unlined with a side zipper and flat hook and eyes at the waist. A pocket sits along the seam beside the zipper side. Tagged a vintage YSL 34. Appears unworn. A touch more vibrant tangerine orange then how it photoed. Better in person.

Waist: 12" flat across from side seam to side seam
Hips: open
Length: 32" from waist to hem

Modern Sizing Equivalent: XS-SML

Item# S815

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

This is such a pretty skirt that is made out of a fine light weight silk. The print that covers the silk is large, oversized tropical flowers in a muted coral that  are scattered over its surface. Pale green leaves and vines intertwine between the flowers and the backdrop is a yellow with a green undertone. The waist band is fitted and the cut widens out as it nears the hem. In person the fabric has a slight iridescent quality to it that is very pretty. The hem is finished with a wide 14" ruffle that gives it a little bit of drama and a feminine feel. Really pretty and chic. Excellent condition.

Fully interlined in a white silk though the upper skirt and the ruffle is backed in a pale yellow silk. It closes with three hook & eye at the waist and a zipper.

Waist: 14.5" flat across from side seam to side seam
Hips: open to 26" flat across from side seam to side seam
Length: 44" from waist to hem

Modern Sizing Equivalent: SML-MED

Item# S814

Reference Photos: Cherie, Owner of Shrimpton Couture, by Erin Leydon.

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

This would have been designed by Belgian-born Jules-Francois Crahay, who headed the Lanvin ateliers from 1964-1984. He has been "noted as one of fashion’s great colorists with his colorful patterns making his 1970s Lanvin designs hugel​y ​desirable and influential." His realm is one of my favorites for the house and the period through the late sixties and into the 70s in particular. He was a genius at print and color and he pushed the envelope in terms of using the "new" jerseys and velets available during this time period. This skirt has a boutique label bit also an additional tape that denotes a made-to-measure special order piece that would be considered demi-couture.

This velvet and fringe Lanvin skirt is utterly fantastic. I am in absolute love with it - the color, the design, the workmanship - everything about it is perfection. For the 1971 season Crahay did lots of exotic prints and worked fringe in to the collection. Here we see that fringe on that fabulous finish of the hem and it is picked up with the long, 9" dramatic tassels of the braided belt that circles the waist. The fabric is a soft panne vevlet that holds the print beautifully. The skirt is cut in a simple, long and lean line with that fringe bottom providing the movement and drama. The beauty of the color combination is equaled by the fine workmanship that has gone into constructing it. I love how the waist band has an attached braided belt that ends in five inch tassels. It is really a work of art and having the demi-couture tag makes it that much more special. Excellent condition.

Fully lined in a black silk and closes with a painted metal zipper and hook & eye at the waist. A combination of hand and machine finishes. It appears to have been worn very little if at all.

Hips: to 22" flat across from side seam to side seam
Length: 42" from top of bodice to hem

Modern Sizing Equivalent: SML-MED

Item# S813

Reference Photos: (1) Lanvin in L'Officiel, 1971.  /  (2) 1971 Lanvin Red & Black Coat.  /  (3) Lanvin dress, L'Officiel 1971.

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

This is a dramatic and bold skirt made out of a fine silk taffeta. Silk from this period was some of the finest in the world and this one is no exception. The silk has a slight sheen to it and a is covered with a bold green, red and black checked plaid pattern that is a fantastic. The waist band is fitted and the cut skims over the hips and then at the hem has a wide 10" ruffle that gives it the perfect finish. Really pretty and chic. Excellent condition

I actually have two identical versions of this skirt so the listing will not show as sold until both are sold. One is just a touch smaller and shorter, so please specify in the order notes which skirt you are ordering - skirt 1 or 2. Unlined and closes with two flat hooks at the waist and a zipper. No pockets.

Skirt One
Waist: 13.5" flat across from side seam to side seam
Hips: to 25" flat across from side seam to side seam
Length: 44" from top of bodice to hem

Skirt Two
Waist: 13.5" flat across from side seam to side seam
Hips: to 25" flat across from side seam to side seam
Length: 42" from top of bodice to hem

Modern Sizing Equivalent: SML-MED

Item# S811

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

This is a pretty full length skirt made out of a fine Thai silk. Silk from this period from Thailand was some of the finest in the world. The print is fresh and pretty with large and wonderful print that cover the entire surface. The waist band is fitted and the cut widens out as it nears the hem with a touch of fullness to it. In person the fabric has a slight iridescent quality to it and that catches the light. It is really pretty and a great piece to mix with modern items from your wardrobe. Excellent condition with one small note below.

Fully interlined with a pink silk and closes with two hook & eye at the waist and a zipper. The zipper feels just a teeny bit 'sticky' when you zip it but works fine otherwise. No pockets

Waist: 14" flat across from side seam to side seam
Hips: open
Length: 42" from waist to hem

Modern Sizing Equivalent: SML-MED

Item# S810

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

This is a pretty and fresh feeling skirt made out of a fine Thai silk. Silk from this period from Thailand was some of the finest in the world. The print is fresh and pretty with large tropical flowers scattered over its surface. The waist band is fitted and the cut widens out as it nears the hem. In person the fabric has a slight iridescent quality to it and when it catches the light it takes on a slightly more coral base then the light pink. Really pretty. Excellent condition with one small note below.

Fully interlined in a white silk and closes with three hook & eye at the waist and a zipper. The zipper feels 'sticky' when you zip it but works fine otherwise. I see a teeny bit of rust around the inner hooks but this does not show on the exterior at all. No pockets

Waist: 14.5" flat across from side seam to side seam
Hips: to 22" flat across from side seam to side seam
Length: 37" from waist to hem

Modern Sizing Equivalent: SML-MED

Item# S808

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

Is there anything better then a full length velvet Pucci skirt? I think they are one of my favorite vintage pieces and everyone should have one in their closet. The velvet ones like this one are the dreamiest. You can throw them on with just about anything and it works. The prints are so vibrant and bright that they act like a neutral and they work as well with flats as they do with a heel. Here we have a stunning version done in his signature vivid floral print screened onto a base of inky black. The cut is a sculptural A-line that falls to the floor in a graceful sweep of fabric. The borders at the waist, hem and down the front serve to highlight and streamline the cut and give you length. The velvet gives it enough weight to hold the shape so it always looks perfect once on. These can really be worn year round as they are made out of a cotton velvet so breathes well. It is just fantastic and I love it. Excellent condition

Lined in a black silk with the Emilio Pucci name woven through out the fabric. It closes with a side, hidden set painted metal zipper and hook and eye at the waist. Hand finished.

Waist: 13" flat across from side seam to side seam
Hips: 18.5" flat across from side seam to side seam
Length: 41" from waist to hem

Modern Sizing Equivalent: SML-MED

Item# S796

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

This fabulous Malcolm Starr skirt has lost its label but since I have sold its twin a couple of times over the years I can absolute;y say this is the real thing. I love these Malcolm Starr pieces - they really are works of art and the best of the sixties/seventies arts and crafts movement. This was designed when Youssef Rizkallah headed the company so would have been made between the years of 1969 and 1975. The years that Youssef headed the line are among some of my favorites and in particular his pieces that utilize applique work like this skirt are truly iconic. Rizkallah was born in Egypt and studied at the Ecole de dessin appliqué and the Ecole des arts decoratifs in Paris. His designs seem to combine that sense of couture lines that he gained in Paris with the color and vividness of his homeland. There is something shockingly fresh about wearing an elaborate and colorful maxi skirt with a chic modern top and shoes. This one has been done in a luxurious black velvet with the most amazing, bright felt flowers appliqued onto it in vertical rows. You cannot look at this piece with its happy little flowers and not feel wonderful. It is an amazing combination of color and textures. Excellent condition

Fully lined in a black cotton muslin and finished by hand. The interior waist has a extra finish of a gripping ribbon so it stays exactly in place. Closes with a metal & nylon zipper. Unlabeled

Waist: 13.5" flat across from side seam to side seam
Hips: 22.5" flat across from side seam to side seam
Length: 42" from waist to hem

Modern Sizing Equivalent: S794

Item# SML-MED

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 Char label is one of the best of the hand made leather goods labels from the sixties and seventies. It has a cult like following because of the quality and sheer fabulousness of their pieces. This skirt is wonderful and an excellent example of their work. They hand-dyed their textiles using colors that instantly make you think of the desert and they loved to use a combination of suede, leather and deer skin that they hand cut and whip-stitched into place. Here they have made a fabulous wrap skirt that has a wonderful patchwork landscape scene that goes all the way around the entire skirt. Char made these pieces, by hand from approx 1968 to about 1975-76 in Mexico. Some of the best leather craftsman in the world were there at the time and the piece made are fantastic. A really unusual piece. Excellent condition

Unlined, hand made and whip-stitched. It closes with a combination of hook & eye and leather ties. You could easily adjust the hooks and ties to fit a variety of sizes. I have given the measurements of the back seam to seam but you can easily go up or down a couple inches in either direction. It shows normal patina for leather of this age with the occasional scuff and wear that just adds to its authentic vintage feel.

Waist: 12" (variable with ties)
Hips: 18" (variable with ties)
Length: 22" from waist to hem

Modern Sizing Equivalent: XS-MED

Item# S791

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

This black pleated silk chiffon Dior skirt is utterly fantastic and a true piece of Haute Couture. I am in absolute love with it - the fabric, the design, the workmanship - everything about it is perfection. Haute Couture pieces are always a rare find and the beauty of this particular piece really makes it a once in a lifetime find. It has lost its label but is absolutely Dior and absolutely Haute Couture. It is from the daughter of the original owner and was purchased with many of the other couture Dior pieces I have in the shop at the moment.

The fabric is a fine silk chiffon in a the perfect black that will go with everything. It is so hard to convey the quality and fineness of a black piece and when you add that every seam and edging is completely hand done it is almost impossible. The person that buys this will be extremely pleased to see the level of work and quality of this piece in person. The main portion of the skirt is knife pleated in perfectly spaced lines, which gives it a long and lean cut when you are standing still but allows for a tremendous amount of volume and movement. A more fitted band tops a semi-sheer band of chiffon at the waist, creating shape and a sensual detailing. Under the top floating pleated layer is a more fitted inner layer of silk chiffon. It is really a work of art and of course being that is is true Haute Couture makes it that much more special. Excellent, museum quality condition.

Haute Couture is the very pinnacle of the fashion experience and I would hazard to say that vintage versions are even a little more special then modern ones. Haute Couture is the very pinnacle of the fashion experience and I would hazard to say that vintage versions are even a little more special then modern ones. This dress also comes direct from the daughter of the original Haute Couture client so has not been on the market prior to this.

Fully lined with all interior seams and all edges hand finished. It closes at the side with a handset, fine painted metal zip under a panel of silk that closes over most of the zipper with hand set snaps. Finished to Haute Couture standards and entirely done by hand. I have included photos of the interior work so you can see.

Waist: 12" flat across from side seam to side seam
Hips: 17.5" flat across from side seam to side seam
Length: 41" from waist to hem

Modern Sizing Equivalent: XS-SML

Item# S728

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

Gorgeous cotton velvet skirt by the Emilio Pucci. Made of beautiful cotton velvet that has a pretty mix of pinks and pastels running over its surface. The main parts of the skirt are covered in classic Pucci pattern in two shades of pink, taupe, a deep purple, and a soft off white. The edge of the hem, waist and down one side is printed with a contrasting design - making it instantly recognizable as  Pucci. I love how feminine the design is and the myriad of colors makes it an easy mix with so many things! It is a great piece to work into a modern day wardrobe for an instant pop of color and a little bit of vintage and will never go out of style. Excellent condition

The skirt is fully lined in a pink silky rayon and closes with a side painted metal zipper that sits under a panel of velvet so is hidden and a hidden fabric covered snap at the waist to hold the velvet panel in place. Tagged a vintage Pucci 12 but please go by actual measurements as vintage Pucci runs small

Waist: 13.5" flat across from side seam to side seam
Hips: 20" flat across from side seam to side seam
Length: 25" from waist to hem

Modern Sizing Equivalent: SML-MED

Item# S580

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