This fabulous dress is the twin the dress that walked the fall 1986 Yves Saint Laurent Rive Gauche runway. I was so pleased to find a shot of it on because it really shows you just how much it comes to life when worn. He did several variations of this look for that season and I have included some photos of the one gold sided version as well since the cut is similar and it gives you some different angles to be able to see how the dress looks on the body. I am obsessed with his work and this one is so well known and documented. It is a pleasure to have it in the shop.

This gorgeous dress mixes a solid black silk crepe mixed with a gold lame that has a printed effect to it for the bodice. The skirt is then made from a slinky black jersey. It also comes with its matching sash in the same printed gold lame jersey fabric. The patterned portions of the gold have been used for each side of the front bodice and when it catches the light is gives the suggestion of a snake print. The bodice is set into a deep V. I have set it to be deeply plunged but you could cross it over a bit more and have the sash hold it more closed. The gold fabric is set to drape loosely over you at the front and it then curves up to the top of each shoulder. The bodice nips in at the waist and then the sash adds definition and shape. I love how the sash is so wide set around you and then the ties fall almost to the hem at the front. It makes it so glamorous and it gives the dress that wonderful 1940s feel too. The sleeves are short and simple so that all the focus is on the gold at the front. They are cut to have a slight pouf out above the elbows. The skirt is made of a black jersey and it falls to the floor in a pretty sweep of fabric. It is a gorgeous dress and a wonderful piece of his fashion history. Excellent condition with one small note below

The back of the bodice is lined in a black silk chiffon and the skirt, sleeves and front bodice are unlined. It closed with a side set zipper and the belt hooks to close. Each shoulder has light padding. Has its original matching belt. It appears to have never been worn, or worn very little. Tagged a vintage YSL 34. There is one small repair on a sleeve. Please see the photo after the label shot

Shoulders: 14"
Bust: to 18" flat across from side seam to side seam
Waist: 12.5" flat across from side seam to side seam
Hips: 18" across lowest seam at very top of hips, open under that
Bodice: 14" from neck to waist
Skirt: 43" from waist to hem

Modern Sizing Equivalent: XS-SML

Item# DD3866

Reference Photos: (1-2) SS 1986 Yves Saint Laurent Runway Collection. Model: Mounia Orosemane.  /  (3) Model in Yves Saint Laurent, 1986.

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 exact twin of this dress was shown on the Fall runway in 2005 for Look 63. In Vogue's review of the collection journalist Nicole Phelps said in part; 'Oscar de la Renta's shows are always elegant and invariably luxe. But for fall, the designer really went to town with the signature embellishments loved so well by his mother-daughter fans (like Tina and Beyoncé Knowles, who made their way to their seats after the lights had dimmed)....Evening was just as ornate... His red carpet numbers ranged from streamlined racer-back columns with heavy dustings of sequins to Empire-line tulle princess gowns to brocade showstoppers that grazed the toes of audience members as they glided by—just the thing for a larger-than-life diva like Knowles.' This is one of the brocade showstoppers that the review mentions and is utterly beautiful. Its label has fallen out but it is from the same estate I am working my way through. The original owner was friend with Oscar so there is also the possibility that this one was made for her and it did not have/need a label if it was customized. It is unbelievable in person.  

This Oscar de la Renta dress is stunning. It is red carpet worthy and would even make an amazing wedding piece for the bride looking for a non-traditional choice or as an alternative dress in a more extended wedding celebration. It is in fabulous condition. It is coming from the same estate of a woman I am just starting to go through who was personal friends with Oscar and she bought some of his most beautiful pieces. The dress is made from yards and yards of a black silk brocade that has deep rich jewel toned flowers woven through the fabric. The silk he chose is just incredible. It has a black base with beautiful metallic feeling motifs woven through the silk. The flowers are done with varying states of fraying and this is deliberate. It gives the dress this worn decadence that is very beautiful and the flowers then become a three dimensional design element in themselves. The silk is just heavy enough to hold the shape and structure of the dress but even with all of that fabric it is not so heavy that it is uncomfortable to wear. It has a full built in boned corset inside the bodice so you don't have to worry about additional underpinnings. There are also full built in underskirts. I did add a crinoline to the dress for some of these photos so that you can get an idea of just how full the skirt is and see its full shape. I also photoed it without a crinoline so that you can see how it falls on its own with just its already substantial inner skirts. The bust is strapless and fitted with a modified soft sweetheart bodice. To highlight the bust even more there is a fabulous ruffled detail that curves and cups under the breasts. It tightly hugs the body, curving in at the waist, and then skims over the top of your hips. The seaming is all done on the vertical to create that beautiful shape and give the the dress a sense of added length. The skirt flows directly out from the bodice and is cut to sit slightly more sleek and flat at the front. You then have all that wonderful volume starting at each hip and going around to the back. The back of the dress is very dramatic. It is trained so that it flows out behind you in a dramatic swoop of fabric. There is a wide inner band of stiffened netting that circles the hem to help hold the skirt up and keep the shape rather then have it just drag behind you. On the sides of the skirt there are dramatic panels of the same fabric set into large ruffle detailing that give a slight bit of movement when you walk. The upper back is left bare. All of its details combined with that spectacular colour make it a very stunning gown. It is a beautiful example of Oscar's work. Excellent condition.

The outer layer is lined with a black silk organza. There is a full built in corset that closes with its own zipper and then the dress closes over that with a hidden set zipper. A wide band of stiffened netting finishes the hem as mentioned above. There is an inner silk layer with a stiffened hem and then a tulle and silk layer over that and between he outer silk. No size tag but most of her things were an ODLR 0 or 2 and this one is that same size. 

Bust: 15.5" flat across from side seam to side seam
Waist: 12-12.5" flat across from side seam to side seam
Hips: open
Length: 54" from top of bodice to front hem, 70" to back hem

Modern Sizing Equivalent: XXS-XS

Item# DD3865

Reference Photos: Fall 2005 Oscar de la Renta Runway Collection, Look 63. Model: Julia Stegner.

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 first thing you think of when you see this dress in person is Ossie Clark. It literally looks like one of his designs but with the added detailing on the bodice. The fabric is an earlier, original version of the moss crepe that he adopted for so much of his work but otherwise it is almost mind boggling to look at this dress and not see Ossie. Especially in person as the dress has much more fabric in it then the photos convey. It is gorgeous in person. This is one of the best pieces from this time period that I have seen in a very long time and it is easy to see why Clark used these dresses as his start point to develop what would become his signature look. It is now so rare and hard to find these in such amazing condition too. It is also surprisingly long for a piece from this time period. The dress has been finished beautifully and it obviously is a high end piece. It was a hard dress to photo since it is entirely cut on the bias through the skirt and waist. It is meant to be on an actual body and my dress form is not doing it anywhere near the justice it deserves. The dress falls in a V at the front with the sides of the front V curving inwards. The bodice is cut in that loose and easy way over the bust that pieces from this time period were done in. The waist nips in and there are attached ties on either side of the waist that you can use to cinch it in or you can wear to more loose and easy. The skirt falls to the floor under that and is made from several yards of the black crepe. When you stand still it falls in a smooth column but when you move you see just how much volume is there. It does up with a side zipper so there is no line to break the eye at the back. It was then densely detailed with the most amazing pattern of flowers and vines that cover the entire front of the bodice. The design is made up of thousands of hand set sequins, beads and gold thread. They are so densely done that the pattern sits up and off of the silk underneath for the most beautiful 3D feel. The design follows the lines of the bodice covering the front, running up the top of the shoulder and down the charming cap sleeves. The embellishments catch the light and add a fabulous glitter to the dress. It is truly incredible and if you are a fan of these pieces from the late twenties ad into the thirties you know just how exceptional and rare it is. Excellent condition 

Unlined and closes with a side set metal zipper. Ribbon edged finished hem. Attached ties at each side of the waist. Light padding in each shoulder. It is in wonderful condition and appears to heave been worn very little. For a garment almost 100 years old it is truly amazing. The bias cut should allow it to fit on a range of sizes. 

Shoulders: 15"
Bust: to 20" flat across from side seam to side seam
Waist: 12.5-17" flat across from side seam to side seam
Hips: to 21" flat across from side seam to side seam
Length: 61.5" from neck to the front hem, 63.5" to the back hem 

Modern Sizing Equivalent: SML-MED

Item# E697

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 exact twin of this dress was shown on the Spring runway in 2006 for Look 37. 2006 was an important year in Oscar's history. This is the same year that Parsons awarded him with the Lifetime Achievement Award at their 58th Annual Benefit and Fashion Show. In Vogue's review of the collection journalist Nicole Phelps said in part; 'After last season's Russian sojourn, Oscar de la Renta returned to his Latin roots for spring. And why shouldn't he? In the 40 years he's been in business (he celebrated the anniversary this year), regular flamenco infusions have served him well. With the Williams sisters, Eva Longoria and Candace Bushnell watching from the front row, de la Renta played to his strengths: flounces galore, toreador jackets, and a spicy palette of marigold, red, and warm neutrals, often finished off with a smattering of crystal embroidery. For day, wooden beading at the hip or contrast piping along seams gave classic silhouettes a sprightly flare....All told, an Oscar collection is like a trip to the Prado. Faced with such an embarrassment of riches, it's too easy to miss the many fine things.' This is one of those gorgeous pieces that have that latin flare and flounce and it was one of the best in the show 

On the runway the dress was worn by model Maria Fuema and it was styled with maximum simplicity. It was just Maria in all her beauty in this beautiful dress. Her makeup was barely there and they did not even add an earring to detract from her or the dress. It was a stunning moment and I am happy to have the runway clip included here so that you can see just how beautifully the dress moves with its flouncy lower skirt. We also found a photo of the dress on Jessica Simpson and we were especially happy to find a photo of the dress on her with Oscar himself. 

The fabric that the dress is made out of is very unusual and combines several elements. Through the body of the dress is a green silk organza and then this is covered in stripes made of embroidery, netting, lace, grosgrain and silk ribbon. The skirt is made of a series of overlapping tiers done in a silk organza that have been edged in a white thread and then detailed with circles of white sequins. I have taken close ups for you because the fabric is just incredible and all the small details in it add to the overall beauty of the dress. The fabric is just heavy enough to be able to hold the shape that you see but is still light enough that it moves wonderfully. The bodice is strapless and shaped to accentuate the bust. There is a full built in cupped corset inside the dress for support. The waist nips in and then continues to hug the body to past the hips. Below that the skirt is full and has a lot of movement thanks to the ruffles and tiers it is made out of. It moves when you move and it is just beautiful. Everything in the pattern lines up perfectly at the seams and no matter what angle you see it from the dress is stunning. It looks to have been worn very little if at all. Excellent condition

Fully interlined in a nude silk chiffon through the body and green organza in the skirt. There is a full cupped and boned corset inside the bodice. The dress has a hidden side set zipper on the exterior and then another second zipper on the side under that to close the inner corset. Tagged a modern ODLR 4. The green is slightly deeper in person.

Bust: to 15.5" flat across from side seam to side seam
Waist: 12.5" flat across from side seam to side seam
Hips: 17" flat across from side seam to side seam
Bodice: 9" from top of bust to waist
Skirt: 28" from waist to front hem

Modern Sizing Equivalent: XXS-XS

Item# DD3863

Reference Photos/Video: (1-4) Spring 2006 Oscar de la Renta Runway Collection, Look 37. Model: Maria Fuema.  /  (5-6) Jessica Simpson in Oscar de la Renta at the 10th Annual Accessories Council ACE Awards, 2005.

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

Emanuel Ungaro launched his label in 1965 after stints at both Balenciaga and Courreges. He was a brilliant designer who was known for his extravagant fabrics and flamboyance. He often participated in the design and execution of new fabrics and for him the design process started there. His work always has a sense of exuberance and joy to it and he mixed fabric and prints with a master's eye. Ungaro started out as a designer who did very structural and conceptual space age pieces but by the time he started his ready to wear line, Ungaro Parallele, in 1968 he was already starting to soften his look. By the late seventies and early eighties, the time period that this dress is from, his designs had become softer and more body conscious.

This is a fabulous little Ungaro dress with the prettiest floral print running over its surface. It somehow manages to be dramatic, sexy and yet pretty and sweet all at once. It is made from a soft silk jersey and is cut to be very fitted on the body. The shoulders are cut high and the sleeves are soft and full. I love how the front is cut out on an angle and the back has an open cut out for a glimpse of bare skin. The waist is all gathered and draped to highlight your shape and then under that the skirt is set with a draped feel over to the one side. Little bows are the perfect finishing touch. There is a flat bow at the bust, one on the side of the skirt  and then each sleeves ties into place so you can make it as poufed out above the tie as you wish. It has it a bit of a forties vibe to it and is very pretty. Excellent condition

The body of the dress is lined in silk and there is a layer of added structure that helps keep the shape. It closes with a side painted metal zipper and hook and eye at the back neck over the cut out. The fabric has some stretch.

Shoulders: 13"
Bust: 15-17" flat across from side seam to side seam
Waist: 12-14" flat across from side seam to side seam
Hips: 17" flat across from side seam to side seam
Length: 37" from neck to hem

Modern Sizing Equivalent: XS-SML

Item# DD2843

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 twin of this dress was Look 70 on the Spring 2016 runway. In 2016 Valentino was headed by both Maria Grazia Chiuri and Pierpaolo Piccioli. They had stepped into Mr Valentino's shoes and were breathing new life into the brand. The show was based on Africa as its inspiration and at this period of time the world was watching refugees attempting the journey to Italy. In the Vogue review for this collection Maria and Pierpaulo were quoted as saying; 'We probably feel that the greatest privilege in doing our work is that fashion can give a message,” said Chiuri. “We think every person coming here is an individual, and we can show that we can improve ourselves by understanding other cultures.'... 'The message,' added Piccioli, 'is tolerance. And the beauty that comes out of cross-cultural expression.' Many of the pieces fused Italian and African traditions, 'They met in the textiles'. This dress was one of the simplest of the show but is also one of the most beautiful and best cut with its simple monastic lines. 

The dress is made from a high end silk crepe that is entirely cut on the bias. This is what lets it move so beautifully over the body once it is on. When you walk, the fabric and that back cape catch the air and billows out around you. The colour is a deep hunter green and the dress is the twin of the runway version so you can see exactly how it moves in the video added here. It is constructed so that it drapes on the body perfectly. The dress is suspended from the shoulders by straps that curve up from the fabric of the bodice at the front and then change to skinny little straps that run down the back. It plunges into a low V at the front and the back is deeply scooped so that your entire back is left bare. It skims over the waist and then the skirt falls to the floor in a sweeping expanse of fabric. The skirt is cut beautifully and gradually widens out as it nears the hem. That and the bias cut of it is what gives it the floating effect it has when you move. A low back panel of silk is set to follow the lines there and this panel is what gives the dress its caped feel. The dress has this clever wrap effect to achieve this at the back with the back panel simply snapping into place along the side of the waist. I love that where it snaps into place it creates the slightest fold that gives shape to the waist area. And how that same effect is done on the other side as well even though that side is sewn into place. The precision in cut to have these match and sit like that should not be underestimated. It is very beautiful. It has not been worn and still has it original Valentino hang tag. It is stunning and a beautiful example of how simple doesn't have to mean boring by any means. Excellent condition

Unlined with inner finished fresh seams. The inner dress has a low set zipper at the back and then the back panel wraps and closes with snaps at one side of the waist. Tagged a Valentino 38. The easy cut should fit a range of sizes. If you are not very big busted this might work on a medium as well. Original hang tag attached.

Bust: open at each side so variable. Each triangle is about 6" across at the base
Waist: 13.5" flat across from side seam to side seam
Hips: to 19" flat across from side seam to side seam
Length: 60" from the top of the shoulder to the front hem, 64" to the back hem

Modern Sizing Equivalent: XS-SML

Item# DD3860

Reference Photos/Video: Spring 2016 Valentino Runway Collection, Look 70. Model: Bara Podzimkova.

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 exact twin of this dress was shown on the Fall runway for 2006 for Look 61. 2006 was an important year in Oscar's history. This is the same year that Parsons awarded him with the Lifetime Achievement Award at their 58th Annual Benefit and Fashion Show. In Vogue's review of the collection journalist Nicole Phelps said in part; 'While other designers flit from one influence to another, Oscar de la Renta has made a four-decade-long career of staying true to his brand of ladylike elegance'. On the runway the dress was worn by model Liya Kebede and it was styled with maximum simplicity. It was just Liya in all her beauty and this stunning gown. Her makeup was barely there and they did not even add an earring to detract from her beauty or the beauty of the dress. It was a stunning moment and I am happy to have the runway clip included here so that you can see just how beautifully the dress moves. 

This Oscar de la Renta dress is stunning. It is red carpet worthy and would even make an amazing wedding piece for the bride looking for a non-traditional choice or as an alternative dress in a more extended wedding celebration. It is in fabulous condition. It is coming from the same estate of a woman I am just starting to go through who was personal friends with Oscar and she bought some of his most beautiful pieces. The dress is made from yards and yards of a black silk brocade that has a vivid teal blue pattern woven through the fabric. The silk he chose is just incredible. It has a black base with beautiful motifs woven through the silk. They become a design element in themselves. The silk is just heavy enough to hold the shape and structure of the dress but even with all of that fabric it is not so heavy that it is uncomfortable to wear. It has a full built in boned corset inside the bodice so you don't have to worry about additional underpinnings. I did add a crinoline to the dress for some of these photos so that you can get an idea of just how full the skirt is and see its full shape. I also photoed it without a crinoline so that you can see how it falls on its own. The bust is strapless and fitted with high peaks on each side of the bodice. They curve toward the centre with a scalloped pattern at the edge. It hugs the body, curving in at the waist, and then hugs over the top of your hips. The seaming is all done on the vertical to create that beautiful shape and give the the dress a sense of added length. It is cut to follow and highlight the curves of your body to below the hip. At each hip there is a panel of fabric added to create a fantastic curved ruffle. This acts like a modern day pannier and is quite a beautiful detail. The skirt flows directly out from the bodice with no seam at the waist to break the line. It is cut to sit slightly more sleek and flat at the front and then you have all that wonderful volume starting at each hip and going around to the back. The back of the dress is very dramatic. It is trained so that it flows out behind you in a dramatic swoop of fabric. There is a wide inner band of stiffened netting that circles the hem to help hold the skirt up and keep the shape rather then have it just drag behind you. The upper back is left bare and it is just impossibly wonderful. Those details combined with that spectacular colour make it one of the best gowns I have seen from this time period. It is a stunning example of Oscar's work. Excellent condition.

Unlined with ribbon finished seams. There is a full built in corset that closes with its own zipper and then the dress closes over that with a hidden set zipper. A wide band of stiffened netting finishes the hem as mentioned above. There is an inner grosgrain waist stay that hooks to close. I see a break in the silk that covers the interior netting at the hem but it is inside the dress so does not show at all. Tagged a size 2. 

Bust: 15.5" flat across from side seam to side seam
Waist: 12-13" flat across from side seam to side seam
Hips: open
Length: 53.5" from top of bodice to front hem, 75" to back hem

Modern Sizing Equivalent: XXS-SML

Item# DD3861

Reference Photos/Video: Fall 2006 Oscar de la Renta Runway Collection, Look 61. Model: Liya Kebede.

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

In 1951, 27 year old James Galanos launched his first label called Galanos Originals. By 1954 he had won a Coty award and the Neiman Marcus award. By 1958 he was producing clothing that could range in price from $200 to $3000, an astronomical price for ready-to-wear for that time period. That said, his ready-to-wear line was made to almost true couture standards and piece in it were made with a level of craftsmanship that was on par with the French couturiers. Galanos was a master cutter and draper and he used many couture techniques in the construction of his dresses and other pieces. Grace Kelly was an early fan and he was truly one of the great American designers. His work is held in all of the major museums around the world and he is one of my personal favourite designers. This dress is exceptional and I was very excited to have it come into the shop.

The dress is absolutely gorgeous. The label that is in it was the one used starting in 1977. Looking at the dress it is almost hard to imagine that it is not from an earlier time period with its decidedly Old Hollywood feel. It is made out of a fine silk chiffon that has been dyed to a deep moss green. In the skirt they are also more olive coloured panels mixed in and this adds depth there. The bust is shaped and structured underneath that draped exterior. You would not think it to look at it but that part of the dress is very formed underneath and hides an inner foundation that follows the complete length of the bodice. The top is cut straight across and it curves in at the waist and then hugs the tops of the hips. A long chiffon panel snaps into place on one side of the interior and you can then drape this over your shoulder to create a few different looks. You can let it sit to cover your entire arm like a half cape or just have it trail down the back for a little floating detail as you walk away. You could also have it float over the entire upper chest to drape over the other shoulder. That panel is completely removable so you could also wear the dress without it for a true starless feel. The panel is long enough to play double duty as a sash or even a head piece. You have a lot pf options with it. The silk has been hand draped over the bodice and I love the contrast between the horizontal draping there against the vertical panels in the skirt. The skirt itself is a marvel. It is literally made up of vertical panels of silk that have been cut in different widths and slightly different lengths. These are layered over a inner single layer skirt of the same silk chiffon. When the dress is on it gives the illusion that you are very bare under the panels. Each panel is set in by hand and this would have been a meticulous and tedious method that would have added several hours of construction time to the dress. The panels give the dress a very unexpected sexy feel as they move around you and give the illusion that you will get a glimpse of your full leg at any moment. The dress is stunning on and the movement that the panel over the shoulder and the panels of the skirt have when you move is stupendous. Excellent condition 

Fully lined in a green silk and closes with a hand set zipper at the side. Hand finished throughout. The shoulder panel snaps onto place with silk covered snaps. It appears to have been worn very little if at all.

Bust: 15.5" flat across from side seam to side seam
Waist: 12.5" flat across from side seam to side seam
Hips at the bottom of the bodice: 17" flat across from side seam to side seam
Length: 48" from top of the strapless bodice to hem

Modern Sizing Equivalent: XXS-XS

Item# DD3862

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 a stunning dress that has a Saks Fifth Avenue tag and no other so its origins are a bit of a mystery. It is coming from the same estate of a woman I am just starting to go through. She bought a lot of Oscar de la Renta, Fath, Versace and other high end labels and you can tell that this a dress of quality even without knowing her label preferences. It is made out of a beautiful clear and true red matte silk satin. The fabric is just heavy enough to be able to hold the shape, but is still light enough that with every move it billows out around and behind you. The bodice is very unusual. At the front it is strapless and curves across your bust. At the back it has an almost racerback feel with the an angled cut that extends all the way to the high back of your neck. It then extends out and wraps around to form a collar that you see at the front. This gives the dress a bit of an edgy feel that I love. The bust is fitted and shaped to accentuate your curves. Below that the skirt is very full and billows out and around you beautifully. It is cut to be very full. It curves over the hips and then flows to the floor as it widens out. At the back it is cut longer then the front to give it a beautiful curve. Big soft pleats start at each side of the hips and then continue to the back. The way they are set into the base of the back give the skirt more fullness there and the effect is just beautiful. From the side this creates a beautiful curving angle from the waist to back hem. No matter what angle you see the dress it is stunning. It is just fabulous. Excellent condition

Fully lined in a red silk through the bodice and a the skirt is self based in a black. Built in inner skirts that give it the fullness that you see and then a red silk inner skirt under that. It closes with a back hidden set zipper.  Ribbon edged finished seams. It appears to have never been worn or worn very little.

Neck: 12.5" around
Bust: 16" flat across from side seam to side seam
Waist: 12" flat across from side seam to side seam
Inner hips: 22" flat across from side seam to side seam
Bodice: 15" from neck to waist
Skirt: 42" from waist to front hem, 48" to the back hem

Modern Sizing Equivalent: XS-SML

Item# DD3858

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 piece is wonderful and shows the range of what Hanae Mori was capable of. It is simple and beautiful but still striking. It dates to the late 1970s, early 1980s and it is an absolute work of art. 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 and plays a strong part of my own personal archives. I own the exact twin of this kimono and would never part with mine as it is so versatile. 

I have worn variations of this exact kimono for years now whenever I head out for the evening. It is the perfect pop of color over a dress and is light and luxurious feeling for evening. I have even in a pinch have wrapped and closed it with a large pin, or just wrapped and belted it with the matching belt, and worn it as a dress. It is absolutely stunning. This really shows her talent for taking traditional elements from her own culture and giving them a more western world twist in terms of modifying the cut. It is made of a red silk and lined in silk as well. The colour is beautiful red and that is softened with the pretty and romantic flower and butterfly print that covers its surface. The red of the silk is that perfect shade that flatters most skin tones and the print is done in a mix of pretty soft blues and greys. It has a matching sash belt that you can use to add shape and cinch in the waist. The sleeve are cut to be wide and full and the body is loose and easy. It looks to have never been worn or used and would be perfect to use as wedding kimono, to take on your honeymoon, or to top an evening ensemble. Of course it also works as a lingerie piece and a dress. It is the ultimate multi-tasker. The print that covers the kimono is hand screened and painted with hauntingly beautiful butterflies that flit across the surface of the silk. The butterfly is a Hanae Mori signature and I love that they are used with such romantic abandon on this kimono as they trail across its surface. Excellent condition

The kimono is fully lined with a pale soft purple/blue tissue silk and has no closures. This one comes with , its matching sash belt. The fabric is signed throughout. Tagged a S but the open, loose cut will allow it to fit just about any size. It looks like it has never been worn. 

Sleeves: approx 27" from the natural shoulder to the longest post they fall and are 23" around
Shoulder: no defined seam
Bust: to 22" flat across from side seam to side seam
Waist-hips: to 21" flat across the inner seam but adjustable with the sash
Length: 56" from neck to hem

Modern Sizing Equivalent: XS-LRG

Item# DD3857

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

Say the name Zac Posen and you immediately think red carpet and glamour. He is one of the best known modern designers and his name was already a buzz with fashion insiders before he even launched his own self named label. He held his first fashion show at the age of 20 and that same year founded his own company, Outspoke, through which he opened his signature label. 2002 saw the debut of his first ready-to-wear collection and soon Natalie Portman was a fan, Vogue's Anna Winter threw in her support and the label was on its way. The label lasted until 2019 and was a red carpet favourite for all the years in between. My client told me that she had this dress for at least ten years and never ended up wearing it so it is as if it just stepped off a rack condition wise. A similar dress with some of the same design elements walked the runway for the 2014 season so I have dated it to that year. It is a stunning example of his work.  

This dress is just remarkable. It is very sexy and provocative once on the body. It is also in its original uncut length so perfect for my taller girls should they need the length yet would be alterable if you don't. The purple of it is very unique and in person it has a softer, dustier feel to it for lack of a better descriptive word. It is really stunning. The fabric is completely cut on the bias so off the body it is one ultra long swath of fabric but once on the body it settles around your curves and highlights everything perfectly. The front and the back are cut into a low V and then the waist nips it. The shape is all created by the most clever seaming that harkens back to the type of work they were doing in the 1930s. From the waist the dress curves out over the hips and then is cut inwards a bit so it sits along the legs. At about the knee the skirt flares out dramatically. When laid out flat the amount of fabric around the lower skirting is more than a full circle. When you move it moves and the effect is amazing. My photos don't come close to doing it its full justice and when it is on the body it really comes to life. If all of that were not enough it was then highlighted with series of raw edged, exposed seams that give it an almost futuristic feel and highlight the shape and curves of the body even more. It is incredible and even better in person and on a body. Excellent condition 

Lined in a mixed silk stretch fabric and has a hidden set zipper at the back. Bias cut and was never worn. Tagged a modern US 8 and the fabric does have stretch. The range given is the comfortable stretch laid flat. The bias cut will move to accomodate the body some as well. 

Bust: 17-19" flat across from side seam to side seam
Waist: 14-15" flat across from side seam to side seam
Hips: 18-21" flat across from side seam to side seam
Length: 66" from top of bodice to front hem, 70" to the back hem

Modern Sizing Equivalent: SML-MED

Item# DD3852

Reference Photo: Spring 2014 Zac Posen Runway, Look 28.

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 woman behind the Maggy Rouff label was Maggy Besançon de Wagner and she started her label in 1928 after working at the Drecoll Haute Couture atelier. After only one season in business the Maggy Rouf label became an official member of the Chambre de commerce et d'industrie de Paris. The label continued to produce Haute Couture until 1965. Maggy developed a staunch following for her work and for her gowns in particular. One of the hallmarks of her designs was that each piece had a main focal point. Like the stunning back panel on this dress for example. Draping techniques, as we see around the hip area on this dress, where also a signature element of her work. This is a stunning dress and her Haute Couture examples are rare and becoming increasingly valuable. 

This dress has all the hallmarks of Haute Couture that you want from this era. It is entirely made by hand and the fabrics that were chosen to make it are exceptionally beautiful. Two different fabrics have been combined to make the dress that you see here. The main body of the dress is made from a rich, luxurious silk brocade made from a gold metallic thread woven through on a purple silk. This gives the dress an exotic, royal feel, and the fabric seems to glow from within as it catches the light from every angle. The thread is woven into the silk and not just applied onto it as a print. This gives it a slightly raised texture to it that is beautiful to touch and feel. Maggy chose a fine matte silk satin in a brilliant purple hue to use for the straps that curve up and over each shoulder and for that incredible inset panel at the back. The dress is cut to skim over you and curve in at the waist for shape. It is cut straight across at the neckline and has a panel in a contrasting pattern that is draped across the bust. The waist is curved in and there is a hand draped gathering that runs softly across the front at the hips. This balances out the panel at the bust and helps to highlight and show your curves in that perfect Hollywood starlet feel of this time period. The back is jaw dropping. The straps curve down to a low set back to leave lots of bare skin exposed. It is gathered in at the back waist to create shape. Inset at the low back is a sweeping train of the purple silk satin. This cascades to the floor ad opens and widens out as it nears the hem to create a trained back skirt. At the small of the back a flat bow in the same purple silk is the perfect finishing touch. Inside the dress there is a fully boned and structured bodice along with a waist stay to hold the dress perfectly in place. This dress is an incredible piece of mid-century Haute Couture. Excellent condition.

The inner bodice is boned and set into the inner purple silk lining. This inner bodice layer closes with its own series of snaps and hooks that run down and behind a painted metal zipper that closes the outermost layer of the dress. An inner waist stay hooks to close. The back train is lined in a stiffened netting to help hold the shape and the hem is finished in dressmakers tape. Inner silk lining. The dress is completely made by hand to the Haute Couture standards of the period and is done with remarkable construction technique. There is one tiny area on the inner lining's hem that has a touch of fading, that of course this is not something you would ever see when on. Perhaps the tiniest bit of grubbiness to the trains hem but I am being extremely picky.  Otherwise appears to have been worn very little if at all

Bust: 18" flat across from side seam to side seam
Waist: 13.5-14" flat across from side seam to side seam
Inner hips: 19" flat across from side seam to side seam
Length: 58" from top of shoulder to front hem, the train extends another 10" ato its longest point at the back

Modern Sizing Equivalent: SML-MED

Item# DD3851

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

Isaac Mizrahi presented his first collection at a trunk show at Bergdorf Goodman's in 1987. By 1992 Chanel had bought a stake in the company and Isaac's name was everywhere. He was doing custom work for clients and Hollywood on top of his mainline. In 1995 Isaac was the subject of the movie 'Unzipped' based on his Fall 1994 collection. He is known as much for his personality as he was for his clothing. The Council of Fashion Designers of America (CFDA) recognized him with the Perry Ellis Award (now called the Swarovski Emerging Talent Award) in 1988 and the women's wear designer of the year award in 1989. He loved to experiment and would often change his aesthetics from season to season. This is an amazing example of the custom piece that he was doing and comes directly from the client that worked with him and purchased it from him. 

My client had this dress custom made for herself and worked one on one with Issac on its design. It is a gorgeous dress and it really feels like its time period with its nod to Old Hollywood combined with a twist of modernity through the quirky placement of the bow at the back. It is made to demi-couture standards. The dress is very long and the lines have been kept simple. The bodice is molded and sculpted into a plunging V at the front and again at the back. The fabric on the bodice extends into the straps that curve up and over each shoulder. The simplicity of how it is made is what gives it is sculpted feel. The wonderful curving shape from there has all been created through long vertical seams. This means that there is no horizontal line at the waist to break the beautiful curves the dress creates. Even off of the body and on the hanger this one has curves. That is how well made and scalloped it is. The fabric that Isaac chose for the dress is a heavier silk matte satin that holds the shape he meant it to have but without being too heavy on the body. The light purple colour is beautiful. The photos have come close to capturing the colour but in person is a touch lighter and brighter and even better. It skims over the bust and waist and over the hips. Then at about the knee the lower skirt starts to begin to flare out in an angled and sculpted line. The lower skirting is set into the body of the dress on an angled seam and this clever seam placement helps to elongate the line of the dress to make you look supermodel tall. At the back of the skirt where it meets the rest of the dress there is an oversized bow that is also set on an angle that follows the seam there. I love how it makes a tremendous impact from the back as you walk away. Even from the front view you see that bow peaking out slightly on either side making you wonder what is there. The skirt is cut slightly longer at the back to create that beautiful shape that you see. All of the shaping has been creating by seaming and fabric placement and it really shows just how great Isaac could cut a dress. It is even better in person and once on an actual body it really comes to life as the skirt moves around you. Excellent condition

Fully lined in a matching purple silk and closes with a hidden set back zipper. The slightest bit of scuffing to the very back hem. Please see the last photo after the label shot. 

Bust: 17" flat across from side seam to side seam with an approx A-B cup
Waist: 15" flat across from side seam to side seam
Hips: 18" flat across from side seam to side seam
Length: 59.5" from top of shoulder to front hem, 62" to the back

Modern Sizing Equivalent: SML-MED

Item# DD3595

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 Chanel Cruise collections have an interesting history. Gabrielle Chanel actually sailed and her love of the sport led to her inception of a 'cruise' collection in the 1920s. She was not the first to come up with this concept but hers were among the first to show a complete collection in a fully fledged show. They eventually fell off in popularity and it was not until Karl Lagerfeld took over Chanel that the cruise collections started again. I have had a version of this dress in the shop before and I added the photos of that one on me here. The scarf on this one is longer as is the back train so has even more drama. It is a very easy to wear dress with lots of impact, and of course, Chanel is never a bad idea. 

This Chanel dress is from the 2002 Cruise collection and it is phenomenal. It successfully marries an unexpected stretch jersey fabric choice with insets and draped panels of silk chiffon. The cut is pure evening, while the fabric has a more relaxed feel. This makes it wonderfully easy to wear and very comfortable once on the body. The colour of the dress is a deep midnight blue that almost appears to be black in certain lights. The fabric is light in weight but with enough substance to hold the shape and give it the wonderful curving shape through torso and the skirt that you see. The bodice of the dress is suspended by straps that curve over each shoulder.  One shoulder has looping panels of silk chiffon that you just fall over your shoulder. This panel then falls down the back of the dress all the way to the floor and a little past the hem for a very dramatic feel. The bodice is more fitted and a draped silk chiffon panel curves over it on both the front and back. The skirt is cut to hug your curves over the waist and hips. It then narrows in until it flares out in a dramatic expanse of chiffon and jersey at the hem. The back flares out behind you in a bit of a train and the bottom half of the skirt has a more transparent feel with its chiffon panels that are inset in points all-around the bottom portion of the dress. The movement that all these elements of the dress has once it is on is incredible. The double C logo sits on the top of one shoulder strap for the perfect finish. The construction is immaculate and it looks to have been worn very little if at all. Excellent condition

Fully lined in a matching blue silk chiffon and it zips to close at the side with a hidden set zipper. The fabric does have some stretch. It is tagged a Chanel 40. The fabric does have stretch and give so may accommodate a frame more towards a size large as defined by my size chart below 

Bust: to 18" flat across from side seam to side seam
Waist: 14.5" flat across from side seam to side seam
Hips: 18-20" flat across from side seam to side seam
Length: 59" from top of shoulder to front hem, 69" to the longest point at the back

Modern Sizing Equivalent: SML-MED

Item# DD3850

Reference Photos: Cherie, Owner of Shrimpton Couture, by Erin Leydon. Cherie is wearing a Magnetic Midnight X Shrimpton Couture 'Star Bright' Headpiece - available on the site here >

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 dress is from the Nina Ricci Haute Boutique demi-couture label from the 1980s and it has that amazing eighties aesthetic to it. The Nina Ricci brand was founded in 1932, at 20 Rue de Capucines in Paris and quickly became one of the top couture ateliers in the world. In 1964, Gérard Pipart succeeded Jules-François Crahay, Nina Ricci's former designer assistant, as head of the brand. Over the following three decades, Pipart's couture vision 'celebrated a flamboyant woman and his ready-to-wear found a loyal following among the most stylish women of the day.' This dress fits perfectly into that aesthetic and I think it is absolutely fabulous. 

I love the bold cut of the dress combined with the richness of the black velvet and the luxuriousness of the silk taffeta. Using velvet allows the black on the skirt and the sleeves to be as deep and dark as they possibly could be. Then the use of the silk taffeta through the body offers this amazing contrast to that. It allows the body of the dress to become its own element. Before I even begin to describe the dress I have to tell you that it will truly only come to life on an actual body. Its genius  lies in the movement of the skirt and the shape and volume created through the body and the sleeves. I am actually seeing a lot of similar pieces on the runways this past season or so and they are all based on work like this. The sleeves are cut long and each narrows to a zipper cuff. At the top of each arm is an explosion of volume through the shoulders that is reminiscent of the earlier mutton sleeves. These modern versions are cut on a curve and to the same high level of tailoring that the sleeves of the far past would have been. The effect this creates and the volume it gives is remarkable. The silk taffeta that makes up the body of the dress runs from the neckline to past the hips and is gathered and curved to give you an hourglass feel. The neckline is a modified sweetheart and it curves over the breasts and is gathered in the centre where it is caught up with a large silk bow. It then follows your body to run over the waist and the upper hips where another bow sits off to one side. The skirt falls from under the silk taffeta and it is cut on the bias and done in the same velvet as the sleeves. It has a lot of fabric and is set on an angle with one side falling longer then the other. On the side that curves up there is a slit that runs right up to where the silk taffeta ends. This allows almost your full leg to show when you walk or sit. Trust me - once on the body this one is incredible. The dress is very well made with a hand set inner silk lining and that black silk interior gives it a rich and sensual feel. Excellent condition

Fully lined in a hand set black silk and closes with a back zipper. Inner waist stay that hooks to close. Each cuff has zippers to close. Hand finishes. It appears to have been worn very little if at all. 

Sleeves: 24"
Bust: to 18" flat across from side seam to side seam
Waist: 14" flat across from side seam to side seam
Hips: 18" flat across from side seam to side seam
Length: 58" from neck to longest point on the hem
Slit: approx 33" from the longest point of the hem to the top of the slit 

Modern Sizing Equivalent: SML-MED

Item# DD3849

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 Nina Ricci brand was founded in 1932, at 20 Rue de Capucines in Paris and quickly became one of the top couture ateliers in the world. This dress is from the main Nina Ricci line and it is made to level that I would consider to be demi-couture. It dates to the Fall 2006 collection and its twin walked the runway on model Jeisa Chiminazzo. Designer Lars Nilsson was the head of the atelier at the time and he had been there since 2003. His take over of the label was met with rave reviews and he was asked to reinvigorate the then floundering label. He remained there until 2006 so this dates to mid-way of his tenure. In the review of the collection that season by Vogue, they were harsh of the sportswear looks presented but raved about the evening looks saying; 'What his soigné fans love him for is his easy way with a dress. Several of the versions he showed today featured an artsy, swirling print, while the others came in those multicolored layers of organza, chiffon, or silk gauze. His facility with such concoctions makes spring a natural for Nilsson.''

This was a standout piece from the show and it is gorgeous and even better in person. The dress is a fantastical confection of black netted tiers that run from the top of the dress to the hem. The upper shoulders and bodice are a single layer of the netting and this curves over the shoulders and across the upper back to give you a glimpse of the skin underneath. Over the bodice it is cut into a modified sweetheart neckline that is caught up in a long loose and easy tie at the center for added detail. Under that the dress skims over you to the floor and each layer of the netting lies over the one beneath it. These tiers expand out in width as they progress down the body gently widening out as the dress nears the hem. This cut is incredibly flattering as the netting moves with you for a sensual feel but it hides all and every flaw. To give the dress the high glamour that it has, each edge of every layer has a wide band of beadwork that circles all the way around you. These bands are collectively made up of thousands of tiny tube beads hand sewn into place and following the edges of the netting. The gloss of the black beads against the black net is gorgeous. I love that the runway shots give you a bit of an idea of just how wonderful the dress is on. It is truly magical.  Excellent condition.

Fully lined in a black silk and closes with a hidden set zipper set the side. Tagged a US6 / FR 38. It appears to have been worn very little if at all. 

Bust: 17" flat across from side seam to side seam
Waist: 15" flat across from side seam to side seam
Hips: 18" flat across from side seam to side seam
Length: 62" from shoulder to hem

Modern Sizing Equivalent: SML-MED

Item# DD3848

Reference Photos: Fall 2006 Nina Ricci Runway Collection. Look 34. Model: Jeisa Chiminazzo.

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

Jean Louis is the designer who created that dress that Marilyn Monroe was sewn into when she sang Happy Birthday to  President John F Kennedy. Louis worked in the movies heading the costume department at Columbia Pictures before starting his own label in 1961. Once he began designing under his own label he concentrated on suits and evening wear and was known for his beautiful fabric choices.

You can always see the wonderful lines and attention to detail that those years of heading a costume department added to Jean Louis' already amazing talent. He truly knew how to cut a dress. This is a wonderful and early dress from his self-named label that is made out of a stunning silk brocade. The colour is amazing and in person you get more of a sense of the depth created from the way that the silk was woven. Several shades of pink are combined with soft greens for the base of the fabric. The design there has that soft water colour feeling and suggests a floral print. Then over that there is a more matte pink thread that has been woven on top of the underlying print. This gives it a very pretty and romantic feel. The silhouette of the dress still has that wonderful influence of the 1950s that you can see in its lines. It is beautifully made. The dress is cut to fall to a midi length with a more fitted bodice and full skirt. If you are shorter it will feel a bit longer on you. The neckline is scooped and cut wide across so you see a bit of collar bone. Slim sleeves fall to the elbow with a pretty gathered detail that curves around the arm. Below the bodice the waist nips in with a piped seam. The skirt flares out to be quite full under that. All of the volume of the skirt is created by the soft pleats set into the waist that then expand out as it reached the hem. A deep pleat sits at the middle of both the front and the back for even more fullness. The fabric is extraordinary. Excellent condition overall with a note to review below

Fully lined in a cream silk crepe and it closes with a hand set back painted metal zipper. Hand finishes throughout and very well made. The silk shows the beginning of some shattering along the edge of the hem of the skirt and on the edge of one sleeve. Turning up the hem a touch more would eliminate this if it bothered you. It is still strong and stable otherwise. Please see the photos after the label shot. It is completely wearable as is if you wanted to keep it at its present length. 

Sleeves: 16.5"
Shoulders: 14.5"
Bust: 18.5" flat across from side seam to side seam
Waist: 14" flat across from side seam to side seam
Hips: open
Bodice: 14.5" from neck to waist
Skirt: 36" from waist to hem

Modern Sizing Equivalent: SML-MED

Item# DD3845

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 an incredible set that dates to the time period when Marc Bohan was head of the Christian Dior atelier. It is a beautiful and early example of the work being produced by Christian Dior in this time period. This is from the Christian Dior-London label and it was considered to be demi-couture from this time period of Dior's history. Pieces with this label where made for the London based Dior shops and the designs were based on the Paris collections. They were produced with many of the same high standard finishes that the Haute Couture pieces incorporated. The line was overseen by John Langberg who was the Artistic Director of Christian Dior London. Langberg would tweak the Paris looks of the house to meet the needs of Dior's London clients. All under the eye and approval of Mr. Bohan. It is exceptional and an excellent investment piece as well. Dior prices continue to skyrocket and finding early and stunning examples like and in this condition is getting harder and harder to do. 

This suit still feels perfectly on point for a modern girl which shows you just how well great design holds up even after 50+ years. The skirt is exceptional. It is cut in a sleek little flare that skims over the hips and then flares out with hidden flat inverted pleats at each side. The actual width around the botton hem stops just short of a full circle skirt. This is all achieved by the cut because there is no pleat work done around the waist. This would have taken a tremendous amount of fabric to achieve and wouldn't even be done in modern production outside of Couture. Around the waist the silk lies flat and neat and is very flattering. When you stand still the skirt lays flat and smooth but when you move you get an incredible burst of movement and volume. The skirt is suspended from a sleeveless top made out of lining fabric. This is a technique that you no longer see done because of the extra fabric it used and longer zipper requirements which also added to the costs. At this point in time though it was the proper way to have a skirt hang perfectly and be the most comfortable for the wearer. Then over that goes the little top that closes at the back with a zipper. It is cut to perfectly fall just over where the skirt underneath begins. It is cut with the slightest of curving in at the waist. It is beautifully constructed and it is cut to fit and flatter the body. The shoulders are soft and the sleeves are capped and simple. I love that there is no collar. It just simply cut with a wide set high scoop at the neckline. A large bow has been set off to one side at the back and partially snaps over the zipper. At the front it is gathered in slightly towards the middle and there is a little strip of fabric there that suggests that it is being held in place by that strip. It is genius and meticulously tailored. The fabric deserves its own mention as it is a very high end silk with a twill like finish. The colour is a beautiful bright pink fuchsia combined with white and it is stunning to see in person. If you are looking for a statement set this is it. It is simple, chis and elegant, yet extremely glamorous because of that stunning colour and silk fabric choice. Excellent condition

Both pieces are fully lined in an ivory silky rayon. The top zips to close at the back and the skirt with its attached lining also zippers to close. A bow snaps into place over the zipper of the top. There is some minor shattering of the inner lining of the top under the arms but they are clean and fresh otherwise and the lining is very stable. Please see the final shot after the label 

Top
Slightly dropped shoulders: 16"
Bust: 19.5" flat across from side seam to side seam
Waist: 16" flat across from side seam to side seam
Length: 17" from neck to hem

Inner Dress/skirt
Bust: 18.5" flat across from side seam to side seam
Waist: 14" flat across from side seam to side seam
Hips: open
Bodice: 15" from shoulder to waist
Skirt: 25" from waist to hem with 4" turned under the hem

Modern Sizing Equivalent: SML-MED

Item# DD3847

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 spectacular piece is by Pauline Trigere and is one of her best documented pieces even if you did not immediately recognize it. It's twin was featured in one of the most iconic editorials ever for the December 1966 issue of Vogue that was lensed by Henry Clark. The entire editorial was shot on location in Turkey. The fashion details in that issue described this piece as a: "High waisted drift of sun printed chiffon with a toga-scarf. By Trigere of Staron silk". This is an exceptional example of her work and I love that you can play with the attached scarf to create a number of ways to wear it. You are only limited by your own imagination.

When you look at the photos from Vogue, or the photos here, especially the published one, you think this is a dress. However it is actually a jumpsuit with extremely wide cut legs. Inside there is a built in body suit in a nude crepe lingerie fabric that keeps the semi-transparent fabric of the legs from being too scandalous. This inner suit is cut long and seems to extend down past where the leg meets your torso. I think this would give you the option of wearing the pant higher up if you were small enough. The silk used is almost weightless and the colours in it combine pink with a pale mint, shades of coral and a tangerine colour, to give it the feel of a sunset. Which was the exact mood it was shot for in Vogue. The pants flow to the floor and are cut to be extremely wide and full. A long panel of fabric is attached at the front under the waist band and gathered. This can be worn several ways. I have shown it swooped up and over one shoulder like they did for the Vogue shoot and I also curved it up one side around the neck and then tucked  it under itself to create a halter that leaves the back completely bare. You could even add a belt to really secure it in place. That front panel actually extends down past the hem in length so there is a lot of fabric to play with for styling. In the photos the model wore a body suit under it and you could do the same or even just wear a bandeau or a skimpy halter to allow more skin to show. It is a very unusual design and I love it. I purchased this years ago I and was told it came from a models closet so there is the possibility that it actually is the actual piece used in this shoot. It is very beautiful. Excellent condition with a note below.

The pants and front panel are unlined. There an attached nude crepe half bodysuit inside the pants. This inner piece zips up the back with a painted metal zipper. The silk of the pants then snaps in place over the bodysuit to fully hide it. Hand finishes. Has a hand numbered tag inside #159. I see wear and repairs to the fabric on the inside band of the waist where it hooks to close. Please see the photos after the label shot

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.

Holly Harp opened a shop LA in the late 1960s and created custom clothing under the Holly's Harp label. She tended to create her clothing out of a hodge-podge of new and old materials. In the beginning she favored things like feathers and fringe but her aesthetic became more 'grown up' and glamorous as her career progressed and she started to focus more on jerseys and draping. She was an avid thrifter and you can often see the influence of earlier decades in her work like with the kimono-esque hand painting and embroidered work on this piece. 

This is an amazing dress that is so unusual and avant garde. It was very difficult to photo as it really need a moving body underneath it to really bring it to life. You can wear it in so many ways and I think once on the body you will quickly figure out the best way to wear it on yourself. It is one of the most interesting design pieces I have ever had in the shop. It is made from a beautiful fluid silk done in a rich ombre toned yellow that has a hand painted design on parts of it done in a brilliant purple. Black stripes are worked into the design as well and these highlight the line and cut. The silk also has dots that are woven directly into the fabric and these are finished with a different sheen so that they catch the light. To wear it you wrap the inner skirt part around you and secure it with a button at the side. The waist of this inner skirt has elastic so it will accommodate a range of sizes. From the skirt that entire upper body of the dress extends out as one extremely long panel. The motion of twisting it over and around the front of you is what keeps the side opening of the skirt covered and secure. Part of the way along that panel is the opening for the neck and it is at this point that it gets fun. You can literally wear it in as many ways as you can think of and I did all these options just by changing the way it drapes. Add a belt to help hold configurations in place and you would have a whole new slew of styling options. By changing the way you wear the upper draped part of the dress you get a whole different feel of the outfit. On the one long panel there is a crane applied onto the silk and there are also little squares of metallic gold thread that have been used to give just a little extra glint of high glamour. This subtle pop of gold is wonderful. The entire thing is meant to be worn loose and easy but you could also add any kind of belt for some added shape and it would look equally as incredible. It also comes with a little cream coloured stretch body suit that you can wear underneath. This is a set that really transforms on an actual body and is even better when on and moving. It is truly an incredible once in a lifetime vintage find. Excellent condition

Both pieces are unlined. The skirt slips on with elastic at the waist and then buttons to close at the side. The top portion is attached and as described above. The body suit does not have her tag in it but did come with it so will be sent with the dress. The loose and easy cut should work on a full range of sizes. Larger sizes might not be able to use this bodysuit but you could easily substitute a larger modern one in its place. The size range is based on the dress. 

Body suit
Bust: 13-17" flat across from side seam to side seam
Waist: 11-14" flat across from side seam to side seam
Hips: 13-17" flat across from side seam to side seam
Length: will stretch to approx 32" from top of shoulder to inner seam

Skirt
Waist: 13-18" flat across from side seam to side seam
Hips: open
Inner skirt length: 38" from waist-hem
The attached panels are several yards long

Modern Sizing Equivalent: SML-LRG

Item# DD3843

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 am always thrilled to find a really great Emilio Pucci piece. The truly great ones are getting very hard to find and this one is exceptional. By the 1960s, the time period that this dress is from, Pucci was a world-wide phenomenon. Hollywood stars like Marilyn Monroe, Sophia Loren and even Jackie Kennedy were huge fans. For all of the many attempts since to catapult the label back to the height of its glory, the days when Emilio himself oversaw the label and designed the prints will always be the most special to me. This dress is gorgeous. 

This is one of the prettiest Pucci dresses I have ever had in the shop. It is very unusual to find one that sits off the shoulders like this one does and I love it. It is done in a gorgeous combination of a pink and yellow print that is worked onto a soft pastel peach backdrop. In person the overall effect is a little softer and more pastel feeling then how it photoed. These colors are combined into a soft and romantic floral design that sweeps over the entire dress. As is typical in a Pucci dress, he has used bands of a different printed silk to define each section of the dress. On this dress these borders are pretty little curving flourishes rather than the typical geometric print that his borders are usually finished with. This adds to the soft and feminine feel it has. The cut is very flattering. It sits off the shoulders so that your shoulders are left bare. A band of the border runs all the way around and the back dips into a very subtle V. Under the neckline border is a ruffle that falls over your arms and across the back and bust. I love this because when you move it has a gentle movement that just is beautiful. It is cut to skim over the body and with just a suggestion of a waist. From there the skirt flares out to the floor gradually widening out quite a bit as it nears the hem. There are yards and yards of silk in it. I love how it is all cut on the bias so the dress has the most incredible movement and fullness as it swirls around you. It is very feminine but sexy at the same time. I absolutely love it. Excellent condition with one small note below

Fully lined in a white silk chiffon and closes at the side with a painted metal zipper. I one dot of a mark near the side at the front. It is very tiny and nothing you would notice when on. Please see the photo after the label shot

Shoulder opening: to 19" across
Bust: 18.5" flat across from side seam to side seam
Waist: 15.5" flat across from side seam to side seam
Hips: to 20" flat across from side seam to side seam
Length: approx 56" from top of the off shoulders to the hem

Modern Sizing Equivalent: SML-MED

Item# DD3844

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

Pauline Trigere launched her label in 1942. She had moved to the US from Paris in 1937 and her designs always have that bit of a French feel to them. By 1949 she had been awarded a Coty and won one again in both 1951 and 1959. The 1959 win coincided with being inducted into the Coty Fashion Hall of Fame. She as a pioneer in the use of cottons and wool for evening, In 1961 she made headlines for being the first major fashion house to use an African American model. This is a stunning example of her work. 

This dress is just so pretty. I love the lines of it and the lightness of the fabric. It is made out of fine black silk chiffon that has an amazing pattern that has been created by fusing both silver and black glitter directly to the silk. This gives the dress its sparkle and glitz and allows it to catch the light from every angle. I love the curving vine and flower design that the glitter creates. The design has been laid out over the dress in a beautiful and intricate pattern. The workmanship to attach the glitter to the silk chiffon cannot be underplayed as this would have taken hours of meticulous hand work to accomplish. The designs runs all around the lower part of the dress and also curved around each sleeve. The cut of the dress is equally fabulous. The front and the back are squared off and the sleeves extend out from the top of the shoulder. Each sleeve is made from a single layer of the silk chiffon. The glitter then runs down the lengths of each and they widen out to be a full 23" around by the time they reach their ends. They are stunning. The bodice is cut to skim over you and it then widens out gradually as it falls to the hem. The body of the dress is made from a double attached layer of the silk chiffon on top and then there is another layer of silk chiffon under that. This makes the dress just opaque enough to wear but with a subtle touch of transparency. It is beautifully made. It looks like it has been worn very little if at all. Excellent condition

Fully lined in a fine black silk chiffon and closes at the back with a series of tiny snaps. It looks like it has been worn very little if at all. Hand finishes throughout. The easy cut should allow it to fit a range of sizes. 

Sleeves: 26"
Shoulders: no defined shoulders
Bust: to 20" flat across from side seam to side seam
Waist: to 19" flat across from side seam to side seam
Hips: to 22" flat across from side seam to side seam
Length: 46" from shoulder to hem

Modern Sizing Equivalent: MED-LRG

Item# DD3840

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 exceptional silk taffeta dress is by Marc Bohan for Christian Dior. It is from the Fall 1985 collection. In the 'Dior Catwalk' book, they include a write up from WWD that said the collection felt; 'young at heart, naughty and smart-chic'. They went on to note that many of the pieces on the collection were designed so that the 'hips are wrapped for attention and the knees are revealed'. The dress is a wonderful example of that young feel he was after and it is certainly a dress that is a reflection of its era. It is also a stunning example of his work during this time period. The dress is made even more special since we found a runway shot of the twin of the dress. For the runway it was styled with a lace mask and a pin nestled in the ruffled shoulder. It is an exceptional dress. 

The fabric of this dress is fantastic and no matter how great it looks in the photos you will love it even more in person. It is made out of a black silk taffeta whose underside in a silver pewter that has a bit of a metallic feel to it. This creates an incredible effect with the ruffles that cover the dress. As they move and flip over themselves you see the silver grey colour and the effect is fabulous. The fabric is light in weight and despite the elaborate construction of the dress is not at all heavy once it is on. Inside the dress has light boning through the bodice to give you some support. The bodice is cut with a modified sweetheart neckline and it is meant to hug the body. It is elaborately gathered and fitted around the bust with all of the gathered folds coming in to the seams that run over the bodice at the front, back and sides. These emphasize your curves and it make the dress very flattering once on. There is a huge and elaborate ruffle that curves around and under the arm and covers the one shoulder while the other is left bare. This gives the dress this fabulous shot gf glamour. More ruffles completely cover the skirt. These ruffles are set all the way around the skirt in a series of vertically placed silk panels. Each panel has been individually set onto the skirt to create the exaggerated ruffled effect that you see. The way they are set onto the skirt allows each piece to sit off of the skirt to create that fabulous volume. I really fluffed them up for the photos and the silk taffeta choice helps to hold the shape that you place it into while still being soft and not stiff. It is gorgeous and I love that we found the reference photo so you can see just how fabulous it is one. The dress appears to have been worn very little if at all. Excellent condition.

Fully lined in a black silk and closes with a side set zipper. The interior of the bodice is boned for support. It appears to have never been worn, or worn very little.

Bust: 17.5" flat across from side seam to side seam
Natural waist: 14" flat across from side seam to side seam
Hips: to 21.5" flat across from side seam to side seam
Bodice: 17" from top of bodice to waist
Skirt: 21.5" from waist to hem

Modern Sizing Equivalent: SML-MED

Item# DD3841

Reference Photo: Fall/Winter 1985-86 Christian Dior Runway.

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

Pauline Trigere launched her label in 1942. She had moved to the US from Paris in 1937 and her designs always have that bit of a French feel to them. By 1949 she had been awarded a Coty and won one again in both 1951 and 1959. The 1959 win coincided with being inducted into the Coty Fashion Hall of Fame. She as a pioneer in the use of cottons and wool for evening, In 1961 she made headlines for being the first major fashion house to use an African American model. This is a gorgeous example of her work 

The dress is exquisite and a wonderful example of the high end workmanship that dresses in this time period were being made with. It definitely had a bit of an influence from her earlier work in the fifties and sixties that I love. The base of the dress is made from a black wool crepe and you can see that fabric on the bodice where it hugs the body and curves into a sweetheart shape over the bust. This then nips in at the waist. Under the outer lace skirt layers the dress continues and extends into an inner skirt that is more of a pencil shaped skirt. This inner skirt is the same crepe fabric as the bodice. Over that inner skirt there are the very full outer layers of the skirt. I did not add a crinoline so the fullness you see is actually how much fullness it has and that is created just through the cut and design. I think if you wanted a very full skirt you could modify that very inner layer so that you could add a crinoline under it if you wished (or if needed - expand the inner skirt to simply to add more room through the hips). The outer skirt is made from two layers. The very top layer is the black lace that you see and then between the inner skirt and lace is a silk chiffon layer that is achieved by a stripe of stiffening through and around the hem to help hold the shape and give volume. More lace is then attached to the bodice to create the shoulders of the dress. These are done in the same black lace as the skirt. It dips in a V at the front and then the back has a keyhole slit between the buttons at the neck and the zipper. I love how all the edges of the lace are finished in a slight scallop for a pretty and delicate detailing. Excellent condition. 

Fully lined in a black silk and then has the layers over the inner skirt as described above. Closes with a back painted metal zipper and buttons at the back of the neck. Hand finishes. Looks to have been worn very little if at all

Shoulders: no defined seams
Bust: to 20" flat across from side seam to side seam
Waist: 16" flat across from side seam to side seam
Inner hips: to 20" flat across from side seam to side seam
Bodice: 17" from top of bodice to waist
Skirt: 25.5" from waist to hem

Modern Sizing Equivalent: MED-LRG

Item# DD3842

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

Loris Azzaro launched his label in 1967 and quickly defined his trademark looks by using ornate beading, sequins, daring cut-outs and avant garde ways of defining the body. Some of the most beautiful women in the world wore his clothing including Marisa Berenson, Raquel Welch, Jane Birkin, Sophia Loren, Brigitte Bardot and Tina Turner. It was a label that defined sexiness and had a certain French flare that women world-wide loved. By the seventies and eighties he was experimenting with volume and proportions and new fabrics that at the time were all cutting edge. This is a stunning example of his work during this period. This is a label that I really love and am always happy to find pieces of.

This is a killer dress. It is really one that will come to life even more once on an actual body and you can see your bare skin peeking through at the front and the sides of the bodice. I hope the photos convey just how fabulous it is because when worn and on an actual body this one will be even better. The top is cut to drape over you loosely with a touch of volume. At the front there are two simple panels that are attaches down the centre before curving up and over the shoulders. At the back it drapes and covers your entire back. I love how it is set to drape like it does and give some fullness. The silk jersey is gathered along each shoulder and the waist is seamed to bring it in and give you shape. Each side is cut to the waist so that you get a touch of skin down each side. The fabric is fuller there though so it is not a stark opening, rather you just get a glimpse of skin here and there as you move. The skirt under that is made from a bias cut black opaque silk jersey that sits and drapes beautifully around you. When you walk it moves and it is very easy to wear. To this simple black dress he then added the most exorbitant and over the top jewels I have ever seen on a dress. They run across and over the gathered shoulders and then crosses over the opening at the neck. The crystals are huge and it is laid out to sit like a grand jewel at the base of the throat. The impact of them is incredible. If that was not enough there is a matching belt that hooks into place at the front and has a buckle made of more of the same huge jewels. The rest of the belt is made out of the same black jersey as the dress and I wrapped it and then opened it to create shape over the hips. It brings all the emphasis to the curves of your body and the jewels are just a stand out. If there was ever a dress that needed a body inside of it to bring it to life, this is it. It is stupendous once on and as good as it looks in the photos it is even better in person. Excellent condition

Unlined and closes with a low side set zipper on the skirt. The collar hooks into place at one side tf the neck and the belt has hook & eye to close. 

Bust: should fit a range of bust sizes wit the open cut and loose drape
Waist: 13.5" flat across from side seam to side seam
Hips: open
Bodice: 15" from shoulder to waist
Skirt: 44" from waist to hem

Modern Sizing Equivalent: SML-MED

Item# DD3837

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

Ted Lapidus began selling his designs in the 1950s in Paris. By 1963 he was an official member of the Chambre Syndicale de la Haute Couture and he debuted his Haute Couture label in addition to his already high end ready to wear. Starting in the 1960s and through the 1970s he did ready to wear and a boutique line. This is an exceptional dress from that time period and it is very beautiful.

This is a dress that has maximum impact once on but it so easy to wear. It is basically made from yards and yards of a black silk chiffon that is all cut on the bias. This falls from the little straps that wrap up around the neck and then run down the back after crossing over themselves at the front. It is fitted around the bust and the waist nips in. Under that skirt flares out beautifully as it nears the hem. The waist is seamed for a little bit off added shape and the skirt has tremendous movement when you move. It is very full with many yards of silk but so light that it falls in a sleek column when you stand still. The inky black silk chiffon that it is made of is feather and has a touch of transparency over its more opaque inner lining. This was then covered in an amazing pattern that has been created by fusing silver glitter directly to the silk. This gives the dress its sparkle and glitz and allows it to catch the light from every angle. I love the curving swirls and flowers that the glitter creates. The design has been laid out over the entire dress in a beautiful and intricate pattern. The workmanship to attach the glitter to the silk chiffon cannot be underplayed as this would have taken hours of meticulous hand work to accomplish. I love the effect of this once on the body. It is just absolutely gorgeous and one of the best of his pieces I have seen. Excellent condition 

Fully lined in a black silk crepe and closes at the side with a painted metal zipper. If you did not like the straps crossing at the front it would be easy to move then to a more standard strap that runs over the shoulder. I see no bare areas. 

Bust: 17" flat across from side seam to side seam
Waist: 13.75" flat across from side seam to side seam
Hips: open
Bodice: 15" from top of shoulder to waist
Skirt: 42" from waist to hem

Modern Sizing Equivalent: SML-MED

Item# DD3838

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 one of the best silk velvet pieces from this time period that I have seen in a very very long time. It is really just incredible and it is now so rare and hard to find these in such amazing condition. Both the dress and matching jacket are finished to Haute Couture standards and it is maddening to not have a label to know who designed this. It is so beautiful and special that it obviously is a rare piece by a high end designer. The dress is fabulous in its own right. It was a hard piece to photo since it is entirely cut on the bias. It is meant to be on an actual body and my dress form is not doing it anywhere near the justice it deserves. The dress fall in a V at the front and the bodice is cut in that loose and easy way over the bust that pieces from this time period were done in. The waist nips in and the skirt falls to the floor under that. The skirt has yards of silk velvet it in and when you stand still it falls in a smooth column but when you move you see just how much volume is there. At the back it does up with a series of silk velvet covered buttons and then there is another button at the nape of the neck. This leaves an open slit running down your back between the buttons. It was then detailed with tiny prong set glass rhinestones that wrap around the waist and follow the incredible lines and the seams at the back and the front. These catch the light and add a fabulous glitter to the dress. Over this goes the little matching jacket. It is cut to be very simple. The shoulders are soft and it drops in a v at the front with a snap to secure it at the base of the V. Each sleeve is to the elbow and encrusted in more of those little glass crystal rhinestones. and teeny tiny glass tube beads. I love the little opening at the top of each shoulder. Once on an actual body this will allow a little peak of skin to show through. It is truly incredible and if you are a fan of these pieces from the late twenties / early thirties you know just how exceptional and rare it is. Excellent condition 

Unlined and closes with a series of covered buttons at the back. The jacket has a snap at the front. All the inner seams are finish by hand and it is made to couture standards. Perhaps the very occasional rhinestone or bead missing but there are no bare spots. Some of the glass rhinestones have darkened. This is normal for those embellishment from this time period. For a garment 100 years old it is in amazing condition

Jacket
Sleeves: approx 12"
Shoulders: no defined seams 
Bust: to 18" flat across from side seam to side seam
Waist: to 15" flat across from side seam to side seam
Length: 15" from neck to hem

Dress
Bust: to 17.5" flat across from side seam to side seam
Waist: 14" flat across from side seam to side seam
Hips: to 18" flat across from side seam to side seam
Length: 58" from top of shoulder to hem

Modern Sizing Equivalent: SML-MED

Item# DD3839

Note that antique and twenties pieces are final sale. They will be packed exceedingly well and we only sell pieces that will stand up to the stress of shipping, however, having pieces potentially shipped multiple times through multiple customs and countries is too hard on garments that are historically important and deserve to be treated with love and care. Please purchase accordingly.

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

John Anthony is an award-winning American fashion designer best known for simple, elegant clothing with a strong sense of chic. His work veers towards minimalism, with sharp tailoring, striking evening wear being his signature. He is renowned for his cutting and tailoring. From the day that he launched his atelier in 1971 his design philosophy is a fusion of function and purpose. The function is his logical, wearable approach; the purpose, his pared-down ideas. As a designer, he considers it his job to make things easy for the customer. He designs with focus and a narrow palette for both day and night, so items can easily intermingle. He uses natural fabrics and is noted for contradictory daywear fabrics in his evening collections. In the early 70’s he was one of the first designers to promote the idea of easy-to-travel clothes that resist wrinkling. By 1976, he was showing soft, liquid separates in muted colours that became his trademark and received 2 Coty awards, one in 1972 and one in 1976, as recognition. 

His business was all done on a made to order basis. That means the majority of pieces you will find are a one-off, or if there are similar pieces, very few of each piece exist. This personal attention to each dress is clearly seen in the workmanship of his pieces. His work is very expensive and beaded pieces did and still do retail for over $10,000. His work is a personal favourite of mine and I am thrilled to offer this exclusive nine piece capsule collection of pieces and samples that John pulled from his own archives to share with you. 

This dress is absolutely stunning. It weighs ounces and is made from the most beautiful fabric. Netted lace is placed over a nude silk chiffon lining. The lace is then detailed with little swirls of cording that have little ivory iridescent sequins running through. This allows the dress to catch the light from every angle and create the most beautiful effect in the light. It all cleverly closes at the front with hidden snaps running under the edges of the fabric. I love how all if the edges follow the curving pattern of the lace so that everything has that touch of romance and detailing. Once on, the front plunges right to the waist. The fabric closes under that point and overlaps slightly. This leaves a subtle slit running up the front so that you see a flash of leg when you move or sit. The back is equally incredible. The front halter curves up and over the shoulders and meet in a band that runs behind the neck. Extending out from that are two wide straps made of the same fabric. These are set to curve and drape away from the body for this pretty 3D effect. The back is left completely bare under that right to the waist. I love how the seam at the bottom of all that bareness is set on a slight curve. No detail is too small with John's dresses. It is incredible. It is one of the most romantic and beautiful dresses I have ever had in the shop and I feel that this would make an extraordinary wedding piece for a bride looking for something not as traditional. It would work for any event really where you want to feel like a goddess. Excellent condition.

Fully lined in a nude silk chiffon and closes at the front with a series of hidden fabric covered slaps. Hand finished throughout. It appears to have been worn very little if at all. Note that it is slightly creamer in person then how it photoed.

Bust: each halter provides 6" of coverage across 
Waist: 14" flat across from side seam to side seam
Hips: 18" flat across from side seam to side seam
Length: 62" from neck to longest point of the back hem

Modern Sizing Equivalent: SML-MED

Item# DD3829

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

John Anthony is an award-winning American fashion designer best known for simple, elegant clothing with a strong sense of chic. His work veers towards minimalism, with sharp tailoring, striking evening wear being his signature. He is renowned for his cutting and tailoring. From the day that he launched his atelier in 1971 his design philosophy is a fusion of function and purpose. The function is his logical, wearable approach; the purpose, his pared-down ideas. As a designer, he considers it his job to make things easy for the customer. He designs with focus and a narrow palette for both day and night, so items can easily intermingle. He uses natural fabrics and is noted for contradictory daywear fabrics in his evening collections. In the early 70’s he was one of the first designers to promote the idea of easy-to-travel clothes that resist wrinkling. By 1976, he was showing soft, liquid separates in muted colours that became his trademark and received 2 Coty awards, one in 1972 and one in 1976, as recognition. 

His business was all done on a made to order basis. That means the majority of pieces you will find are a one-off, or if there are similar pieces, very few of each piece exist. This personal attention to each dress is clearly seen in the workmanship of his pieces. His work is very expensive and beaded pieces did, and still do, retail for over $10,000. His work is a personal favourite of mine and I am thrilled to offer this exclusive nine piece capsule collection of pieces and samples that John pulled from his own archives to share with you. 

This is a dress that when you see it in person seems impossible to have the level of detail that is does on the silk and netting fabric. It is magical in person. The dress is made from a beige nude silk chiffon through the body and then the upper bust and back are made out of a nude silk netting. It is cut to skim over the body with a suggestion of a waist worked in by vertical seaming. The netting above the front edge of the bodice curves up to the shoulders and then down the back. The back is dipped very low so you see your lower back peek through the netting. Onto the netting is a design that reminds me of coral in the way that it has been executed. A fine silver colour metal thread is first used to create the organic feel of the pattern. Then onto that is a dense application off silver sequins, soft pastel blue beads and rhinestones. These are applied thickly enough that they sit up and off the silk to give a 3D effect. They run over the entire dress and over the netting as well. When this is on the body the effect that this creates is astonishing. I think it is one of the most beautiful textile examples I have ever seen. A long slit up the side allows a flash of leg to show when you walk or sit. It is magnificent. Besides being a very wearable dress for any special evening  this would make a stunning wedding choice for the bride looking for something not as traditional or as an option for an event over a wedding weekend. Excellent condition with a minor note below.

Fully lined in a node silk chiffon and closes with a hidden side set zipper. One of the shoulders has a Velcro close to help get in and out of it. There is a very tiny break in the net near one arm hole at the front and two teeny stress areas near a seam. Please see the photos after the label shot.

Bust: the front covers to 16" flat across and the sides are open right beside the bust
Waist: 13" flat across from side seam to side seam
Hips: 17" flat across from side seam to side seam
Length: 54" from top of shoulder to hem
Slit: 24" from hem up

Modern Sizing Equivalent: XXS-XS

Item# DD3833

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

John Anthony is an award-winning American fashion designer best known for simple, elegant clothing with a strong sense of chic. His work veers towards minimalism, with sharp tailoring, striking evening wear being his signature. He is renowned for his cutting and tailoring. From the day that he launched his atelier in 1971, his design philosophy is a fusion of function and purpose. The function is his logical, wearable approach; the purpose, his pared-down ideas. As a designer, he considers it his job to make things easy for the customer. He designs with focus and a narrow palette for both day and night, so items can easily intermingle. He uses natural fabrics and is noted for contradictory daywear fabrics in his evening collections. In the early 70’s he was one of the first designers to promote the idea of easy-to-travel clothes that resist wrinkling. By 1976, he was showing soft, liquid separates in muted colours that became his trademark and received 2 Coty awards, one in 1972 and one in 1976, as recognition. 

His business was all done on a made to order basis. That means the majority of pieces you will find are a one-off, or if there are similar pieces, very few of each piece exist. This personal attention to each dress is clearly seen in the workmanship of his pieces. His work is very expensive and beaded pieces did, and still do, retail for over $10,000. His work is a personal favourite of mine and I am thrilled to offer this exclusive nine piece capsule collection of pieces and samples that John pulled from his own archives to share with you. 

This dress is a little extra special as Janet Jackson wore a later version of the dress for her Today's Black Women cover. I included it as it is always fascinating to see the progression of a design. It also has some similarities to the ivory one we have in this capsule that is made from a similar lace and sequin fabric. The dress is very light in weight and it is made from the most beautiful fabric. A deep blue netted lace is placed over a silk chiffon lining in the same colour.  The lace is then detailed with thousands of deep blue iridescent sequins that run over the entire length of the dress. This allows the dress to catch the light from every angle and it creates the most beautiful effect in the light. It is strapless and the top of the bodice curves down into a sweetheart shape to emphasize the bust. It cleverly closes down the front with a hidden zipper and hidden snaps running under the edges of the fabric. I love how all of the edges follow the curving pattern of the lace so that everything has that touch of romance and detailing. To wear it you just wrap it around you and close the snaps down the front. The snaps run to about the mid-thigh and then below that a subtle slit is created so that you see a flash of leg when you move or sit. The lower hem is set on a curve so comes up slightly at the front and is longer at the back. The skirt is lined in a silk chiffon and this gives it a slight transparency in the light. Very sexy.  I love the little rosette created and placed to one side at the waist for a touch of detailing. No detail is too small with John's dresses. It is incredible. It is wonderful. Excellent condition.

Fully lined in a hand set deep blue silky rayon through the bust and a silk chiffon through the skirt. It closes at the front with a hidden set zipper and a series of hidden fabric covered snaps. Lightly boned through the bodice. Hand finished throughout. It appears to have been worn very little if at all. 

Bust: 16" flat across from side seam to side seam
Waist: 13" flat across from side seam to side seam
Hips: 17" flat across from side seam to side seam
Bodice: 9" from the top of the bodice to waist
Length: 46" from the top of the bodice to longest point of the back hem

Modern Sizing Equivalent: XS-SML

Item# DD3831

Reference Photo: Janet Jackson in John Anthony for Today's Black Women, June/July 1998.

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 the last piece from the second batch of very interesting pieces that are coming from a client whose aunt had most of her clothes made. This dress was made by Ady Couture and the story behind this label is fascinating. Ady Couture was based out of Lausanne Switzerland. She would buy couture fabrics from the couture houses along with the patterns and with permission make copies of the piece presented in the Haute Couture collections. When she was younger, and lived in Amsterdam, Ady would attend the private viewing and purchase directly from the couture houses. My client believes that her arrangement with the ateliers was a way to work around customs that prompted Ady to negotiate this arrangement with the ateliers. In my hunt for more information I have been able to verify that they made this permissible copies of the work of Yves Saint Laurent, Christian Dior, Givenchy, Lacroix and Ungaro. There may have been others but this are the houses I am confident on. The dress is completely made by hand to Haute Couture standards and it is beautiful. A truly iconic piece of couture 

The dress is made from a combination of a black velvet bodice with an attached brilliant emerald green silk skirt. Almost all the piece that were in this second box have been based on Yves Saint Laurent pieces and I would not be surprised if this one was as well. The bodice has been kept sleek and simple with the richness of the black velvet taking centre stage. The shoulders are squared off with light padding to give them shape and the sleeves are cut to be wider at the top and taper down as they reach each wrist. The bodice skims over you and drops on an angle past the waist. At that point the skirt is attached and it is cut to sit on an angle down one hip for a bit of a swag feel. A panel on the skirt wraps and snaps into place from the back, perfectly following the seam. When it reaches the hip it hooks into place under an attached large bow. This gives it the effect that you just wrapped it around yourself and tied it in place. It is quite flattering once on. My dress form definitely does not do it justice and like all couture it really needs an actual body underneath to bring it to life. Every seam is done by hand and the craft put into making this is exquisite. The green of the skirt in person is so much better then how it photoed. It is a clear crisp emerald green and the silk is rich and heavy so that it holds the drape perfectly. It appears to have been worn very little if at all. Excellent condition 

Fully lined in a black silk through the bodice and the skirt is unlined. It closes with a hidden set zipper at the back and there are hidden set zippers at each wrist. The skirt snaps into place as described above. Hand finished throughout. It appears to have been worn very little if at all. Made to Haute Couture standards with a tremendous amount of detail put into its construction. 

Sleeves: 24"
Shoulders: 15"
Bust: 19" flat across from side seam to side seam
Waist: 17" flat across from side seam to side seam
Hips: 19" flat across from side seam to side seam
Length: 57" from shoulder to hem

Modern Sizing Equivalent: MED-LRG

Item# DD3814

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

Galanos was known as the designer that could rival the French in terms of construction and design. He launched his atelier in 1951 and although his atelier was never formally designated as Haute Couture by the French, he certainly produced clothing that met the parameters of couture and he is often referred to  as one of the great American couturiers. This stunning dress was custom made, and my client acquired it from the estate of 1950s model Betsy Pickering Kaiser. Betsy appeared on several Vogue covers in the 1950s and it was during that time period time period that she met Galanos. They were friends for over 60 years. She collected and wore Galanos pieces her entire life and was his friend and muse. He once told her husband ‘I would rather have Betsy wear my clothes than any other woman’. She was a constant presence on the International Best Dressed List and and was added to the Best Dressed Hall of Fame in the early 1970s. It is a wonderful thing to have such a beautiful piece of her history in the shop 

This is one of my favourite Galanos pieces. Betsy was a model and was tall and this dress is cut to a supermodel length that reflects that. It is beautiful. It is made of a printed light weight silk chiffon that is combined with a black lace. The entire thing weighs ounces and you will be delightfully shocked at how light it is in person. The black silk chiffon is covered with a vivid floral print. The colours are bright and true with a slightly washed watercolour feel and they pop against that black backdrop. He made the body of the dress by layering three layers of chiffon over each other. The top layer is the one printed with that huge floral design and then the two layers under that are done in a black. The layered effect of the silk gives it lots of movement and creates a light floating effect when you walk. Each layer is finished with a black ribbon piping along the edges and the dress does up along each side with a series of black frog knots and loops made of the same fabric as the piping along the edges. It is cut in a long column that skims over the body to the floor. Each side has an opening along either side and the lower frog knots are functional so that you can control how open the slit goes. Leaving more open creates a sexy flash of skin when you walk to offset the more easy fit through the body. The bodice is scooped at both the front and the back. Both of the scoops are finished with a panel of a fine black lace. This allows your skin to peek through. The back is scooped very low and that bare expanse covered with nothing but the black lace is fabulous. The contrast between the lightness of the silk, the see through quality of the lace, and the boldness of the colours is killer. Excellent condition

The dress is made of three layers of silk chiffon and closes with a hidden set side zipper. Frog knots run over that and then down each side. This is a one-off unlabeled custom piece made for Betsy and came from her estate. The cut is loose and easy through the body.

Bust: 18-19" flat across from side seam to side seam
Waist: to 19.5" flat across from side seam to side seam
Hips: to 21" flat across from side seam to side seam
Length: 56" from top of shoulder to hem
Slits: to 28" on one side and to 23" on the other

Modern Sizing Equivalent: MED-LRG

Item# DD3004

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