As with so many of Pheobe's pieces for Celine, this dress was very well documented and photoed when it came out for the Pre-fall 2018 collection. It is instantly recognizable as being Phoebe's work and is one of her more iconic looks. When I started to hunt for references for it I found all the ones that are here, plus there are probably more out there. It was a definite favorite among the fashion set and was a regular look in do many street style shots of the day. All of Phoebe Philo's pieces for Celine have reached cult status and the prices are just continuing to rise. Her work is a must have for the vintage collector and this is a particularly hard to find dress that is rare and collectible.

This is one of the easiest dresses to wear that has ever existed. You just slip it over the head and then adjust the shape around the waist with the tie belt and walk out the door. That tie belt allows you to wear it low and loose or you can cinch it in and wear it higher up on the waist and have the top blouse over. The jersey is fantastic quality and is covered in that iconic python / boa snakeskin print. The neckline is high with a collar that is notched at the back so that it sits out from the neck a bit. It is yoked across the front shoulders and then it falls loose and easy over the body. The body of the dress has yards and yards of fabric in it. The sleeves are equally as voluminous and they come out from the waist area and narrow down to buttoned cuffed wrists. Tons of subtle details like a strap that extend from the shoulder of each sleeve, and french finished outer seams that add weight and keep the lines of the dress in place even with all that volume. And it has pockets. This is the genius of Phoebe where she manages to have something be so perfectly simple and easy and yet have so much drama at the same time. I love it. It appears to have never been worn or worn very little. Excellent condition 

Unlined and slips on to wear with a short hidden set zipper at the back of the neck. Original tie belt included. Tagged a 42 but very generous in cut. It appears to have been worn very little if at all. It should fit a wide range of sizes as long as the neck works.

Sleeves: approx 31" and meant to scrunch up on the arm once on
Shoulders: no true defined seam
Bust - hips: to 40" flat across from side seam to side seam
Length: 52" from neck to hem
Neck: 19" around

Modern Sizing Equivalent: OSFA

Item# DD4180

Reference Photos: (1) Pre-Fall 2018 Celine Collection, Look 45. / (2-6) credits unknown.

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

Geoffrey Beene was one of the great American fashion designers and he was recognized for both his artistic and technical skills. He launched his label in 1963 and a piece from his very first collection landed on the cover of Vogue. A Coty award followed a year later. In 1984 the Council of Fashion Designers created the annual Geoffrey Beene Lifetime Achievement award in honor of Beene's fashion legacy. When researching this dress we found an editorial shot from Vogue that year of one of his dresses in the same fabric which verified the date of this piece. It is absolutely gorgeous.

I love Geoffrey Beene's work and this one is a beauty. It is made from an ultra soft leopard printed chenille velvet that is one of the softest things I have ever felt. It is very fine and very light in weight. It has this wonderful soft deep plush to it and is incredibly luxurious feeling. He then used a black silk netting to contrast that for the shoulders and sleeves. The netting is transparent and is detailed with a gold metallic thread and fused dots of a flat piled black velvet. The bodice is cut to curve around the bust and it is then cut on a sharp angle towards the neck on both the back and front. The netting is set on both sides of that so you get a glimpse of skin through it and then it curves over the shoulders and down to form the sleeves. From there the fabric skims over the waist and hips and then narrows down slightly to the hem. I have photoed the incredible seaming through the mid part of the dress. I also took a photo of the way the hem is cut from the side. It is just an incredible small detail that I love. A high slit runs up the center so that when you move or sit you get a flash of leg. Just an amazing dress and a fabulous example of his work during this time period. Excellent condition.

The fabric is self backed and the dress unlined. It closes with a hidden set back zipper. Each sleeve has a hidden set snap at the cuff. All of the inner seams are ribbon edged. It appears to have never been worn, or worn very little. Tagged a vintage size 6

Sleeves: approx 25"
Shoulders: no defined seam
Bust: 17" flat across the back from side seam to side seam
Waist: to 14" flat across the back from side seam to side seam
Hips: to 18.5" flat across the back from side seam to side seam
Length: 56" from neck to front hem, 58" to the back hem
Slit: 26" from hem up

Modern Sizing equivalent: SML-MED

Item# DD3484

Reference Photos: Valerie Celis in Geoffrey Beene for Vogue US, 1994. Photo by Ellen Von Unwerth

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

When this Balmain debuted it was sold exclusively through Farfetch. That means that very few were produced and it was a very hard dress to get. It immediately sold out and there as only one production run released which has made it a very rare dress to find.  'Welcome to my jungle' said Olivier Rousteing to Vogue that season and went on to say that this was his most personal collection ever. It's twin was worn by supermodel Karlie Kloss to the Balmain after party that season which give you an amazing glimpse of how it looks like once on. It is a very special piece and I love it.

The dress is made from a leopard print silk jersey that is cut supermodel long. The fabric has some weight to it because of the sheer amount of it that there is and this helps to keep the drape and flow of the skirt perfectly in place once on the body. It is cut in a high set halterneck at the front and the fabric there is gathered in vertical folds so that it skims over you. A wide band of black curves around the neck and then down the sides. At the waist it forms a criss cross pattern around the waist that curves around to the sides. At the side of the waist between the black the fabric is again gathered in for detailing. The black bands gives the illusion of a waist cinching corset belt and draws the eye while highlighting the curves between the bodice and that amazing skirt. At the back the dress closes at the nape of the neck with two snaps and both are topped on the exterior of the strap with a gold raised lion head. It scoops into a low curve under that to leave your entire upper back bare. The signature chunky, exposed Balmain zipper sits low at the back. The skirt falls to the floor from there and there are yards and yards of fabric in it. The hem is cut longer at the back so that you have a bit of a train and at the center of the front it is split to the thigh. So when you walk you have this flash of leg showing and when you walk away it is equally as dramatic. It is amazing. It was never worn and is like new. Excellent condition

The dress has a full black stretch jersey inner lining. It closes at the back of the neck with snaps and at the low back waist with a zipper. Tagged a modern Balmain 42.

Bust: to 18" flat across from side seam to side seam
Waist: to 13" flat across from side seam to side seam
Hips: open
Bodice: approx 16 " from top of bodice to waist
Skirt: 48" from waist to shortest part of the front hem, 65" to the longest part of the back hem
Front slit: 33" from hem to top of slit

Modern Sizing Equivalent: SML-MED

Item# DD2970

Reference Photos: Karlie Kloss at the Balmain After Party on September 25, 2014 in Paris, France.

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