These were all the rage in the early 1970s and the Biba versions are the best out there. This one is amazing. It is an original Biba sequin vest done in the prettiest baby blue. I have a few variations of this in the shop right now and each is as fabulous as the last. This is a very rare baby blue and the entire top is completely covered in tightly spaced sequins so that every square inch is covered.  The base the sequins are on is a stretch elastic that stretches to fit. It is sleeveless and has a deep plunging neckline. It crosses over itself and buttons at the front center waist. You can easily wear on its own or slip it over something else. It's a piece that you can style this a million ways and add an instant touch of 70s glitz and glamour. It is iconic Biba at its best and a true piece of fashion history. Excellent condition.

Unlined and closes at the front with fabric covered buttons and a snap inside - the row of buttons down the one side are decorative only. It is elasticized so stretches to fit. The measurements are the approx comfortable range but it would give a touch more if needed

Bust: no defined side seams
Waist: approx 14-15" flat across the back from side to side
Total length: 17" from the top of the shoulder to bottom hem

Modern size equivalent: XS-SML

Item# S229

Reference Photos: (1) Biba City Girl, 1973.  /  (2) Biba Ensembles, c1970s.

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 Adele Simpson dress is wonderful and so pretty once on. The dress is made from layers of a royal blue chiffon that has a pretty panel of contrasting green that runs down the front to create a ruffle effect. The bust is given shape and detail by a gathered detailing down the center. From there tiny straps start at the center front and then circle around the neck, This simple little touch gives it a beautiful soft and sexy feel. Just under the center bust sit panels of chiffon that are gathered and set so that they flow into the full length skirt and where they meet is that fabulous pop of emerald green. It gives the illusion that the wearer has been wrapped like a Grecian statue in layers and layers of chiffon. A really gorgeous piece from a great American designer. Excellent condition.

Fully lined in matching blue silky chiffon and the the skirt has two more layers of chiffon draped over that. The bodice is lightly boned through the sides and has additional layers built in so you can go bare underneath. It closes with a back metal zipper. Hand finishes. Appears unworn.

Bust: 16.5" flat across from side seam to side seam
Seam right under bust: 14" flat across from side seam to side seam
Natural Waist: 14" flat across from side seam to side seam
Hips: 20" flat across from side seam to side seam
Bodice: approx 6"
Skirt: 45" from waist to hem

Modern Sizing equivalent: XS-SML

Item# DD1165

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 beautiful dress was created by Ceil Chapman who is often referred to as Marilyn Monroe's favorite designer. It is so beautiful in person and the level of detail put into the construction is wonderful. The dress is constructed from a blue silk crepe that has a touch of stretch to it which allows the dress to move and mold itself the the wearer. The silk is then covered in swirls of blue glass tube beads mixed with iridescent blue sequins that trail over and on top of the beads. Once on, the dress seems to be sculpted onto the body. The skirt hugs the hips and is cut close to the leg with a back vent to allow you to walk. The waist nips in to create that sexy hourglass silhouette. The bodice has an inner boning and a front tulle detail to bring all the attention to the bust. The shoulders, upper back and arms are left exposed. The workmanship is exquisite and it is absolutely stunning and provocative. What I love most is that is is very close in design to the dress that was worn by Marilyn to performing for the U.S troops in Korea, February 1954 (click here to see more on our blog). Excellent condition.

Fully lined in matching blue silky rayon. Boned through the front and back and the interior has hand finishes. It closes with a painted metal side zipper. Note that the color has a slight purple undertone that does not quite come across in the photos. Museum quality

Bust: 19" flat across from side seam to side seam
Waist: 14" flat across from side seam to side seam
Hips: 19" flat across from side seam to side seam
Bodice: 10" from top of bodice to waist
Length: 31" from waist to hem

Modern Sizing equivalent: SML-MED

Item# DD1163

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 La Mendola label is highly collectible and sought after - when the duo behind the label where designing in Rome it was girls like Elizabeth Taylor and Rita Hayworth that were buying and even wait listing for pieces as they were produced. The Italian based shop closed in 1974 giving us a date for this prior to that. The silk jersey used to make this dress is the best possible grade so feels amazing on. The design is beautifully vibrant and bright with a mix of teal, green and lavender. These travel and wear exceptionally well, exactly what a jet set girl of that time, or now, requires. It has a simple and sleek cut with an undefined waist, high neck and long sleeves. I love how it covers the body completely and how the fabric drapes and skims over your curves so it is still sexy. A matching tie belt  of the same fabric allows you to cinch in the waist for more shape. A row of tightly spaced, hand covered silk buttons up the back of the neck are the perfect finishing detail. It is an amazing piece. Excellent condition

Unlined and slips on to wear with a row of hand covered silk buttons up the back of the neck. Original tie belt. The bias cut stretch silk jersey and forgiving design of the dress will allow it to work on a range of sizes. Appears unworn

Sleeves: 20"
Drop shoulders: 18"
Bust: 18-22" flat across from side seam to side seam
Waist: 19-21" flat across from side seam to side seam
Hips: 19-22" flat across from side seam to side seam
Length: 53" from neck to hem

Modern Sizing Equivalent: SML-LRG

Item# DD2159

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 Hawaiian label Kamehameha was launched in 1936 and was named after King Kamehameha who united the Hawaiian islands. They were famous for their brilliant tropical floral prints which they made for the tourist markets. They combined the feel and beauty of Hawaii with the current lines popular on the mainline. The items were manufactured on the island and the prints done in-house.  They primarily used cotton for their designs and this dress is no exception. The fabric is that crisp fifties cotton and it has been screened with a brilliant pattern of tropical leaves and flowers in blues and pops of deep pinks. The bodice is fitted and lined with a starched filler so that it has shape and molds to the bust. The waist is cinched with an attached blue sash whose colors match the piping details and straps of the dress The skirt is very full. I have photoed it without a crinoline but you would get a the full fifties cupcake effect if you decided to add one. As an added bonus, the straps each tie at the top of the shoulder, this allows for the perfect fit and also you can easily tuck these in and wear the dress strapless. Excellent condition.

The dress is fully lined in a white cotton and closes with a back metal zipper. The sash at the waist is attached at the front and ties at the back

Bust: 16" flat across from side seam to side seam
Waist: 14" flat across from side seam to side seam
Hips: open
Bodice: 15" from top of shoulder to waist
Skirt: 27" from waist to hem

Modern Sizing Equivalent:XS-SML

Item# DD2788

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

Katharine Hamnett opened her own label in 1979 and became a star in the Britich fashion world. She has dressed countless celebrities and music people from Mick Jagger to Gwyneth Paltrow, Madonna, David Bowie, Bob Geldof and Minnie Driver. In 1984 she received the Designer of the year award from the British Fashion Council. This is a stunning and sexy little dress by her done in a deep blue and made of a cotton. It is gathered and ruched elaborately along all the seams through the bust. These travel the length of the dress to just past the hip where a little skirt flares out . The final result is a sexy little shape that hugs and follows your every curve but, at the same time it is completely easy and comfortable to wear because of the fabric choice. I love the little straps that curve up and over each shoulder - they are attached to the dress by buttons and can be removed to make the dress strapless if you wish. Excellent condition with one small note below.

Unlined and closes with a side metal and nylon zipper. The fabric can be hand washed and has been - there is a teeny slight feel of washed cotton to it. This is natural patina but I have priced it with this in mind. For me it just adds to the dress and its easy feel.

Bust: 15-16" flat across from side seam to side seam
Waist: 12-13" flat across from side seam to side seam
Hips: 17-19" flat across from side seam to side seam
Length: 43" from shoulder strap to hem

Modern Sizing Equivalent: XS-SML

Item# DD2776

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

A very pretty silk bias cut dress from the 1930s that has the prettiest white floral design screened onto the navy blue base. It is pieced together with minimal seaming. The movement you get once it is one is all created because the silk is cut on the bias. This all falls in a swath of silk from the shoulders and it is far prettier on a real body then how it has photoed on the mannequin. The front has an almost squared off neckline and the cut is cut simple and fairly close to the body. At the back, it is scooped into a low V and this sit above a tightly spaced row of buttons. Below this fabric that has been gathered to create a soft draped almost bustle like detail at the back and extra panels of fabric sit inside a pleated effect for a slight trained feel. The neckline is piped in a navy fabric and at the hem there is a wide band of cream silk grosgrain whose edge just peeks below the hem. This treatment at the hem gives it some weight so it falls properly. Excellent condition with one small note below.

The dress is unlined and slips on to wear with a series of hidden snaps under the row of buttons at the back. I see one small storage spot at the base of the strap of the shoulder (photoed) and the inside and edge of the hem show grubbiness.

Bust: 17-19" flat across from side seam to side seam
Waist: 14-15" flat across from side seam to side seam
Hips: to 20" flat across from side seam to side seam
Length: 53.5" from shoulder to front hem, to 57" at the back hem

Modern Sizing Equivalent: SML-MED

Item# E634

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

This is a deceptively simple Jean Patou silk dress in a lovely navy silk. Jean Patou once said "Certain dressmakers desire to pass for an artist. I have one ambition: that is to have good taste." and this dress is the very epitome of that statement despite its sexy lines. The dress is numbered and is true haute couture piece that has been made entirely by hand and represents countless hours of dedicated hand work within the atelier. Patou was one of the founders of the sportswear movement and the later designers of the house often hearkened back to this aesthetic. This dress for example, has the lines of the tennis dress, ramped up for evening.  It is constructed from a rich navy silk that is flattering on most skin tones. The bust is plunging halter whose straps curve and hook behind the neck. This leaves the back bare to the waist and offsets the simplicity of the color and cut at the front. The waist is detailed with a padded round piping. Under this the skirt falls in a swirl of fabric cut to flare out and swing. Inside the dress is all handwork and lined in a fine blue silk. Excellent condition.

A hand set silk lining throughout and hand finished seams. Finished to Haute Couture standards. Closes with hand set fine painted metal zipper at the low back. Built in and attached inner waist stay that hooks to close. Hooks to close at the back neck. Numbered label 96773 (or 96113).

Bust: open with no true side seams
Waist: 13.5" flat across from side seam to side seam
Hips: 20" flat across from side seam to side seam
Bodice: 14.5" from neck to waist
Skirt: 24" from waist to hem

Modern Sizing Equivalent: SML-MED

Item# DD2775

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

This really spectacular set by Pauline Trigere is constructed from layers of silk chiffon that combine two tones of green with a exterior purple layer. The silk used is almost weightless and it feels like wisps of air once on. The skirt flows to the floor and is constructed so that there is an inner layer of the darkest green that is seamed so it closes around the hips and then three layers of silk over this that attached at the waist only. Since only the very inner layer is closed and only closed around the hip, you get  a high, sexy, side slit down one side. The top is cut in a simple tank that has tiny straps suspending it from the shoulders. I love that for those straps she used the same three colors of the silk used for the two pieces. The top uses the same layering technique of the three colors that the skirt has. Each colored silk layer is set on top of each other and set so you can clearly see them stacked on top of each other along the neckline. The matching, long oblong scarf, is also made of those same three shades of color and can be wrapped around the waist, neck or used as a head piece or evening turban. It is very beautiful. Being a set gives you the added versatility of wearing the pieces together or separate. Excellent condition.

Each piece is made of three layers of silk chiffon with the skirt having an additional lining as well made of the same silk. Hand finished and weighs ounces. The top closes at the side with a series of hand set snaps. You step into the skirt and then close it at the waist with two flat hook & eye. You could adjust the placement of the hooks at the waist to get an inch up or down if needed.

Top
Bust: 16" flat across from side seam to side seam
Waist: 16" flat across from side seam to side seam
Length: 17" from shoulder to hem

Skirt
Waist: 12.5" flat across from side seam to side seam
Hips: 20" flat across from side seam to side seam
Length: 42" from waist to hem

Modern Sizing Equivalent: XS-SML

Item# DD2089

Reference Photos: Amanda Lee Shirreffs for her weekly column on our blog, Curated. (Photos by Erin Leydon) Click here to see the full column >

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 emsemble is held in the permanent archives of The Met and is perhaps the only other version made. It is as chic and wearable now as it was when first made and feels very modern. It is entirely finished by hand and would have been made under the direct supervision of Hubert de Givenchy himself. Haute Couture is the very pinnacle of the fashion experience and this is a stunning example of that.

The dress is a stunning affair made of a smoky blue grey silk crepe with a classic Grecian feeling one shoulder silhouette. The construction details are wonderful. The bodice has been gathered by hand to create a series of soft little pleats that sit beside each other and follow the angle of the shoulder. They have an almost "wave" feeling to them and this small detail adds tremendous texture to the dress. This leads to a defined waist that has its original gold leather cord that wraps and ties to add shape. The skirt falls below this in a column of lined silk. Over the simple skirt is a second panel of floating fabric that is angled to pick up the angle of the shoulder. The fabric has just enough weight so that Givenchy was able to sculpt the shape he desired. Over this beautiful dress is a caped piece in a matching fabric that flows softly over the body. No shortcut was taken in the construction and it is a stand out piece in every possible way. However much you think this looks fabulous in the photographs it is infinitely better in person. Excellent condition with a few small notes below to review .

The dress is fully lined in a hand set blue silk of very high quality. There is a wide waist stay that hooks at the inner waist. It closes with a hand set, side painted metal zipper and from the waist down there are hidden set snaps that close the fabric of the skirt over tat zipper. The cape slips over the head . The bodice is lightly boned and there are small pads handset inside the bust. There are some light snags in the fabric here and there - most noticeably on the back of the skirt near the bottom - these are seen most when it is laid out flat but once on the color and placement make them negligible but it is mentioned for accuracy and taken into consideration when priced. Finished to Haute Couture standards and entirely done by hand. Haute Couture tape label #55417

Dress
Bust: 15-17" flat across from side seam to side seam
Waist: 13.5" flat across from side seam to side seam
Hips: 20" flat across from side seam to side seam
Bodice: 15" from top of shoulder strap to waist
Skirt: 42" from waist to hem

Cape
39" from neck to longest point of hem

Modern Sizing Equivalent: SML-MED

Item# DD2767

Reference Photo: 1973 Givenchy Evening Dress from The MET Collection.

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

I have had this same dress in the past but it was several years ago and I was happy to have another land in the shop as I always loved this dress. Beene is one of the great American designers and I actively look for his work, especially the earlier pieces from his Geoffrey Beene Boutique days. I absolutely adore this dress. It is a classic blue and white stripe on a almost transparent cotton voile. The skirt is cut with a beautiful fullness and flows out from a defined, banded waist that sits right under the bust and gives you shape. The fabric choice gives it a wonderful light airy feel and it feels wonderful to wear once on. Meeting the band at the waist is a front plunge that is cut in a deep V. Either side of that V then flows into the  wide, billowy sleeves. There are no side seams to break the line of the sleeve, they simply just flow out from that V into stunning puffed sleeves that each end in a fitted 5.5" buttoned cuff. The back is equally as dramatic as the front. It also plunges to meet the band at the high waist but here it is cut and set wider so you get a more squared off feel that leaves an bare expanse of skin. A large white flower and sits over a matching fabric bow at the base of the front plunge for a last feminine detail. Excellent condition.

Interlined through the skirt in a semi-sheer white silk organza. The bust is unlined. It close with a series of fabric covered buttons and a low back zipper. Each cuff closes with six fabric covered, round button and loops

Sleeves: 28" approx.
Shoulders: no defined seam
Bust: open
Waist: 13" flat across from side seam to side seam
Hips: open
Bodice: 11" from shoulder to top of band at waist + 3.5" band
Skirt: 42" from bottom of band at the waist to hem

Modern Sizing Equivalent: XS-SML

Item# DD2766

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 1962 Capucci opened his first atelier in Paris and took the fashion world by storm. In 1968 he went back to his native Rome and opened his atelier there and by 1972 his work was presented in a museum in Rome at the Museum of Etruscan Art. A remarkable achievement for a living designer. He exhibited again in 1990 and in 2005 he founded the Roberto Capucci Foundation to preserve his numerous drawing and archives. His pieces tend to be highly architectural and the ones you see in exhibits border on not being wearable, so it is a treat to find a beautiful and highly wearable example of his work. From the late 1970s comes this fabulous little deep blue chiffon dress that is cut to flow and drape over the body. The neck is cut wide to give a glimpse of the upper shoulders and the sleeves flow from there in an expanse of volume and fullness above the buttoned wrist. The skirt has yards and yards of chiffon and flows to the floor in a pretty, light expanse of fabric. The back and bodice are especially pretty with their pin tuck lattice design that is detailed with a little clear bead where each pin tuck crosses over the other. It is lovely and a rare example of a hard to find designers work. Excellent condition

Fully lined except for the sleeves and closes with a back zipper on the interior fabric and snaps on the outer. Each cuff closes with a hidden snap under a silk covered button detail. Hand finished inside and hand applied beads.

Sleeves: 24" approx.
Shoulders: no defined seam
Bust: 17" flat across from side seam to side seam
Waist: 13" flat across from side seam to side seam
Hips: open
Bodice: 15" from shoulder to waist
Skirt: 45" from waist to hem

Modern Sizing Equivalent: XS-SML

Item# DD2753

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 own label in 1928 after a working at the Haute Couture house of Drecoll. The Maggy Rouf house joined the Chambre de commerce et d'industrie de Paris in 1929 and continued to produce Haute Couture until 1965. Maggy gained early recognition by designing for the some of the Starlets of the day like Theda Barra, Pola Negri, and Greta Garbo. I found a photo of a garment from 1963 that has a similar, if not the same, fabric treatment dated 1963. 

This is a chic and deceptively simple dress that has the Haute Couture label of the Rouff atelier. The work is exceptional throughout and it is in immaculate condition. It is made of a pale blue silk that is topped by a pale metallic blue net. Onto the net are ombre dyed ribbon that are coiled and formed into flowers that are strewn across the surface of the dress. These also have a very slight metallic finish to them. Each is hand places and set with slightly curled edges so the flowers have a 3D feel. It is cut in a long column that skims over the bust and waist and then the skirt flares out as it nears the hem. The shape is created through vertical seaming that curves in from the waist and shapes the dress. The interior is a combination of net and silk and the hem is weighted all the way around. It is a dress made to last a lifetime with classic lines will forever remain in style. Excellent, museum quality condition.

Fully lined in silk and closes with a fine painted metal zipper at the side. Completely hand made and finished to Haute Couture standards. Weighted hem

Bust: 18" flat across from side seam to side seam
Waist: 17" flat across from side seam to side seam
Hips: 20.5" flat across from side seam to side seam
Length: 52.5" from shoulder strap to hem

Modern Sizing Equivalent: MED-LRG

Item# DD2743

Reference photo: Model in a Maggy Rouf gown, 1963. (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.

Guy Laroche assisted to Jean Desses before opening his own couture house in 1957 and those years spent working under one of the true masters shows through his work. He is known for his sharp cuts and this gorgeous little dress is a beautiful example of that. It is a seventies take on the 1940s swing dress and I love it. A vibrant print in an array of colors is screened onto a crisp cotton dyed the perfect blue. The top is kept simple with a single shoulder cut that ties into place. Running down one side of the dress is a row of buttons that are all functional. The skirt is fitted but on the hip opposite to the buttoned side sits a panel of fabric that gives the skirt a feel of volume and that forties vibe. Because the swag of fabric sits on the side opposite to the tie  on top of the shoulder you get this great sense of balance too. Really a charming and pretty dress. Excellent condition

The top is lined in blue and the skirt unlined. The dress closes with the buttons down the side and it ties at the top of the shoulder. Tagged a 38

Bust: 17.5" flat across from side seam to side seam
Waist: 13" flat across from side seam to side seam
Hips: to 19" flat across from side seam to side seam
Bodice: approx 15" from shoulder to hem, but the tie makes this adjustable
Skirt: 26.5" from waist to hem

Modern Sizing equivalent: XS-SML

Item# DD1847

Reference Photos: Amanda Lee Shirreffs for her weekly column on our blog, Curated. (Photos by Erin Leydon) Click here to see the full column >

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 amazing couture creation from James Galanos dates to the late 1970s, perhaps the early 1980s, and combines a fine silk with silk chiffon to create the stunning visual effect and depth of the print that you see. Both layers of the silk are done in a vivid yellow and blue. The inner layer is a silk twill and then over that layer Galanos used a fine silk chiffon in the same two colors. The transparency of the exterior layer of silk softens the vividness of the print and color combination to give the gown a lighter feel then what you would have had with just the silk twill. The two layers diffuse the color and give the pattern depth. The cut of the dress utilizes elaborate draping and this is all hand placed for maximum impact. The silk chiffon of the bodice is gathered and set with a high neck and curved front seam. Each sleeve billows above a slim cuff. I love that the back is left open in a slit from nape to waist. The skirt is cut in one long and lean swoop over which more silk chiffon is draped and hand placed.  Excellent condition

The bodice is constructed from two layers of silk chiffon. The skirt is a made of a silk that is fully lined in a yellow tissue silk with silk chiffon draped overlay. The dress closes with a low painted metal zipper that starts at the waist. There are a series of hook and eye at the back of the neck and the chiffon in between is left open. Each sleeve closes with a fabric covered button.

Sleeves: 21"
Shoulder: approx 14"
Bust: to 19" flat across from side seam to side seam
Waist: 14" flat across from side seam to side seam
Hips: 19" flat across from side seam to side seam
Bodice: 13" from neck to slight empire waist
Skirt: 41" from slight empire waist to hem

Modern Sizing equivalent: SML-MED

Item# DD1119

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

This is a magical coat and very unique. It is made from a beautiful royal blue velvet that has an extraordinary amount of embroidered applique work scattered over its surface and defining the edges and cuffs. These are bright and colorful and edged in gold giving it a regal feel. The cut is equally as wonderful and I love the volume and drama it has. The upper body and shoulders are cut rounded and loose, with the the torso and skirt of the coat having a lot of volume. The fabric choice holds this shape when on and the drama of the piece cannot be understated Absolutely wonderful. Truly a one of a kind, wonderful piece that is very ornate and well made. When I posted the video included here on my Instagram in a little preview of the piece the day I found it, a follower told me that it was called a Joma and is worn for weddings during the ceremony and dance in Israel. I have dated in as the 1960s based on the fabrics and stitching but it could be earlier. Excellent condition

Fully lined in blue with no front closures. The generous and loose size will work on a variety of sizes.

Sleeves: 24.5"
Shoulders: 18.5"
Bust: 20.5" flat across from side seam to side seam
Waist: 20.5" flat across from side seam to side seam
Hips: 20.5" flat across from side seam to side seam
Length: 52" from neck to hem

Modern Sizing Equivalent: SML-LRG

Item# C436

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