• This is a very rare Haute Couture Gres skirt and top hat from Spring 1974.
• It was made under the creative direction of Madame Gres.
• The documented to Spring 1974 was done through the sketch of it that we have added here.
• This is the exact set that was worn by Annabelle Wallis. I love that the photos of her show how beautiful this is once it is on. The movement even through the static photographs is phenomenal.
• Madame Gres' work has had profound effects on Haute Couture and her influence still resonates to this day. Her attention to detail, master draping techniques, and respect for the female form is unparalleled. She was known for designing and creating garments directly on her models and this became a signature of her work.
• She opened her first atelier, La Maison Alix in 1932. A partnership briefly changed the house's name to Alix Barton and then the label went to simply Alix. In 1942 she married, and the label made its last change to became Madame Gres, which was a partial anagram of Serge, her husband's first name. Her work spans over five full decades with the vast majority of it, with the exception of a short-lived RTW line begun in 1980, dedicated solely to creating Haute Couture. She is one of the greatest couturiers of our time and her pieces are very rare and hard to find.
• This Haute Couture set is exceptional. Both pieces are made from a bias cut silk jersey done in a perfect tropical sea blue that has a touch of turquoise to it. Silk jersey was one of her signature fabrics. The pleating detailing on the bodice of this set is one of her signature techniques.
• As with many of her pieces the cut and design of both pieces are simple and minimalist but with maximum impact.
• Tiny straps made from the same jersey curve over the shoulders. Under that is the incredible hand-pleated bandeau bodice. Two panels of pleated silk jersey curve around each and wrap behind you creating a curving pattern with openings between the curves all the way around.
• The silk jersey on the bands has been pleated entirely by hand with tiny little hand stitches hidden in the folds. 
• It is lightly boned inside and completely made by hand. You can see all the hand work in the photos where I have shown the back. It wraps and curves over itself at the back and closes with two hidden sets of hook and eye. 
• An expanse of bare skin sits between the top and the skirt. Depending on your height, the amount of skin shown between the skirt and top will vary.
• The skirt falls from the waist in a swoop of bias cut silk jersey that widens out as it nears the hem. There are yards and yards of jersey in the skirt. You really get an idea of that in the photos of Annabelle. It is quite exceptional.
• Every seam on the dress has been finished by hand. Working with a bias cut silk jersey in this manner is an incredible achievement that would have taken countless hours of handwork to complete.
• It is a work of art and very rare. It very well may be the only one that exists.
  
• The top is lined in a matching silk with all of the hand were clearly seen. It is lightly boned and hooks to close. The skirt hooks to close at the waist and then snaps under that. I see a bit of grubbiness on the inner lining of the top and on some of the edges of the top and the waistband of the skirt. There is the occasional tiny pull in the jersey. The straps have been reinforced. The hem of the skirt is deliberately raw. I see a couple tiny pinhead holes in the jersey of the skirt near the hem. There is so much fabric in the skirt that you would never see them but it is mentioned for accuracy. The dress is unlabelled. Both pieces are finished to Haute Couture standards and entirely made by hand. 
• There is no size tag is present because it is true Haute Couture so please go by the measurements below. 
• Excellent condition

Bandeau top
Bust: best fits a 32A or 32smallB or smaller
Bottom hem: 14" flat across from side seam to side seam
Total length: approx 13" from top of shoulder to bottom

Skirt
Waist: 12" flat across from side seam to side seam
Hips: open
Total length: 43" from waist to hem

Modern Sizing Equivalent: XXS-XS

Item# DD5425

Reference Photos: (1) Spring 1974 Madame Gres sketch from the Palais Galliera Collection.  /  (2-5) Annabelle Wallis in this set, 2024.

All items are thoroughly checked over before shipping. Unless noted everything in our shop has been professionally cleaned. All sales are final. Overseas clients will be emailed to obtain agreement to our final sales policy before the order is shipped as per our return policy.

• The twin of this dress walked the runway for Look 24 of the Spring 2010 collection.
• It was made under the creative direction of Peter Dundas. 
• I love that the runway photos and video show you just how gorgeous this is on the body and how it moves. We also found a reference photo from an editorial that really shows how much fabric has gone into making this dress.
• In the coverage for this collection, Vogue said that Peter Dundas turned out a sizzling collection for spring summer... "it is, of course the season the house was made for having been established on jet Capri in the 1960s, but it also doesn't hurt that Donda is an avid scuba diver. The underwater universe produced some aqueous prints.. there were some gorgeous shades of blue... backstage Dundas said he wanted to work with easier and loosen up the silhouettes a bit, but there's little doubt that his Pucci girl remains a predator shark type."
• The dress combines an ultra light-in-weight silk chiffon with sequins that cover the very upper bodice and straps.
• The upper bodies has a racer back cut to it. The straps curved around at the front on either side of the neck and then it meets at a middle panel that leaves the sides of your back bare and exposed
  
• There are many yards of a fantastic feather light silk chiffon used for the dress and it all falls from the sequin straps. It skims over the bust, opens out over the waist and hips, so that it is extremely full by the hem.
• The print on it is exactly what Vogue described when they talked about his love for the ocean. Beautiful soft colours in blues, turquoise and pale purple mixed with a variation of a classic Pucci print swirl over the dress. It has been deliberately treated so that it has a underlying very light tie-dye effect that runs over the fabric behind the top print. It is very beautiful.
• The front is scooped and this bit of bareness at the top perfectly balances out the fullness as the dress falls to the floor
• The skirt has a second layer of an ivory silk chiffon underneath the top printed layer that keeps it still very light but gives it a touch of opaqueness so that it can be worn without being too transparent.
• There is a tremendous amount of fabric in the skirt. The lightness of the silk layers have phenomenal movement around you as you move.
• The dress is one of my favourites of all the modern pieces of Pucci that I have seen and the era that Peter Dundas was the creative director at Pucci is 100% my favourite of the modern predecessors to Emilio.
• The sequin part of the top is backed in a black silk and then the rest of the dress is lined in a second layer of ivory silk chiffon. It zips to close at one side with a hidden set zipper. It appears to have been worn very little if at all. The bias cut of it and easy open fit should allow it to fit a range of sizes.
• Tagged a modern Pucci IT42, FR38, UK10, US8
• Excellent condition

Bust: 16-18" flat across from side to side
Waist: to 17" flat across from side seam to side seam
Hips: open
Total length: 67" from top of the shoulder to the hem.

Modern Sizing Equivalent: XS-MED

Item# DD5424

Reference Photos/Video: (1-3) Spring 2010 Emilio Pucci, Look 24. Model Nimue Smit.  /  (4) Credit Unknown.

All items are thoroughly checked over before shipping. Unless noted everything in our shop has been professionally cleaned. All sales are final. Overseas clients will be emailed to obtain agreement to our final sales policy before the order is shipped as per our return policy.

• I believe this dress is from the early 1960s when Marc Bohan took over Dior. It has the Dior tag inside that would have been used in this time period. There is the possibility that it is earlier. 
• The dress is almost completely made by hand to a Demi-Couture level and has that fitted hourglass bombshell silhouette of the era. 
  
• It is made out of a sky blue very high end silk. The colour is slightly paler in person than how it photoed here.
• The bodice is shaped with inner boning and stiffened netting built into the inner layers of the bust to create that defined front shaping. It has straps that curve up and over each shoulder. The straps button into place on both the front and back so you could easily remove them and wear this as a strapless dress. I love that extra versatility.
• It is meant to be very fitted around you through the bodice and has built in infrastructure to shape and hold everything in place.
• It nips in at the waist and there is more inner structure built-in around the top of the hips t emphasize a curved hourglass feeling coming out and over the hips.
• The skirt comes back in below the hips slightly and then it flares out for the lower skirt. The back is cut slightly longer than the front for a beautiful little flare at the back. It is an absolute bombshell of dress.
• The dress is fully lined in a blue silk that is all hand set. I feel like the bodice near the waist is slightly paler in colour by the teeniest little bit. It is very minor. I am being very picky and it is mentioned for accuracy. There is evidence that the front dart seams were let out a touch at some point. Please see the photo after the label shot. I see a small teeny tiny darkened mark on the front of the skirt near the knee that is extremely minor but also mention for accuracy. These are all very minor.
• There is no size tag present so please go by the measurements below
• Excellent condition

Bust: to 17" flat across from side seam to side seam
Waist: to 13.5" flat across from side seam to side seam
Hips: to 20" flat across from side seam to side seam
Bodice: 16" from top of shoulder to waist. If you choose to wear it strapless is is 10.5" from the top of the bodice to waist.
Total length: 57.5" from top of the shoulder to the front hem, 58.5" to the back

Modern Sizing Equivalent: SML-MED

Item# DD5423

All items are thoroughly checked over before shipping. Unless noted everything in our shop has been professionally cleaned. All sales are final. Overseas clients will be emailed to obtain agreement to our final sales policy before the order is shipped as per our return policy.

• The twin of this dress walked the Fall 1987 Bill Blass runway.
• It was made under the creative direction of Bill Blass.
• I love that we found a reference photo from the runway so you can see just how fantastic this is once on.
• This is the actual dress worn Mikey Madison to the Oscars Nominees Dinner in February and she landed on several best dressed lists as a result.
• Bill Blass launched his label in 1970 when he bought out the Maurice Rentner label and re-launched it under his own name. Blass was arguably one of the most famous of the American designers. His forte was the ability to mix simple styles with unexpected materials in way that was very flattering to the wearer. 
• It is one of those dresses that looks amazing on the dress form but is even better on an actual person.
• The fabric feels like art. The base is a rich blue silk and then onto this is a fantastic design made of out a black velvet. The velvet is very soft to the touch with a chenille like finish that gives the design a beautiful texture and softness.
• The dress has the feel of an antique 18th century gown and I love this reference back to the past.
• The top is a fitted and strapless with a band of black silk wrapping around the breasts. It falls from there to skim outward over the waist and hips, and then narrows back down to the floor as it reaches the hem. This gives the front of the dress a more long and lean feel but with a hint that something special might happen as you turn.
• The back is the star of the show. Sitting over the top of the closure at the back is a large black velvet bow. This tops an added panel underneath that is very extravagant. The panel curves outwards and then loops back in to attach just under the hips. A second black velvet bow sits at the base of where it is attached back into the dress. A slit is hidden under the panel to give you room to walk while keeping the narrow silhouette of the hem.
• The dress is fully lined in a black silk. It closes with a back painted metal zipper hidden under a seam and there is an inner hooked waist stay. There is light boning through the bodice. Hand work throughout. It appears to have been worn very little if at all.
• There is no size tag present, so please go by the measurements below.
• Excellent condition

Bust: to 17" flat across from side seam to side seam
Inner waist: 14" flat across from side seam to side seam
Hips: to 21" flat across from side seam to side seam
Total length: 56" from top of bodice to hem

Modern Sizing Equivalent: SML-MED

Item# DD5411

Reference Photos/Video: (1) Fall 1987 Bill Blass Runway.  /  (2-6) Mikey Madison wearing this dress to the Oscars Nominees Dinner, February 2025, styled by Jamie Mizrahi. 

All items are thoroughly checked over before shipping. Unless noted everything in our shop has been professionally cleaned. All sales are final. Overseas clients will be emailed to obtain agreement to our final sales policy before the order is shipped as per our return policy.

• This is a version of the set from the Fall 1998 runway.
• It was made under the creative direction of Giorgio Armani.
• The twin of the skirt walk the runway with a fitted long sleeved matching top. That version of the set was used in the ad campaign. It is also featured in their new Archivo online section, worn on the red carpet and featured in an Armani exhibit.
• My client wore it with this sequin top instead that is also from the Armani main line. 
• The base of the top is a blue chiffon that is a slightly different shade than the skirt. Because of the heavy application of sequins it works well together.
• The top is a simple tank with a scooped front and back and a more generous cut through the body that makes it very easy to wear.
• It is fully covered in blue iridescent sequins that are laid flat outside by side horizontally. Mixed into that are little tiny, silver, sequins and beads rose of tiny seed, beads and little shots of white sequins and red bead work. It's very pretty and the entire top has the sequence coverage on both the front and the back.
• I love how at the back of the top it's left with no closures for the little bit of the bottom. This is a very Armani signature where he lets part of the closure stay open, so you have that little peak of the skirt underneath it and that little bit of extra movement.
• The skirt is stunning. It's made out of a deep blue silk mix, and it is all cut on the bias. It has a flat front with an inner band that helps to hold it and give structure around the waist.
• From there, it curves out over the hips and expands outward to the floor. The front is cut shorter, and then the back herbs around to become a sweeping train of silk behind you. There is a slit that runs up one side so that when you walk, you get a flash of leg.
• I love that because it is two separate pieces. You can wear these together or mix a match either piece with existing things in your wardrobe.
• The top is fully lined in a blue chiffon and closes with hidden set snaps at the back. The skirt is online and closes with a hidden set side zipper.
• The ski skirt is tagged a vintage Armani 42 and the top has no size tag present.
• Excellent condition

Top
Bust: 17.5" flat across from side seam to side seam
Waist: 17" flat across from side seam to side seam
Bottom hem: 19" flat across from side seam to side seam
Total length: 21.5" from top of shoulder to hem

Skirt
Waist: 13 to 13.75" flat across from side seam to side seam
Hips: to 21.5" flat across from side seam to side seam
Total length: 40.5" from top of waist to the shortest part of the front hem. The back extends another 26.5" and the slit is just under 22" from the front hem up

Modern Sizing Equivalent: SML-MED

Item# DD5412

Reference Photos: (1) Fall 1998 Giorgio Armani.  /  (2) Giorgio Armani Ad Campaign, 1998.  /  (3) From ARMANI Archivio.  /  (4) Juliette Binoche at the Cannes Film Festival, 2016.  /  (5) From the "Giorgio Armani - Milano, per amore" exhibit at the Pinacoteca di Brera in Milan, 2025.

All items are thoroughly checked over before shipping. Unless noted everything in our shop has been professionally cleaned. All sales are final. Overseas clients will be emailed to obtain agreement to our final sales policy before the order is shipped as per our return policy.

• The twin of this dress walked the runway for the Spring 2011 Armani main label collection for the Look 60.
• It was made under the creative direction of Giorgio Armani.
• One was used for the ad campaign that year and it is just an absolutely beautiful shot. 
• This was the closing look on the runway. Having the finale look of any collection is always an extra point in collectibility
• In Vogue's review of the collection they said "Giorgio Armani's secret weapon is focus. He'll take one idea and elaborate on it over the course of a collection. Today's focal point was the night sky over the Sahara: warm, velvety blue, scattered with stars.... Everything was navy shading towards midnight. As the show moved toward evening, sprinklings of crystal and sequins appeared to echo the heavens at night."
• This dress is outstanding and it is pristine. In fact, it still has its original tags attached. It's original retail price was just over €13,000.
• The bodice is strapless with a curving panel of midnight blue silk that wraps around the entire bodice splitting at the back on either side of the zipper.
• Inside there is a built-in corset made out of lingerie stretch netting that is lightly boned, zips to close at the back and has a hook at the waist. This is what holds the dress in place around you.
• From there, the dress falls to the floor. It curves around the bust shaped around the built in cups of the corset underneath skims over the waist and curves back out over the hips. It narrows in under the hips and then flares back out beautifully around the hem. 
• Semi transparent, blue iridescent sequence that are on the larger size are set in tightly, spaced horizontal, rose stacked on top of each other from the very top of the bodice all the way to the ham. I love how each sequin overlaps its neighbor. They are very heavily applied and their slight touch of transparency give the dress a really extra bit of luminescence as they catch the light from every angle.
• The sequins are set on a blue chiffon that has a slight bit of stretch so this makes the dress conform to your body and allows for a little bit greater range of size. This gives the body of the dress a very slight transparency through the sequins that is fantastic. As with many of Armani pieces, the sensuality of the dress is hinted at and not completely in your face.
• I think this might be one of my favourite Armani dresses I've ever had the pleasure of seeing in person. It is truly outstanding.
• The dress has a full built-in boned inner corset that closes with its own zipper and hooks at the waist. The rest of the dresses unlined. It closes at the back over the inner corset with a hidden set zipper. It has its original tags attached and is pristine. The outer fabric does have some stretch so I put the comfortable range below for that as well as the inner corset.
• Tagged an Armani 38
• Excellent condition

Bust: to 16.25-16.5" flat across from side seam to side seam of the inner corset, the outer dress will stretch another inch at least if the inner corset it is not closed
Waist: 12.75" flat across from side seam to side seam of the inner corset, the outer dress stretch to 13.75" across if the inner corset it is not closed
Hips: to 19" flat across from side seam to side seam
Bodice: approximately 11" from top of bodice to inner corset waist
Total length: 56.5" from top of bodice to hem

Modern Sizing Equivalent: XS-MED

Item# DD5413

Reference Photos/Video: (1-2) Spring 2011 Giorgio Armani, Final Look, Look 60. Model: Michaela Kocianova.  /  (3) Spring 2011 Giorgio Armani Ad Campaign by Nick Knight.

All items are thoroughly checked over before shipping. Unless noted everything in our shop has been professionally cleaned. All sales are final. Overseas clients will be emailed to obtain agreement to our final sales policy before the order is shipped as per our return policy.

• This is a phenomenal dress by Pierre Balmain from the late 1980s - early 1990s.
• At this point in history the Couture line was called simply Pierre Balmain and the main ready-to-wear line was called Ivoire de Balmain. Depending if it was late 1980s or early 90s, the creative Director would have been either Erik Mortensen (up 1989) or Alistair Blair (who joined in 1990 to over see the RTW line while Erik continued Couture).
• The dress is made from a beautiful silk that is extremely light in weight. When this is on it is almost like wearing nothing.
• Onto the silk is an over-sized check pattern that mixes pastel yellow with shades of soft blues. Some parts have an almost iridescent pale green finish to them and there are also muted deep golds and taupe.
• It is strapless and fitted at the waist. The lower skirt widens out considerably from there to the hem. There are yards and yards of silk making up the skirt. 
• The back is cut longer than the front so you get this beautiful sweeping feel behind you. The silk that was used is so very light in weight and it is all cut on the bias which allows it to float and moves around you with your slightest movement.
• I love the way there is extra fabric built-in at the back. The fabric wraps over itself for a few inches to hook into the inside the waist and also on the outer part of the waist. This adds extra fabric to the gorgeous sweep of volume of the back skirt.
• Inside the bodice is a lightly boned and cupped inner corset that holds the dress in place. It is made out of the same fabric. The rest of the skirt is unlined. The dress closes at the back with a hidden set zipper and an inner waist stay hooks to close. The silk at the very back of the skirt hooks over itself as described above.
• It is tagged a vintage Balmain 36
• Excellent condition

Bust: 16" flat across from side seam to side seam
Inner waist: 12.5" flat across from side seam to side seam
Hips: open 
Bodice: 9.5" from top of bodice to inner waist
Total length: 55.5" from top of bodice to front hem and the back extends another 14" beyond that.

Modern Sizing Equivalent: XS-SML

Item# DD5385

All items are thoroughly checked over before shipping. Unless noted everything in our shop has been professionally cleaned. All sales are final. Overseas clients will be emailed to obtain agreement to our final sales policy before the order is shipped as per our return policy.

• The twin of the dress walk the runway for the Fall 1986 collection.
• It was made under the creative direction of Yves Saint Laurent
  
• On the runway it was shown in both this colour and also in a red. 
• The dress is constructed in a way that creates its unusual gathered velvet technique. It is also what gives it an amazing tactile feel when its touched.
• The colour of the velvet is a beautiful deep purple that in certain lights has a touch of a blue undertone. I love that.
• The dress is strapless with inner built in structure to help hold it in place once one the body. The back part of the bodice has a built-in elastic so the dress is easy to fit. It curves down and past the waist with no seam to break the eye. From there it curves back out and over the hips in a sleek pencil silhouette.
• The dress closes with a zipper that is set off to the side to follow a seam at the back. The inner bodice area is lined in a blue silk and the rest of the dress is unlined. An inner waist stay that hooks to close. You can clearly see the hand stitching on the back of the fabric done to create the pattern on the velvet.
• Tagged a vintage YSL 40
• Excellent condition

Bust: 15-17" flat across from side seam to side seam
Waist: 12-13" flat across from side seam to side seam
Hips: 17-20" flat across from side seam to side seam
Total length: 32" from top of bodice to hem with 2.5" turned under the hem

Modern Sizing Equivalent: XS-MED

Item# DD5295

Reference Photos: Fall 1986 Yves Saint Laurent.

All items are thoroughly checked over before shipping. Unless noted everything in our shop has been professionally cleaned. All sales are final. Overseas clients will be emailed to obtain agreement to our final sales policy before the order is shipped as per our return policy.

• This set is from a late 1970s YSL collection most likely 1979 or 1977
• It was made under the creative direction of Yves Saint Laurent.
  
• Both pieces are made out of a feather light silk in a very unusual muted turquoise that has a gorgeous muted quality to it. The photos are very close to the colour. It is perhaps a touch more pastel in person.
• The neckline of the top is set wide across so you can wear it off of the shoulder for a bare expanse of skin to show. A wide 6" ruffle follows the entire neckline and gives the prettiest flounce all the way around you. At the front the ruffle has been gathered so that it narrows in by a matching band of fabric that slips through an open loop along the seam. I love the added detail that this adds.
• Under that top ruffle there is a second ruffle sitting directly underneath it with stiffening added to its edge to add support. Set under that is another 5" wide ruffle that circles around each arm. These also have a little half ruffle with stiffened edging underneath for added support. The final effect is that of an gorgeous double ruffle set just under each shoulder and it is phenomenal.
• The top is cut wide and generous in a very boxy shape. This width through the body makes it easy to fit and it also is what gives it some volume once it is tucked into the skirt. 
• The skirt is a YSL masterpiece and a phenomenal example of the skirts that he was doing during this time period.
• The waist is banded and comes with a matching silk tie belt that you can cinch in the waist as much as needed. This tie is incredibly long and you can tie it in a bow wherever you wish. I love how it picks up on the bow of the top.
• Tiny gathered pleats are set in all the way around the waist and then the skirt falls under that into beautiful tiers. At the point just past the hips, the lower skirt is set into the top of the skirt with a ruffled seam that circles all the way around you. Built in behind that on the interior of the skirt is a wide band of stiffening that helps to hold the shape and volume. At the hem there is a panel of the same silk that has been tightly gathered into a wide ruffle. All of this perfectly ties in with the ruffles around the shoulder of the top. 
• The skirt is incredibly full but still light in feel because of the lightness of the fabric. If you were to lay this out and open the skirt out, it is more than a full circle around. That volume combined with the lightness of the fabric gives you incredible movement when you move.
  
• This is an absolutely stunning example of his work during this time period and one of my favourite pieces I have ever had by him.
• It is exceptionally rare to find a full set in such a iconic YSL design and in this condition.
• Both pieces are unlined. The top slips over the head to wear and the skirt zips to close with a side set zipper and two flat hook and eye at the waist. The tie belt is original to the dress.
• Both pieces are tagged a vintage YSL 40.
• Excellent condition

Top
The arm opening is 14.5" around
Shoulders: the opening is 32.5" around
Bust-bottom seam: to 20" flat across from side seam to side seam
Total length: 19.5" from top of bodice to hem

Skirt
Waist: 13.5" flat across from side seam to side seam
Hips: open
Total length: 43.5" from waist to hem

Modern Sizing Equivalent: SML-MED

Item# DD5293

All items are thoroughly checked over before shipping. Unless noted everything in our shop has been professionally cleaned. All sales are final. Overseas clients will be emailed to obtain agreement to our final sales policy before the order is shipped as per our return policy.

• This is a phenomenal dress in a floral print version of various versions that walked the runway for the Spring 1980 YSL show.
• It was made under the creative direction of Yves Saint Laurent.
• The dress is made out of what feels like a feather light cotton / silk mix. This fabric choice holds the colours beautifully. 
• The neckline is set wide across so that it sits at the edges of the shoulders. If you are not very broad across the shoulders you may be able to wear it fully off the shoulder but for most I think it will sit at the edges of the shoulder like you see on the dress form here. A wide 7" ruffle follows the entire neckline and gives it the prettiest flounce all the way around you.
• Under that the bodice skims down to a low dropped waist that is cut more generously through the middle. I have taken a photo without the belt so you can see how it is cut generously through the body. The dress comes with its matching tie belt that you can cinch in the waist as much as needed.
• The skirt is set into a slightly angled seam around the waist that comes up into a peak at one side. Tiny gathers are set in all along that seam and this is what gives the skirt its incredible volume.
• The skirt falls shorter at the side to match the peak of the seam of the skirt. As it circles around the back it gets longer. If you were to lay this out and open the skirt it is more than a full circle around. That volume combined with the lightness of the fabric gives you incredible movement when you move.
• This is an absolutely stunning example of his work during this time period and this particular cut of dress is one of my favourites from him. I have had it in several colours and patterns now and this is one of the prettiest I have had.
• The dress is unlined and closes with a side set zipper. The tie belt is original to the dress.
• There is no size tag present so please go by the measurements listed below
  
• Excellent condition

Bust: 17" flat across from side seam to side seam
Waist: 14" flat across from side seam to side seam
Hips: open
Total length: 45" from top of shoulder to the shortest point of the front hem, 57.5" to the longest point of the hem.

Modern Sizing Equivalent: XS-SML

Item# DD5265

Reference Photos: Spring 1980 Yves Saint Laurent

All items are thoroughly checked over before shipping. Unless noted everything in our shop has been professionally cleaned. All sales are final. Overseas clients will be emailed to obtain agreement to our final sales policy before the order is shipped as per our return policy.

• A shorter version of this dress walked the runway for the Spring 2014 collection for Look 86.
• It was made under the creative direction of Giorgio Armani.
• Vogies review said in part that "The gentleness of the clothes today was enhanced by a palette of pale blues, greys, and pinks and delicate effects like streams of crystal tracing a watery trail across a chiffon top, or patterns that suggested faded watermarks, or blurry florals. It was distinctly ladylike."
• I prefer this longer look. It feels more balanced and the pretty fabric that it is made out of is better showcased as it falls all the way to the floor.
• The dress is made from two layers. The inner layer is a soft pastel washed floral print made from a synthetic jersey. A fine mesh layer floats over that inner layer. The mesh acts as a diffusion that further softens the underlying floral print. Tiny glittering crystals run over the entire dress. On the bodice they are set horizontally and then they are set on an angled chevron pattern over the entire skirt from top to bottom
• Piped straps curve over each shoulder and each is completely covered with tiny little silver toned seed beads. The front neckline is cut straight across and highlighted with a black band for contrast against the pastels below. It skims over the bodice and comes in at a seam set just under the bust. 
• The skirt falls to the floor from there gently curving outwards to the hem. It has a pretty amount of fullness that gives it lovely movement when you walk.
• The inner floral fabric acts as the lining through the skirt and the bodice has a white crepe lining. It closes with a back set zipper. It appears to have been worn very little if at all. It was never worn and still has all its original tags attached.
• Tagged a modern Armani 44
• Excellent condition

Bust: 17" flat across from side seam to side seam
Seam under the bust: 15" flat across from side seam to side seam
Hips: open
Bodice: 14.5" from top of bodice to seam under the bust
Total length: 60" from top of bodice to hem

Modern Sizing Equivalent: SML-MED

Item# DD5217

Reference Photo/Video: Spring 2014 Emporio Armani, Look 86.

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• I purchased this many years ago and was told this was a dress made under the creative direction of Olivier Theyskens.
• Theyskens debuted at Rochas in 2003 at the age of 25 and stayed at the brand until Spring 2015.
• The dress has a beautiful Victorian feel to it and the fabric is gorgeous. It is very light in weight and feels like a fine silk organza mix. Onto it is a stunning washed watercolour feeling floral print that covers the entire dress. It is very pretty.
• A pretty ruffle circles the collar and ruffles continue down the front on either side of the buttons. The bodice is detailed with stripes of black flat pile cotton velvet and the buttons are covered in that same fabric. The seams are exposed and deliberately top stitched with a embroidered feeling thread. The sleeves are long and each ends in a wide cuff that has a little bit of velvet detail.
• It skims over the bust and waist and is cut to be more full and easy through the body. The bodice extends down past the waist to a seam that sits on the top of the hip. The skirt is attached above the seam with an exposed serging all the way around you.
• The skirt falls from there to the floor and it is wonderfully full. It is gathered in around the seam at the hip and then opens out as it near the hem. The lower portion of the skirt is covered in the same detailing that we see on the bodice, combining the velvet ribbon, exposed seams and ruffles, but on the skirt it is flipped horizontally to wrap around you. Underneath the skirt is lined in a black woven netting that helps to hold the shape.
• It is beautifully detailed and the design is properly and carefully thought out and executed. Its loose easy cut through the body make it an easy to fit dress. I think you could even belt this to create a completely different feel to the dress and add more shape.
• They bodice is unlined and has a touch of transparency to it. The skirt is lined in black netting as described above. It closes at the front with the black velvet buttons. Each cuff closes with a series of five hidden hook and eye. It appears to have been worn very little if at all.
• There is no size tag present so please go by the measurements listed below
• Excellent condition

Sleeves: 26.5" and are 11" around the upper arm
Inset shoulders: 12"
Bust: 17" flat across from side seam to side seam
Natural waist: 16" flat across from side seam to side seam
Seam at the top of the hips: 18" flat across from side seam to side seam
Natural hips: open
Bodice: 19" from top and shoulder to waist
Total length: 61" from top of shoulder to hem

Modern Sizing Equivalent: XS-MED

Item# DD5189

All items are thoroughly checked over before shipping. Unless noted everything in our shop has been professionally cleaned. All sales are final. Overseas clients will be emailed to obtain agreement to our final sales policy before the order is shipped as per our return policy.

• This is a spectacular and very recognizable Chanel whose twin walked the Fall 1986 runway.
• It was made under the creative direction of Karl Lagerfeld.
• Karl's first collection for Chanel was in 1983 which makes this a piece from one of his early collections. I was happy to be able to find reference photos of the twin of this dress on the runway that season.
• Bella Hadid famously wore a version of this dress in 2022.
• The dress is made out of a beautiful deep blue netting mixed with a blue silk that has a gold metallic stripe running through it. These fabric choices give the dress the structure to hold the shape but still keeps it fairly light in weight once on the body.
• The bodice is strapless and there is inner boning for support. The boning continues down the sides and to the top of the hip for a beautiful fit. The waist curves in and then the skirt is set in just at the top of the hip.
  
• The entire bodice is finished with soft horizontal gathers and I love how this contrasts with the gold stripes in the fabric.
• The skirt is very long and full. The top layer sits over an inner second layer of netting and then there is a inner silk layer under that.
• The bottom hem is finished in a 12" band of the same striped silk used for the bodice to tie things altogether and add a bit of structure. 
• The sleeves are incredible. They are separate pieces from the dress. To wear them you slip them over your arm. They have stiffened tulle inside the part that puffs out which helps to hold that shape and then there is a more fitted sleeve attached that runs down the bottom of your arm. Each sleeve ends in a point to cover the top of your hand.
• It is incredibly hard to photo this on a dress form, so please take a moment to look at the photos on the runway as it really is the twin of that.
• The bodice is lined in a deep blue silk and the skirt is lined as described above. It closes with a back set zipper underneath a row of gold medal buttons and embossed with the Chanel perfume bottle. There is an extra spare button sewn into the lining inside. The sleeves have tulle inside to help hold the shape and elastic on the upper arm and the lower cuff zips to close.
• Tagged a vintage Chanel 38.
• Excellent condition.

Sleeves: approx 30" long. The elastic at the top will stretch to fit. 
Bust: 16" flat across from side seam to side seam
Natural waist: 13" flat across from side seam to side seam
Seam at top of hips: 16.5" flat across from side seam to side seam
Hips at inner lining: to 21.5"flat across from side seam to side seam
Bodice: 13" from top of the bodice to the low seam
Total length: 52" from top of the bodice to hem with an entire second width of the lower 12" hem turned under

Modern Sizing Equivalent: XS-SML

Item# DD5133

Reference Photos: (1-2) Fall 1986 Chanel Runway.  /  (3-4) Bella Hadid in Fall 1986 Chanel, Cannes, 2022.

All items are thoroughly checked over before shipping. Unless noted everything in our shop has been professionally cleaned. All sales are final. Overseas clients will be emailed to obtain agreement to our final sales policy before the order is shipped as per our return policy.

• The dress is from the Spring 1972 season as noted on its Haute Couture tag we were lucky enough to find photos from the collection and you can see how beautiful it is once on.
• It was made under the creative direction of Marc Bohan for Christian Dior. 
• There is very little documentation on this particular collection, but in the book 'Dior Catwalk' it notes that the New York Times exclaimed, that "romance, contemporary style, is the provision look for spring." It goes on to declare that Bohans collection for Dior was the best of the season in Paris. "Mark Bohan succeeded in bringing back the fable elegance without becoming historical. There's no pinpointing of the 1930s or 1940s. The clothes look really contemporary".
• With such little documentation of the collection it makes a piece like this that is documented even more special and rare.
• This would have been made completely by hand in the Paris atelier.
• The dress is made out of a beautiful stiffened or starched blue silk gazaar that is woven on the bias so that the dress has a more sculptural structure and shape while still staying very light in weight. The colour is a deep blue.
• It is cut to sit fully off the shoulders though I think you could also wear it on the top edge of the shoulders if you wished.
• Each sleeve is cut to just above the elbow and has a beautiful ruffle all the way around.
• It skims over the bust and curve in a touch at the waist. Inside there is a full boned inner corset that goes to the top of the hips. This holds the dress perfectly in place around you once it is on.
• From there it skims over the hips and then flares out beautifully to the hem. The entire hem is finished with a wide ruffle that picks up on the detailing of the sleeves.
• What makes this dress especially interesting is the way that it is almost sculpted because of the fabric treatment. As good as it looks in the photos it is even more beautiful in person.
• The dress is lined in a grey-blue silk organza. The inner corset closes with its own zipper and there is an inner partial waist stay that hooks to close inside the corset. The exterior dress zips to close over that at the side. All of the work is done by hand to Haute Couture standards.
• There is no size tag present so please go by the measurements listed below.
• Excellent condition

Sleeves: 9.5" and they are 11" around the upper arm
Inner bust: 16" flat across from side seam to side seam
Inner waist: 12.25" flat across from side seam to side seam
Hips: 19-21.5" flat across from side seam to side seam
Total length: 55" from top of bodice to hem

Modern Sizing Equivalent: XS-SML

Item# DD5132

Reference Photos: Spring 1972 Christian Dior Haute Couture. (Second photo by Frédéric Scheibe)

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• This is a gorgeous Demi-Couture dress from 1970s Lanvin.
• Made under the creative direction of Jules-Francois Crahay 
• Jules-Francois headed the Lanvin ateliers from 1964-1984. He has been noted as one of fashion’s 'great colorists with his colorful patterns making his 1970s Lanvin designs hugely desirable and influential.' His time at the Lanvin label is one of my personal favourites for the house.
• The Lanvin label is numbered and the dress has been made to demi-couture standards.
• This dress is made from a fine blue silk tulle that has a floral pattern embroidered over its surface in the same blue. The lining is done with a deep purple silk and this gives it this very unusual colour that lies somewhere between a deep blue and a deep purple.
• Onto the top silk net there is an exquisite floral design done with a metallic gold thread. That same gold thread also circles around the lower skirt in two horizontal panels done in a open chain link design. More of the floral netting separates those panels.
• The result is even better on person as the gold feel more prominent. I love how the gold catches the light from every angle.
• The bodice skims over you and the sleeves are long. Each sleeve has a bit of puff above the elastic cuff.
• The waist is cut more generously and you could add a ribbon or a belt to cinch it in.
• The skirt skims over the hips to the floor and widens out as it nears the hem. The added panels of gold on the skirt help to give the skirt support and help hold its shape.
• Fully lined in a purple silk chiffon through the top and a purple silk through the skirt. It closes with a back hand set zipper and there is elastic in each cuff. Hand finishes and hand finished inner seams.
• The label is numbered.
• There is no size tag present and the bias cut of the lining and the net give it a little give so I have put the comfortable range of measurements where it will give a bit. 
  
• Excellent condition 
  

Sleeves: 26"
Shoulders: 14.5"
Bust: 17-19" flat across from side seam to side seam
Waist: 14-15" flat across from side seam to side seam
Hips: to 23" flat across from side seam to side seam
Bodice: 15" from shoulder to waist
Skirt: 43" from waist to hem

Modern Sizing Equivalent: XS-MED

Item# DD3925

All items are thoroughly checked over before shipping. Unless noted everything in our shop has been professionally cleaned. All sales are final. Overseas clients will be emailed to obtain agreement to our final sales policy before the order is shipped as per our return policy.

• From the Act 1 Fall/Winter 2019 Chanel collection. This is the collection done for shops between the pre-collection and the runway shows. These are often specialized items that are made on an extremely limited basis.
• Made under the creative direction of Karl Lagerfeld
• The buttons on this one are so special. They are little snowflakes on a carved backdrop mixed with rhinestones. They are meant to evoke winter and when combined with the knit, the feel of being warm and cozy, nestled inside from the ice and snow on a winter's day.
• There are five larger buttons down the front and then a slightly smaller version sits on each pocket and at each cuff.
• Even though the sweater at first glance looks like it is made out of Angora, Chanel actually does not use Angora. Instead it is made out of a blend of cashmere and alpaca. This is a very expensive to produce, time consuming process and a amazing technical achievement in fabric.
• The colour is a pale baby blue and even though we have tried to capture it as closely as possible here it is even better in person. It is the kind of piece that makes you gasp out loud when you see it.
  
• It has a slightly cropped feel to it and I love the two little pockets on the front.
• It buttons to close down the front and the pockets are functional but each is still lightly tacked shut as it came from Chanel.
• It has its original Chanel packet with extra yarn inside and its original Chanel tag. It appears to be unworn.
• This is a very rare and special Chanel piece especially in this pristine a condition.
• The knit has some stretch and I have put the un-stretched, laying flat measurements below.
• Tagged a Chanel 38
• Excellent condition

Sleeves: 20" and are 12" around the upper arm
Shoulders: 15"
Bust: 18" flat across from side seam to side seam
Bottom ripping: 16" flat across from side seam to side seam
Total length: 17.5" from neck to hem

Modern Sizing Equivalent: XS-MED

Item# DD5077

Reference Photo: Stella Maxwell attends the Noir et Blanc de Chanel Fall/Winter 2019 Makeup Collection in Paris, July 2019.

All items are thoroughly checked over before shipping. Unless noted everything in our shop has been professionally cleaned. All sales are final. Overseas clients will be emailed to obtain agreement to our final sales policy before the order is shipped as per our return policy.

• Made under the creative direction of Oscar de la Renta
• This can be worn as a coat or a dress
• It is made out of a stunning iridescent blue silk taffeta. The fabric choice keeps it light in weight but also holds the lines and shape.
• Big balloon sleeves with cuffs detailed with pleat work
• The body of the piece is cut loose and easy.
• It closes down the front with incredible oversized frog knots that are completely beaded. Another knot sits on the back.
• There are pockets on each side and the bottom portion of the piece is incredibly full and open.
• Fully lined in the same blue silk taffeta as the exterior
• It has a wide inner elastic waist corset that wraps around the inner waist and hooks into place
• It closes down the front with the frog knots and a series of hidden hooks and hidden silk covered snaps. 
  
• Shallow pockets along each hip and light padding in each shoulder
• Excellent condition with some teeny marks and teeny breaks along the very edge of the hem and the front. These make no impact but are mentioned for accuracy.

Sleeves: 28" and the upper arm is full and open
Shoulders: 15.5
Bust: to 21" flat across from side seam to side seam
Waist: to 17" flat across from side seam to side seam
Hips: open
Total length: 60" from neck to front hem, 62" to the back

Modern Sizing Equivalent: MED-LRG

Item# DD5041

All items are thoroughly checked over before shipping. Unless noted everything in our shop has been professionally cleaned. All sales are final. Overseas clients will be emailed to obtain agreement to our final sales policy before the order is shipped as per our return policy.

• Made under the creative direction of Bill Blass
• A beautiful deep blue silk taffeta gown with a deep plunging back to leave a bare expanse of skin
• A dramatic collar made of the same blue silk and forming a dense applique of flowers wraps around the neckline and follows the plunge of the back. The same detailing goes around each cuff.
• The sleeves are incredibly full 
  
• The waist nips in and the skirt opens up to be very full as it falls to the hem.
• Fully lined in the same silk through the bodice and a black silk organza through the skirt
• Tagged a vintage Blass 12
• Closes with a hidden set back zipper. Hand finishes
• Excellent condition

Sleeves: 22.5" and are full and open through the upper arm
Shoulders: approx 15"
Bust: to 19" 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
Total length: 60" from top of shoulder to hem

Modern Sizing Equivalent: SML-MED

Item# DD5039

All items are thoroughly checked over before shipping. Unless noted everything in our shop has been professionally cleaned. All sales are final. Overseas clients will be emailed to obtain agreement to our final sales policy before the order is shipped as per our return policy.

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. Pipart, who had previously worked for Balmain, Fath, and Patou, brought a wide range of experience in all aspects of fashion to 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.' He headed the Couture division until 1998 which makes this a dress from one of his final few seasons. This is an incredible and very beautiful piece of Haute Couture. It is truly magical once on.

The dress is made out of layers of a deep blue bias cut silk chiffon. The bodice is strapless and it has an inner shaped corset that is lightly boned and shaped for light support. The top of the bodice is slightly rounded above each breast and then dips down and into the centre. The silk chiffon has been gathered and softly draped by hand over the body from the bust to the top of the hips. The draping goes all the way around you and adds to the hourglass feel the dress has. The waist cinches in and the dress comes with its original matching silk sash that you can tie and style around your shoulders or neck. The skirt flows out from under there and it is made up of yards and yards of feather light silk chiffon all cut on the bias. The layers of chiffon are feather light and the movement they create as they float over each other as you move is just incredible. It is incredible to see in person. I love that added bit of glamour from the beautiful band of glass crystals, silver tube beads and silver sequins that run from the centre of the bust to curve down and over one hip. It is like an added bit of jewellery to the dress and just beautiful. It is truly one of the best dresses of his that I have seen. Excellent condition with a minor note below.

The bodice of the dress is fully lined in a  hand set blue silk. The skirt has an inner layer of silk under the top layers of bias cut silk chiffon. The bodice is shaped and lightly boned inside with softly shaped cups. It closes with a hand set back zipper. The dress is entirely made by hand with its proper Haute Couture tag present. There are a couple of tiny repairs and tiny areas of thinning/pinholes here and there in the skirt. There is so much fabric you do not see them but this is mentioned for accuracy. Please see the photos after the label shot.

Bust: 14.5" flat across from side seam to side seam
Waist: to 12" flat across from side seam to side seam
Seam at the top of the hips: 17.5" flat across from side seam to side seam
Bodice: 17" from top of bodice to the seam at the top of the hips
Total length: 44" from top of bodice to shortest point of the front hem and 56" to the back hem
Scarf: approx 20" x 80"

Modern Sizing Equivalent: XXS-XS

Item# DD4993

All items are thoroughly checked over before shipping. Unless noted everything in our shop has been professionally cleaned. All sales are final. Overseas clients will be emailed to obtain agreement to our final sales policy before the order is shipped as per our return policy.

This dress was designed by Belgian-born Jules-Francois Crahay, who headed the Lanvin ateliers from 1964-1984. He has been noted as one of fashion’s 'great colorists with his colorful patterns making his 1970s Lanvin designs hugel​y ​desirable and influential.' His time at the Lanvin label is one of my personal favourites for the house. I especially love the his work during the period through the late sixties and into the early 1970s. He was a genius at print and colour and he pushed the envelope in terms of using cutting edge fabrics available during this time period. He mainly used this type of fabric for his 1971-1972 collections. This is the second time I have had a version of this dress and I love it even more this time.

This Lanvin dress is gorgeous and is from the main label. I am in absolute love with it. The dress has a gorgeous colour and print combination. It is made from mixing two fabrics and both hold colour exceptionally well so the colours are still crisp bright and true. The top portion of the dress is an easy silk jersey and then the skirt is one of his signature waffle weave cottons. The sleeves are long and simple. The neckline is scooped with a slightly wide cut. The top skims over you and the back goes down in a scoop to leave a bare expanse of skin showing. The waist is seamed and I love how the skirt is set into the waist in soft gathers so that it puffs out slightly around the waist. It also has a bit of a wrap effect where one side is open down the full length, but it is fully wrapped underneath so that you are completely covered. From there the skirt falls to the floor and it widens as it nears the hem. The fabric change on the skirt gives it a touch of weight so that it holds the shape well. The pattern is the same on both fabrics and yet they look slightly different because of the change in texture. It is brilliant. This full on pattern from head to toe makes the dress instantly recognizable as a piece of his work. Excellent condition with a note below.

The bodice is unlined and the skirt is fully lined in a white silky rayon. It closes with a back zipper. I see what looks like remnants of a lining here and there along the seams of the top. I see a mark at the front. Please see the photo after the label shot. Hand finishes. The fabric of the top has some stretch. 

Sleeves: 25" and are up to 11" around the upper arm
Inset shoulders: to 14"
Bust: 16-17" flat across from side seam to side seam
Natural waist: 12-14" flat across from side seam to side seam
Seam at top of hip: 13"
Hips: to 22" flat across from side seam to side seam
Bodice: 19" from top of shoulder to seam at the top of the hip
Total length: 57" from top of shoulder to hem

Modern Sizing Equivalent: XS-SML

Item# DD4941

All items are thoroughly checked over before shipping. Unless noted everything in our shop has been professionally cleaned. All sales are final. Overseas clients will be emailed to obtain agreement to our final sales policy before the order is shipped as per our return policy.

The Resort 2018 collection was Carolina's last collection that she designed before handing things over to Wes Gordon. In the Vogue review they talked abut the inspiration for the pieces saying, "Herrera said she looked to the gardens at her home in her native Venezuela for her flower motifs, and the exuberant colours she pulled from them for other pieces." This dress was Look One of the presentation. Brie Larson wore one on the Today Show that year, Grace Gummer wore hers to the Emmys awards HBO party and we found a photo of Helena Bourdon in one. It feels as fresh today as it did then. 

The dress is made out of a feather light silk crepe chiffon in a beautiful soft blue. A pretty floral print runs over the entire piece. The front plunges to the waist for a startling contrast to the romantic feel of the dress. A tiny ruffle runs over each shoulder and the sleeves slim down a touch as they reach their cuffs. The waist is seamed and buttons to close. A slit at the front runs up to meet the buttons and lets a flash of bare leg show when you move. The skirt is cut to feel soft and full as it nears the hem. This gives it a romantic feel and pretty movement when you move. This is the actual sample dress from the brand and has its original sample tag. Which means it very well may be the dress that was worn by some of the people that we have included here for reference. I love it. Excellent condition.

Fully lined in a pale blue silk chiffon and buttons down the front. Buttons on each cuff. Original hang tag and sample label attached.

Sleeves: 24"
Shoulders: approx 15"
Bust: 17" flat across from side seam to side seam
Waist: 12-13" flat across from side seam to side seam
Hips: to 22" flat across from side seam to side seam
Bodice: 15" from top of shoulder to waist
Total length: 53" from top of shoulder to hem
Slit: 21.5 from the hem up

Modern Sizing Equivalent: XS-SML

Item# DD4749

Reference Photos: (1-2) Resort 2018 Carolina Herrera Lookbook.  /  (3) Brie Larson on 'The Today Show' 2017.  /  (4) Grace Gummer at the 70th  Emmy Awards’ HBO Party, September 17, 2018.  /  (5) Helena Bordon in Carolina Herrera.  

All items are thoroughly checked over before shipping. Unless noted everything in our shop has been professionally cleaned. All sales are final. Overseas clients will be emailed to obtain agreement to our final sales policy before the order is shipped as per our return policy.

John Galliano began his own label in 1984 and he was instantly a bit of a 'boy wonder' in fashion. He was British Fashion Council Designer of the Year in 1987, 1994 and 1995. In 1991 he made his Paris catwalk debut. In 1995 he was asked to head Givenchy and then went to Dior in October of 1996. His work, especially the bias cut pieces that he did, have a feeling of the decadence and abandonment of the twenties and they are beautifully cut. They marry Old Hollywood with the minimalist spirit of the nineties and early 2000s and the results are stunning. This is an amazing example of his work from the Spring 2006 season and it is gorgeous. This dress was a piece made for production for retail but it has all the things we love about his work presented in a beautifully chic and minimalist package. We believe that some of the detailing is based on / loosely inspired by the opening look of the Couture 2006 collection. We have included a photo of that dress for you and you can see similar bead work through the skirt of that dress that has similarity to the pattern of the beads on this dress.

The dress is made out of the deepest possible blue silk crepe chiffon that has a slight bit of texture to it and more opaqueness than a standard chiffon would have. It is completely cut on the bias which is one of his signatures that we all love. The dress falls from the shoulders and then drapes down and over the body to the floor. It is very beautiful. The signature bias cut that he often did allows the dress to skim and drape over you so that is shows every curve but is not overly fitted. The seaming is highly reminiscent of the work you see from the twenties and thirties which became another of John's signatures. The fabric has been pieced together with both curved and angled seams through the bodice and lower skirt especially to create the fantastic lines of the dress that you see. Wide straps extend out from the bust to curve over your shoulders. The front is set in a V and the fabric is gathered across the front of the shoulders. I love the angled cut of the front bodice where he has piece the two side of it together. These are set into a high curving seam that highlights the waist but still stays easy in cut. That seam curves around the back curving upwards there as well. The back is scooped into a low curved open expanse. The straps become smaller and run down the back to join into each side of the lowest part of that curve. An attached panel of silk drapes beautifully down the back in reference to the best of Old Hollywood. The dress glides over the body from there and flares out as it reaches the hem. The widening and length of the back hem is created with angled silk chiffon panels inset into the back skirt. It is an incredible feat of patterning. This creates a longer bit of a train at the back for a bit of a sweeping feel behind you. There is an incredible amount of fabric through the lower skirt which gives you so much movement when you walk. It is stunning. The entire dress to just past the knee is beaded with silver beads mixed with the tiniest  silver sequins. These are laid out vertically over the dress in beautiful curving lines that cover the dress. They catch the light from every angle and take the dress to another level. His signature row of tightly spaced buttons run up one side. The dress is even better in person and on the body as the static photos cannot fully convey how a bias cut dress moves. They only truly come to life when worn. It is an incredible example of his work and looks to have been worn very little if at all. Excellent condition

It has a matching silk inner slip dress that loop through a stitch so that they are attached at the top of the inner shoulders. You could easily remove this to get more room if needed. The bias cut should allow it to fit a range of sizes and we have provided the comfortable range of measurements for both it and the outer dress below. It closes at the side with a series of silk covered buttons. Tagged a FR42, GB14, IT46, US10. 

Dress
Bust: to 22" flat across from side seam to side seam 
Waist: 15-16.5" flat across from side seam to side seam
Hips: 22.5" flat across from side seam to side seam
Total length: approx 59" from the top of the shoulder to the front hem and approx 74" to the back

Inner slip
Bust: to 18" flat across from side seam to side seam
Waist: 15-17" flat across from side seam to side seam
Inner lining at hips: 20" flat across from side seam to side seam

Modern Sizing Equivalent: SML-LRG

Item# DD4884

Reference Photo: Fall 2006 Dior Couture, Look 1.

All items are thoroughly checked over before shipping. Unless noted everything in our shop has been professionally cleaned. All sales are final. Overseas clients will be emailed to obtain agreement to our final sales policy before the order is shipped as per our return policy.

The Richilene label was launched around 1970 and lasted to about 1990 or so from what I understand. It was a New York based label and was designed by Ilene Pacun and her husband Richard. The name came by combining their two first names which I only found out recently, and I thought was a cute little detail. They focused on party dresses for the most part and had a pretty wide range of options price wise. By the mid-1980s their prices ranged from about $200-$2000 and the higher and pieces were very well made. I can't help but think that this is a more attainable version of the famous 1986 Chanel with its removable sleeves. It has that same kind of vibe.

I absolutely love the cut of this dress. It is made out of a beautiful deep blue netting that has little dots worked through the tulle. The choice of this particular fabric gives it the structure to hold the shape but still keeps it fairly light in weight once on the body. The bodice is strapless and the neckline is cut fairly straight across all around you. There's inner boning for support and the boning continues down the sides on either side to help hold the dress in place. The waist curves in a bit and then the skirt is set in just at the top of the hip. I love how this gives the illusion of extra length through the body. The entire bodice has been heavily detailed with iridescent, deep blue sequence that are sat in a curving swirling pattern. They are heavily set so that they overlap each other and this allows them to catch the light in different ways to create a really pretty effect. Onto this are embroidered and beaded flowers that have petals set up and off the dress for a slight 3-D effect. These go all the way around the upper bodice. The skirt is very long and full. It flows to the floor in a cascade of that beautiful daughter in and there are five layers making up the skirt. The top two layers are the blue netting and then there is a organza layer under that that has a shimmering finish to it. Under that is a black layer of stiffen netting and then there is a final blue layer inside and under that. The very top layer has an edging of stiffen netting all the way around it, and that helps hold the shape and give it a pretty finish all of the volume you see in these photos are from the skirt and all of these built in under skirts. The final touch is of course those incredible removable half sleeves that you just slip on and wear high on the upper arm. They have stiff and tool inside, which helps to give them that puff, and then there is elastic at each end for an easy fit. I have pushed them up so they're very full, but you could also wear them a little more stretched out if you wished. The dress has a bit of a fantasy princess feel that I love. Excellent condition.

The bodice is lined in a deep blue muslin feeling fabric and the skirt is lined as described above. It closes with a back set zipper. The sleeves have a stiffen tool interior and elastic on each end so they just slip onto the arm. 

Sleeves: each sleeve is up to 14 inches long and can be worn to be up to half that size in length. The elastic at each end stretches up to approximately 20"
Bust: 17" flat across from side seam to side seam
Natural waist:12.5" flat across from side seam to side seam
Seam at bottom of bodice: 16.5" flat across from side seam to side seam
Hips at inner lining: to 24"flat across from side seam to side seam
Bodice: 12.5" from top of the bodice to the seam at the bottom of the bodice
Total length: 53" from top of the bodice to hem

Modern Sizing Equivalent: SML-MED

Item# DD4879

All items are thoroughly checked over before shipping. Unless noted everything in our shop has been professionally cleaned. All sales are final. Overseas clients will be emailed to obtain agreement to our final sales policy before the order is shipped as per our return policy.

The twin of this dress walked the runway for the Fall 1987 show and we have included reference photos of it from the runway for you so that you can see how fabulous it is on the body. We even found one where you can see the model walking back down the runway so you can see how gorgeous it is from the back as well. It is an easy to wear and very chic little YSL.

This is a really gorgeous dress. It is made from a lace fabric that has an unusual blue-purple colour running through it. Metallic thread runs through the lace and then over that are thousands of glossy black sequins that follow the pattern of the lace. The sequins catch the light from every angle but in a subtle way that I love. The lace has an open cut that is lined it with a deep blue silk chiffon. It has a touch of transparency to it but its wearable. This combination also keeps it light so that it feels amazing once on the body. The dress sits off the shoulder to leave a bare expanse of skin across the top. The neckline wraps around the shoulders and it is finished with a pretty black silk organza ruffle. The silk of the ruffles has just enough structure so that it holds its shape perfectly. The sleeves fall to just past the elbow and each is also finished with a ruffle. From there the dress skims over you, running over the bust and past the waist, with no seaming there to break the line. At the top of the hip there is a seam that has another ruffled detailing. The skirt falls under that and widens out as it nears the hem. A final ruffle goes all the way around the edge of the skirt. The back of the skirt is set to hang a touch longer than the front. This gives you a beautiful curve from the side  and adds a touch of pretty volume. It is a gorgeous dress and really showcases Yves' innovative eye and design genius. It appears to have been worn very little if at all. Excellent condition

Fully lined in a dark blue silk chiffon. It closes at the side with a zipper. Tagged a YSL 42.

Sleeves: approx 18" from the drop and 12" around the upper arm
Bust: to 18" flat across from side seam to side seam
Waist: to 15" flat across from side seam to side seam
Seam across the top of the hips: 19.5" flat across from side seam to side seam and open under that
Length: 30" from top of centre neckline to front hem and 36" to back hem including top and bottom ruffle

Modern Sizing Equivalent: SML-MED

Item# DD4271

Reference Photos: Fall 1987 Yves Saint Laurent Runway.

All items are thoroughly checked over before shipping. Unless noted everything in our shop has been professionally cleaned. All sales are final. Overseas clients will be emailed to obtain agreement to our final sales policy before the order is shipped as per our return policy.

This is a stunning and extremely rare example of the Haute Couture work being done by the house of Lanvin during the years that Antonio Castillo headed the atelier. Castillo started off his career at the houses of Paquin and Piquet. He also did a stint designing accessories for Chanel. He quickly became known as one of the most promising designers to emerge after WWII and that reputation was part of why he was chosen in 1950 to become the head designer at the House of Lanvin. The press at the time lauded him, along with Balmain, Dior and Balenciaga, as the new generation of the Paris Couture designers. During his time at Lanvin the house was known for the simple and elegant lines. This is a very rare and early Haute Couture coat and we found a reference photo of its near twin that was styled with a belt, dramatic gloves and matching hat added. It is very beautiful and the colour is exceptional.

This coat is beautifully tailored. The double row of buttons at the front and curving cut makes it feel as chic and wearable now as it was when first made. It is entirely finished by hand and has its numbered couture tape under the label. It is so chic and a very important and rare piece. This is truly a vintage gem. It has a deceptively simple cut that hides the precise seams and masterfully tailored cut. It is constructed with the absolute minimal seam work to create the curves of the coat that you see. It is more fitted through the upper bodice and then skims over the waist and flares out slightly as it nears the hem. The collar is neat with a notched front and each sleeve ends in a turned up cuff. A half belt is attached at the back and you could add a belt over it to emphasize the shape even more. The fabric is amazing with a soft finish to it. I believe it is an Alpaca or perhaps a type of cashmere and it is extremely luxurious. The fact that it is dyed that amazing blue makes it that much more brilliant. It is even better in person and the fabric has to be seen and felt to truly be appreciated. This fabric choice allowed Castillo to be able to sculpt the exact shape that he desired. The front has detailed seaming that becomes part of the actual design and inside that is a double row of blue buttons that run down the front to the waist. You can wear this one open or do it up right to the neck like the reference photo. I love the sculptural effect the coat has once on and that beautifully full lower skirting. No shortcut was taken in the construction of this lovely coat and it is an outstanding piece of fashion history in every possible way. Excellent condition.

Fully lined in a hand set black silk taffeta and closes with the button down the front. Finished to Haute Couture standards and entirely done by hand. The Haute Couture numbered tape label is present under the main label and is numbered 15.418. This is a medium to heavy weight coat 

Sleeves: 22" and 13" around the upper arm
Shoulders: 15.5"
Bust: 18.5" flat across from side seam to side seam
Waist: 16" flat across from side seam to side seam
Hips: open
Length: 45" from neck to hem

Modern Sizing Equivalent: SML-MED

Item# DD4489

Reference Photo: Model in Lanvin, 1952.

All items are thoroughly checked over before shipping. Unless noted everything in our shop has been professionally cleaned. All sales are final. Overseas clients will be emailed to obtain agreement to our final sales policy before the order is shipped as per our return policy.