• The twin of this dress walked the  runway for Look 36 for the Spring 2008 Nina Ricci collection.
• It was made under the creative direction of Olivier Theyskens.
• Karlie wore one for the Spring 2008 Nina Ricci Ad Campaign photographed by Sorrenti and Natalia was photoed by Meisel for Vogue that season in its twin. 
• One is held in the MET Museums Collection and it is documented in the book "She walks in beauty" by Rizzoli Electa.
  
• The strapless ball gown is something that is a signature of Olivier and that combined with this striking metal mix fabric in its deep metallic gold colour make this a stand out of the collection. It was the second to last look of the finale.
• The dress is made out of a fabric that has actual metal thread in it and this gives it a very unique appearance and feel. When you first touch it, it has a slightly cool temperature to it. Then once on the body it warms up to match your body heat. It is fascinating. In person the colour has perhaps slightly more bronze undertone.
• This fabric choice with its metal component is really what allowed him to manipulate and create the sculptural seams that the dress has.
• The strapless bodice has a full built-in inner corset that holds the dress in place around you. The fabric is gathered over to one side where there is a little half bow sewn into place and then the tails of the bow sweep down to become part of the dress as they drape over the skirt and are sewn into place at the back of the skirt.
• It skims over the hips and the skirt has elaborate draping to create the feel that you see in the photos. You can imagine that for this one he personally placed in each drape by hand to get the shape that he wished it to have.
• The front skirt is set on a bit of a curve and the fabric gives it a soft slightly ruffled feel. This curves around and becomes offset to become the side train at the back. The trained part is long and ends in a point.
• There is a high slit on the same side as the train and this lets the dress have extra movement when you move.
• This is a phenomenal piece from his tenure at the Nina Ricci label and is extremely rare. I would be shocked if there are more than one or two examples other than this one and the one at the Met that exist and it may be the only other that exists. The amount of hand work in the dress tells me that this was a custom-made piece and made-to-order. It verges on Couture and I would consider it to be Demi-Couture.
• The dress has a full structural inner corset that is cut and boned with an inner waist stay that hooks to close. The rest of the bodice down to the upper hip area is lined in a black muslin. The skirt is backed with a black silk netting and then there is an deep green grey silk chiffon that follows the full length of the inner train. The dress closes with a back zipper. I see a few repairs on the silk chiffon inner skirt. There is slight fraying around the edge of the bodice which I feel is unavoidable with this metal fabric. If I am being picky I would say there is some slight stress to some of the seams here and there and again this is a result of the metal fabric that it is made out of. Hand finishes throughout.
• Being custom the dress has no size tag so please go by the listed measurements below.
• Excellent condition with the minor notes above.

Bust: 17-18" flat across from side seam to side seam
Waist: 15" flat across from side seam to side seam
Hips: to 21.5" flat across from side seam to side seam
Bodice: approx 10.5" from top of bodice to waist
Total length: 57" from top of bodice to shortest part of the front hem and then the back extends another 39" past that
Slit: 33" from front hem up

Modern Sizing Equivalent: MED-LRG

Item# DD5832

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 was Look 38 for the Fall 2007 Nina Ricci presentation
• It was made under the creative direction of Olivier Theyskens
  
• The dress is wonderfully documented. It was photoed for Vogue that season and is seen in the book "She Walks in Beauty".  Kiera also wore one for an editorial that season
• The strapless ball gown is something that is a signature of Olivier and that combined with this striking antique feeling silk brocade fabric in its beautiful slightly metallic yellow colour make this a stand out of the collection. It was the second to last look of the finale.
• The dress is made out of a heavy yellow silk brocade that has a remarkable and slightly metallic feel to parts of the fabric. It has the feel of an antique fabric and is absolutely incredible. It is rare now to see fabric at this level of quality.
• This fabric choice is really what allowed him to manipulate and create the sculptural seams that the dress has.
• The strapless bodice is meant to be fitted and there is a full built-in inner corset that holds the dress in place around you. The fabric is shaped over the bodice and gathered down towards one side of the waist. An attached wide band of the same fabric circles around your waist. The back scoops down to leave your upper back bare and exposed. The dress has been mainly finished by hand and it is finished to an extraordinary level.
• It skims over the hips and the skirt has elaborate draping to create the feel that you see in the photos. There is a full panel that sweep across and around the hips to fall down and over one side of the skirt and then that trails out behind you.
• You can only imagine that for this one he personally placed in each drape by hand to get the shape that he wished it to have.
• The skirt that is set underneath the swag of silk brocade down one side is extraordinary full. I love the way the fabric has been manipulated to fall around you and then starts at the sides to become very wide and full as it sweeps around to the back. As it curves around you it becomes a striking train at the back that sweeps out behind you. Panels have been added in and under at the back to give even more fullness.
  
• This is a phenomenal piece from his tenure at the Nina Ricci label and is extremely rare. I would be shocked if there are more than one or two examples other than this one in existence. The amount of hand work in the dress tells me that this was definitely a custom-made piece and made-to-order. It is on par with true Haute Couture. 
• The dress closes with a hidden side set zipper. It has a full structural inner corset that is cut and boned with an inner waist stay that hooks to close. The fabric that sits closest to your body is embossed with a Nina Ricci name. This inner corset runs all the way down to the top of the hip. The rest of the dress is lined in that same embossed silk as the inner bodice and there's an additional heavy lining of a woven muslin between that and the skirt. Hand finishes throughout. 
• The dress has no size tag present. Please go by the listed measurements below.
• Excellent condition

Bust: 17-18" flat across from side seam to side seam
Waist: 15" flat across from side seam to side seam
Hips: 21.5" flat across from side seam to side seam
Bodice: approx 9" from top of bodice to waist
Total length: 57" from top of bodice to shortest part of the front hem and then the back extends another 17" past that. There is approximately 3.5" turned under the ham

Modern Sizing Equivalent: MED-LRG

Item# DD5751

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.

• Note that due to new regulations this set can only ship to a Canadian address. If you need further assistance on this please get in touch. 
• The twin of this dress was Look 28 for the Resort 2008 Nina Ricci presentation
• It was made under the creative direction of Olivier Theyskens
  
• I love that we have runway reference photos and you can see how beautiful it is on Chanel Iman. It is a highly collectible piece and is a very special dress from the Olivier Theyskens era at Nina Ricci.
• In Vogue's review they stated that "What makes Olivier Theyskens such a compelling designer is the way his collections tend to riff on and grow from what came before. For resort the ex-Rochas front man continued to explore things he established at his first Nina Ricci show in March. There were more of the twisting around the body evening dresses... he pieced spirals together with patchworks of fabric for an elegant and ultimately more subtle effect than the ones produced by his fantastical fall creations." The said that the collection was "romantic, and rebellious at once, not unlike Theyskens himself."
• The dress is completely cut on the bias and you just slip it on to wear. It drapes over the body in a way that highlights your curves and yet is not tight fitting anywhere.
• Panels in both a black and a deep blue are set vertically on angles over the entire length of the body. The cut has a strong nod to the bias cut couture pieces from the 1920s and 1930s.
• Both the front and back are set in a V at the neckline for a bit of skin to offset the use of the fabric through the rest of the dress.
• The dress skims beautifully over the bust, waist and hips. Once past the hip area the lower skirt begins to flare out dramatically.
• The back is cut to sweep around and out behind you. Yard and yards of bias cut fabric make up the lower skirt and train. This creates the most beautiful movement around you as you move. Even in the still photos from the runway you get the feel of motion in the way the dress falls over the body.
• The very top of each shoulder has been finished with hand dyed black feathers. These are handset over the top of the arm to fall delicate over the top of your shoulders and upper arm. I love the extra drama and movement that the feathers create.
• This is a spectacular and rare dress from his time at the label. All of his work is highly collectible.
• The dress is unlined with hand finishes throughout. The dress is in its original uncut length. It has no closures and simply slips onto wear. The bias cut gives it lots of room through the body so it should fit a variety of sizes. On a smaller frame it will just drape more. I have put the comfortable range of measurements below. I see some light scuffing on the fabric. Very minor. Please see the photo after the label shot.
• Tagged a vintage Nina Ricci 40.
• Excellent condition

Bust: 16-20" flat across from side seam to side seam
Waist: 13-18" flat across from side seam to side seam
Hips: 16-21" flat across from side seam to side seam
Total length: 67" from top of shoulder to the shortest part of the front hem and the back extends another 19" beyond that. 

Modern Sizing Equivalent: SML-LRG

Item# DD5697

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 best matches the look of the collections that were being done in and around the late 1980s to the early-mid 1990s. 
• It was made under the creative direction of Gerard Pipart.
• The Nina Ricci brand was founded in 1932 at 20 Rue de Capucines in Paris. 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.
• This is an incredible and very beautiful piece of Haute Couture and would have been made entirely by hand in the Paris atelier.
• This dress is a masterpiece and really showcases how beautiful a piece of true couture can be. Everything about its construction goes above and beyond.
• It is made out of a black silk for the bodice with a black silk netting used for the sleeves. This is combined with top stitched silk on a dotted netting for the the top layer of the skirt. 
• The bodice curves and dips across the front and then wraps around to the back. There is inner built-in structure to hold the dress in place and add shape so that it is fitted around you. The silk has been gathered into a seam running vertically down the front and then it does the same thing at each side and the back. A panel wraps over the top of that across the breasts with no seam down the sides. A clever way to subtly add some extra shape and curves. It is fitted to the waist where it nips in.
• The sleeves are spectacular. I have set them slightly on top of the shoulders on my dress form but they can be worn fully off of the shoulders. There is an elastic that is tacked on their insides to help hold them in the spot that you choose to wear them. I love that you can wear them higher up or wear them completely off the shoulders so that you get that gorgeous expanse of bare skin across the top. They are made from layers of silk netting that have been gathered tightly and stacked on top of each other to form the gorgeous bit of fluff and volume that you see.
• The skirt is just extraordinary. It is very full and voluminous as it curves outward and down to the floor. To achieve that shape there is elaborate layers of built-in underskirts that is all hidden. The very top layer is made out of a black dotted net. Onto that are beautiful sprays of flowers and leaves.
• These have been created by a hand cut outs of silk in pink, purple and white that were hand applied to the netting. Top stitching in a black thread is done onto each piece to create the illusion of flowers and leafs. All of the top stitching is entirely done by hand and I cannot even imagine the hours this would have taken to complete.
• That very top layer has an attached inner layer of silk organza and the way that it is attached gives it a bit of volume and air between the top layer and that underlying organza. 
• Underneath that are six layers of tulle stacked on top of each other. All of those layers are what gives the skirt the support needed to hold its volume and shape. We have not added any crinolines under the skirt. All of the volume is created because of the brilliant infrastructure underneath. If you had the underskirts lightly starched when pressed in the future it would give an added boost and you could create even more fullness.
• As good as it looks here in the photos it is even better in person. 
• The dress is fully lined in a handset cotton muslin through the bodice and closes with a back set zipper. An inner waist stay hooks to close. There is hidden boning and support through the bodice. I see two small repairs along the edge of the hem. It is minor but mentioned for accuracy. 
• The proper Haute Couture label is present.
• There is no size tag since it is a couture piece. Please go by the measurements below.
• Excellent condition
  

Bust: to 16" flat across from side seam to side seam
Waist: 12-12.5" flat across from side seam to side seam
Hips: open
Bodice: 10.5" from top of bodice to waist
Total length: 54" from top of bodice to hem

Modern Sizing Equivalent: XS-SML

Item# DD5584

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 best matches the look of the collections that were being done around the 1990 time period. 
• It was made under the creative direction of Gerard Pipart.
• The Nina Ricci brand was founded in 1932 at 20 Rue de Capucines in Paris. 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.
• This is an incredible and very beautiful piece of Haute Couture and would have been made entirely by hand in the Paris atelier.
• This dress is a masterpiece and really showcases how beautiful a piece of true couture can be. Everything about its construction goes above and beyond.
• The bodice and hem are made out of a red silk that has a bit of very fine ribbing through the fabric. That same fabric in a black is used for the main part of the skirt and then the band around the top of the bodice and the band around the waist are detailed with a wide black velvet ribbon.
• The bodice is strapless and curves across the front and around to the back. There is a built-in  inner structure to hold the dress in place and it is fitted to the waist where it nips in.
• The way that the skirt falls is just extraordinary. It is so full and voluminous as it curves outward and down to the floor. To achieve that shape there is an elaborate built-in underskirt that is all hidden. It is made out of a stiffened net that is hidden between the outer layer and the inner silk lining.
• The silk of the skirt is set in beautiful rounded pleats in the hidden structure underneath is what gives the support needed to hold the shapes. I have not added any crinolines under the skirt - all of the shape and volume is there because of the brilliant hidden structure underneath.
• The back of the skirt is cut slightly longer then the front for a beautiful sweeping feel behind you.
• A final band of black velvet circles its way around the lower skirt, topping a wide panel made from the same red silk as the bodice.
• The contrast between the red and black is absolutely stunning. It is an exceptional piece of Couture.
• The dress is fully lined in a handset black silk and closes with a handset back zipper. An inner waist stay hooks to close. There is hidden boning through the bodice and structure through the hips as described above. I see that the zipper was let out a bit at some point and there is some grubbiness and tiny breaks along the edge of the hem. All minor but mentioned for accuracy.
• The proper Haute Couture label is present.
• There is no size tag since it is a couture piece. Please go by the measurements below.
• Excellent condition with the minor note abovewith the minor note above

Bust: 16.5" flat across from side seam to side seam
Waist: 12.5" flat across from side seam to side seam
Hips: open
Bodice: 9.5" from top of bodice to waist
Total length: 52" from top of bodice to front hem, 60" to the back hem

Modern Sizing Equivalent: XS-SML

Item# DD5575

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 36 for the Spring 2008 Nina Ricci collection.
• It was made under the creative direction of Olivier Theyskens.
• Karlie wore one for the Spring 2008 Nina Ricci Ad Campaign photographed by Sorrenti and Natalia was photoed by Meisel for Vogue that season in its twin. 
• One is held in the MET Museums Collection and it is documented in the book "She walks in beauty" by Rizzoli Electa.
  
• The strapless ball gown is something that is a signature of Olivier and that combined with this striking metal mix fabric in its deep metallic gold colour make this a stand out of the collection. It was the second to last look of the finale.
• The dress is made out of a fabric that has actual metal thread in it and this gives it a very unique appearance and feel. When you first touch it, it has a slightly cool temperature to it. Then once on the body it warms up to match your body heat. It is fascinating. In person the colour has perhaps slightly more bronze undertone.
• This fabric choice with its metal component is really what allowed him to manipulate and create the sculptural seams that the dress has.
• The strapless bodice has a full built-in inner corset that holds the dress in place around you. The fabric is gathered over to one side where there is a little half bow sewn into place and then the tails of the bow sweep down to become part of the dress as they drape over the skirt and are sewn into place at the back of the skirt.
• It skims over the hips and the skirt has elaborate draping to create the feel that you see in the photos. You can imagine that for this one he personally placed in each drape by hand to get the shape that he wished it to have.
• The front skirt is set on a bit of a curve and the fabric gives it a soft slightly ruffled feel. This curves around and becomes offset to become the side train at the back. The trained part is long and ends in a point.
• There is a high slit on the same side as the train and this lets the dress have extra movement when you move.
• This is a phenomenal piece from his tenure at the Nina Ricci label and is extremely rare. I would be shocked if there are more than one or two examples other than this one and the one at the Met that exist and it may be the only other that exists. The amount of hand work in the dress tells me that this was a custom-made piece and made-to-order. It verges on Couture and I would consider it to be Demi-Couture.
• The dress has a full structural inner corset that is cut and boned with an inner waist stay that hooks to close. The rest of the bodice down to the upper hip area is lined in a black muslin. The skirt is backed with a black silk netting and then there is an deep green grey silk chiffon that follows the full length of the inner train. The dress closes with a back zipper. I see a few repairs on the silk chiffon inner skirt. There is slight fraying around the edge of the bodice which I feel is unavoidable with this metal fabric. If I am being picky I would say there is some slight stress to some of the seams here and there and again this is a result of the metal fabric that it is made out of. Hand finishes throughout.
• Being custom the dress has no size tag so please go by the listed measurements below.
• Excellent condition with the minor notes above.

Bust: 17-18" flat across from side seam to side seam
Waist: 15" flat across from side seam to side seam
Hips: to 21.5" flat across from side seam to side seam
Bodice: approx 10.5" from top of bodice to waist
Total length: 57" from top of bodice to shortest part of the front hem and then the back extends another 39" past that
Slit: 33" from front hem up

Modern Sizing Equivalent: MED-LRG

Item# DD5832

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 was Look 55 on the Fall 2003 Alexander McQueen runway
• It was made under the creative direction of Alexander McQueen.
• Lee had only recently joined the Gucci Group at this point and his shows were becoming bigger and more commercial. The Fall 2003 collection was titled 'Scanners' and he went to the frozen arctic tundra for the show set.
• The runway was a wasteland set against an icy mountain. Models walked among rubble and rocks on the runway and and a dusting of snow covered everything. The name of the show came from the invitation that had scans of McQueen's actual brain on them.
• In the book "Alexander McQueen" by Abrams, they noted that "the collection engaged McQueen's interest in Eurasian culture and was presented as a journey of displaced travellers from west to east, from dark to light across the harsh planes of Siberia through Tibet, and into Japan, the land of the rising sun." The looks touched on both Russia and Japanese themes as well as mixing in a little bit of his signature punk.
• The dress was also seen on many red carpets of the day and we added to its modern provenance when it was worn by Julia Schlaepfer. The many photos give you an amazing idea of what it looks like once on the body.
• The dress appears to have been released with two skirt shapes. One was more curved and the other squared off as on the example I have (see the photos of Julia) and the one worn by Sienna.
• This dress is beautiful and rarely does one see this level of hand done workmanship in ready-to-wear. 
• The dress is made out of a feather light silk chiffon. The colour is a more soft white.
• The front neckline is set low and is softly squared off and there is a band of silk chiffon set just under the bust. This tiny little detail adds the perfect bit of shape and gives the bodice its empire cut. At the back it is scooped a touch lower then the front to show a bare expanse of skin.
• Straps extend out from the bodice and curve up and over the shoulder. They sit at the very outer edge of your shoulders.
• The inside of the bodice is lined in an ivory silk satin and has light boning to add hidden structure and hold the dress in place.
• The skirt falls from there and there is a massive amount of silk chiffon used in its construction. The front is cut shorter and then from there it curves around to the back extending out into two long panels on either side. As you walk the skirt catches the air to float around you. You can see this movement in the runway video.
• The entire dress has been hand detailed with a floral design that combines silver thread, tiny little silver beads and tiny silver sequins.
• These form an exquisite and highly detailed trailing flower design that is denser around the hem and then trails up the dress into the bodice. All of the work is done by hand, and you can clearly see that on the back of the silk.
• Attached, extra long ties extend out from the centre back of at the waist. These can be wrapped around you to add shape and left looser and long to trail out behind you.
• This is a work of art from one of the greatest designers of our time.
• The dress dress is fully lined in a white silk satin through the bust and white silk chiffon through the skirt. It closes with a series of large hidden set hooks at the back of the waist. The interior bust is shaped and boned. When the dress is off the body I feel that they bodice looks slightly darker in colour than the skirt. This is because of all of the infrastructure and extra layers of the bodice that add more layers behind the outer fabric whereas the skirt has more transparency so feels slightly lighter. A teeny little thinning spot near the seam at the top of one shoulder. All of the added detailing is done by hand and there are hand finishes throughout. 
• There is no size tag present. Please go by the measurements listed below.
• Excellent condition. 

Bust: 15-16" flat across from side seam to side seam
Empire waist: 14" flat across from side seam to side seam
Hips: open
Bodice: 9" from top of shoulder to the top of the 1" band under the bust
Total length: 39" from top of shoulder to the front hem, 44" to the shortest point of the back hem, 59" to the longest point of the hem.

Modern Sizing Equivalent: XS-SML

Item# DD5816

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 the Spring 2004 Cavalli collection.
• It was made under the creative direction of Roberto Cavalli.
• The print was seen on the runway on a silk chiffon piece for Look 15 in the 2004 show.
• A version of the look was photoed on and worn by Pamela Anderson who attended Jade Jagger's 33rd birthday party in October 2004 with Roberto Cavalli.
• I love that when the pieces are worn together it looks like a dress. And as good as it looks in these photos it is phenomenally better in person. The photos do not do the silk or the amount of movement and beauty of the cut full justice at all.
• The silk used on the dress is extraordinary and is all cut on the bias. The pattern runs entirely over both pieces and combines deep chocolates with the palest of pinks. 
• To achieve the final effect the design would have been created specifically for the pieces and how it lays over the body before the silk was cut. 
• The top of the set is done in a halter on both the front and back that angle up from under the arm into the neck. A long extended tie is set into the neck and this ties to the side. It is all done to have it feel as if you just somehow magically wrapped a silk scarf over yourself and tied it around the neck.
• Its bias cut allows it to simply skim over the bust, curve in slightly past the waist and then flare out again over the top of the hips.
• I have tucked it in for these photos but I also took a photo of it on its own so you can see how it falls. I also took a separate shot of the skirt.
• The skirt is completely cut on the bias and falls beautifully over the body once on.
• The band at the waist flips inwards and has elastic so it is incredibly easy to wear. The silk curves out and over the hips. It comes in slightly just below that and then the lower skirt is all set in with panels of silk that are attached on different angles. This gives it incredible fullness and allows it to open up around you when you move.
• It is cut longer at the back so you get this pretty sweeping line around you and this adds to the movement that it has.
• Both pieces are unlined. The waist of a skirt has elastic and the top has no closures other than tying at the neck. There is a built-in shelf piece inside the top. The bias cut of both pieces will allow them to drape around you once on. I have put the range of movement when laying flat below. I see some slight discolouration around the collar and some tiny marks on one side. I have photo the marked spot with the top lying flat and also with it on the dress form so you can see that once on it drapes and hides them for the most part. So that is not two sets of marks - that is one set photoed twice. There is also one other tiny mark on the top. That is also photoed.
• Both pieces are tagged a Cavalli vintage 46.
• Excellent overall condition with the notes above.

Top
Bust: 16-18.5" flat across from side seam to side seam
Waist: 14-17.5" flat across from side seam to side seam
Bottom hem: to 20.5" flat across from side seam to side seam
Length: approx 25" from neck to hem

Skirt
Elastic waist: 14-20" flat across from side seam to side seam
Hips: 18-22" flat across from side seam to side seam
Total length: 44" from waist to front hem, 55" to the longest point of the back

Modern Sizing Equivalent: SML-LRG

Item# DD5807

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 is from the Spring 2005 Cavalli collection
• It was made under the creative direction of Roberto Cavalli
• For that season Cavalli based everything shown on the 'Fashion Traveller' Theme and Vogue proclaimed that to mean "an eclectic throwing-together of hippie-ish trailing print skirts, ruffled cavalier shirts (worn belted at the hip as tantalizing dresses), and nineteenth century Sgt. Pepper-ish frogged military jackets."
• On the runway this same print in a soft taupe brown was shown on Looks 23 and 25. 
• The dress is made of a bias cut silk that is covered with that beautiful abstract coral print on an ivory backdrop. Parts of the print have been deliberately 'aged' with tiny speckles of the coral splashing on them and a touch of lighter and darker corals mixed in. Bits of taupe are also worked in to create an antiqued feed to the incredible pattern that you see.
• The print is very detailed and quite beautiful. I love how the pattern is set to accentuate the curves of the body underneath the dress and build on the cut of the dress itself.
• The dress is suspended from two tiny straps in the same silk that curve up to tie behind the neck. The entire upper back is left bare and exposed and the front comes down in a soft drape. There is a little suspended weight that hangs inside the front drape to help hold it in place and there is a slight gathering on either side of the seams to add to that drape feel at the front.
• The dress curves in slightly at the waist and then curves back out over the hips. Everything is cut on the bias and there are no horizontal seams to break the pattern or the lines of the dress.
• The lower skirt flares out fantastically. It is the type of skirt that makes people obsessed with Cavalli pieces.
• The skirt is set in angles that point upwards into the hip area. Attached to follow the angles are silk chiffon ruffles. What is amazing about the ruffles is how they go up and down on angles to follow sections underneath from where they begin below the hip to all the way to the hem.
• The front angles upwards so that when you walk you get a flash of leg. At the back the skirt falls longer for a beautiful slight sweep behind you. 
• The incredible layers of ruffles are what give the fullness to the lower skirt. The extra fabric also gives you wonderful movement as you walk. 
• The dress is unlined and slips over the head to wear with no closures. It ties at the back of the neck. A little metal weight is hand sewn in a silk pouch along the edge of the front neckline. I see one tiny mark on the front neckline. The fabric has the darkening all through it and it is an intentional part of the print as described above but I have shown it in the same photo as the small mark so you can see what I am talking about. Once on, that small round mark falls inside the neck line and is not seen. The fabric is bias cut so will just drape more on a smaller frame. I have put the comfortable range of measurements below.
• Tagged a vintage Cavalli S
• Excellent condition with the minor note above.

Bust: the front covers up to 17.5" flat across from side to side
Waist: 14-16" flat across from side seam to side seam
Hips: 19-22.5" flat across from side seam to side seam
Total length: approximately 66" from the neck to the longest part of the hem and can be adjusted a bit by how you tie it around the neck.

Modern Sizing Equivalent: XS-MED

Item# DD5805

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 is from the Spring 2004 Valentino collection
• It was made under the creative direction of the original, Mr. Valentino
• We have included some photos from the Spring 2004 Valentino collection of dresses with similar elements to this one. 
• The dress is made out of a feather light black silk chiffon and the lightness of this fabric choice creates a soft and romantic feel as it floats over your body.
• The entire dress is cut to allow it to drape beautifully over the body and highlight your curves.
• The bodice is finished with tiny and precise pleats that wrap all the way around to the back. The top of the bodice is gathered into a sweetheart and the back sits on a slight curve to leave the upper back bare and exposed.
• A ruffled panel of black silk chiffon is set along straps that are meant to sit off the shoulder. Once this is on a body it will drape perfectly around the upper arm.
• Below that the waist nips in to follow the curve of the body.
• From there the skirt curves out and over the hips and the panels of chiffon that make up the skirt float around you as the skirt falls to the floor.
• The skirt is phenomenal. It is made of a series of vertical panels that are all set in around the waist. They are attached together to just under the hip and set so that they partially overlap each other as they fall to the floor. 
• Each panel is a long rectangle that widens out to curved ends with a matching black silk chiffon ruffle that runs all the way around the entire panel.
• The ruffle is smaller near the top of the hip and then widens out as it circles around the bottom of each panel.
• There is no inner lining under the panels. The overlapping and the multiple layers of the panels are what make the dress opaque enough to wear.  
• The silk chiffon that was used is feather light and the dress is a dream in person. The movement of the panels around you when you move is fantastic.
• The dress is fully lined in a black silk chiffon through the bodice and the skirt is constructed as described above. It closes with a hidden set side zipper.  It is in its original uncut length. I see a tiny repair near the hem and along a teeny section along on the bottom edge of one panel. Both these are extremely minor and mentioned for accuracy. It otherwise.appears to have been worn very little if at all.
• Tagged a vintage Valentino 6
• Excellent condition.

Bust: to 17" flat across from side seam to side seam
Waist: to 12.5" flat across from side seam to side seam
Hips: to 20" flat across from side seam to side seam
Bodice: approx 16" from the top of the shoulder to the waist and approximately 9.5" from the top of the bodice to the waist.
Total length: 64" from top of the shoulder to the hem. 

Modern Sizing Equivalent: XS-SML

Item# DD5802

Reference Photos: Spring 2004 Valentino.

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.