The designer of this dress, Sully Bonnelly had a bit of a hey day in the late 1990s. He worked as a designer for the houses of Bill Blass and Eli Tahari before launching his own collection in 1998. It retailed at Saks Fifth Avenue, Neiman Marcus, Bergdorf Goodman and other better stores around the world. He eventually went on to Oscar de la Renta and a more mass produced line but the pieces form his brief self-named label from this time period were of very good quality. This dress is from that time period and label and is wonderful.

Yards and yards of brilliant floral silk brocade with gold thread accenst have been used in this gown. The silk used is just incredible - it is a beautiful silk brocade with a coral red base and flowers woven through the silk to form that print you see. Layered over that into the fabric are gold accents that give the gown a subtle glow. The fabric choice allows it to hold that tremendous shape and silhouette without having to add any additional underpinnings. The bodice is strapless and fitted with curved front seams to follow and highlight the curves of you body to below the hip. The skirt flows from the bodice with no seam at the waist to break the line and is cut to sit sleek and simple at the front and then at the back it wonderfully dramatic and very full. The back skirt is also trained so flows out behind you in that dramatic swoop of fabric. The back itself dips into an almost impossible low V to leave a bare expanse. Those details combined with that spectacular floral print make it one of the best gowns I have seen from this time period ever. The color, the print, the fabric and the cut all add up to a wonderful, beautiful gown. Excellent condition.

Fully interlined in a red silk satin through the bodice and torso, the skirt is interlined with a white silk organza. The bodice has an additional lining in the same fabric and is boned and. The dress closes with a hidden set back metal zipper. The inner bodice closes with a hook & eye and a flat hook at the attached waist stay.

Bust: 18.5" flat across from side seam to side seam
Waist: 15" flat across from side seam to side seam
Hips: open
Length: 56" to the front hem from the top of the bodice, 66" to the back hem

Modern Sizing Equivalent: SML-MED

Item# DD2827

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

This collection was inspired by Zandra's trip to China. She came back with sketchbooks filled from her travels there and was particularly struck by "the trellises and fretwork used by the Chinese, framing everything, making squares, bordering each simple visual plane." This became the foundation for her 'Chinese Square" print that we see here on this dress. In between the angular print is her signature 'scribble heads' that appeared in several earlier collections. The overdress part of this piece appears on page 158 of the book 'The Art of Zandra Rhodes with her catalogue identification of 79/89.

The dress is made from a fine silk chiffon with a high rounded neckline that self ties at the back. The elbow length sleeves are constructed from squares of the Chinese Squares print and each is edged with beads, as is the the edging of the skirt and hip panels. The bodice is lined in a silk, whereas the skirt is constructed so that the silk chiffon panel at both the back and front lay over an interior, almost apron like, over a red jersey skirt in a matching red. Everything is attached at the elastic waist so that it just simply slips on. Beading on the shoulder at the front is the final perfect finish. A remarkable piece from one of her key collections. Excellent condition

The dress is done in the strong red that she used throughout this collection and it is a truer brighter red than how it photoed here. It slips on the wear with an elastic waist and a tie at the back neck. Hand beaded and hand rolled hem. There are a couple of areas were the beads the edge the panels of the over skirt are missing or have lost their coating, but none so bad that you would notice unless specifically hunting for it.

Sleeves: 14" approx.
Shoulders: no defined seam
Bust: 18" flat across from side seam to side seam
Elastic waist: 11-15" flat across from side seam to side seam
Hips: 17-21" flat across from side seam to side seam
Bodice: 14" from neck to waist
Skirt: 42" from waist to hem

Modern Sizing Equivalent: SML-MED

Item# DD2826

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

This matches the coat listed today and is a beautiful 1950s silk dress. It is made from a very fine, high end silk. The silk has a beautiful red thread woven through and used in the black silk base to create the beautiful little floral designs sprinkled over its surface. The red is not a true metallic thread but it seems to almost glow in real life. It is really something special and much better in person then how the camera has captured it here - the color is even richer and more true. (One thing to note - the color is a true red - in the label photo it has more of a orange hue and that is the camera lighting not the true color - the other photos are far closer) The little floral medallions are woven directly into the silk. The sweetheart neckline and front pleating detail on the bust are finished with a little romantic bow. The way this is set into the front bodice is a little unusual and very pretty once on. The dress itself is wonderfully cut with that shaped bodice and simple capped sleeves. The waist nips in and the skirt flares out into a gentle A-line. It is a nice light weight and very well made.  The shop label it still has was a high end one and I would not be surprised if this was a designer piece that has lost its label. Really it is a steal at this price. Excellent condition

Fully interlined in a black silk organza. It closes with a painted metal zipper at the back. Hand finished and beautifully made.

Shoulders: 16"
Bust: 20.5" flat across from side seam to side seam
Waist: 16" flat across from side seam to side seam
Hips: 21" flat across from side seam to side seam
Length: 38" from neck to hem

Modern Sizing Equivalent: MED-LRG

Item# E639

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

This matches the dress listed today and is a beautiful 1950s swing coat. It is made from a very fine, high end silk. The silk has a beautiful red thread woven through and used in the black silk base to create the beautiful little floral designs sprinkled over its surface. The red is not a true metallic thread but it seems to almost glow in real life. It is really something special and much better in person then how the camera has captured it here - the color is even richer and more true. (One thing to note - the color is a true red - in the label photo it has more of a orange hue and that is the camera lighting not the true color - the other photos are far closer) The little floral medallions are woven directly into the silk. The coat is cut with a looser, swing shape that is pure fifties. It has a large rounded collar and closes down the front with faceted raised jet black buttons. It has pocket flaps on each hip but they are decorative only. The sleeves end just past the elbows and the back has that wonderful swoop of fabric typical of the period. It is a nice light weight and very well made.  The shop label it still has was a high end one and I would not be surprised if this was a designer piece that has lost its label. Really it is a steal at this price. Excellent condition

Fully lined in a black silky rayon satin that has a pretty print woven though it that reminds me of the linings used for men's suiting in this time period. It closes with buttons down the front. Hand finished and beautifully made. The loose cut will allow it to fit a range of sizes

Sleeves: 18"
Shoulders: 16"
Bust: 23" flat across from side seam to side seam
Waist: 24" flat across from side seam to side seam
Hips: 25" flat across from side seam to side seam
Length: 41" from neck to hem

Modern Sizing Equivalent: SML-LRG

Item# C442

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

LaCroix was the master at creating the most fantastical gowns imaginable and I am immensely pleased to have this example of his work in the shop. This gown is absolutely beautiful and the colors and cut divine. It is made entirely from a fine, bias cut silk that combines a red-pink with deep pink dots strewn over its surface and covering every inch. The seaming is a nod to the 1930s and the asters like Gres and Vionnet and they are all angled and pieces together to crated curves and line. This cause the dress to curve around and hug the body while moving with you. The bodice is hand draped across the bust with one side sitting higher and suspended from a tiny strap while the other dips and is anchored by a wider strap. It curves on the bias, skims over the waist and flows to the dramatic skirting. Slits sit on either side of the front panel and these are kept from being scandalous with the wrapping of fabric at the sides. A panel of fabric is set into the back and this cascades to the floor and beyond in a beautiful train of silk. The bare back with its angled cut is the perfect finish. It is magnificent. Excellent condition

Fully lined in a silk organza and closes with a side set zipper. Tagged with the mainline demi-couture LaCroix tag and with a size 42 Tag. The bias cut will allow it to fit a larger range of sizes.

Bust: 15-20" flat across from side seam to side seam
Waist: 12-15" flat across from side seam to side seam
Hips: 18-21" flat across from side seam to side seam
Length: 63" from shoulder to front hem, 73" to end of train at the back

Modern Sizing Equivalent: SML-LRG

Item# DD2803

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

I have a version of this dress in black in the shop already and am excited to now have a red one too. There are 4 or 5 Burrows dresses that I always look for because they are just amazing examples of his work, and still hold strong today. This dress is one of those. It is made of a fine, slinky, sexy jersey in red. This one differs from the black in that it ties around the neck and angles down and around from there. It then falls in a beautiful bias cut and ends with an angled cut. All the edges are finished in his signature lettuce hem seaming. It is the front bodice that is truly spectacular - it showcases a design done in sequins, seed beads and tube beads that pop against the red. This is all hand done work and you can clearly see that on the opposite side of the fabric. It is magnificent and a real collectible from a truly amazing American Designer who was the first African American fashion designer to really achieve international recognition for his work. Burrows won three Coty awards (1973, 1974 and 1977). He was also one of the five American designers to show at Versailles in 1973 when America was pitted against the French couturiers. Excellent condition

There was recently an exhibit on his work called "When Fashion Danced" and it was the first major examination of Burrows' work. Here is what the museum said of his work: "Stephen Burrows: When Fashion Danced looks at the period spanning the 1970s when Stephen Burrows’s meteoric rise to fame made him not only the first African-American designer to gain international stature, but a celebrated fashion innovator whose work helped define the look of a generation. With vibrant colors, metallic fabrics, and slinky silhouettes that clung to the body, Burrows’s danceable designs generated a vibrant look that was of a piece with the glamorous, liberated nightlife of the era. Through photographs, drawings, and original garments, the exhibition will trace Burrows’s evolution from creating eclectic looks for his friends in the 1960s to his work with the chic 57th Street retailer Henri Bendel to the floor of Studio 54, as he dressed such 70s style icons as Cher, Liza Minnelli, and Diana Ross."

Unlined and slips over the head with no closures. Tagged a vintage 4 but please check actual measurements. The fabric does have stretch so will accommodate a range of sizes - the comfortable range of that stretch when laying flat is noted in the measurements.

Bust: variable as there are no true side seam
Waist: 15-19" flat across from side seam to side seam
Hips: 19-22" flat across from side seam to side seam
Length: approx 58-60" from top of shoulder to longest point of hem, 40-42" to the shortest depending on high you tie the neck

Modern Sizing Equivalent: XS-MED

Item# DD2802

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

This dramatic and beautiful silk dress is by Bill Blass and is magnificent. The gown is a masterpiece and I feel that it really is one of the highlights of his career and work. It really demonstrates aspects of his work that he touched upon again over the coming decades. I have dated it to the 1974-78 range based on other designs during this time period where he used fur cuffs like the ones on this dress. It is made from one of the best fabrics I have yet to see. The silk is feather light and a deep red that graduates to a chocolate around the hem. Fine gold lame thread create vertical stripes and on the skirt is an additional application of gold sequins - all applied by hand. It has a definitive nod to the 1930s in its cut but he has exaggerated some elements to keep it modern. The bodice crosses over itself and there is a silk chiffon tank set inside that adds some coverage. If you wanted a full plunge feel you could remove this. The sleeves are of course the showstopper. Each widens as it nears the cuff and the wide band of sable fur helps hold the wide bell shape, They are each a full 18" around. A brown silk ties sits at the waist so you can cinch in for shape as much as you desire. The skirt falls on a perfect sheath to the floor.  A real treasure and important and beautiful gown. Excellent condition.

The dress has a full attached second dress underneath in a brown silk chiffon. Closes with a back painted metal set zipper. An inner waist stay inside hooks to close. Hand finished and hand set sequins.

Sleeves: 24" approx.
Shoulders: no defined seam
Bust: 18" flat across from side seam to side seam
Waist: 14" flat across from side seam to side seam
Hips: 22" flat across from side seam to side seam
Bodice: 15.5" from neck to waist
Skirt: 42" from waist to hem

Modern Sizing Equivalent: SML-MED

Item# DD2800

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

This Halston IV pant and tunic set, is a made from an easy to care for, easy to wear silky synthetic that is light and easy and that you can wash and wear. The simple, classic design makes it is an easy way to be instantly dressed up and still entirely comfortable. This easy to wear and style set can go from the beach to entertaining at home with flats, to full on evening glamor. You can wear then pieces together or as separates and the tunic is just long enough that you could probably get away with wearing it as a micro-mini. The pants are cut with straight, wide legs and slip on. Over that the tunic sits with a loose cut. Wonderful piece with all the lines you love from Halston at a far more reasonable cost. Excellent condition.

Unlined and slips on to wear with elastic on the waist of the pants and a tie at the neck of the tunic.

Tunic
Sleeves: 26" approx.
Shoulders: no defined seam
Bust: 22" flat across from side seam to side seam
Waist: 22" flat across from side seam to side seam
Hips: 24" flat across from side seam to side seam
Length: 32.5" from neck to hem

Pant
Waist: 14-17" flat across from side seam to side seam
Hips: 21" flat across from side seam to side seam
Length: 42.5" from waist to hem
Inseam: 32"

Modern Sizing Equivalent: SML-MED

Item# DD2799

Reference photo by Rico Puhlmann for Harper's Bazaar, June 1974.
(Click here to see Laura McLaws Helms' article on our blog, Curated, which features this full editorial >)

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

This beautiful Bill Blass dress is so easy to wear and yet makes a huge impact style-wise. It is made from a deep burgundy silk chiffon which makes it extremely light in weight. It really feels like nothing once you have it on the body. Woven though the silk are wavy stripes in a gold lame thread. These curve over the dress and sash in three different densities which gives the dress texture and visual interest. On the bodice the striped are set horizontally and are wide and curving with little peaks of the silk between them. On the skirt they are set vertically and the gold is skinny and the silk part wide, so you get the full impact of the color of the silk. And on the wide, extra long sash, you have equal sized stripes of gold and silk. The cut is so easy to wear. The dress slips on and the top is cut loose with a wide boat neck. The waist is cut wide - on a smaller frame you use the belt to cinch it in. The skirt cascades to the floor from there in a pretty flow of silk. I love it. Excellent condition

The top is unlined and the skirt is lined in second layer of chiffon. It closes with a low set back painted metal zipper and buttons from the waist to the neck above that. Each sleeve has elastic as its cuff. The sash tie is very long so you can wrap and style it numerous ways. You could even wrap it and use it as a headscarf if you wished.

Sleeves: 23" approx.
Shoulders: no defined seam
Bust: open
Waist: 14" flat across from side seam to side seam
Hips: open
Bodice: 19.5" from neck to waist
Skirt: 43" from waist to hem

Modern Sizing Equivalent: SML-MED

Item# DD2798

Reference Photos: Cherie, Owner of Shrimpton Couture, for her weekly style column on our blog Curated. (Photos by Erin Leydon) Click here to see the full column >

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

Norma Kamali opened her OMO shop in 1978 and I believe this to be one of the early labels from that before she moved to the non-italic script versions. It is not 100% perfect but such a early and representative piece form that time period of her work that it had to go into the shop for her fans and collectors to have access to.  Off the hanger the dress looks incredibly tiny but the T-short like fabric allows it a lot of stretch and it easily for on my mannequin. The dress is strapless and done in a brilliant red. The bodice is gathered and fits like a glove to the waist and then it flares out to form a hip peplum. Under that is a second layer of jersey that acts as the lining  and support for the bodice and also is a full fitted dress to the knee. I love the exaggerated and dramatic lines of the hip flare on that top tier. Over this is a tiny fitted bolero that is just curved fabric with sleeves, huge round padded shoulders and a collar. Really well done and the photos don't do it full justice at all. Present as excellent condition with notes to read below

Both pieces are unlined and slip on with no closures. The dress looks incredibly tiny off the body but does stretch quit a bit. The bolero has various storage marks on it - they are dark smudges. I have photoed the worst of them. It is still wearable as is but these are there. The T-short fabric shows a tiny amount of patina from being washed. 

Bolero
Sleeves: 17" approx.
Shoulders: no defined seam
Bust: open
Length: 18" from neck to hem

Dress
Bust: Will stretch to about a 34-35" bust max and fit anything under that
Waist: 12-13" flat across from side seam to side seam
Hips: 16-16.5" flat across from side seam to side seam
Length: 38" from top of waist to hem

Modern Sizing Equivalent: XS-SML

Item# DD2782

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

If you are a regular you will recognize this dress. I have had it in the shop for a bit. The owner of this is motivated to sell and it is a brand new price now - about 1/2 of what it was previously. So if you have been eyeing it up now is the time. Personally I am astounded that it has not already flown out the door as it is exquisitely beautiful and one of the best pieces form him that I have ever seen. It feels as fresh and relevant now as when it was made in 2002.

The dress is exquisite and only 20 of these with this rose print were produced worldwide. It is from the "Dance of the Twisted Bull" Collection of 2002. Digitally produced roses flow across the fabric and get denser as they near the hem. The dress is constructed with two layers of the silk chiffon fabric layered over each other so that you get this fantastic sense of depth with the screened design showing through. Each sleeve flows down the arm and then ends in a tiered full cuff whose edges are left raw. The skirt has that same deconstructed treatment to its hem and is  made from layers of silk set over each other. It skims over the hips and then cascades into different lengths that float around you as you move. The neckline is beautiful and has ties that curve up and around the neck and can be tied several ways. The shoulders are left bare.  You can instantly see the Spanish influence that Alexander McQueen strove for in this piece. It is a even more beautiful in person. Excellent condition.

The McQueen site says of the  collection: Body-skimming jersey cutaway to mimic harnessing is paired with sharp, low-slung tailoring, crisp white shirts are layered with laced corsetry in traditional Savile Row fabrics. Jewel encrusted epaulettes, polka dots, ruffled, tiered skirts and more crafted out of what look like Spanish fans are all executed with the complexity of pattern and attention to detail the designer is known for.", and Style.com's review said: "The Dance of the Twisted Bull" was the title of Alexander McQueen's highly anticipated collection, his first since partnering with Gucci Group and deciding to show in Paris. McQueen pulled off a bravura, Latin-themed romp. One particularly theatrical dress came equipped with banderillas—the long spears with which bullfighters pique bulls—that seemed to impale the wearer in order to support a long ruffled train in the back. Another, a severely deconstructed blood-red señorita dress, had part of a jacket attached at the waist, while a matador-inspired strapless gown featured a built-in sword. An assortment of polka-dotted frocks were layered over matching stockings, and cinched with corsetlike straps and holster-inspired tops. Alongside these dramatic statements came plenty of carefully tailored, eminently wearable clothes, deftly proving McQueen's ability to mix iconoclastic statements with commercially viable product. Razored jackets were softened via seashell-like pleated skirts with gently upturned fronts; flared-sleeve eyelet shirts, layered skirts, and embroidered white jeans all looked confident, as did the cut-out dresses and sharp-as-a-tack toreador suits." The full show is shown below.

Fully lined in a second layer of the same printed silk chiffon with more layers in the skirt. It closes with a hidden side zipper and the halter can be tied in several ways. Hand finishes. Purposely deconstructed edges. Museum quality

Bust: to 18" flat across from side seam to side seam
Waist: 13" flat across from side seam to side seam
Hips: to 18" max flat across from side seam to side seam
Length: 57" from top of shoulder to longest points of the asymmetrical hem but it is cut on the bias so will come up some when on the body as bias cut dresses do

Modern Sizing equivalent: XS-SML

Item# DD939

Reference runway photos from style.com / Third reference photo from the ediorial "Dark Angel" Vogue UK, March 2015 by Tim Walker.  Stylist: Kate Phelan.  /  Last three photos: Amanda Lee Shirreffs. Click here to see her original blog post on this look >

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

Halston is one of those rare labels that the more time that goes by it actually feels more relevant. It is easy to think of this piece as both a treasured collectible and a closet staple - knowing that every time you slip it on you will look and feel amazing. It has his signature simplicity and masterful draping along with a touch of Studio 54 sexiness thrown in. The dress is made from a deep red, light wool jersey and simply slips on and you hook it into place at the waist. The front crosses over itself with a mid-level plunge that the placement of the fabric and interior hooks hold in place so that you feel safe wearing it. It is cut with the absolute minimal seaming - you can clearly see this especially at the sleeves and how there are no seams to attached them to the bodice, rather they just extend from the same fabric. It is cut on the bias, then wraps and drapes to follow your every curve. The skirt is lean and again it is the crossing over of the fabric that gives you the coverage to wear it and feel secure. The wrapped styling allows the entire front to look like you could step out of the dress at any moment but it is designed to stay in place. The waist is elastic so very comfortable and you could really cinch it in further with a belt. This is signature Halston Studio 54 sexiness but in a dress that you can wear day or night. Excellent condition.

Unlined and wraps to close with flat hooks inside and out at the waist to hold it in place. The waist could be adjusted approx 1" up or down by moving the hooks and has elastic running through it. The wool jersey is a very comfortable and easy weight and feels fabulous on.

Sleeves: 24" approx.
Shoulders: no defined seam
Bust: approx 16-17" flat across but has no true side seams
Waist: 11.5-15" flat across from side seam to side seam
Hips: 20" flat across from side seam to side seam
Bodice: 16" from neck to waist
Skirt: 31.5" from waist to hem

Modern Sizing Equivalent: XS-MED

Item# DD2781

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

This is an exceptional dress. It is a stunning example of his work during this time period and these metallic pieces are among my favorites by him. The base fabric is a red silk chiffon and it is lined in a red silk organza. Woven onto and through the silk is a gold lurex thread that gives the fabric a two dimensional pop and makes it gleam and glitter in the light. That gold cover the dress with the red silk that is left forming the pattern you see. I love how each bit of red has a slightly different weave of gold around its border so you get a different effect and each is highlighted even more. The neckline is a cut into a low V that plunges to the high set waistline and the bodice is balanced beautifully by those spectacular sleeves. Each sleeve is cut so that it widens as it reaches its hem and then it is edged in a wide border of silk ribbon and split up one side. That same ribbon edging goes around the neckline and circles the waist in a double row. At the front center of the waist is a fabulous embellishment of coiled red and gold fabric. This all tops the skirt that is set into the waist with a series of soft folds. It flows to the floor from there, widening as it nears the floor with yards and yards of fabric. It is a beautiful and dramatic piece of vintage couture. Excellent condition.

Fully lined in a red silk organza with the sleeves left unlined. It closes with a back painted metal & nylon zipper and hook & eye at the neck. Hand finished. Far more a true gold in person. Unlabelled

Sleeves: 22.5"
Shoulders: 15.5"
Bust: 18-19" flat across from side seam to side seam
Waist: 14" flat across from side seam to side seam
Hips: to 24.5" flat across from side seam to side seam
Bodice: 14" from shoulder to middle seam at waist
Skirt: 43" from middle seam at waist to hem

Modern Sizing Equivalent: SML-MED

Item# DD2778

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

This little red jersey dress is really amazing if for nothing else but the sheer versatility it will provide to you. It is basically a tube of red jersey with a slit up one seam at the skirt and two mile long ties that extend up from that seam. Those ties are miles long and fall almost tot he hem at the back which gives the back its own drama. This gives you the versatility to tie so many ways it's ridiculous. You just step into it and get creative. I tied it a few ways for the photos and just realized as I am writing up this description that you could probably turn it to the side and do a few version of a single shoulder dress and also drop it and tie it at the waist for a long skirt. It is so forgiving on the body and flattering. It's a definite statement maker with that brilliant red color and it is like buying a dozen dresses in one. Add to that a low scooped back that leave your back bare and it is a knock-out. The fabric is a synthetic jersey that is washable, travels exceptionally well and won't wrinkle. I love it. It is fabulous. Excellent condition

Made from a single layer of the jersey. It slips on the wear and then you tie it as you wish. The fabric has stretch so it will fit a range of sizes. I have given the comfortable range of stretch when measured flat below.

Bust: variable since it has no true side seams and has stretch
Waist to hip: 18-20" flat across from side seam to side seam
Length: somewhat adjustable but approx 59" from neck to hem and it will vary a little depending on how you tie it at the neck

Modern Sizing Equivalent: XS-LRG

Item# E633

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

This beautiful tank from Halston is an absolute dream dress and a shining example of his aesthetic. It is made from a bias cut, red silk jersey. It is a simple construction that uses  a single layer of the fabric so it skims over the body and highlights every curve. One of Halston's signatures was to construct pieces with the absolute minimal seaming and this is a stunning example of how he executed that ideal. The dress is a simple tank style that falls to the floor in a beautiful column of silk jersey that gradually widens as it nears the hem. By the time you get to the lower skirt of the dress there is an amazing amount of fabric in the skirt. The front and back dip down in a scoop and it is just that perfect example of the American sportswear movement of this time period that still incorporated an easy kind of sexuality. It presents as excellent condition but does have some small flaws to review in the condition notes below.

It is made from a single layer of red silk jersey and closes with a back painted metal zipper. The dress has a few small marks and spots on the skirt and an odd little "wave" pattern that seems to run through the fabric on the side lower skirt oddly - this can happen with this fabric if it is not stored properly for extended periods of time. All of this negligible and I photoed the worst bits, There is so much fabric on the lower portion of the dress that once on you don't notice any of this.  Because of the stretch of the fabric there is some give to the measurements listed.

Bust: 11-16" flat across from side seam to side seam
Waist: 11-15" flat across from side seam to side seam
Hips: 20-24" flat across from side seam to side seam
Length: 58" from shoulder strap to hem

Modern Sizing Equivalent: XS-SML

Item# DD2764

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

This exception 1920s cape by Adair is utterly amazing and a true work of art. The Adair atelier was based in Paris and made beaded pieces to export into the American market. The pieces were based on the Haute Couture ateliers of the day and the work was done entirely by hand. They were one step away from being couture pieces themselves but did not have the official designation by the La Chambre syndicale de la haute couture. The cape is made from a luxurious deep red silk that drapes to perfection once on. The collar is gathered and padded with a ruffled top so it stands up and frames the neck and face. This closes with a simple series of flat hooks at the front. From there the cape falls to the knee area in a cascade of silk. Onto this is a dense pattern done in a variety of glass tube beads in black, white and a silver and these absolutely pop off the red silk. It is stunning. They add the perfect bit of weight so the cape hangs perfectly. It is an absolute treasure of a find and such a rarity to find a piece this old and in this condition considering it is entirely original and so many of the pieces you see at market at this level of condition have had restoration work done to them. Excellent antique condition.

Unlined and closes at the neck with three hook & eye. I do see a small amount of beads missing here and there and a thinning of the fabric across each shoulder where I suspect it was hung at some point during its life. Please review the photos. For an original piece that is now almost 100 years old I would rate this as excellent overall condition

Length: 46" from neck to hem

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

Modern Sizing Equivalent: OSFA

Item# C438

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

Valentino knows how to cut a dress to perfectly flatter a woman's body. Few designers can come close to the masterful techniques he perfected over the decades of his prolific career. This is an exceptional example of his work and it is very beautiful and striking. It has that feeling of simplicity that the nineties epitomized and yet, still feels modern and fresh. The almost weightless silk chiffon is completely cut on the bias and has been dyed his signature Valentino red. It is cut to drape perfectly over the body, skimming over your curves to flatter and fit perfectly. The color is absolutely fantastic - the perfect clear red that flatters most skin tones. I think it is even better in person then how it has photoed. If you know Valentino's work, then you know the exact shade this red is in person. The top is cut asymmetrically and angles across the top of the bust where it is suspended from one shoulder by a wide panel. This then turns into a cap sleeve on the other shoulder that has a ruffled finish that trails down the side. The back drops to a deep V for a sexy finish. From that spectacular cut bodice, the skirt drapes to the floor in a column of bias cut silk. A long ruffled is gathered in a offset ruching from the hip to the top of the bust and more fabric highlights the slit in the skirt. It is just stunning on the body. Excellent condition

Made of two layers of the red, bias cut silk chiffon. It closes with a back hidden set zipper. Hand finishes. Tagged a Valentino 12 but please check the actual measurements. It is cut on the bias so there is some give in size up or down.

Bust: 18-21" flat across from side seam to side seam
Waist: 16-17" flat across from side seam to side seam
Hips: to 23" flat across from side seam to side seam
Length: 57" from shoulder to hem

Modern Sizing Equivalent: MED-LRG

Item# DD2390

Reference Photos: (1) Valentino Runway

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

When I started to hunt for reference ohotos to date this dress I found these from the 1984-85 Haute Couture collection. You can see the similar technique sued through the bodice ruching and the skirt. This Valentino boutique version is based on that collection. I have had a version of this before that had a one shoulder silhouette but I think I love this dramatic backless version even more. The silk taffeta skirt is dramatic and full and is his signature Valentino red. It is cut to be full and dropped from the fitted upper torso. I love that the net underskirt has a full 13" hem of the same silk the bodice is constructed from so if you lift the outer skirt up or when you sit you get this wonderful flash of that pattern peeking out from underneath. The bodice is a fabulous. It is is fitted to hug the body from the shoulders to the hip. Screened silk chiffon is hand draped into tiny soft pleats so the entire bodice is gathered and ruched. It has bold shoulders that have pads underneath. If you wanted a softer feel you could easily remove these. And as dramatic as the front is you have equal drama when you turn as the back is scooped with a deep curve that leave the back bare. It is fabulous and presents as excellent condition with some small notes to review below.

The top is lined in a black silk and the skirt has a net and silk trimmed underskirt. It closes with a hidden set side zipper. Padding in the shoulders. The exterior skirt layers of the skirt has some slight discoloration here and there. It is fairly faint and even and with all the fabric and volume you do not notice it when on but it is apparent if you lay it flat and look at the fabric spread out. I have priced it significantly lower then I would otherwise but you can honestly wear this as is and when on, no one would notice the small flaws.

Shoulders: no defined seam
Bust: 16-17" flat across from side seam to side seam
Waist: 12" flat across from side seam to side seam
Hips: 18.5" flat across from side seam to side seam
Bodice: 24" from neck to dropped waist
Skirt: 37" from neck to hem

Modern Sizing Equivalent: XS-SML

Item# DD2751

Reference Photos: (1) Evening dress with draped bodice in pink silk jersey and matching silk skirt from Valentino haute couture Fall/Winter 1984-85 collection. Photo by Mark Arbeit captured in Rome's via Condotti.  /  (2) Valentino 1984 evening gown, illustration by Tony Viramontes.

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

Travilla began as a costume designer before opening his own custom atelier in the 1950s. One of his most famous dresses was the iconic dress worn by Marilyn Monroe scintillating for the movie The Seven Year Itch. He closed his label in 1970 and then re-opened it in Spain where he designed form 1977 to 1990 when he passed away. This dress dates to the earlier endeavor in America we know it is from the 1960s. His work during this time period can be considered demi-couture and this gown is almost entirely, if not entirely made by hand. This dress is extraordinary. It is exquisite in both cut and design. The fabric is beautiful and I love that it is entirely covered in sequins over every inch of the dress. Under that covering of hand sewn sequins is a silk organza with a pretty pattern in deep red and coral. Onto that is a dense covering of hand applied, clear glossy sequins that give the dress a subtle shimmer. The front plunges right to the velvet ribbon waist detailing and the back ends just below that same velvet ribbon that circles the waist. The interior is lined in a silk chiffon that has the same print as the exterior layer even though you would never see this once the dress is on. The lining is entirely hand set. From that plunging hater, the skirt is falls to the floor and is constructed from yards and yards of fabric. It is absolutely beautiful when you move. If you love it in the photos you will be delighted when you see it in person. Excellent condition.

Fully lined in a high grade silk chiffon that is printed. Through the bodice and to the waist it is lined in an additional layer of silk that is the same print as the exterior chiffon. This double layer gives it a slight padding so you can go bare underneath. There are modesty panels sewn under each arm - these could be removed if you want the sides to plunge to the ribbon detailing like the front and back do. It closes at the front with a low zipper below the velvet banding and a series of hook & eye and snaps hidden under the front flat bow. Hand finished.

Bust: 15-16" flat across from side seam to side seam
Waist at band: 14" flat across from side seam to side seam
Hips: open
Bodice: 12" from top of bodice to waist
Skirt: 44" from waist to hem

Modern Sizing Equivalent: XS-SML

Item# DD2280

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

This is one of my favorite pieces of Dior that I have had in the shop. It has both a very innovative design and is visually very beautiful. The fabric is a crisp polished silk with a romantic floral design screened over its surface. I love the soft cherry red mixed with the palest cafe au lait. Each flower and stem is also edged with a fine line in coral that highlights the design. The cut is genius. It nips in at the waist and the skirt is set in a series of soft gathers around the waist. This allows it to flare gently out without adding a large amount of volume. The bodice also gathers softy into the waist for just a hint of blousing and then curves up to a high, square cut neckline. At the back you have two layers to the construction, the interior layer has a single shoulder and curves down on the other side. Over this is a panel of fabric that hooks into place at the shoulder so it is sits deliberately out a touch from the dress. This gives it a wrap over effect that is very pretty. The matching fabric belt circles the waist to add shape. I adore the flat bow that sits at the top of the shoulder. The dress also came with a small length of finished fabric that I have tied in a bow at the waist on the opposite side which is where I believe it was intended. Excellent, museum quality condition.

Interlined in a fine white silk muslin and closes with a back handset painted metal zipper and that back panel closes with hook & eye at the shoulder. The belt is attached and hooks to close. Note the color in person is a soft combination of a red-pink and a soft cherry red. It photoed as a little more of a coral color and is much prettier in person. Appears to have never been worn 

Bust: to 18" flat across from side seam to side seam
Waist: 12.5" flat across from side seam to side seam
Hips: open
Bodice: 15" from neck to waist
Skirt: 24.5" from waist to hem

Modern Sizing Equivalent: XS-SML

Item# DD2744

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

I love this great little Yves Saint Laurent coat that is made of a luxurious deep garnet colored velvet. I have had a couple of coats similar to this one before but each one I have had before this one had a Rive Gauche tag whereas this one has the couture YSL tag. That makes it that extra bit special. It is not a numbered tag and I believe this was the tag used for customs or special orders so this would be considered to be demi-couture. The cut of the jacket is loose and easy and reminds me a bit of a painter's smock with a nod to the renaissance period thrown in for good measure. The sleeves are fabulous with each of them cut with a bit of volume over a extra wide cuff that you can wear flipped up or unfolded. The body of the jacket is cut so that it widens out a it as it nears the hem. It buttons to close all down the front and pockets set on each hip. I love the top stitching detail around the shoulder that carries through and around the upper back. Fabulous and a great way to mix in a little vintage Yves Saint Laurent into your current wardrobe. Excellent condition.

Fully lined in a deep red silk and buttons down the front. Front pockets at each hip. Hand finishes. I see a couple of flat spots on the velvet and the pricing reflects this. They are very minor.

Sleeves: 25"
Slightly inset shoulders: 14.5"
Bust: 21" flat across from side seam to side seam
Waist: 23.5" flat across from side seam to side seam
Hips: 25.5" flat across from side seam to side seam
Length: 40" from neck to hem

Modern Sizing Equivalent: SML-MED

Item# C435

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