For the Resort collection of 2013, Angela Missoni said that she 'looked at Chinese porcelain and British pottery, for its delicate brushstroke motifs, picked out in embroidery on knits, and the somewhat less delicate intarsias that looked like smashed fragments pieced back together.' The result of that were beautiful pieces like this dress that re-imagined the classic Missoni look in a new unexpected way.

This was Look 26 in the presentation and sold out worldwide once it landed in the shops. It is a figure skimming halter dress in a fine knit that showcases a variation of the Missoni signature zigzag. Here it is refined and made more delicate. The different way that the design has been manipulated before it is applied to the knit gives it that wonderful design that creates the pattern from shoulder to hem. The entire dress is then covered in clear sequins. The sequins are done in two sizes - a small sequin and a very tiny version. This changing of the sequin sizes creates its own secondary pattern over the knit base and the effect is wonderful. The entire dress shimmers as it catches the light. The knit base is backed in a fine silk chiffon that allows the dress to drape over the body and molds to hugs your curves but in a relaxed and easy way that makes it even sexier. It looks to have never been worn and is cut supermodel long. I love it. Excellent condition

Fully lined in a white silk chiffon and slips on to wear with no closures. Tagged a modern 42. The fabric does have some stretch and the measurements provided are the comfortable range when laying flat. It appears to have never been worn.

Bust: 15-18" flat across from side seam to side seam
Waist: 14-16" flat across from side seam to side seam
Hips: 18-20" flat across from side seam to side seam
Length: 63" from top of shoulder to waist

Modern Sizing Equivalent: SML-MED

Item# DD3153

Reference Photo: Missoni Resort 2013, Look 26

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 extraordinary and exquisite 1920s bias cut gown is made from a spectacular mix of real metallic gold thread woven through a deep burgundy silk. It is truly a masterpiece and a work of art. I am extremely pleased to have it in the shop as gowns like this from this period and in this condition are becoming harder and harder to find. The color mix is superb. To find one in a mix of a deep burgundy and gold like this is very unusual. The fluidity of the fabric cannot be conveyed and it has a rich, luxurious feel to it. In person the gold is the predominant color and the mix of the real metal thread in the silk is amazing. It is done to form a floral pattern that runs over the dress from shoulder to hem. The cut is very simple but extremely well executed with wide straps extending out from the halter cut of the bodice and curving over the shoulders. The front is set in a deep plunge and the fabric here crosses over itself slightly. At the back it dips equally as low but here the plunge s rounded at it base. From just under the bust and all the way round the fabric is gathered and curved to follow the body. The gathers meet down the center on both sides in an elaborate panel of ruching. Below this the skirt falls to the floor and is set along the lower edge of the fitted bodice portion of the dress is a series of soft pleats. This gives the skirt extra volume and movement. The middle front seam of the skirt is left partially open from the hem so you get an extra peak of leg when you move. It is entirely cut on the bias and drapes beautifully once on the body, moving around you like liquid. It is a remarkable example of the work being done during this time period and is really a treasure. The color is still vivid and the fabric remains strong & wearable. It is a very high end, excellently constructed garment. Excellent overall condition. Museum quality and rare with a few minor notes to review below

Unlined and slips on to wear with a row of metal hook and eye down the side to close it. Hand finishes throughout. There may be the occasional darkening to the lame here and there but nothing outstanding or readily apparent and this is a natural occurrence to this type of fabric. I do not consider this to be a flaw and any tiny areas only add to the patina of this outstanding gown. For a piece that is almost 100 years old is it to be considered in outstanding, museum quality condition. I see a couple of small flaws. There is a small area of thinning of the fabric in the skirt that is just off side the front middle seam. It appears stable and I chose to leave it as it gets lost in the folds once the dress is one. There is an older repair to the hem of the skirt - I have photoed both the front and back where it was reinforced (the 2nd and 3rd last photo). Please review the last three photos to see these areas mentioned. The fabric does have some stretch since it is all cut on the bias - the under bust measurement is fixed with no give - if you fit that then the size may otherwise fit a range of sizes.

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.

Seam Under bust: 13.5" flat across from side seam to side seam with no give
Waist: to 14" flat across from side seam to side seam
Seam just above hips: to 17" flat across from side seam to side seam
Hips under the lowest seam: open
Bodice: 13" from top of shoulder to seam under the bust, approx 23" from shoulder to lowest seam just above the hips
Length: 60" from shoulder to hem

Modern Sizing Equivalent: XS-MED

Item# E655

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 exceptional dress is by Marc Bohan for Christian Dior and it is a wonderful example of his work during this time period. It is not perfect but I believe its flaws could be reinforced. Please make sure to read the entire description and review the provided photos before purchasing. Its an exceptional piece and offered at a dramatically discounted price as a result of its small flaws.

It was in the late 1960s that Bohan was doing these wonderful metallic detailed dresses for Dior and the results were stupendous. The red silk chiffon base is as light as a feather and there are literally yards and yards of fabric used to make this dress. Woven through the silk is a winding flower and vine design that is entirely made form a gold lurex thread which gives the dress its metallic finish. The gold is used from neck to hem and catches the light as you move. The neckline is high and the bodice is set above a empire waist that is detailed with a wide red silk ribbon that is attached and hooks to close at the back. This is balanced by long sleeves that has a bit of volume to it above the cuffs. The skirt is fabulous and has a tremendous amount of fabric it, falling to the floor from under the red ribbon. It also has a extremely large shawl scarf piece that is made form the same fabric and I think you could easily use some of the fabric from that to reinforce the flaws. The flaws are as follows. There is stress and small tears to the fabric at the seams under each arm and near the seams. I see some very small starts of this near the seam of the top of the shoulder. There are a couple of large areas on the fabric of the skirt that also show small tears and weakening. Please review all photos provided that are shown after the label shot and read any extra details concerning condition below. Otherwise it is in great condition and presents very well

The skirt is fully lined in a red silk with the sleeves left unlined. It closes with a back painted metal & nylon zipper and hook & eye just above the zipper of the low back. The ribbon belt hooks to close. Each sleeve buttons to close and one button is missing. Hand finishes. Please read above concerning weak areas of the fabric. There may be additional teeny tiny areas I missed. The scarf could be used to reinforce the weak areas or even to recreate and replace them as it is huge. This would easily be priced for $3500 if perfect so is a tremendous bargain for the person willing to put in a little work on it. It is sold as a final sale

Sleeves: 25"
Shoulders: 14.5"
Bust: 17.5" flat across from side seam to side seam
Waist: 14.5" flat across from side seam to side seam
Hips: 22" flat across from side seam to side seam of inner lining
Bodice: 11" from top of bodice to waist
Skirt: 43" from waist to hem

Shawl: 94" x 43"

Modern Sizing Equivalent: XS-SML

Item# DD3151

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 found a reference photo for a similar version of this dress that American Socialite Slim Keith wore to the Metropolitan Museum of Art Gala in New York City, in December of 1979. Barring the fact that she could have pulled this from her closet, that effectively dates it to the fall of 1979.

This dress is magnificent and I personally own the twin of this one so I can attest to how wonderful it is once on. The dress has elements of his work that he would touch on continuously over the coming decades. It is also a wonderful example of  just how sophisticated and glamorous he could be. The silk chiffon he used for the base is feather light and has a fine gold, metallic lurex thread that is woven through the silk to create vertical stripes. On the skirt, hand applied sequins are scattered over the fabric and follow the gold lines of the fabric. The sequins catch the light beautifully and add another dimension and texture to the dress. There is a subtle leaf print that runs through the silk. The design is done so that is is very light at the top of the dress and then it gradually deepens and takes over the red until it graduates to a chocolate color around the hem. The dress has a nod to the 1930s in its cut but he has exaggerated some of the elements to keep it modern. The bodice crosses over itself and there is a silk chiffon inset under the semi-sheer exterior layer of silk. The sleeves come out from the bodice and each widens as it nears the cuff. The cuffs are both finished with an 18" band of fur that is either a mink or a sable. This finishing touch gives them weight and helps to hold the wide bell shape. Note that for those opposed to fur it would be an easy task to remove then as the sleeves are finished properly underneath.. The effect with the cuffs removed would be more like the reference photo of Slim wearing hers. They could also be switch out for a faux fur for the same effect. A brown silk ties cinches the waist and the skirt has a slit up the front to balance the plunge. Excellent condition.

Fully lined in a brown silk chiffon inner, attached slip. It closes with a back painted metal set zipper. An inner waist stay inside hooks to close. Hand finished and hand set sequins.All hand finished to demi-couture standards. The cuffs have perhaps the slightest of wear to the edges but are soft and supple.

Sleeves: 24" approx.
Shoulders: no defined seam
Bust: to 18" flat across from side seam to side seam
Waist: 14" flat across from side seam to side seam
Hips: to 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

Reference Photos: (1-3) Cherie, Owner of Shrimpton Couture, by Erin Leydon.  /  (4) Socialite Slim Keith in Bill Blass (left) at the Metropolitan Museum of Art Gala in New York City, 1979.

I have a small collection of historically important, key designer labelled vintage furs, fur trimmed & feather pieces stored away in my archives that I will be slowly posting on the site over the next couple of years until I have none left. I will no longer be buying furs for the shop moving forward and have not purchased anything for several years now. I feel like times have changed and while there still is a place for vintage furs for some, including collectors and historians, many modern girls are choosing other options. Many of the pieces in my collection are representative of the designer during a set time period in history that was different then our modern outlook. I have decided that the best course to handle this controversial issue is to let the pieces I have go rather then sit in a cold storage unit. All fur coats, fur trimmed & feather pieces are final sale

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 the stark lines of this Geoffrey Beene dress and the contrast between the deep burgundy panels and the deeper cream parts of the dress. The two colors are set so that they become an integral part of the design and add both interest and length as the eye is pulled from the neck to the floor. The neck is high in a modified turtleneck that has a more sleek then slouched feel. The sleeves are long and lean and the bodice skims over the bust into the seamed waist where it softly, and just slightly, poufs over the seam there. The skirt flares out in a widening line from the waist to fall to the floor. The back is all the one burgundy color but the front has inset jersey panels done in a soft taupe cream color. These swoop down in a V on the top and are set as an inset panel of fabric in the skirt. This helps to add to the volume of the skirt and creates an interesting visual effect. The way it closes is fascinating with three different zippers layered and placed so that no bulk is created but that each element of the dress stays perfectly in place. Excellent condition

The top is lined with a inner taupe layer of the jersey and the skirt is unlined. It closes with three zippers, one that closes the inner jersey lining, a second long on that runs from the outside neck down inside the skirt and the last on the outer skirt. A zipper is also set at the end of each sleeve. The fabric has some stretch but the waist measurement is set and will not stretch further

Sleeves: 24"
Shoulders: 14.5"
Bust: 16-18" flat across from side seam to side seam
Waist: 12.5" flat across from side seam to side seam
Hips: open
Bodice: 15" from top of bodice to waist
Skirt: 44" from waist to hem

Modern Sizing Equivalent: XS-SML

Item# DD3141

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

Sybil Connolly was based in Dublin and her first major fashion show as a designer in her own right was in 1953 and quickly became a darling of the American market. Jacqueline Kennedy wore  Connolly for her official White House portrait and Connolly was a particular favorite of Carmen Snow, the editor of Harper's Bazaar. In 1957 she launched her couture label. She created Haute Couture pieces made from Irish textiles and in particular she became famous for her distinctive use of  pleated handkerchief linen. This excerpt from the FDIM Museum explains Sybil Connolly's techniques:

"Sybil Connolly's trademark gowns required a tremendous amount of fabric. To construct one pleated evening dress required between 72 and 90 yards of Irish handkerchief linen. After undergoing a secret pleating process, this initial yardage became 7 to 10 yards of slightly irregular, narrow linen pleats. Like the early 20th century designer Mario Fortuny, Sybil Connolly was very protective of her pleating process, swearing that it was a secret she would "carry to the grave." In her designs, Connolly usually oriented the pleats horizontally, covering the seams with self-fabric cording. The cords also lengthen the overall line of the garment, providing a counterbalance to the horizontal pleats. As Connolly tended towards solid colors, the stiff cording also provides a necessary visual contrast to the soft linen pleats."

Connolly was named the 'Dior of Dublin' by the press and rightly so. This dress is not 100% perfect but still a stunning example of the pleating techniques as described above. This best matched the sketch of the dress that Connolly named the 'Non-Chalance'. I found a sketch of it within the permanent collection of the Hunt Museum in Ireland and there is also a similar gown held in the collection of the Irish Linen Centre & Lisburn Museum. Sybil worked directly with the cloth when she did her design work and rarely did any preliminary sketches so it is a pleasure to have found one to reference. I found a quote that referred to the Irish linen she used to be 'of a quality so fine it was almost chiffon-like in weight' and that’s description is very accurate. This dress has a very formal feel to it that is heightened by that strong red color that the linen has been dyed to. The elaborately layered cuffs are a made from the same fabric but here the pleats are more a traditional tiny pleat and they are set vertically, rather then the horizontal pleating of the dress. They are dramatic and very full with their two layers stacked on top of each other. They add a touch of romance and whimsy to the dress and give it a lovely movement when you move your arms. This same treatment circles the hem as well and adds a touch of a flounce to the other wise structured skirt. The dress is otherwise kept to simple lines so that the pleating technique takes center stage. The bodice is fitted, with a slightly scooped neckline. The waist cinches in for shape and then the skirt billows out to a beautiful strong line that allows the many yard of fabric used to take full center stage. Soft gathers at each side of the hip and around the back create more volume. It is wonderful and rare example of her work. The gown presents as excellent condition at first glance but does have some condition notes below to review.

The dress is fully lined in a matching red hand set silk and closes with a back painted metal zipper. The hand work done can clearly be seen throughout the interior. I see some shattering to the silk around each arm but other wise the inner silk appears to be strong and stable. The small amount of shattering does not affect the exterior at all. There are areas of darkening/discoloration to the fabric present. I see an area on the front skirt under the waist. A smudge on the piping edge of one sleeve and a darkening to an area on the front bust. One small smudge on the back of the skirt about half way down. Inside, there is a tiny bit of fading to the seam under the arm and the inside neck. There is a tiny repair to the base of the arm seam on each side. The dress is strong and stable otherwise. The discoloration ranges from a subtle darkening to a deep darkening of the fabric as photoed. You could easily get away with wearing it as is if you don't mind a piece that is not perfect. Please review the photos shown after the label photo. It is cut slightly narrow through the shoulders.

Shoulders: approx 14" but no true seam
Sleeves: approx 18"
Bust: 17-18" flat across from side seam to side seam
Waist: 12.5" flat across from side seam to side seam
Hips: open
Bodice: 16" from top of shoulder to waist
Skirt: 44" from waist to front hem and 46" to the back hem

Modern Sizing Equivalent: XS-SML

Item# DD3137

Reference Photos:  (1-2) Sybil Connolly Design Sketches from The Hunt Museum.  /  (3) An original Sybil Connolly creation. Copyright Irish Linen Centre & Lisburn Museum.  /  (4) Portrait of Jacqueline Kennedy by Aaron A. Shikler. Oil on canvas, 47 x 31 inches, executed between 1968-1995, from a Private Collection, courtesy Davis & Langdale Company, Inc., New York.  /  (5) Cherie, Owner of Shrimpton Couture, by Erin Leydon.

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 exceptional Mollie Parnis dress was showcased on Beverly Johnson for Vogue in 1973 and I am very pleased to have it in the shop. It is cut to follow and skim over the body with a beautiful one shoulder silhouette. I especially love the strong coral red color of it. It is the kind of color that flatters almost any skin tone and helps the dress make a strong statement despite the simple lines of it. The dress cascades from that single shoulder in a swooping column of fabric. One side of the dress is cut wide to slight sit over the cap of your own shoulder while the other side is left bare. It zips up at the side of the inner part of the dress and then over that is a layer of jersey that is caught up under the arm and ties. It is set slightly towards the back and falls in soft drapes down the side of the dress. I love how this creates a low dip off of he side of the back just like how you see it sit in the reference photo. It is truly a gorgeous piece. Excellent condition.

All the layers are made of the same jersey. The inner dress is made of a double layer and then the outer exterior layer drapes over that. The inner dress closes with a painted metal zipper and the outer layer closes with hook & eye and ties at the side. I see a couple of teeny pinholes near the hem but nothing detracts and the fabric is strong and stable. Hand rolled edges. The fabric does have some stretch

Bust: 15-18" flat across from side seam to side seam
Waist: 13-14.5" flat across from side seam to side seam
Hips: to 19.5" flat across from side seam to side seam
Bodice: to 60" from top of shoulder to hem but will come up some as its bias cut

Modern Sizing Equivalent: SML-MED

Item# DD2708

Reference Photo: Beverley Johnson in Mollie Parnis for Vogue, December 1973. Photographed by Kourken Pakchanian.

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

From the top of the peaked bust line to the bottom of the layered chiffon hem, this red Rose Taft chiffon dress is wonderful. The color has just a hint of coral to the red and it is constructed with several layers of chiffon over the inner base, giving the fabric the feel of depth and richness. The skirt is set into the waist to suggest that it has been wrapped around the body like a Grecian toga. The gathers sweep up on one side to give a curve at the waist while the bodice is a combination of soft pleats with a formed foundation inside. The exterior of that bodice has soft, hand placed pleating and these are stitched into place to add volume and shape. A sweeping panel of chiffon starts just off the center of the front waist and then curves up and over the shoulder to trail to the floor. It extends past the hem of the dress to give it a slight trained effect. Excellent condition.

Fully lined in a a matching red silky rayon. The bodice is boned. The chiffon used appears to be a synthetic. It closes with a back painted metal zipper. Hand finishes

Bust: 17" flat across the back from side seam to side seam
Waist: 13.5" flat across the back from side seam to side seam
Hips: 18" flat across the back from side seam to side seam
Bodice length: approx 14" from shoulder to waist
Skirt length: 43" from waist seam to the bottom of the hem

Modern Sizing equivalent: SML-MED

Item# DD790

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

At the age of 31, Stephane Rolland took over as Artistic Director for the Jean Louis Scherrer Haute Couture atelier, making him the youngest of the 20 official couturiers at the time. That was in 1997 and he continued as the head of the Couture division until the last showing in 2005 when the house closed is couture atelier. This gown is from the Fall 2001 Haute Couture presentation and is the actual runway defile sample presented and worn on the runway, Look 7.

I love when I have any Haute Couture piece in the shop and to have the actual runway sample is even that much more amazing. The dress is glorious and nether the photos on the mannequin or the runway photos really do it justice. In person the impact of the layering of the red silk gazaar panels that are hand set to overlap and cover the entire dress from bodice to train give it far more depth and texture then even the photos can convey. It also moves wonderfully and is very sexy. The main body of the dress is cut above the knee and then the dress forms and flows around this. Trailing out and behind you is a massive train of fabric that has an almost organic feel to it with its ever increasing sized patches of red covering its surface. The bodice peaks up on one side and is highly corseted and structured inside to firmly hold the dress onto the body and give you shape. The skirt is a masterpiece  with its beautiful lines and flowing cut. It is an incredible piece of modern Haute Couture. Excellent condition with one small note to review below.

Fully lined in a red silk and closes with two zippers, one on the inner highly structured, formed, boned and shaped corset and the second on the outer layer of the dress. The skirt is lined in a red taffeta. Hand work throughout. The hand written runway sample tag is present. There is some deepening of the color/ marks on some of the squares of silk that make up the train and general grubbiness. Nothing that detracts once the gown is on. Otherwise it is immaculate. It is Couture runway model size tiny - probably closest to a true zero

Bust: 15-15.5" flat across from side seam to side seam
Inner waist: 11.5" flat across from side seam to side seam
Hips: to 19" flat across from side seam to side seam
Inner dress length: 26" from top of bodice to hem NOT including panels that go over the edge of the dress a bit above and blow the actual inner structure
Length including train to the very longest point:  Approx 92" from top of bodice to final tip of the train

Modern Sizing Equivalent: XXS-XS

Item# DD3054

Reference Photos: F/W 2001 Jean Louis Scherrer Haute Couture Runway Show.

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

The Bellville Sassoon label was founded in 1953 by Belinda Bellville but did not officially take on the Bellville Sassoon label until 1970 when David Sassoon, who had been with the company since 1958, took over most of the designing. The label became internationally known when Princess Diana began wearing pieces quite extensively. Countless other celebrities wore the label as well such as Elizabeth Taylor, Jackie Kennedy, Audrey Hephburn, and Madonna. Sassoon's version of the label ran from 1970 -1983.

The dress is wonderful with its classic and flattering one shoulder silhouette. The bodice is fitted and the waist nips in. Its accented by layers of ruffles created from the same silk organza fabric layered over the body of the dress. These pretty ruffles sweep across the bodice and up and over the shoulder, following the slant of the neckline. There are three layers of fabric that make up the ruffles there and this is mimicked on the hem. On the hem the ruffles are set farther apart to balance the length of the skirt above and these too sweep up following the curve of the hem up the slit along the side o the leg. The skirt flares out gently as it nears that gorgeous ruffles hem and the slit up the side shows a little flash of leg when you move. It is beautifully made and so pretty in person. Excellent condition.

Fully lined in a red tissue silk and closes at the side with a metal and nylon zipper. Hand finishes. Tagged a vintage UK 10 and appears to have never been worn

Bust: to 17" flat across from side seam to side seam
Waist: 12.5" flat across from side seam to side seam
Hips: to 19" flat across from side seam to side seam
Bodice: 16" from top of shoulder to waist
Skirt: 45" from waist to longest point of the hem, 21" from the waist to the top of the slit at the one side of the skirt.

Modern Sizing Equivalent: XS-SML

Item# DD3055

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

The Western world in the twenties and thirties had a great fascination with all things oriental and places in the Far East began to export pieces made specifically for the tourist market. These pieces combined classic design elements of the Asian culture with a slight western twist to the cut and colors. The embroidered and brocade jackets where among the most prized and this one is a stunning example. It is made of a deep burgundy woven silk that is woven through with a gold metallic thread to create the design that covers the entire outer surface. The inside is a solid burgundy silk and it is entirely hand finished. A lovely example of the textiles being produced during this time period. Overall excellent condition with some patina notes to review below

Fully lined in a burgundy silk. It has one hook and eye at the neck and no other closures below that. Pockets on each hip. Hand finished. Note that the piping along all the edges show some wear and patina which only serves to add to its antique feel

Sleeves: 19"
Shoulders: 14.5"
Bust: 17.5" flat across
Waist: 16" flat across from side seam to side seam
Hips: 19.5" flat across from side seam to side seam
Length: 24" from neck to hem

Modern Sizing Equivalent: XS-SML

Item# S819

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

There are 4 or 5 Burrows dresses that I always look for and this dress is one of those. The dress is made out of a fine, slinky, red jersey. I have seen the top of these cut in a couple of different way and on this one it ties around the neck leaving the shoulders bare. The dress falls to the floor from there in a beautiful bias cut that and ends with an angled, asymmetrical hem that leaves one leg more bare. The edges of the dress are finished in his signature lettuce hem seaming. The front bodice is where all the glitz and glam is and it is finished with a design that is done in sequins, seed beads and tube beads that pop against the red. All of the bead work has been applied by hand. You can clearly see this is the case on the back side of the fabric. Burrows was the first African American fashion designer to really achieve international recognition for his work. He won three Coty awards; in 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

Recently, the first major examination of Burrows' work was held and was aptly titled; 'When Fashion Danced'. 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 part 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 is an amazing example of Stephen Burrows work and it feels as relevant today as it would have when it was made. The dress is made of a fine, slinky red jersey that is suspended from two tiny straps at the shoulder and falls from there in a beautiful bias cut that and ends with an angled, asymmetrical hem that leaves one leg more bare. The edges of the dress are finished in his signature lettuce hem seaming. It is the bodice that is truly spectacular - it is fully hand beaded across the bust and down the center front with an explosion of bright tube beads, seed beads and pearls. All of the bead work has been applied by hand. You can clearly see this is the case on the back side of the fabric. Burrows was the first African American fashion designer to really achieve international recognition for his work. He won three Coty awards; in 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. The dress presents as great condition but does have some flaws. Please review the condition notes below

Recently, the first major examination of Burrows' work was held and was aptly titled; 'When Fashion Danced'. 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. 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. There are a series of repairs - one to the mid back, several running down the seam and along the hem of one side and the back and a couple teeny ones near the front hem - all photoed. There is is a small spot near the beading at the bodice and one at the front hem. Where the repairs are at the back there is light scuffing to the jersey and some small marks. These are normally priced at $1200 so the pricing reflects condition. The dress presents extremely well and once on you would not notice the flaws it does have. 

Bust: 15-18" flat across from side seam to side seam
Waist: 15-17" flat across from side seam to side seam
Hips: 18-20" flat across from side seam to side seam
Length: 56" from top of shoulder to longest point of hem, 36" to the shortest

Modern Sizing Equivalent: XS-SML

Item# DD3040

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

I have had a version of this dress in a different print and I love this brighter, bolder jersey version just as much. A similar dress is part of the permanent collection at the Boston Museum of Fine Arts and was displayed in the 2013 exhibit "Hippie Chic.  Other versions of the dress also reside in The Met's collection. That one has with a shorter skirt length and different pattern. The cut is otherwise the same.

The Fall/Winter 1971-72 collection took its inspiration from the Medieval time period and many of the pieces in the collection had this influence, including this one. Sant' Angelo was the winner of two Coty Awards and two Council of Fashion Designers of America honors and was known for his innovation and pioneering use of stretch fabrics. Here we have a dress that really showcases his love of color and his mastery of mixing color with print. The fabric he chose for the dress is a very wearable and easy to care for jersey. It has a touch of a stretch to it that makes it very comfortable to wear. His signature piping finishes the neck and the multiple patterns are masterfully layered over each other in tiers through the body and over the waist. The sleeves are amazing and made of two tiers of fabric that sit over each other to mimic the tiers used on the body of the dress. The mix of that clear, true red with that brilliant blue is amazing and even better on person. Sant' Angelo once said, "I am not a fashion designer but an artist who works in fashion engineer of color and form". This dress shows us how true that statement was. Excellent condition with one small note to review below.

Unlined and closes with a back painted, hand set metal zipper. I see a couple of tiny nicks on the front skirt. They are lost in the pattern and are stable so have been left as found.

Sleeves: 21"
Shoulders: 15"
Bust: 16-18" flat across from side seam to side seam
Waist: 12-14" flat across from side seam to side seam
Hips: to 22" flat across from side seam to side seam
Length: 58" from neck to hem

Modern Sizing Equivalent: SML-MED

Item# DD1347

Reference photos:  (1) Museum of Fine Arts Boston  / (2) At Museum of Fine Arts Hippie Chic Exhibit (Photo: Laura McLaws Helms)  /  (3) The Metropolitan Museum.

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

Without doubt this is truly an exceptional piece of vintage Chanel and a rare find. It is a wonderful example of the work that Chanel was creating during this time period. Both pieces are made from a of a metallic red silk lurex fabric that is very light and fine. Over that fabric, a black chenille cord has been hand applied into a twisting pattern that runs over the entirety of the set. There is a slight padding under the lurex so that it gives it a touch of a 3D feel as well. Both the jacket and the skirt are lined in a black tissue silk. The cut on each piece is simple so that the fabric can take center stage. The jacket has that classic Chanel box cut with no closures at the front. The edges are all lined in the same chenille cording that runs over the fabric. The skirt is cut to fit around the hips and then widens out as it nears the hem.  Pockets sit on each hip. The fabric is not heavy but has enough weight to it that both pieces hold their shape. This is early Karl Lagerfeld for Chanel and it has the Chanel boutique label in the jacket and the skirt has a hand written tape label inside which tells us that this was most likely a custom, or special order piece. It is made to demi-couture standards. Excellent condition

Full lined in a fine black tissue silk. Hand finished throughout. The jacket has no closures and the skirt closes with hand set zipper at the back and hook and eye at the waist band. Light padding in the shoulders of the jacket and pockets along the side seams on the skirt. Tape label reads "141 22141" though the last number maybe be something else.

Jacket
Sleeves: 22.5"
Shoulders: 16"
Bust: 20" flat across from side seam to side seam
Waist: 20" flat across from side seam to side seam
Length: 20" from neck to hem

Skirt
Waist: 14" flat across from side seam to side seam
Hips: 23.5" flat across from side seam to side seam
Length: 43" from waist to hem

Modern Sizing Equivalent: SML-MED

Item# DD2625

Photo credits: (1-2) Cherie, Owner of Shrimpton Couture, by Erin Leydon.   /  (3-5) Sarah Catharine Paulson in our Chanel suit attends the Costume Designer Guild Awards 2019, Styling by Karla Welch

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' print 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.

This is one of my favorite pieces by Zandra that I have had in the shop. I love finding her work in these stronger colors. The red used on this dress is the shade that she used throughout the collection that year  and was a reflection of the reds she discovered while visiting China. The outer layer of the dress is made from a red silk chiffon with a high rounded neckline that ties at the back. The sleeves fall to the elbow and I love how their shape is blocked out by the Chinese Squares print. Each is finished with a pretty edging of beads. The beads are also used to trim the edges around of the panels that make up the top layer of the skirt. The bodice is cut loose and easy and is lined in silk. This tops a inner jersey skirt that is topped by panels that give a nod to the traditional Chinese skirts. A long panel of printed silk runs down the front and the back to the hem and then each hip has a pannier of silk that ends just below the hip. Everything is attached at the elastic waist so that it just simply slips on and is extremely easy to wear. It is a remarkable piece from one of her key collections. Excellent condition

The dress slips on the wear with an elastic waist and a tie at the back of the 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.

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 a wonderful example of his work and I love that it has been done in his classic Valentino red color. It has that feeling of simplicity that the nineties epitomized and yet, still feels modern and fresh. 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 to be sleeveless and angles in towards the higher cut neckline. There is a slit that runs down the front seam for the most subtle glimpse of skin. All of the seam work through the body is done vertically so there is no line across at any point to break the eye. It subtly flares out at it reached the hem and the hem itself is finished with two layers of ruffles that circle around to the back. The back hem is cut longer then the front  so you get a slight bit of a trained effect there. It is just stunning on the body. Excellent condition with one small note below.

Fully lined in a red silk satin. It closes with a back hidden set zipper. Hand finishes. Tagged a Valentino 10. The fabric does have some give. There are some very minor marks on the back ruffled hem that you would never notice once on (photoed). The original price tag is still on the dress and was $3275 even back then.

Bust: 18-19.5" flat across from side seam to side seam
Waist: 16-17" flat across from side seam to side seam
Hips: to 20" flat across from side seam to side seam
Length: 57" from shoulder to front hem, 63" to longest point of the back hem

Modern Sizing Equivalent: MED-LRG

Item# DD3015

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

Janice Wainwright launched her own label in 1970 and continued designing into the 1980s. Her work in the late 1970s and 1980s simplified in terms of embellishments and embroidery but she still used amazing fabrics and the better of her later pieces, like this one, explored drape and bias cuts. This dress is made from a beautiful red silk that has a dot pattern worked directly into the silk. The dots seems to be fused onto the silk and each has the slightest but of a 'fringe'; around the outsides. This gives them a bit of a 3D quality and adds to the texture of the dress. The construction is very interesting. It is all bias cut with a strong nod to 1930s lingerie in how it is cut. It floats over the body with a deep plunge at both the front and back. You see the classic angled seams of the thirties through the waist and in how the skirt is attached. This allows it to flow over the body and never feel very tight but still highlight every curve. It ties to close at the top of each shoulder and I would bet that you could figure out different ways to tie and wear it. It is beautiful. Excellent condition

Fully lined in a red silk chiffon that is also bias cut. It slips on the wear and ties at the stop of each shoulder. The bias cut allows it to fit a range of sizes and it could easily be altered for the perfect fit on a smaller frame. It is tagged a vintage UK12, US10, FR40, IT44

Bust: from 16-24" flat across with no true side seams due to the side plunge
Waist to hips: to 25" flat across from side seam to side seam
Length: approx 60" from top of shoulder to longest point of the hem

Modern Sizing Equivalent: MED-XL

Item# DD3014

Reference Photo: Cherie, Owner of Shrimpton Couture, by Erin Leydon.

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 wonderful 1950s dress is made from a very fine, high end Asian silk. Woven through the silk is a beautiful design of feathers that have been done in a red thread. Also woven directly into the silk are medallions that are scattered over the surface and around the feather design. Along the inner seams the fabric has the markings of the fabric maker which is in interesting detail and depicts its higher end origins. The red is much better in person then how the camera has captured it. The color is richer and has more depth to it. The cut of the dress is very pretty and unusual. The bodice has a low V with is sent in soft gathers along the band of the waist. The waist is nipped in and then the skirt is set below that and it has a very unusual cut. The inner base of the skirt is a more pencil skirt shape at the front, but the back is shaped almost like a bustle back skirt and has pleat work that give it some volume there. Then there is a second panel of fabric at the front that lies over the inner skirt. This panel gives it that rounded, volume that you see in the photos. It  is attached at the waist and curves around the sides towards the back. It is so clever and unusual. Excellent condition

Fully interlined in a combination of an ivory silk organza and a black silk. It closes with a painted metal zipper at the back. Hand finished and beautifully made. The fabric is marked along the inner seams. The skirt has ribbon edged, hand finishes

Bust: 16" flat across from side seam to side seam
Waist: 12.5" flat across from side seam to side seam
Hips: open
Bodice: 13.5" from neck to waist
Skirt: 30" from waist to hem

Modern Sizing Equivalent: XS-SML

Item# E642

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

True Haute Couture pieces by Chanel are an extraordinary find as they are so very rare and hard to come by. This, like several other of the Haute Couture pieces in the shop at the moment are from one of my clients whose mother purchased the majority of her Couture pieces between 1973 to the mid and late seventies.

The dress is made of two layers - an inner silk dress that acts as the lining, and the outer layer that is made from a semi-transparent silk chiffon. The silk chiffon used on the outer layer is especially fine and it has a beautiful red floral design screened onto the black with a secondary print suggesting an exotic animal print. The straps of the inner dress are made of that same fabric as is the matching belt that cinches in the waist. When the two pieces are layered over each other the result is wonderful. The outer dress gives the dress a very light and airy feel that is very feminine. The dress is so well made that I could not decide which way it sat better so photoed it with the buttons down the front and also turned around and with the buttons running down the back. The neckline is collarless and simply ties with that row of silk covered buttons starting below a bit of an opening. The bodice is cut to sit looser over the inner slip and the sleeves are full, poufing up above their buttoned cuffs. The skirt is a masterpiece of soft pleat work all the way around the hips. Each is done by hand, with masterful technique and spaced apart perfectly. These give the skirt it's flounced feel. The matching silk fabric belt hook and ties into place to cinch in the waist. As good as it is on the dress form, it will be even better on a real girl's body. Entirely made by hand with the Haute Couture tag and numbered tape behind present on the interior dress. Excellent condition

The exterior dress is unlined and closes with a tie at the neck and silk covered buttons. It has an inner waist stay that hooks to close. The interior dress act as the lining and closes with a handset side painted metal zip. Matching original belt. Finished to Haute Couture standards. Haute Couture label present with interior tape number 54878. The dress appears to have been worn very little if at all.

Outer Dress
Sleeves: 24.5"
Shoulders: 14"
Bust: 17.5" flat across from side seam to side seam
Waist: 12" flat across from side seam to side seam
Hips: open
Bodice: 16" from top of bodice to waist
Skirt: 28" from waist to hem

Inner Dress
Bust: 16" flat across from side seam to side seam
Waist: 14" flat across from side seam to side seam
Hips: 18.5" flat across from side seam to side seam
Length: 42" from top of shoulder to hem

Modern Sizing Equivalent: XS-SML

Item# DD3010

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