givenchy
Stunning Fall 1994 Givenchy Haute Couture Original Runway Sample Dress w Front Black Bow
I Have a Question
- The twin of the dress walk the runway for the Fall 1994 Givenchy Haute Couture collection and this is that actual runway sample.
- It was made under the creative direction of Hubert de Givenchy.
- I love that the reference photos are in colour so that you can see just how gorgeous this actual dress is once on the body.
- The dress would have been completely made by hand in the Paris atelier.
- The fabric is exceptional. It is a red woven silk that has a black glitter pattern applied directly onto the fabric. The black glitter swirls over the dress and is like an exaggerated line drawing that has been hand drawn over the dress. It is a wonderful way to add detail without overwhelming the cut and lines of the piece.
- The front scoops down into a curved V and a black velvet bow sits at the base of the V for the perfect added detail. From there it skims over the bust, curves in at the waist and then curves back out to the top of the hip. All of the shape is created through vertical panels pieced perfectly together.
- The skirt is set into the seam that runs across the top of the hips. The volume that you see is created by the way that it is constructed. It's pleated on the outside and inside. There are several layers of the same fabric done in stacked rose to help support the exaggerated fullness around the top of the hip. From there the skirt falls to the floor in a beautiful outward line. There are many yards of fabric in the skirt and it's volume perfectly balances the fullness through the shoulders.
- The sleeves are extraordinary. They are slightly capped above the shoulder line and they widen out around the shoulder. From there they narrow down to the their ends where there are four hand covered buttons in the same fabric and a zipper to close the wrist.
- Every line of the dress is exquisite and it is a remarkably elegant and beautiful piece of Couture.
- The dress is fully lined in a handset red silk through the bodice and a red silk organza through the skirt. It closes with a back set zipper and there is a zipper at each wrist as described above. Light padding in each shoulder. I see evidence that the back seams were let out. This would be very easy to bring back in if you needed to. There is slight fading to the fabric along the top edges of the shoulder and near the edge of the hem. This is a direct consequence of this type of fabric and I have seen it many times on pieces this age. Please see the photos after the label shot. The dress does not have its main label but has its original Couture sample tag in place.
- There is no size tag present since it is Haute Couture so please go buy the measurements listed below
- Excellent overall condition
Sleeves: 26" and are 16" around the upper arm
Slightly inset shoulders: 14"
Bust: 17" flat across from side seam to side seam
Waist: 13.5" flat across from side seam to side seam
Hips: open
Bodice: 20" from top of shoulder to seam at the top of the hips
Total length: 61" from top of shoulder to front hem, 63" to the back hem with 4.5" turned under the hem
Modern Sizing Equivalent: SML-MED
Item# DD5464
Reference Photos: Fall 1994 Givenchy Haute Couture.
All items are thoroughly checked over before shipping. Unless noted everything in our shop has been professionally cleaned. All sales are final. Overseas clients will be emailed to obtain agreement to our final sales policy before the order is shipped as per our return policy.
Phenomenal Fall 2011 Alexandre Vauthier Haute Couture Runway Look Hand Beaded Red Silk Chiffon Dress
I Have a Question
- The twin of this extraordinary dress walked the Fall 2011 Vauthier Haute Couture runway.
- It was made under the creative direction of Alexandre Vauthier
- Alexandre Vauthier launched his label in 2009. He started his fashion career in 1993 working for Thierry Mugler as an intern and working his way up to assistant designer to Mugler himself. In 1997 he joined Jean Paul Gaultier where he in charge of the Couture collections for the following eight years.
- He left in 2008 to open his own couture atelier showing his first collection in 2009. From 2011 to 2014 the label was a designated guest member of the Chambre Syndicale de haute couture and since December 2014 he has been a full Couture member. Vauthier departed the label in 2025 it was acquired by Revolve marking the end of the Couture division.
- This is the actual piece that was shown on the runway and may very well be the only one in existence. I love that we have both the runway reference photos and video. You can see how fantastically it moves and looks once on the body.
- The dress is made from a red silk chiffon that has an extensive and very dense application of red bead work hand applied onto it.
- Every line of the dress has been precisely cut and patterned so that it falls perfectly in the lines that he intended it to be shaped in.
- The shoulders are soft and extend into long cut sleeves that are also completely and densely beaded to match the body of the dress. In the runway photo the shoulders look slightly more shaped than the dress in person to me and I think that they may have added temporary padding to style it for the show. Adding your own is a decision that could be made once you have it in hand and try it on.
- The dress is cut to skim over the body and highlight it everywhere. The sleeves are cut a little extra long so that once on the arm they bunch up a touch. There is a cut out. opening that is left under each arm. I have photoed that so that you can see. This was probably done not only as a design choice but to allow movement and not have to worry about the bead work being constricted.
- The neckline is scooped and the dress is shaped to come in at the waist and then curves back out and around the hips so that it skims perfectly over the body.
- The beadwork that sits over the sleeves and body of the dress has been done and a little sections that curve around each other and catch the light differently as you move. You can see in the video how this creates an almost flame like feel over you.
- The skirt is absolutely amazing. As the beads run down over the hips to join into the skirt they become these long flame like ribbons of bead work that extend into varying lengths down and into the skirt. The effect is absolutely beautiful and perfectly picks up on the way the beads were executed through the body of the dress.
- Under the beadwork, the skirt is made out of a red silk chiffon that is very light and weight. It curves slightly up at the front and then extends out into two angled points at the back which again feels like an extension of the flame motif that the dress has.
- You can see on the runway that once very bright lights hit the skirt, it has a sense of transparency to it. That is quite extraordinary and done to highlight the bead work and add a bit of sexiness to the dress despite it full coverage. At the back it trails out past the hem to float around you as you walk.
- The dress is amazing on the body and it is just a beautiful and very sexy dress and an extraordinary little piece of true Haute Couture fashion history.
- The upper portion of the dress is lined in a silk chiffon through the body and the skirt is unlined. It closes with a hidden set back zipper and each cuff closes with a hidden set zipper. This is the actual dress that was worn on the runway and is completely made by hand. It is the original runway sample dress. The beads have been hand sewn so closely to the edges of the zipper that you do have to take care when zipping and unzipping the dress as they can catch and you can see a little bit of catching of thread and perhaps the very occasional missing bead here and there along that edge. I am being pretty picky. This was done to give the illusion that the dress has no opening. Inside the silk chiffon that was used to line the dress is very delicate and there have been some repairs made. This was probably done after the runway show to strengthen parts of the inner lining and can be typical of runway samples. I also see a touch of a mark on one arm on the inner lining, a small tear and some repairs to the silk of the lining. None of this shows through but is mentioned for accuracy and is photoed after the label shot. Some of the seam work is handed basted and this adds to the feel that this is the original sample because that is often how you see runway samples finished.
- There is no size tag present because it is Haute couture sample so please go by the measurements listed below
- Excellent condition
Sleeves: 28" and they are 9.5" around the upper arm
Shoulders: 14"
Bust: 16-16.25" flat across from side seam to side seam
Waist: 12.5" flat across from side seam to side seam
Hips: 18" flat across from side seam to side seam
Total length: 90" from neck to the very longest point at the back hem and the shortest point at the front fall to 49"
Modern Sizing Equivalent: XS-SML
Item# DD5463
Reference Photos/Video: Fall 2011 Alexandre Vauthier Haute Couture.
All items are thoroughly checked over before shipping. Unless noted everything in our shop has been professionally cleaned. All sales are final. Overseas clients will be emailed to obtain agreement to our final sales policy before the order is shipped as per our return policy.
I Have a Question
- This stunning and rare dress set is from the Fall 1981 Fabrice collection.
- It was made by Haitian born designer Fabrice Simon.
- Simons launched his label in 1976 making this an extremely early example of his work and showcases how his early work especially was centred around hand, painted fabrics. He trained as a textile designer originally and pieces like this showcase his love of textiles beautifully.
- Fabrice was a Coty award recipient and one of the preeminent black designers during this time period and pieces by him are extremely difficult to find. Especially at the level that this one is at. It is a very important and collectible piece of Black fashion history.
- The dress is especially iconic because it has two remarkable tie-ins. One with supermodel Pat Cleveland, who wore the twin of the top, and the second with Cicely Tyson who was photographed wearing a version of this set.
- His clothes were worn by some of entertainments most famous names - Kathleen Turner, Natalie Cole and Whitney Houston, who wore one of his dresses to the 1988 Grammy's. The top supermodels of the time like Iman, Beverly Johnson, Christy Brinkley and Jerry Hall were all fans.
- When worn together it does look like a dress but it is a set of two pieces.
- Both pieces are made out of a beautiful light in weight red silk that has a metallic gold design covering its surface. The the gold portion of the fabric have all been painted on by hand and this is where we see Fabrice background as a trained textile designer.
- The top is a remarkable piece of fashion that transcends into art
- Both the front and the back dipped into a V and it buttons down the front with a series of round gold metal ball buttons that slip through red silk loops. There was a little gap left between each button with how it's laid out so you would get a tiny glimpse of skin between each button.
- The top is edged in a metallic gold cord that has a black band twisted around it. This little pop of black and gold contrasts beautifully with the painted fabric and adds a little extra bit of detail.
- The front dips down into a point, and while it has seamed to follow the curve of the body it is soft without boning so very comfortable to wear
- Curving up and around the the shoulders are three rows of silk that has been gathered to form the phenomenal volume and detail that you see. These are stacked beside each other with silk between each row, so they cover the full sides of the top on both the back in front. They are finished in hand edged jagged points and the way they have been set onto the top creates the incredible volume and density that you see in the photos. They add an exuberance to the outfit that is hard to describe until you see it in person. It is just extraordinary.
- The skirt is as fabulous as the top. It is banded around the waist so that you have shape and then it falls very full around you to the hem.
- There is an incredible amount of fabric in the skirt and it's sheer amount of fabric allows that gorgeous hand painted print to be shown off to the maximum. To achieve the fullness that it has all of the silk has been tightly gathered in and around the waist and then expands outward.
- I love that the skirt has pockets. It is the perfect bit of unexpected ease on such a dramatic piece.
- Having two pieces makes it extremely versatile because you can mix a match either piece with things you already have in your wardrobe. It is beautifully dramatic one worn together and then you also have endless styling possibilities when paired with other things.
- Both pieces have an additional handwritten museum tag from being deaccessioned. One has to wonder if that is a regretted decision.
- The top is fully lined in a black silk and buttons down the front as described above. The skirt is unlined and closes at the waist with hook and eye and then a zipper below that. It appears to have been worn very little if at all.
- The top is tagged a size Small and the skirt has no size tag.
- Excellent condition
Top
Bust: 17" flat across from side seam to side seam
Waist: 12.5" flat across from side seam to side seam
Bottom edge: 14" flat across from side seam to side seam
Total length: 17" from top of shoulder to bottom edge, not including the added 2.5" extended angle at the front
Skirt
Waist: 13" flat across from side seam to side seam
Hips: open
Total length: 47" from waist to hem
Modern Sizing Equivalent: SML-MED
Item# DD5462
Reference Photos: (1-2) Fabrice and Pat Cleveland for Essence magazine, November 1981. / (3) Cicely Tyson, in hand-painted Fabrice, at the Alvin Theatre in New York City, 1982.
All items are thoroughly checked over before shipping. Unless noted everything in our shop has been professionally cleaned. All sales are final. Overseas clients will be emailed to obtain agreement to our final sales policy before the order is shipped as per our return policy.
christian dior
Spring 1980 Christian Dior by Marc Bohan Haute Couture One Shoulder Coral Red Silk Dress
I Have a Question
- The twin of the dress in white walked the runway for the Spring 1980 Haute Couture presentation
- It was made under the creative direction of Marc Bohan.
- The Spring 1980 collection was called "Return to Classism". The book Dior:Catwalk noted that the collection "focused on paired back silhouettes with defined shoulders, subtle and belted waists... "My look is one of softness and neatness." Bohan told Vogue. Vogue also noted the one shoulder necklines that were integral to the collection and that is shown so beautifully in this dress.
- This dress would have been made entirely in the Paris atelier.
- During this time period dresses with this black with white text Couture label usually denoted a custom order that was different from the presented piece on the runway. Being that the dress was shown in white on the runway this makes perfect sense.
- The dress is made out of a red silk crepe that is a colour that is flattering on most skin tones, especially with its touch of a coral undertone.
- I love the nod to classic minimalism that the dress displays.
- A single wide shoulder curves up and over your shoulder and the opening that your arm slips through begins and is set slightly off the top of the shoulder so you have just the suggestion of a sleeve. It angles down across you on both the front and the back. The opening dips slightly low on the other side leaving that entire opposite side and shoulder bare and exposed.
- It skims over the bust and blouses slightly over the seam at the waist. The silk is gathered in slightly at the waist and done so that it falls perfectly around you. If you wanted to add more shape you could easily add a belt.
- The skirt falls from there and is constructed so that it wraps over itself to one side at the front and secured in place around the waist. A deliberate gap is left open near the hem and when you walk, move or sit, you get a flash of leg. You can see how this sits so beautifully on the body from the runway reference photos.
- It is a dress that appears to be so simple in shape but every seam and line of the dress was purposefully and masterfully executed and planned.
- The dress comes with a huge rectangle of finished silk in a matching colour that can be used as a shawl or partial cape piece. It is not photoed but will be sent with the dress.
- This is an extraordinary example of his work during this time period and it is an absolutely stunning dress.
- The dress is fully lined in a matching red silk chiffon and closes at the side with a hand set zipper. An inner waist stay hooks to close. All of the work is done by hand to Couture standards. It appears to have been worn very little at all.
- There is no size tag present because it is Couture so please go by the measurements listed below.
- Excellent condition
Dress
Bust: 17.5" flat across from side seam to side seam
Waist: 12.5-13" flat across from side seam to side seam
Hips: to 20" flat across from side seam to side seam
Bodice: 17.5" from top of shoulder to waist but does blouse over a bit once on
Total length: 57" from top of shoulder to hem with 2.5" turned under the ham
Shawl (not pictured)
6.8 feet wide x 9.75 feet wide
Modern Sizing Equivalent: SML-MED
Item# DD5454
Reference Photos: Spring 1980 Christian Dior Couture.
All items are thoroughly checked over before shipping. Unless noted everything in our shop has been professionally cleaned. All sales are final. Overseas clients will be emailed to obtain agreement to our final sales policy before the order is shipped as per our return policy.
christian dior
Beautiful Cruise 2011 Christian Dior by John Galliano Red Silk Chiffon Dress w Gathered Front
I Have a Question
- This gorgeous dress is from the Cruise 2011 collection.
- It was made under the creative direction of John Galliano.
- On the runway there was a dress that used a similar pleat pattern on the front bodice for Look 26.
- The runway show took place in Shanghai and Galliano said at the time that he was trying to "capture the feeling of Paris in its heyday".
- The dress is made from a red silk chiffon that has a bit of a coral undertone and a touch of texture to it.
- Wide straps curve up and around the neck and the back scoops down to leave your upper back bare and exposed. At the front the neckline plunges into a V.
- The silk is gathered vertically on both sides at the front. All of the gathered pleats are held in place by a series of horizontal ruffles in a matching silk that run down the front. I love how the pleat work narrows down to a point at the waist. This helps to add the illusion of both length and a tinier waistline.
- The skirt is gathered up and into the sides of the point at the front. It skims and curves over the hips and then it widens out as it nears the floor.
- By the time it reaches the hem there is a lot of fabric there and this gives you fantastic movement as you move. This was a silhouette that Galliano loved.
- A high slit runs up from the hem on the top layer of the skirt only. This lets that top chiffon layer catch the air and add even more movement as you walk.
- The dress is fully lined in a matching red silk. One of his signature rows of matching silk covered buttons and loops run down one side and this hides a hidden set zipper underneath to close the dress. It appears to have good morning very little if little effort at all.
- Tagged a Dior FR36, GB8, IT40, US4
- Excellent condition
Bust: to 16-17" flat across from side seam to side seam
Waist: 13" flat across from side seam to side seam
Hips: to 20" flat across from side seam to side seam
Bodice: approx 16" from neck to waist
Total length: approx 62" from neck to hem
Modern Sizing Equivalent: XS-MED
Item# DD5453
Reference Photo: Resort 2011 Christian Dior, Look 26. Model Sigrid Agren.
All items are thoroughly checked over before shipping. Unless noted everything in our shop has been professionally cleaned. All sales are final. Overseas clients will be emailed to obtain agreement to our final sales policy before the order is shipped as per our return policy.
yves saint laurent
Exceptional & Important Spring 1980 Yves Saint Laurent Runway Red & White Print Silk Organza Dress
I Have a Question
- Several versions of this dress walked the runway for the Spring 1980 collection.
- It was made under the creative direction of Yves Saint Laurent.
- This dress and the various prints it was made in were integral to that season's collection. Once these went to the shops many were produced with the front skirt made a little longer. Variations were photoed for editorials and pieces were included in the labels ad campaign that year.
- The dress is made out of a feather light red silk organza that has a beautiful white curving print that runs over the entire dress from top to bottom. The red is a beautiful clear deep colour that flatters more skin tones.
- The neck line is set wide across so you can wear it off of the shoulder for a bare expanse of skin to show. A wide 8" ruffle follows the entire neckline and gives the prettiest flounce all the way around you.
- Under that the bodice skims down to a low dropped waist that is cut more generously through the middle. The dress comes with its matching silk tie belt that you can cinch in the waist as much as needed. The belt is tacked lightly in place and knotted at the moment but it could easily be untacked and used as a proper belt to tie all the way around you.
- The skirt is set into a slightly angled seam around the waist that comes up slightly at one side. Tiny gathered pleats are set in all along the seam and that is what gives the skirt its incredible volume.
- The skirt falls shorter at the front and longer at the back. If you were to lay this out and open the skirt it is more than a full circle around. That volume combined with the lightness of the fabric gives you incredible movement when you move.
- This is an absolutely stunning example of his work during this time period and one of my favourite pieces I have ever had in by him.
- It is exceptionally rare to find this dress in this runway print.
- The bodice of the dress is lined in a silk chiffon. At some point someone added a second layer of silk chiffon that skims over the inner body to just past the inner hip to make it more opaque. I have left it as is because it does make the dress easier to wear but it could be removed very easily. It closes with a side set zipper and the tie belt is original to the dress.
- There is no size tag present so please go by the measurements listed below.
- Excellent condition
Bust: 17" flat across from side seam to side seam
Waist: 14.5" flat across from side seam to side seam
Hips: open
Total length: 45" from top of shoulder to front hem, 58" to the back
Modern Sizing Equivalent: XS-MED
Item# DD5223
Reference Photos: Spring 1980 Yves Saint Laurent Rive Gauche.
All items are thoroughly checked over before shipping. Unless noted everything in our shop has been professionally cleaned. All sales are final. Overseas clients will be emailed to obtain agreement to our final sales policy before the order is shipped as per our return policy.
dolce & gabbana
Phenomenal 2012 Dolce & Gabbana Strapless Deep Red Velvet Puff Skirt Dress
I Have a Question
This is a special edition dress from 2012 and that same year its twin was worn by both Katy Perry and Sonam Kapoor. I love that this gives you the chance to see just how gorgeous this dress is once on and that it is a dress with incredible modern provenance given these two moments. Dolce and Gabbana launched in 1985 by founders Domenico Dolce and Stefano Gabbana who still run the label to this day. After a shaky start in the first few years, by the 1990s, they had started to open their own boutiques and had become a force in fashion. In 1993 Madonna chose them for her 1993 Girlie Show tour and they gained world wide recognition. They are known for their dramatic designs that are heavily inspired by their Sicilian heritage.
The dress is made out of a deep red velvet and that colour, combined with this fabric, gives it an extra depth and richness that it would not have in any other fabric choice. The top portion of the dress is treated in an almost corseted fashion. It is meant to be very fitted to the body. The bodice is peaked at the front and the velvet is placed over it to drape and wrap around the body in the most flattering way possible. Inside it is boned and shaped so that everything stays in place. The waist is cinched in and the illusion of a tiny waist is made even more so by the elaborate skirt that billows out all around you. The skirt is a work of art in itself. Layers and layers of net and tulle are built-in underneath that top velvet layer so that the volume you see in these photos is actually the volume that the dress has. You see that in the photos of Katie and Sonam as well. It is an extraordinary dress. Excellent condition with a minor note below.
Fully lined in red silk with boning and a cupped inner corset. Added layers under the skirt as described above. It closes with a back zipper and then the skirt snaps to close over that starting under the waist. The zipper pull was not present on the dress and we replaced it with twisted black rubber finished wire so you're able to zip the dress open and closed. Please see the photo after the shot of the label. Other than that one small detail, it appears to have been worn very little if at all. Tagged a vintage DG 36
Bust: 13-15"" flat across from side seam to side seam
Waist: to 12" flat across from side seam to side seam
Hips: open
Bodice: 10" from top of the peak on the bodice to waist
Total length: 38" from top of the peak on the bodice to hem
Modern Sizing Equivalent: XXS-XS
Item# DD5016
Reference Photos: (1-3) Katy Perry at the premiere of 'Part Of Me', July 2012. / (4) Sonam Kapoor at Cannes, 2012.
All items are thoroughly checked over before shipping. Unless noted everything in our shop has been professionally cleaned. All sales are final. Overseas clients will be emailed to obtain agreement to our final sales policy before the order is shipped as per our return policy.
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In 1952, Givenchy founded his namesake house on Rue Alfred de Vigny in Paris and quickly rose to fame as one of the grand couturiers. 16 years later for the 1968-69 season, he added a ready-to-wear line of clothing and accessories called 'Givenchy Nouvelle Boutique'. The line was initially sold in the United States exclusively through Bergdorf Goodman stores and was eventually available at other retailers as well. The line was high end and extremely well made. He launched this line to expand his customer base and it made to appeal specifically to his non-couture clients. This label continued until 1992. This dress is a gorgeous example from the time period. I love it.
The dress is a fantastical confection of dotted silk organza tiers that run from the top of the dress to the hem. The bodice is suspended from the shoulder with straps made of the same silk. Each strap curves over the shoulder and then the first ruffle of silk starts from around the top edge of the top. The neckline is cut fairly straight across on both the front and back. The ruffles continue down the entire length of the dress and each one gets wider than the one above it. There are eight ruffles in total and it is just spectacular. The movement that the ruffles create as you move is fantastic. The dress underneath is made from the same dotted fabric and it also follows that widening line of the dress all the way to the hem. The skirt falls to the floor in a dramatic sweep that widens out as it near the floor. This cut is incredibly easy to wear and flattering. I love how the silk ruffles move around you beautifully with the slightest movement. There is a little silk flower attached at the base of one strap that gives the dress a little extra pop of colour for the perfect finishing touch. Tons of hand finishing throughout. It is truly magical. Excellent condition with a minor note below.
Fully lined in a red silk and closes with a back set zipper and then each tier has tiny snaps to close each of the ruffles over the zipper to hide it. Tagged a vintage Givenchy 8. I see one tiny hole near the hem of one ruffle near the bottom. It otherwise appears to have been worn very little if at all. Hand finishes throughout.
Bust: to 17" flat across from side seam to side seam
Inner seam under the bust: 15.5" flat across from side seam to side seam
Waist: to 15" flat across from side seam to side seam
Inner hips: to 17.5" flat across from side seam to side seam
Total length: 58" from top of shoulder to hem
Modern Sizing Equivalent: XS-SML
Item# DD4935
All items are thoroughly checked over before shipping. Unless noted everything in our shop has been professionally cleaned. All sales are final. Overseas clients will be emailed to obtain agreement to our final sales policy before the order is shipped as per our return policy.
yves saint laurent
Sensational 1972 Yves Saint Laurent Red Floral Silk Chiffon & Red Silk Dress w Balloon Sleeves & Pleat Detailing
I Have a Question
When dating this extraordinary Yves Saint Laurent dress, we found a photo of a piece with almost an identical cut bodice from 1972 along with several runway photos that show other pieces with that same cut to the bodice. I have included those here for you and it is interesting to note that the pleating technique that is used around the upper hip of the skirt was also done in a more intricate fashion for the 1974 Couture show. Yves often use ideas from both collections. - Rive Gauche and Couture - to build and develop ideas and it is fascinating to see the progression of his work from garment to garment. This is an incredibly beautiful example of his work from this time period.
This dress combines a floral silk chiffon with a muted red silk on the skirt. This combination is absolutely gorgeous. Is combination of silks give the dress just enough weight and structure to be able to create the impressive lines and volume that you see but while still making it feel soft and romantic. The colours are spectacular. The top is a printed silk chiffon, and it has a stunning floral pattern in red purples and greens that float over the entire bodice and the sleeves. The bodice is cut to skim over you and the waist nips in. It plunges at the front and crosses over itself, and the neckline has been detailed with ruffles that begin at the back of the neck and circle around to follow the V at the front and then run down to the waist. piping in the same fabric detail. The waste and ties have been left off to the side to hang down and create a pretty little detail. The skirt falls to the floor from there and it has yards and yards of fabric in it that creates the fullness and volume that you see. The skirt falls in a gently widening line and is quite full by the time it reaches the hem. I love the volume that this type of fabric creates and how it billows around you as you move but at the same time it is as light as a feather. Around the entire upper hip area, and starting at the waist or a series of tiny cleats that gradually open out to create the volume underneath. This intricate detail is a beautiful addition to the dress. The sleeves are outstanding. Each is a single layer of the silk chiffon and are wide and very full. They are caught up at the wrist with a circle full circle ruffle underneath. This creates a beautiful and dramatic finish to the top. I love everything about this dress. Excellent condition.
Fully lined in a red silk and closes at the back with a hidden set painted met zipper. Attached ties at the waist and elastic in each cuff. The silk skirt and the exterior layer is a tool ruffle that helps keep the volume through the skirt. Tagged a vintage YSL 38. I see some light marks around the hem of the skirt.
Sleeves: 24" and 14" around the upper arm
Slightly inset shoulders: 14.5"
Bust: to 18" flat across from side seam to side seam
Waist: 13" flat across from side seam to side seam
Hips: open
Bodice: 16" from neck to waist
Total length: 62" from neck to hem
Modern Sizing Equivalent: SML-MED
Item# DD4665
Reference Photos: Fall 1972 Yves Saint Laurent.
All items are thoroughly checked over before shipping. Unless noted everything in our shop has been professionally cleaned. All sales are final. Overseas clients will be emailed to obtain agreement to our final sales policy before the order is shipped as per our return policy.
john galliano
Phenomenal Fall 2000 John Galliano Deep Oxblood Silk Taffeta Corset Dress w Sweeping Skirt Panel
I Have a Question
This dress is the silk version of the Fall 2000 Look 54 leather dress that Galliano sent down the runway for the final look of that show. This version was made in this silk taffeta for the shops. It is very rare and wonderful piece of his history. This dress has the added modern provenance of being the actual dress worn by poet Rupi Kaur to the Vanity Fair and Elton John after parties for the 2024 Oscars. Amal Clooney recently wore a longer black version on the Cannes red carpet. This is a rare and early Galliano that is one of the best I have seen.
The dress is made from an iridescent silk taffeta in a deep oxblood red. The iridescent quality of the fabric make it catch the light in the most incredible way that you could imagine. It doesn't need a single embellishment because of the fabric choice. This is one of John's classic corseted pieces. Inside the dress there is a full built-in corset that has wired cups and extensive boning to hold you in place. The dress came to me with a thick, almost shoe lace like cord that was used to lace it up at the back and I love the contrast this gives. This is a detail however that is hidden from sight. The corset and its lace is all hidden inside the dress and then the dress zips to close over it. The dress is seamed vertically so there is no horizontal seam to break the eye. The shoulders are cut so they sit off the shoulder. The inner corset holds the dress tightly in place around the bodice and the breasts are pushed up from the internal cupping. It skims over the hips and then the skirt narrows inwards slightly before flaring back out. The lower skirt is set on an angled seam and has extra fabric to create that little fabulous flare that it has. The seaming at the back is incredible. On one side he has run a slightly curving seam sett on an angle from the top of one hip to the centre seam of the back. Attached along this seam is an extensive long curved panel that picks up the flare and curve of the skirt. This panel drapes lower down to past the hem. This is a rare opportunity for a beautiful piece of his early work that shows his love and devotion to corsetry and that Galliano flare we know and love. Excellent condition with a minor note below.
The inner corset is lined in the same silk and it is bone and cupped. It laces at the back as described above and seen. The rest of the dress is lined in a deep burgundy red silk. It closes with a hidden set zipper at the back. I see a couple of very tiny areas of darkening on the fabric but they are extremely minor. This is exactly how the dress was worn on the red carpet so they have no impact on the wearability of the dress at all. Please see the photos after the label shot.
Bust: 16" flat across from side seam to side seam with an A-B cup at the front
Waist: 12-13" flat across from side seam to side seam
Hips: 18" flat across from side seam to side seam
Total length: approx 57" from top of the natural shoulder to hem and the panel extends another 7 inches past the hem
Modern Sizing Equivalent: XS-SML
Item# DD4693
Reference Photos/Videos: (1-10) Fall 2000 John Galliano, Look 54 (Final Look). / (11-12) Rupi Kaur in this dress for the Elton John Oscars Party, March 2024.
All items are thoroughly checked over before shipping. Unless noted everything in our shop has been professionally cleaned. All sales are final. Overseas clients will be emailed to obtain agreement to our final sales policy before the order is shipped as per our return policy.
malcolm starr
One of Two Identical 1970s Malcolm Starr Red Zipper Front Coats w Applique & Braiding Detail SZ SML
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This is one of two identical coats landing in the shop today. The only difference its that one is a medium (this one) and the other is a small. This is from the time period that Youssef Rizkallah headed the company. Youssef joined the Malcolm Starr label in 1969 and remained as the head designer until 1975. The years that Youssef headed the line are among some of my favorites and in particular his pieces that utilize quilting and patchwork, like these coats, are truly iconic. Rizkallah was born in Egypt and studied at the Ecole de dessin appliqué and the Ecole des arts decoratifs in Paris. His designs seem to combine that sense of couture lines that he gained in Paris with the colour and vividness of his homeland.
This is a wonderful piece that can be worn as either a coat or as a dress thanks to the zip front that completely opens. We were able to date it based on the very similar piece that was featured in the ad campaign for 1970. Which makes it a very early piece for his time at the label. The base of the coat is a red fabric that feels like a light wool that has a slight ribbed texture to it. The entire coat is detailed with a combination of a deep blue braiding and blue ric rac that follows the detailing and lines of the coat to emphasize the pattern and cut. Elaborate designs run around the hem and panels in the palest possible blue follow the lines of the coat. A floral patchwork is set around the hem and edged by the rib rack to create that fantastic design that you see. This anchors all the various parts of the design and gives a pop of contrast to the colour combination. The coat is collarless and it zips up the front. The shoulders are soft and the sleeves widen out to be full at their hem. The coat falls from the shoulders and widens out as it nears the hem. I took a shot of it laying flat so you can see the incredible shape that it has. It is quite full by the time it reaches the hem. Because it zips to close at the front and fully opens, you can wear this as a proper coat or you can wear it on its own as a dress, which lets it play double duty. It even has weights in the hem so that once on it falls perfectly in place and pockets that are hidden along those front seams. I just love that spectacular design through the body of the coat. It is so dramatic and like wearing art. I love it. Excellent overall condition with notes below
Fully lined in a hand set pale blue silk and closes down the front with an unpainted silver zipper. I see the teeniest bit yellowing, grubbiness to the bottom pale blue panel and maybe a touch of the same on the blue on the cuffs but I am being pretty picky there especially. Grubbiness to the inner lining around the hem and edge of the inner neck and makes on the inner lining under each arm. Please see the photo after the label shot. Tagged a vintage Small
Sleeves: 24"
Inner shoulders: 14"
Bust: 18" flat across from side seam to side seam
Waist: 19" flat across from side seam to side seam
Hips: 24" flat across from side seam to side seam
Length: 57" from neck to hem
Modern Sizing Equivalent: XS-MED
Item# DD4483
Reference Photo: "The Malcolm Starr All Starrs" Ad, 1970.
All items are thoroughly checked over before shipping. Unless noted everything in our shop has been professionally cleaned. All sales are final. Overseas clients will be emailed to obtain agreement to our final sales policy before the order is shipped as per our return policy.
malcolm starr
One of Two Identical 1970s Malcolm Starr Red Zipper Front Coats w Applique & Braiding Detail SZ MED
I Have a Question
This is one of two identical coats landing in the shop today. The only difference its that one is a medium (this one) and the other is a small. This is from the time period that Youssef Rizkallah headed the company. Youssef joined the Malcolm Starr label in 1969 and remained as the head designer until 1975. The years that Youssef headed the line are among some of my favorites and in particular his pieces that utilize quilting and patchwork, like these coats, are truly iconic. Rizkallah was born in Egypt and studied at the Ecole de dessin appliqué and the Ecole des arts decoratifs in Paris. His designs seem to combine that sense of couture lines that he gained in Paris with the colour and vividness of his homeland.
This is a wonderful piece that can be worn as either a coat or as a dress thanks to the zip front that completely opens. We were able to date it based on the very similar piece that was featured in the ad campaign for 1970. Which makes it a very early piece for his time at the label. The base of the coat is a red fabric that feels like a light wool that has a slight ribbed texture to it. The entire coat is detailed with a combination of a deep blue braiding and blue ric rac that follows the detailing and lines of the coat to emphasize the pattern and cut. Elaborate designs run around the hem and panels in the palest possible blue follow the lines of the coat. A floral patchwork is set around the hem and edged by the rib rack to create that fantastic design that you see. This anchors all the various parts of the design and gives a pop of contrast to the colour combination. The coat is collarless and it zips up the front. The shoulders are soft and the sleeves widen out to be full at their hem. The coat falls from the shoulders and widens out as it nears the hem. I took a shot of it laying flat so you can see the incredible shape that it has. It is quite full by the time it reaches the hem. Because it zips to close at the front and fully opens, you can wear this as a proper coat or you can wear it on its own as a dress, which lets it play double duty. It even has weights in the hem so that once on it falls perfectly in place and pockets that are hidden along those front seams. I just love that spectacular design through the body of the coat. It is so dramatic and like wearing art. I love it. Excellent overall condition with notes below
Fully lined in a hand set pale blue silk and closes down the front with an unpainted silver zipper. I see some faint yellowing, grubbiness to the bottom pale blue panel and maybe a touch of the same on the blue on the cuffs but I am being pretty picky there especially. Grubbiness to the inner lining around the hem and neck. Tagged a vintage Medium.
Sleeves: 24"
Inner shoulders: 14"
Bust: 19" flat across from side seam to side seam
Waist: 21" flat across from side seam to side seam
Hips: 26" flat across from side seam to side seam
Length: 58" from neck to hem
Modern Sizing Equivalent: XS-MED
Item# DD4481
Reference Photo: "The Malcolm Starr All Starrs" Ad, 1970.
All items are thoroughly checked over before shipping. Unless noted everything in our shop has been professionally cleaned. All sales are final. Overseas clients will be emailed to obtain agreement to our final sales policy before the order is shipped as per our return policy.
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