This exceptional dress is by Marc Bohan for Christian Dior and it is a wonderful example of his work during this time period. This best matches the work that he was doing from about 1969 to 1972 when he was doing these wonderful printed chiffon dresses. We found similar ones to this with variations on the print that this dress has and I have included them so that you can see how perfectly this will drape and fall on the body. I have had a dress with a similar print to this on the shop in the past from Fall 1970 which makes me even more certain that this one falls into that time period. It is a very easy and comfortable dress to wear but it also drop dead gorgeous. I feel that it perfectly represents this time period. His work was integral to the label's development over the decades that he headed the atelier and this is a stunning example of his vision. Beyond that it is just an extraordinarily beautiful dress. I have had this ion my archives for a long time and it is a beautiful piece.

This dress is incredible. I love this version even more then the ones we found for reference. The cut is extraordinary and those sleeves are pure magic. The dress is super light and very easy to wear. The outer layer of it is a fine silk chiffon that has an abstract dot print that covers the entire dress. The neckline is set high and is softly gathered to wrap around the neck. Under that the bodice is meant to skim over you to the seam that is set under the bust for a slight empire feel. It fall loose and easy over the natural waist and the skirt billows out from under that to the floor. It is lined through the body of the dress in a solid coloured burgundy silk to feel like heaven on the body. The sleeves are incredible. They are set into the shoulder with slight gathers along the upper shoulder for a subtle but very pretty detail. They are the full width from the should to that seam under the bust and this gives them incredible movement and drape over the arm. It is interesting to look at the dress from the interior because the inner bodice is almost like a bib shape and then the sleeves come out from the sides of that. Once on the body the entire dress has this stunning movement and yet feels minimalist and elegant. The fabric is so light that it will move with your slightest movement. I love the detailing of that wide band of the solid coloured chiffon that finishes each sleeve and the hem. It is very easy to wear but packs a tremendous amount of style with the that print combined with the lightness of the fabric and that cut. The tag is numbered and the dress made to demi-couture standards. It appears to have been worn very little if at all. Excellent condition

The dress is fully lined through the body in a deep burgundy silk chiffon. It closes with a back zipper. It appears to have been worn very little if at all. The tag is numbered and there is an additional hand numbered tag along an interior seam. Hand finishes throughout

Sleeves: 22" from shoulder to end and fall to 24" at their longest point
Shoulders: 15"
Bust: The inner lined bib covers to 13" across and then because of how the sleeves are set there are no true side seams
Seam under the bust: 15.5" flat across from side seam to side seam
Inner hips: to 22" flat across from side seam to side seam
Bodice: 11" from top of shoulder to seam under the bust
Skirt: 47" from seam under the bust and including the 2.5" band there to hem

Modern Sizing Equivalent: SML-MED

Item# DD4183

Reference Photos: (1) Model in Dior for British Vogue, March 1969.  /  (2) Model Kellie Wilson in gypsy-style Dior, wearing a long chiffon dress in lilac with white batik print, a ribbon belt and massive gold pendant Vogue October 01, 1969. Photo by Bert Stern.

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 a gorgeous dress from Alexander McQueen. It is from his Spring 2010 collection and it is a one of the original variations of a dress that they still make to this day. Julianne Hough recently wore a black version from my archives and I have included some shots of her so you can get an idea of how amazing it is on the body. The one that she wore was from a later collection released under the creative direction of Sarah Burton but it was based on the dresses released from this original 2010 collection. I have two versions of this dress in the shop from this season at the moment, you can find the other one here. This is basically the printed version of the one that Julianne wore. It is a fantastic example of his work. I love it

The dress is made from a printed silk chiffon that is covered with one of his signature intricate designs. Prince a trailing design of leaves and flowers that float over the dress and follow the amazing draping that the dress has. It is strapless with a built-in inner cupped bodice that gives you support and holds the dress in place. The cups are shaped and these cups are one of the things that you see that is different from the later versions of this dress. These earlier piece have distinctively shaped cups The seams in the inner cups are exaggerated and this gives them this beautiful curving angle shape at the sides and peak at the front. The silk that drapes over that is all cut on the bias. The dress glides over the inner structure and falls in column to the skirt. The silk is gathered in towards the center of the front and the back so that there is more draping there and then it fall in draping curves down the sides. The choice of silk chiffon for this one gives it a lighter than air feel and as you move the silk billows and floats around you. It also creates this incredible movement when you walk. The dress is original supermodel length and looks to have been worn very little if at all. It is spectacularly beautiful.Excellent condition

Fully lined in a black bias cut silk and has a built in cupped corset. The inner corset closes with its own zipper and the dress zips to close over that with a hidden set zipper. Tagged a McQueen 44. The inner corset has some stretch. You could have the inner corset adjusted if you needed more or less room. Buttons on the inner bodice to add straps if you wanted. 

Bust: to 18" flat across from side seam to side seam with a B-C cup
Inner corset waist: 13-16" flat across from side seam to side seam
Inner hips: to 24" flat across from side seam to side seam
Length: 64" from top of bodice to hem

Modern Sizing Equivalent: SML-MED

Item# DD4181

Reference Photos: Julianne Hough in Alexander McQueen from the Shrimpton Couture Archives for the Vanity Fair Oscars Party, 2022.

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 dress would have been designed while Youssef Rizkallah headed the company. Youseef 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 felt patchwork 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 color and vividness of his homeland. These felt applique pieces are among my favorites of his. This piece is a little extra special as it is a piece that was deaccessioned from FIT museum. It's archive numbered tag from there is found on inner lining of the skirt.

I love these Malcolm Starr pieces - they really are works of art and the best of the sixties/seventies arts and crafts movement. The fabrics for this one combine a cotton for the bodice and a wool for the skirt. The cotton used for the top still has a crisp finish to it. The sleeves are a single layer of the cotton and then the rest of it is a padded quilted cotton that has top stitching and what feels like a touch of padding inside. The skirt has a slight felted finish to it and then onto that are those fantastic felt appliqués. These are both fabrics that hold shape and color beautifully. The bodice is cut to skim over you with a high collar and matching fabric covered buttons that run down the front. It tucks and is attached into the skirt. One interesting thing to note is that is that it is just tacked along the inside waist. What I love about this is that in theory you could actually separate these two so that instead of a one piece you have a separate top and skirt. It would be extremely easy to do and it would make both pieces far more wearable because you could then mix and match them. In fact after seeing this dress I suspect that many of these felted appliqué skirts that you see by him out there for sale once did have an attached top.The  waist line is defined with a band with a piped velvet band that circles around and ends in a bow at the front. The skirt has pockets hidden along each seam. I love the appliqué work that runs all the way around the dress. It looks to depict a woman and two boys holding balloons and then this pattern is repeated all the way around. The figures and balloons are all made from appliqued felt that has been applied by hand to the skirt. I love the red band at the bottom that finishes off the skirt. It is the perfect pop of colour to highlight everything else and anchors the piece. It's gorgeous and these felted pieces are among the most desirable of all of the Malcolm Starr pieces out there. Excellent condition with a small note below

Both pieces are fully lined except for the sleeves. Each piece has its own back set zipper to close and the cuffs have hidden set zippers. The piped belt snap and hooks into place around the waist. Pockets along the seams at the front. The buttons at the front are technically functional but the opening has been tacked closed as it's only meant to be decorative. I see grubbiness at the hem along the fold line and the occasional teeny darkening to some of the belt pieces. The pull tab of the zipper pull is missing off the skirt.

Sleeves: 24"
Shoulders: 14"
Bust: 17" flat across from side seam to side seam
Waist: 12" flat across from side seam to side seam
Hips: to 20" flat across from side seam to side seam
Bodice: 16" from top of bodice to waist
Skirt: 44" from waist to hem

Modern Sizing Equivalent: XS-SML

Item# DD4169

Reference Photo: Lauren Hutton in Malcolm Starr, Vogue 1970.

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

Yves Saint Laurent opened his first ready-to-wear boutique on September 26, 1966 in Paris. For the opening he showcased his Fall 1966 Rive Gauche collection but what a lot of people don’t know is that he already had a rtw line. He created his first ready-to-wear collection for the Fall of 1964 with an in-house boutique collection of 35 designs including accessories. This dress is from one of those extremely rare collections that pre-dates the opening of the shop. It is from the Spring 1966 collection and represents one of the earliest ready-to-wear pieces he would have made. Because it pre-dates the actual boutique opening it would have only been made available to you if you were an existing couture client. Only a few of these would have been made. The numbers are probably along the same lines as the couture pieces as far as quantity. This one is extra special because it’s documented which is even more rare. We found a copy of the original sketch and fabric samples in one of the the Saint Laurent books and even they did not have the actual dress to show with that sketch. He did two pieces for the collection in this fabric. The first photo after the label shot here is the twin to this dress and the second is the other similar one that was a part of this collection. Finding a piece that was a forerunner to the boutique launch when that boutique concept went on to revolutionize the world of fashion is truly something truly special. This is a dress made valuable by its place in history.

The dress is beautiful in its simplicity. It is made out of a loose woven cotton feeling fabric that has a stunning and vivid floral print screen onto it. The print is the same that you see in the sketch fabric samples in the attached reference photo. It is a bright combination of blue, green, pinks, corals and yellows all done in an intricate floral pattern that covers the entire dress.The sleeves are cut to go to just past the elbow and are cuffed. On the cuff they have two sets of little snaps spaced close to each other so you can bring the cuff in a little bit to hold them in place in case you wear them pushed up higher on the arm. Above that they pouf out above the cuffs for a pretty fullness. The neckline is scooped at the front and at the back. At the back that scoop dips a little lower for a bit of skin to show. I love how it buttons to close above the zipper at the back with two matching fabric buttons. At the front there is a seam that is set just under the bust. You were meant to tie a ribbon under there as you can see in the sketch. I added a pretty blue grosgrain ribbon but you could add any colour ribbon that picks up on any of the colours of the dress or the accessories you choose to wear with the dress. The dress falls from there and widens out to be very loose and easy over the waist and hips before falling down to the floor. This beautiful A-line baby doll feel is a perfect representation of this era. It would have been the height of chic to wear this shape of dress at the time and its still a classic silhouette now. I photoed the dress without any ribbon so you could see how it looks that way and I also took a shot of it with the ribbon tied around the natural waist. The look of the dress changes completely depending on which of the three ways you wear it and I love the versatility that this adds. The simplicity of the cut lets that stunning floral design take center stage. This is a stunning museum worthy example of his earliest RTW work and it is fabulous. Excellent condition with one tiny note below

Fully lined in a black silk and closes at the back with a zipper and buttons above that. Each cuff has snaps as seen in the photo before the label shot. The hem is finished with a finished edged seam and may have been let down at some point. There is a tiny area on the bodice where a couple of the threads of the weave have broken. It is backed by the lining so only seen upon close inspection but I am pointing it out for accuracy. Please see the photo after the label shot

Sleeves: 23"
Shoulders: approx 15"
Bust: 17.5" flat across from side seam to side seam
Seam under bust: 17.5" flat across from side seam to side seam
Natural waist: to 20" flat across from side seam to side seam
Hips: to 22.5" flat across from side seam to side seam
Bodice: 9.5" from top of shoulder to seam under the bust
Skirt: 48" from seam under the bust to hem

Modern Sizing Equivalent: XS-MED

Item# DD4171

Reference Photos: Drawings of the Fall 1966 Yves Saint Laurent Collection. From the book "Saint Laurent Rive Gauche Fashion Revolution."

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 think at this point in time everyone pretty much recognizes certain Celine pieces from the Phoebe Philo days and this fringed black dress is one of those iconic looks. This was Look 15 in the Fall 2017 show and was one of two looks in the show that had this fringing detail. The second was for look eight where she wrapped a fringed scarf under a long jacket and over pants. When the collection went to production they also made a dress with sleeves that had this same fringe at the bottom. This one I have today is the twin of the one that was shown on the runway. On the runway they styled it with an added ivory under skirt that peaked out below the fringe. Without that under piece you will see a flash of skin through the fringe as you walk. This show is interesting to research as it is the second show after the Pre-Fall one where Phoebe went completely silent. She once again offered no press quotes, gave no background on her inspiration and was not present at the press previews. It drove the press mad and reviews that you can find online for this time period make that quite clear... but her loyal fans loved here even more for it. Her work has spoken for itself ever since and still garners the same devotion from her fans if not more.

This is such a beautiful dress. You just slip the halter neck part over your head, zip it to close at the back and walk out the door. It is in a black fabric that has some slight weight to it so it holds the shape very well. The neckline is slightly asymmetrical where it slips over your head and at the back of the collar it's notched so that it sits comfortably on the back of your neck. It skimmed down and over your body widening out as it nears the bottom seam before the fringe. At the back it's zippers to the side to follow a seam set there. The back is scooped and open and it is also cut on a slight asymmetrical curve. These are the small little things that people love about her designs. She has these little details that are so subtle but they have this wit and quirkiness and work perfectly to give her pieces that signature Phoebe vibe. The dress falls loose and easy over the body and then is that killer fringed bottom. The fringe that you usually see on things is almost always a braided cord but for this dress it is actually done with an ultra a fine black thread. Hundreds of thousands of threads are attached all around the bottom and they are so fine and light that they give it is incredible movement. They are also amazingly soft in feel. There is a tactile sensation that you just don't get with the fringe out there that you usually see on pieces. And it has pockets. This is the genius of Phoebe where she manages to have something be so perfectly simple and easy and yet have so much drama at the same time. I love it. Excellent condition 

Unlined and slips on to wear with a hidden set zipper set offside at the back. Tagged a Celine 38. Pockets hidden along each hip. It appears to have been worn very little if at all.

Bust: 16" flat across with no true side seams
Waist: 13" flat across from side seam to side seam
Hips: to 19" flat across from side seam to side seam
Length: approx 62" from neck to hem

Modern Sizing Equivalent: XS-MED

Item# DD4159

Reference Photos: Fall 2017 Celine Runway, Look 15. Model: Birgit Kos.

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

Haute Couture does not always have to be an elaborate, over the top piece. Sometimes the beauty of couture lies in the restraint of line and a certain chic  simplicity that hides the hours of handwork put into each piece. This dress is a numbered Haute Couture piece and would have been made by hand in the Paris atelier. The attention to detail shown in every stitch is fabulous. It is a gorgeous dress.

The dress is made from deep burgundy red silk crepe that is an exceptional high end quality and it is this choice of this very high end fabric that helps to give the dress its beautiful lines. The top is cut into a V at the front with slight gathers where it inserts into the shoulders. It is constructed to look like a separate top that floats over the skirt below but it is actually all one piece. Each sleeves is long and poufs out slightly above the fitted cuffs. I love how each cuff is pleated to pick up the pleat work on the skirt. The three silk covered buttons adorn each cuff and each one sits perfectly in the center of each of those pleats. This detail alone is fabulous. The skirt falls from under the edge of the top and it is attached to its own inner silk bodice. This is the proper way to attach a skirt in couture and this helps it to stay perfectly in place once it's on the body. The skirt is fantastic. Each individual pleat is perfectly matched to its neighbor with meticulous precision. When you stand still the dress falls straight and then when you move you get incredible movement and fullness because of the pleats. It is a brilliantly cut dress. Every stitch has been done by hand. It appears to have been worn very little if at all. Excellent condition.

Fully lined in a matching red silk and closes with an inner handset back painted metal zipper and then closes with a second zipper on the outer bodice layer over that. The cuffs snap into place under three silk covered decorative buttons. The Haute Couture label is present with couture tape under the tag numbered 157888. Hand finished to couture standards throughout. It appears to have been worn very little if at all.

Sleeves: 27"
Shoulders: no true defined seams
Bust: to 19" flat across from side seam to side seam
Waist: to 17" flat across from side seam to side seam
Hips at inner lining: to 20" flat across from side seam to side seam
Length: 55.5" from shoulder to hem

Modern Sizing Equivalent: MED-LRG

Item# DD2913

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 special red jersey dress by Yves Saint Laurent is very well documented. We always love finding pieces that have a solid history behind them. It's from the Spring 1982 collection and its twin was shown on the runway and it was also featured in ad campaigns that ran in various magazines. It's interesting that we actually found two different shots for ads that feature the same three dresses but with the models depicted in different positions. The end that year was shot by helmet Newton which as yet another layer to the history of this dress. The dress is not perfect but it's completely wearable as is and its gorgeous lines and easy to wear cut combined  with its place in fashion history easily offset any small flaws.

The dress is made from a cherry coloured red silk jersey. It is an extremely easy dress to wear. There is elastic through the waist and you just slip the dress on and tie it at the one shoulder and you are ready to go. When the dress is off the body the waist looks dropped but once it's on you realize that this is what allows the bodice to drape over the waist line like you see on the runway and in the ad photos. The silk jersey is fine and light and I love this colour of red. It has an almost pink undertone to it in person and it's very flattering on almost any skin tone. The fabric is gathered along the upper neckline and this gives it the drape and slight gathered look that you see. The upper neckline edge is finished with a piped tie and this extends out and is what is used to tie it at the shoulder. I love how the ends of the long ties just fall down your back from there. The bust is loose and easy and it drapes over that inner elastic waist line. The skirt falls from under there and widens out as it nears the hem. Is incredibly easy to wear and incredibly flattering once on the body. Excellent overall condition but please read the condition notes below.

The dress slips on to wear with elastic through the waist. It ties on the top of one shoulder. Tagged a vintage YSL 40 but the generous cut and elastic waist should allow it to fit a range of sizes. The dress has some marks on the silk jersey of the skirt. It's mostly in the lower areas of the skirt. I also see grubbiness around the hem. It has been cleaned of course and the marks may come out more with additional cleaning. The extent of fabric in the skirt hides it and the dress is perfectly wearable as is. The price is far less then what it would have been otherwise for this well documented dress. The fabric has stretch and movement. The measurements are given with a comfortable range laying flat.

Bust: 15-26" flat across from side seam to side seam
Waist: 12-23" flat across from side seam to side seam
Hips: 17-30" flat across from side seam to side seam
Bodice: 24" from top of shoulder to waist but meant to drape over
Skirt: 43" from waist to hem

Modern Sizing Equivalent: SML-LRG

Item# DD4158

Reference Photos: (1) Spring 1982 Yves Saint Laurent Runway.  /  (2-3) Spring 1982 YVes Saint Laurent Ad Campaign photographed by Helmut Newton.

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 cape is from the Fall 1973 collection and its twin in a green colour resides in the YSL museum permanent archive collection. I have a copy of a video shared by a former YSL employee that shows it behind the scenes and the sketch I have included here is a shot from that video. I love having that extra documentation on the piece. It is just stunning to see it in person

The cape is this wonderful rich shade of brown and the fabric is extremely soft and cozy. The chenille is heaven to the touch. It is so easy to wear. You just slip it over your shoulders and it drapes in place. A tie in the same chenille sits at the neck  and you use this to tie it in place and to control how loose or tight it sits. A wide set hood extends out from the neck and I love how it drapes over your shoulders for added detail and drama. And of course of you wear it up. It is absolutely dreamy and has all the drama. If that was not enough it has chenille fringes that go all the way around the edges. I love this detail and the movement it adds. The cape is made out of a loose net that has a honeycomb feel to it that gives it a ton of movement and volume. When you're standing still it feels very sleek but the second you move that honeycomb technique expands it out as much as it needs to go. When you move you get wonderful movement as it floats around you. I also the softness and richest the chenille has. I feel like this makes it a lot more versatile than some of the more traditional wool fabric capes. It has this sense of whimsy that YSL really excelled at. I can't say enough good things about this one and the fact that it's twin is held in the YSL museum collection is just icing on the cake. It is a great piece of fashion history. Excellent condition

Unlined and drapes over the shoulder to wear with a tie at the neck as described. The easy open cut should allow it to fit just about any size. It appears to have been worn very little if at

Length: 53" from shoulder to hem

Modern Sizing Equivalent: OSFA

Item# C605

Reference Photo/Video: (1-3) Fall 1973 Yves Saint Laurent Runway Collection.  /  (4-5) Taken from Instagram - credit unknown.

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 a remarkable example of Courreges and the work that Andre was doing during that time period. I know we often associate his work with very mod and short pieces but he also did many dramatic pieces in fabrics like this. It is just incredible and the photos don't come close to conveying how beautiful it actually is in real life. I am sometimes more excited to find these bolder and more unusual pieces from him then the more common mod feeling ones. This one is also numbered on the back of the label. It is just gorgeous.

This beautiful dress is made out of a black silk chiffon and then it has a floral design that it's fused onto the silk. The colours that are used are absolutely gorgeous. They range from this deep fuchsia and pinks and then they slowly change to soft corals and even pale lavenders in parts. The velvet has a glow to it so the effect of the velvet popping off of the transparent silk chiffon is this fantastic play of texture and colour that has to be seen in person. Many of his pieces are a play on volume and proportion and this dress is an amazing example of that. It is a dramatic piece that is cut with a dropped waist much like a twenties piece would be. This blouses over an inner seam set around the top of the hips. The neckline is squared off at the front and again at the back. I love how it is edged in a little black velvet ribbon. Running across the front of the neckline is a skinny little velvet strap that has a flat bow at its center. Each sleeve is full above its own skinny little velvet ribbon edging. The blouse is full and easy and skims over you to that low drop scene under the seam the skirt falls from there and is actually quite full. When you're standing still it hangs straight but when you move you get this beautiful volume and floating affect around you. There's a little attached velvet ribbon on one side of the head that wraps around to tie in the bow on the other. I would love to play on transparency that you get there is a lining inside but you still have this feeling that there's a slight transparency between the flowers. This is Address that really only comes to life once it's on the body as pretty as it looks in the photos it's really when you see it in real life and you realize how much flow the bias cut fabric has how much drape the dress has and how much movement it will have once it's on the body. It's spectacular. It looks to have never been worn or worn very little. Excellent condition

Fully lined in a single layer of silk chiffon through the bodice and has two layers of chiffon through the skirt. Slips over the head to wear and has elastic through the seam at the top of the hips. You can use the ribbon to tighten it further around your hips. Taged a Courreges zero and has a numbered tag on the back of the label. It appears to have been worn very little if at all. The easy cut should allow it to fit a variety of sizes

Sleeves: 14" and the ends are 10.5" around
Shoulders: 15"
Bust: to 20" flat across from side seam to side seam
Waist: open
Elastic seam at top of hips: to 23" flat across from side seam to side seam
Bodice: 22" from top of shoulder to elastic seam at top of hips
Skirt: 29" from elastic seam at top of hips to hem

Modern Sizing Equivalent: XS-MED

Item# DD4149

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

In 1993 Oscar de la Renta took over as Creative Director at Balmain where he designed the Haute Couture collections until 2002. The house had been floundering at that point and he had a huge impact on the reviving the sales of the couture pieces, mainly by catering to private clients, much like Balmain had originally. It is extraordinary to think that Oscar never produced a Haute Couture line under his own label and these few short years at Balmain gives us a chance to see just how talented he really was at all levels. I was very pleased to be able to fully document this dress with its photo on the runway and we even found one that shows the twin of this dress just behind Oscar for the finale of the show.

Like most Haute Couture, this is a dress that only truly comes to life when it is on an actual body. No matter how good it looks in the photos, the impact it has in real life and how it moves once on is undeniably beautiful. You can see in the runway shots that the dress sits lower on the sides of shoulders then where it sits on the dress form and this simple difference changes the look of it tremendously. The fabric is a fine silk in a pale baby blue that gives it the weight it needs to perfectly hold and to shape you through the bodice. The dress is sleeveless with wide straps that curve up and off the shoulder. It is fitted to be like a corset with built in boning and seaming to shape you. The neckline is scooped at the front and dips into a V at the back. There are attached underskirts to hold the volume of the skirt and if you wanted even more there is room to add a crinoline. The bodice is shaped with long vertical seaming that curves into the dipped waist seam. At the back it closes with a corset detailing and matching coloured ties. The skirt is set along the waist seam in a series of big soft inverted pleats that give you this lovely curve around the top of the hips. Then as they open out the volume of the skirt is achieved to give it the incredible volume that you see. Each layer of the fabric is light but when all the layers, and the sheer volume of fabric that has been used, is combined the overall weight of the dress is substantial and it feels like a couture piece. You can see how stupendous this is one in the runway photos and the massive sweep that the skirt has. This comes to me from one of his the original couture clients. This dress is definitely a dress that could walk a carpet and it would also make an amazing dress for the bride looking for a non-traditional choice or as an alternative dress in a more extended wedding celebration. Excellent condition with a minor note below

Fully hand lined in a pale blue silk through the bodice. The skirt has an inner silk lining and then two layer of tulle over that and a partial layer around the inner hips. Hidden boning and corseting through the bodice. It closes with a hidden inner zipper, a half zipper at the exterior waist and then laces to close over that. A waist stay inside that hooks to close and a second hooked stay above that this sits just under the bust. Hand finished through out to Haute Couture standards. Proper couture tag present Couture tape #172438. I see some teeny marks on the grommets which would be a natural part of normal use. One yellowish mark near the seam above the hem. A couple of very faint marks here and there near the hem. A small lightened spot on the front edge of the center fold. All of which you only see if you lay it out flat and look for them. Perhaps a slight darkening under the arms but it very faint and only in very bright light. Please see the photos after the label shot

Bust: 17" flat across from side seam to side seam
Inner corset waist: 13-14" flat across from side seam to side seam
Hips: open
Bodice: 14.5" from top of shoulder to side waist
Skirt: 44" from side waist to hem with 3.5" turned under the hem 

Modern Sizing Equivalent: SML-MED

Item# DD4136

Reference Photos: Spring 1994 Pierre Balmain Haute Couture Runway.

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

When hunting for the provenance of this dress we found a great shot of its twin on Moran Atias when she wore it to the Cannes film festival in 2007. I love that I have this so you can see how great it is on the body. The dress also has the significance of being from one Mr. Valentino' final few years before he retired. It is incredibly beautiful and it would make an amazing wedding dress for the bride looking for a non-traditional choice or as an alternative dress in a more extended wedding celebration. And of course it could also be worn to any event.

This ivory silk chiffon and lace dress is stunning on the body. This combination of those two fabric allow it to drape beautifully over the body and highlight your every curve in a very flattering way. The fabric also have a slight stretch that allow the dress to show off your curves while still feeling wildly comfortable once on. The bodice has a soft and romantic feel as it glides over you. The front and back of the bodice curves across you to leave the other shoulder bare and exposed. All of the edges follow the natural pattern of the lace and this adds to the feminine feel that it gives. The lace is backed with more silk chiffon so even though the lace has a bit of transparency you are fully covered. It is just tremendously beautiful. The lace is set over the waist in angled panels that work the way down the dress. In between the lace are silk chiffon panels. They are set in a way that emphasizes your curves and give height. The workmanship is exquisite where they meet. It skims over the waist and hips and then falls to the floor in a beautiful drape of lace at the bottom skirting. Both fabrics are light and soft and there are additional layers of chiffon underneath so that it feels amazing against the skin. It is cut supermodel long in length. The back is cut slightly longer then the front so you get this pretty sweep of fabric behind you. It is incredible and I love it. Excellent condition.

Fully lined with two inner layers of silk chiffon and closes with a hidden set side half zipper and then has another one mid-back. It appears to have been worn very little if at all. The fabric does have some stretch. The measurements below give you the comfortable range the fabric has when lying flat.

Bust: 15.5-17" flat across from side seam to side seam
Waist: 13.5-15" flat across from side seam to side seam
Hips: to 20.5" flat across from side seam to side seam
Length: 61" from top of the shoulder to front hem 66" to the back hem

Modern Sizing Equivalent: SML-MED

Item# DD4118

Reference Photos: Moran Atias, wearing Valentino, at Cannes Film Festival, 2007.

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

McQueen's Fall 2008 collection was called 'The Girl Who Lived in a Tree' and it was inspired by a combination of his trip to India and a 600 year old elm in his garden. I have included two photos from the runway that year and you can see how the elements from these pieces were combined to create this dress. Pieces from this collection are some of the most valued by collectors. The V&A Museum says of this collection: 'McQueen’s Autumn/Winter 2008 collection centered on a fairy tale narrative devised by McQueen about a girl who descends from a tree to marry a prince and then become a queen. It was inspired by a 600-year-old elm tree in the garden of the designer’s Sussex home. At the center of the set stood a giant tree swathed in fabric, inspired by Bulgarian artist Christo, who is renowned for wrapping buildings with material.' This dress feels a bit like the embodiment of that center piece they refer to, as you are wrapped an swathed in fabric once it is on. The impact of this dress is not truly conveyed on the photos and the way that the chiffon trails behind you is fantastic once on the body.

The dress is beautiful. Rarely does one see this level of workmanship in ready to wear. The fabric is a silk chiffon with a soft almost waffle finish texture. The silk is feather light and once the dress in on the body it feels like you are wearing air. The cut is classic McQueen with an almost scandalously low cut squared off neckline. Underneath he has suggested the presence of a seam with a line of hand placed stitches. This tiny little detail adds shape and gives that dress its empire feel. It is lightly gathered over the bust. Inside the bust is structured and supported. The support is genius and done mainly by couture level seam work and fabric rather then extensive boning. The skirt falls to the floor from beneath the bodice and there are many yards of silk used to create that magnificent skirt. On one side under the bust there is a extra panel of the silk that is caught up and drapes to attach to the top of the opposite shoulder. This creates this curved line that sits off of the dress. The skirts are long and extend even longer at the back. The skirt extends out there to trail out behind you in a long train. I love how the fanbric there extends out from the back upper seam ... as you walk this creates this billowing feel behind you that is extraordinary. It is a work of art from one of the greatest designers of our time. The dress has its original hang tags in place and is in its original uncut length. Excellent condition.

Fully lined in black silk satin through the bust and black silk chiffon through the skirt. It closes with a hidden set zipper at the back. The interior bust is shaped and lightly boned at the sides. Original tags attached. Tagged a McQueen 38.

Bust: to 17" flat across from side seam to side seam
Seam under bust: 13" flat across from side seam to side seam
Natural waist-hips: open
Bodice: 10.5" from shoulder to seam under bust
Length: approx 60" from shoulder to shortest point of the front hem, approx 90" to the longest point of the back hem

Modern Sizing Equivalent: XS-MED

Item# DD3473

Reference Photos: (1-2) F/W 2008 Alexander McQueen Runway Collection (Look 7 & Look 27).

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 hints of this dress from both the 1986 collection and in the 1988 collection. The original owner did buy it in the 1980s but I do not have the exact day. I tend to lean towards the earlier date for it but I have included reference photos from both the above mentioned collections. It is a stunning example of Valentino's work during this time period.

The dress is beautiful to see in person. It flows over the body from the more fitted bodice and the lightness of the silk allows it to move and float around you when you move. The bodice is a stunning example in shaping and couture techniques. Inside it is boned and has built in cups. This interior structure holds it perfectly in place over the body once on. On the exterior the silk is hand set and gathered over the bust and all the way around you. Each individual gather is meticulously hand stitched into place. Above this more structured part of the dress is a single layer of the chiffon. At the front it scoops in a higher set neck and at the back it is set with a keyhole running down to the top of the gathered bodice. The skirt flows out under that in four layers of the silk and each layer is bias cut. This is what allows it to have such beautiful movement when you move. The final touch are those pretty sleeves that are cuffed at the wrist and pouf out around the arm above that. It also has its original very large silk shawl piece. It is beautiful. The dress does have some flaws but is structurally sound. Please review the notes below.

The interior bodice is finished is boned and corseted. The skirt has four layers of silk as described above. The interior corset closes with hook and eye and the silk layer zips to close over. Each cuff buttons with two silk covered buttons and loops. Three buttons at the top of the back neck. There are areas of fading through the skirt that go through the layers. I have photoed the worst of them. There are some faint areas of the same on the silk above the corset and on the sleeves. I see one tiny repair near the hem at the back of the skirt. It comes. I think you could potentially remove the sleeves and upper bodice and use the shawl to create a layer over the worst of the fading or just have it redyed and it would be perfect again. Sold as found and final and the price is according to the description above

Sleeves: 25"
Shoulders: 15"
Bust: 17.5" flat across from side seam to side seam
Waist: 16.5" flat across from side seam to side seam
Hips: open
Bodice: 16.5" from top of neck to interior waist stay
Skirt: 45" from interior waist stay to hem
Shawl: 54" x 52"

Modern Sizing Equivalent: MED-LRG

Item# DD3018

Reference Photos: (1) From the book "A Grand Italian Epic, Valentino", 1988/1989 collection  /  (2-3) The "Degradè" Dress from the Valentino Haute Couture 1986 collection. (4) Cherie, Owner of Shrimpton Couture, by Erin Leydon taken on location at JohnMel Stables 

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

Bill Blass launched his label in 1970 when he bought out the Maurice Rentner label and re-launched it under his own name. Blass was arguably one of the most famous of  the American designers. His forte was the ability to mix simple styles with luxurious materials and his evening wear in particular seemed to have a way of flattering the wearer. He knew how to walk that line perfectly. This is a gorgeous example of his work from this time period. It is beyond gorgeous and it is one of my favorites from him.

I have had the twin of this dress in the shop in the past and it is just as good this time around if not better. I truly love this dress. It is made from a very fine purple silk that has a bright true pink ruffle set down one side. The way that the pink is attached tot he dress gives the appearance that it has been wrapped around the bust and then tied into a dramatic bow at the shoulder with the ties trailing down your side. This is all an illusion as everything is attached and stays perfectly in place. The pink is gathered around the bust and then is caught up to one side to create that fantastic bow. The other shoulder is left completely bare for the perfect balance. The illusion is then made complete with the ties of the bow extending down the side of the dress in an extravagant pink ruffle. This ruffle trails down from the bust right down to the hem and it is fabulous. Wearing this dress is like wearing a piece of art. Inside the bust there is a built in foundation ad a hidden tiny strap lies under the bow so that everything stays perfectly in place. Under that the dress falls in a gradually widening line to the hem. It is extraordinary and amazing and even more beautiful in person. Excellent condition

Fully lined in a deep purple silk. The inner bodice closes with its own zipper and then the dress zips to close over that with a hidden set zipper. Lightly boned through the inner bodice. Note that the waist of the outer is 16" flat across so if you needed more room you could add to the inner bodice to give you another couple of inches to work with. The dress I have on in the photos is the older twin I of this one that I had before to give you an idea of it on. The colours are even better on person.

Bust: 16.5" flat across from side seam to side seam
Inner waist: 13" flat across from side seam to side seam
Hips: to 21" flat across from side seam to side seam
Length: 56" from top of shoulder strap to hem

Modern Sizing Equivalent: SML-MED

Item# DD4109

Reference Photos: 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.

The Nina Ricci brand was founded in 1932, at 20 Rue de Capucines in Paris and quickly became one of the top couture ateliers in the world. In 1964, Gérard Pipart succeeded Jules-François Crahay, Nina Ricci's former designer assistant, as head of the brand. Over the following three decades, Pipart's couture vision 'celebrated a flamboyant woman and his ready-to-wear found a loyal following among the most stylish women of the day.' This dress Is one of his more quirky pieces and I am obsessed. I have had piece in the shop in the past that has this faux handbag applique but they were all from the 50s and 60s when that was a bit of a rage. I loved finding this 1980s designer version.

This dress is so eighties in every way and I love it. I am almost sad at how it photoed on the mannequin because on person its so much better. And these on the body are fabulous. Dresses like this really need a person in them to come to life. The dress is made out of a fine black wool that has a silk like finish to it. The fabric choice helps to hold the shape and support the applique work done onto it. The shoulders are set wide and there is light padding underneath. Each sleeve is gathered at the top of the shoulder and is meant to pouf a bit. The sleeves narrow down to a gathered cuff that hide a zipper. The body of the dress is full and easy with no defined waist. It simply falls from the shoulders so that the volume is on the top and then narrows down to skim over the hips to a pencil cut skirt. Then appliqued onto the dress is that fabulous faux bag that crosses over one shoulder and down to the hip. The strap is a wide silk textured ribbon that is finished in a flat bow at the top of the shoulder. This angles down to meet the 'bag' made out of a metallic embroidered velvet. The upper edge of the bag is gathered in and finished with a ruffle of a bright blue silk for an unexpected pop of colour. Anther bow sits below that. The best part? It is open at the top so that it is a functional pocket. The final little detail is the inside lining of the collar. It is the same blue as the ruffle on the bag. I love this little hidden secret. Excellent condition

Fully lined in a black silk and closes at the back with a zipper. Padding in each shoulder and a hidden zipper at each cuff.

Sleeves: 24"
Shoulders: 15"
Bust: 18.5" flat across from side seam to side seam
Waist: 17" flat across from side seam to side seam
Hips: 19" flat across from side seam to side seam
Length: 40" from neck to hem

Modern Sizing Equivalent: SML-MED

Item# DD4104

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

Holly Harp opened a shop LA in the late 1960s and created custom clothing under the Holly's Harp label. She tended to create her clothing out of a hodge-podge of new and old materials. In the beginning she favored things like feathers and fringe but her aesthetic became more 'grown up' and glamorous as her career progressed and she started to focus more on jerseys and draping. She was an avid thrifter and you can often see the influence of earlier decades in her work like with the kimono-esque hand painting and embroidered work on this piece. This is a dress I have had in my archives for a long time and its spectacula.

This is a beautiful example of her work and dresses like this from her are impossible to find anymore. My personal theory on why that is, is that the women who bought her work either wore them to death or are still hoarding them. Her work is magical. The dress is done in the most striking jewel toned red coloured silk velvet mixed with a red silk chiffon. The colour is so dramatic and rich feeling. It is completely cut on the bias cut and only truly comes to life once on the body. The cut is stunning and everything you want from a dress. The neckline is scooped at the front and again at the back. The dress is suspended from two tiny red silk straps and I love the delicate sprinkle of bead work at the base of each strap. The dress skims over you all the way down the body and is so easy to wear. The top layer of the dress is a fused red velvet on silk chiffon. The fabric is very light in weight. To add a little extra glitz there is this subtle bit of silver thread that runs through the velvet parts and these catch the light fantastically. Under this top layer there are three layers of silk chiffon and then a final inner layer of red silk. These are cut in a rolled edge uneven point that centers sown the back and front. The layers give the dress incredible movement and I love the contrast between the velvet and the silks. And the silk underlays go all the way up and are attached around the neckline. This gives you a smooth finish without adding any bulk. It is incredible and so light in weight. It's bias cut mans that when you stand still it falls in one beautiful sleek column but there is actually several yards of fabric in the skirts. It is only when you move that the amount of fabric that is actually there is revealed. The final perfect touch are those strands of piping that are at each side to suggest that the top layer is gathered up so the underskirts can peek out. The piping is finished with beads and there is also more bead work where they are set in on each side. The bead work there is very fine and elaborate. The dress is very well made and hand finished throughout. It is a beauty. Excellent condition

Fully lined an a red silk as described above. Bias cut and just slips on to wear. It has a large of movement and should fit a range of sizes.

Bust: 15-17.5" flat across from side seam to side seam
Waist: 14-17" flat across from side seam to side seam
Hips: open
Length: 60" from top of bodice to longest point of the hem

Modern Sizing Equivalent: XS-MED

Item# DD4096

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 dress is a tough one to date as the label style that is in it covers the period from the 1980s to the early 1990s. It is most likely from the time period when Karl Lagerfeld was the designer for the Chloe label but could potentially be Martine Sitbon. Karl designed for them from 1965 to 1983 and then Sitbon took over from 1987 to 1991. In 1992 Lagerfeld again headed the design team until 1997. Either way this is a rare find and I look forward to sending the new owner verification when I confirm one way or the other one day as I am sure I will stumble across it at some point. The dress is fantastic even beyond that question and I am obsessed with it.

The first thing you will notice about the dress is that it is as light as air. It is made from a feather light silk organza that has just enough crispness to it to hold the shape but that adds as little weight as possible. It also has this ultra fine finish that gives it a bit of a liquid look but in a subtle way. It is quite a remarkable fabric actually. The dress is strapless and the bodice is gathered into soft draping pleats that are gathered in and held in place down the seam on both sides, the back where the zipper is and down the front. There is no added inner foundation and just light boning down each side. It simple drapes over your body and your coverage is provided by the gathered top layer of gathered fabric and the opaqueness caused by a single inner layer of black silk. The gathers run from the top of the bodice to just below the hip. The seam that ends at the hip is softly curved as it is gathered in and up towards the center. The skirt falls under that to the floor and it is also made from a double layer of the silk. The two layers of the skirt float over each other and will move with your slightest movement. Attached at the center of the bodice is a wide sash of fabric that is shapes into a big soft bow. From that bow there are long ties that extend down to softly fall over the front of the dress. This adds so much detail and volume and I love it. The fabric has a touch of transparency to it and with the double layer of the silk there is a depth created by the layers sitting over each other that is fantastic. It is a beauty. Excellent condition

The second inner layer of the same fabric n the skirt acts as the lining and the bodice is lined in a black silk. It closes with a back set zipper.

Waist: 14" flat across from side seam to side seam
Hips: 19" flat across from side seam to side seam
Length: 53" from top of bodice to hem

Modern Sizing Equivalent:

Item# DD4076

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