This gown is absolutely incredible and very beautiful. It really is one of the most phenomenal dresses I have ever had and the workmanship is exquisite. It is constructed from yards and yards of pink woven silk that has an almost iridescent finish to it. There is also a gorgeous floral pattern woven through the silk that is just breathtaking. It is wonderful example of the high end fabrics that was being produced during this period. The dress has no identifying label but the care and meticulous construction tell me that it is definitely a high end piece. There are lots of couture level finishes on this one. The cut is pure Old Hollywood. The bodice is gathered all the way down the center front to the waist. Above that, it is flat pleated into a deep V and it then extends into wide straps that curve up and over the shoulders. The straps thin out as they run down the back. I love how at the back they are set on a slight inwards angle rather then just being set in a straight line down from the shoulder. The dress cinches in at the waist and this tops an expansive, full skirt that is made from yards and yards of the pink silk. The fabric gathers slightly down the front in soft curves, extending the line coming down the middle of the bodice, and the hips pouf out tremendously. The volume through the skirt is achieved both by the stiffened netted underskirt that comes with it and by the squaring off of the fabric across the top of the hips. I photoed one shot of the skirt with the draped part pulled outwards for you to see how this was done. On the interior corner of that squared off bit, there is a little weight encased in fabric. Once on, the squared off part of the skirt drops back inwards on itself and the weight inside is just enough to hold the shape of the skirt so that you get those wonderful side drapes, but the weights are not heavy enough to take away the volume. Incredible. Everything about this gown is beautiful. The interior is interlined with a black silk organza and there are hand done finishes throughout. This is a testament to gowns made in this time period. Excellent condition

Interlined in a black silk organza. It closes with a back painted metal zipper. Hand work throughout. Weights in the interior of the skirt as described above. The netted underskirt is not attaches and will be shipped with the dress. It closes with hook & eye at the waist. It is stiffened slightly for shape. Bias cut will allow for a bit of range size-wise

Dress
Bust: 15-17" flat across from side seam to side seam
Waist: 12-13" flat across from side seam to side seam
Hips: open
Bodice: approx 17" from top of shoulder strap to waist
Skirt: 44" from waist to hem

Underskirt
Waist: 13" flat across from side seam to side seam
Hips: open
Length: 39" from waist to hem

Modern Sizing Equivalent: XS-SML

Item# E662

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 combination of that baby doll influenced, high buttoned Great coat design, the full, long length of the coat and that dramatic glitter finish make this a vintage dream find. The collar of the coat is notched and pointed for a perfect seventies touch. Under that the buttons are set in a double row and sit higher up on the bodice. I love that the buttons are also covered in the same fabric that the coat is made out of. Those high set buttons give the coat a bit of a mod feel and also emphasizes the flare of the lower part. The lower portion of the coat sweeps out towards the floor and gently widens as it nears the hem so that you get lots of movement when you move. The sleeves are cut straight and simple. That longer length allows you to throw it over absolutely everything from jeans to a ball gown. The simple cut allows the fabric of the coat to shine. Which is literally does as it is made out of a woven black lurex textile. This makes the entire surface have a glittering, glossy feel and takes this otherwise classic black coat to a whole new level. The way the fabric catches the light is amazing. Excellent condition

Fully lined in a black silky rayon. Closes at the front with the buttons as seen and has one inner button. Pockets set along each hip. The cut should fit a range of sizes. You might be able to move the buttons slightly if you needed a touch more room through the chest

Sleeves: 21"
Shoulders: 16"
Bust: to 19" flat across from side seam to side seam
Waist: to 19" flat across from side seam to side seam
Hips: to 21" flat across from side seam to side seam
Length: 55" from neck to hem

Modern Sizing Equivalent: SML-LRG

Item# C519

Photo: Cherie, Owner of Shrimpton Couture.

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

From the front this Thierry Mugler dress falls in line with his more stark pieces with its all black color and sharp line, but the second that you turn around it is almost shocking. This is classic Mugler and the back has that wonderful, overt sensuality he worked into his clothes. It is made out of an inky black stretch jersey and is cut to hug your curves. The bodice is cut along those classic Mugler lines with rounded shoulders and a sharply pointed notched collar. The seams are all set into curving lines and they help to give the dress a touch of structure, shape and support. The waist nips ion and the hips curve out following the lines of the body. The skirt is cut to about the knee and curves in at the hem for a fitted silhouette. The back is spectacular. The entire back has an open cut work lace in lieu of the jersey. So you are completely covered but at the same time exposed to an almost scandalous level as the bottom of that panel dips quite low. Again at the back the seams are curved so add to the curves created by the dress already. Each sleeve is capped and has a little snap that adds just a touch of volume above them, The dress simply snaps down the front and can come off as easily. Excellent condition

Unlined and closes down the front with snaps. Each sleeve has a snap as well. Light, rounded padding in each shoulder. It appears to have been worn very little if at all. Tagged a vintage Mugler 42. The fabric does have some stretch

Shoulders: approx 15" but no true defined seam
Bust: to 19" flat across from side seam to side seam
Waist: 14" flat across from side seam to side seam
Hips: 20" flat across from side seam to side seam
length: 42" from neck to hem

Modern Sizing Equivalent: SML-MED

Item# DD3221

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

George Stavropoulos was known for his evening wear and his signature looks often involved draping and the use of multiple layers of silk done on a bias cut. He focused on cut and fabric to convey the beauty of each piece. It was said that his gowns "seemed to float on air". He launched his label in 1960 and soon was dressing women like Elizabeth Taylor, Jackie Kennedy, Barbra Streisand and Maria Callas. His dresses were made by hand and to couture standards. By the early 1980s a gown by him started at around $8500 and they went up in cost from there - that starting price point equals to around $26,000US in today's dollars. So when you buy a vintage Stavropoulos gown you are getting incredible value for your money. The only reason his work is not under the Haute Couture category is because he was not an official member of the association.

I love the light and airy feel of the dress that is created by the yards and yards of silk chiffon used under the top layer of netted lace used in its construction. Working in this type of fabric is already difficult and this would have taken many hours of work to execute the making of this dress by hand. The silk layers underneath are all cut on the bias and this gives it a lovely movement and makes it very comfortable to wear once on the body. The dress is suspended from the single shoulder and falls from there with a loose and billowy effect as it widens out to the hem. The top layer of the dress is made of a netted ivory with a lace feeling pattern that runs over that. This is then detailed with gold thread that gives the dress a slight touch of sparkles. Once the dress gets past the bust it widens out to be quite full by the time it reaches the hem so that when you move you get an unexpected bit of volume. it is also gathered up at the side toward the back and this gives it a little extra volume there, shows off the layers underneath the top layer and also helps to create that asymmetrical hem. Excellent condition

Fully lined in an ivory silk chiffon under the top lace and net layer and closes with a hand set, painted metal zipper set off side at the back. Has four full layers of silk chiffon under the top netting layer under the skirt

Bust: to 16" flat across from side seam to side seam
Waist: to 13" flat across from side seam to side seam
Hips: open
Length: 56" from top of shoulder to longest point of hem

Modern Sizing Equivalent: XS-SML

Item# DD3107

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

This is an extremely rare Jeanne Lanvin Haute Couture dress designed by Antonio Castillo. Castillo started off his career at the houses of Paquin and Piquet. He also did a stint designing accessories for Chanel. In 1950 he became the head designer at the House of Lanvin. The press at the time lauded him, along with Balmain, Dior, Balenciaga, as the new generation of the Paris Couture designers. During his time at Lanvin the house was known for the simple and elegant lines of the clothes and his metallic embroideries were particularly sought after. This is a rare Haute Couture dress from that period and is very beautiful and representative of exactly those attributes. 

The fabric of this dress is the undeniable focal point of the dress and it is just wonderful. It is a very fine silk brocade woven with a very slightly raised pattern of flowers. Into the cloth are metallic threads of silver and gold and the give the dress an overall sheen that catches the light quite beautifully but is very subtle. In person this fabric almost seems to glow from within and it is very beautiful. The color is not quite captured in these photos and I think it is far better in person. The dress is cut to skim over the bust with a softer feel to it. The waist is shaped by a complicated crossing of flat ties that hook and snap into place. I tied it in the front but think it could be done to all sit flat as well. The skirt falls and flares out softly to just past the knee. It gently widens as it nears the hem and when you see it in person you will feel that there is more fabric in the skirt then how it photoed. The neckline is finished in a simple scoop that feels perfectly in tandem with its stark and simple line. It is made with masterful seaming and cut and the fabric is just extraordinary. Excellent condition.

Fully hand lined in silk and fully hand stitched on the interior to Haute Couture standards. The dress closes with a side set painted metal zipper. The straps circle the waist and there is a combination of hook & eye and hidden snaps to secure them. Real metal thread has been used to create the fabric. Note that the way the ties wrap the waist is brought in to about 12" flat across - you could move where the ties are attached to get the full waist if needed.

Bust: to 17.5" flat across from side seam to side seam
Waist: 14" flat across from side seam to side seam but see above notes
Hips: to 24" flat across from side seam to side seam
Length: 45" from neck to hem

Modern Sizing Equivalent: SML-MED

Item# DD3217

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 coat is an exceptional piece of the early work that Yves was doing for his Rive Gauche line. This is from the time period of those very first few years of the label and it is wonderful to have it come into the shop. I found a shot of Jane Birkin that appeared ion the March 1969 issue Vogue and the coat is strikingly similar in cut and line. In 1969, Yves was quoted as saying; "My dream is to make things that can be mixed together; a coat is only beautiful, for me, if a woman can buy it and wear it with anything." I believe that this is just the kind of coat he meant when he designed it.

The lines of the coat are wonderful and if it was full length I would have been tempted to coin it as a Great coat silhouette as it has that same fitted upper body and flared skirt that those coats have. Though this shorter length does give it a bit of a Spy coat feel I think. It is made out of a cotton twill that has a canvas feeling finish to it. This has then been lightly coated and parts of the design have an almost painted feel to them. That is layered over a floral print that is worked directly into the weave of the fabric. The combination of the fabric and its technique is unusual and quite beautiful. The colors are a deep muted red that is mixed with deep corals and navies. The backdrop color changes as it works it way over the coat and the pattern is laid out in horizontal strips that emphasize the cut of the coat. The upper body is fitted with long slim sleeves. The collar is huge, it ends in large points and covers the entire upper bodice with its size. This is a design element that you see Yves use through the next several seasons. The waist is brought in under that and then the skirt flares out. Big slant pockets sit on each hip with pointed flaps over them. The back is vented so that the flared silhouette is kept as you move. This is a fabulous piece of Yves early work for the Rive Gauche line. Excellent condition

Fully lined in a deep gold silk. It buttons to close at the front as seen and has an interior side tie as well. Pockets on each hip and light padding through the shoulders. There is some minor grubbiness and very slight change of color the lining here and there. Tagged a 42 but cut small.

Sleeves: 22"
Shoulders: 14"
Bust: 18" flat across from side seam to side seam
Waist: 15" 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: XS-SML

Item# C513

Reference Photo: Jane Birkin in YSL, Vogue, March 1969.

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 coat or full length dress, that was constructed with a level of hand work that is getting harder and harder to find. The photos do not come close to doing it justice. It is not 100% perfect but its construction and beauty far out weigh its few flaws. The exterior is extensively covered with a beautiful crewel embroidery technique that is done by hand. Despite its age the colors are still fresh and vibrant. The design work is exceptional. Dense embroidery work form beautiful bouquets of flowers that circle all around the hem, cover the upper back and run down each sleeve. The collar is a soft rounded notch collar and this is embroidered with flowers that then trail down the front. The hand embroidered design is a pattern of soft flowers and leaves in a variety of pastels, an unusual color choice against the red, but one that works. The base is a fine and light deep red colored wool and I love the sweeping cut of the lower portion. Every detail is perfect down to the hand embroidered buttons. You can wear this as a spectacular evening coat, or because it does do fully up you can wear it on its own as a dress, or keep it as a boudoir piece. It is exquisite and a testament to the great craftsmanship and highly skilled technique that is rapidly being lost. Presents as excellent condition but has a couple of small flaws noted below.

Fully lined in red silk and closes with those amazing button and loops at the front. I see a dark discoloration on the back of one sleeve and some light marks where it was folded for many years and faded slightly, these go all the way around and are less visible in real life then how they photoed. Please review the last two photos for these areas. I have also included detail photos showing the hand work on the embroidery. The red is a touch more vibrant in person.  Please remember that pieces of this age will have a natural patina and should not be expected to be absolutely perfect (though this is close).

Sleeves: 18"
Shoulders: 15"
Bust: 17" flat across from side seam to side seam
Waist: 15" flat across from side seam to side seam
Hips: open
Bodice: 16" from top of bodice to waist
Skirt: 38" from waist to hem

Modern Sizing Equivalent: SML-MED

Item# C512

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 coat is stunning in its simplicity and sense of timelessness. It is made out of a light wool that has almost a jersey finish to it. The color in person is more of a true camel than how my camera could capture it and I think the color is far better in person. This is a classic Courreges choice of fabrication and he often used variations of this fabric because of how it would hold his desired shapes but still feel comfortable on the body. There is a slight ribbed texture to it and this picks up on that intricate seaming that details both the back and front of the coat. Each seam is set on a sharp angle that angles in towards the waist. This visually gives the illusion of shape even though the coat is cut fairly straight on the body. It also adds an interesting design element to an otherwise fairly simply cut coat. The collar is pointed but not overwhelming in size. This tops a row of small neat buttons that loop to close through fabric toggles. It is cut to slightly curve in at the waist and then gently flare out to the hem. Two decorative toggle buttons sit at the back to carry the design through. I love how the pockets that sit on each hip are hidden along one of those angled seams. Very chic and very couture in feel. Excellent condition with a very minor note below.

Fully lined in a matching colored silk. Buttons to close at the front with decorative buttons at the back. Hand finished throughout. The color is a more true camel in person. There is very minor chipping to the buttons edges at the back (please see photo after the label shot), but otherwise looks to have been worn very little, if at all. The easy cut will fit a variety of sizes. Tagged a Courreges B

Sleeves: approx 22" from natural shoulder
Dropped shoulders: 20"
Bust: 21" flat across from side seam to side seam
Waist: 19.5" flat across from side seam to side seam
Hips: to 23" flat across from side seam to side seam
Length: 46" from neck to hem

Modern Sizing Equivalent: SML-LRG

Item# C511

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 coat is extraordinary. It bears the Eisa label, originally launched by Cristóbal Balenciaga in 1917. The name came from the shortening of his mother's maiden name. During the Spanish Civil war the label briefly closed but then re-opened in 1939 until it was closed permanently in 1968. Cristóbal himself oversaw this line and items were made to couture standards. Based on the cocoon silhouette and the work he was doing in that time period this coat dates to approx the late 1950s, early 1960s. Cristobal Balenciaga was known for his fine tailoring and sculptural approach to design. The restrained and refined lines of this coat showcase exactly that aesthetic. Even Dior himself declared Balenciaga as 'the Master of us all' and Balenciaga's impact on fashion cannot be underestimated. He passed away in 1968 so any time I acquire a piece that pre-dates his death, I am especially thrilled.

The coat bears that elusive Eisa label and would have been made by hand n the atelier. It is extremely well made as one would expect. Cristobal was known for doing fitting with clients himself, from the initial muslin stage all the way through to the final fittings. This coat, having been constructed during the years he was alive, means that it would be one of those a garments that were fitted by him. It is cut with the volume and curving cocoon silhouette that defined the era. I love how the buttons run almost right to the bottom hem. This in itself is unusual and a clue to who designed it without even seeing the inner label. It does up right to the collar. When it is completely close the collar is a small and neat circle around the neck that wraps over itself. When it is unbuttoned it softens and becomes more pointed and feels larger. A clever little design detail. The seams are cut gracefully on a vertical line and kept to the absolute minimum. The cut of the coat is simple, yet extremely beautiful. The subtlety of the seams is fabulous in person. The shoulders  are dropped and curved. The arms cut tot just below the elbow. Volume is built in through the body. These are all classic elements of his iconic cocoon or egg coat. Front pockets are hidden along the seams that runs down the front. The fabric is a wonderful element all on its own in this coat. It is a nubby textured wool that has been dyed to a brilliant and striking orange with a hand dyed silk lining to match. The color alone makes it brilliant. It still feels insanely modern and is a rare and collectible piece of mid-century couture. Excellent condition

Lined in hand set orange silk taffeta. It buttons to close and has pockets on each hips. Each pocket is lined in silk. Proper button holes and hand finished. The easy cut will allow it to fit a range of sizes

Sleeves: approx. 21"
Shoulders: no defined seam
Bust: to 27" flat across from side seam to side seam
Waist-hips: open
Length: 38" from neck to hem

Modern Sizing Equivalent: SML-LRG

Item# C510

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 wonderful 1960s jumpsuit that is made from a pretty metallic brocade that has a raised pattern woven through it. It combines a soft pink with pops of a pale lavender and these are woven directly into the fabric along with a gold thread. The pattern is that of little circles all attached like a honeycomb with the gold thread. This along with the way the thread is applied gives the fabric a textured, slightly poufed effect. This covers the jumpsuit from shoulder to hem so that the entire piece has a golden tinge to it - even more apparent in person then how it photoed here. The fabric is the perfect contrast to the heavily embellished neckline and waist. The neckline is cut onto a deep V at the front that plunges right down to the embellished waist. A wide band of primarily gold lurex braiding accents the neckline and circles the waist. Mixed in with the gold are faux pearls, pink beads and sequins and silver thread that are all set by hand to define that neck and waist. Below the waist the legs are cut extra wide. At first glance it appears to actually be a skirt but as soon as you move you realize that it is really very wide cut pant legs. At the hem of each leg they are a full 63" all the way around. Wider then some skirts on their own. It is even better in person as the gold has more of a presence then how it photoed. Excellent condition

Fully lined in a pale lavender silk and closes with a back painted metal zipper. Some hand finishes. Pockets hidden along the hip seams. 2" turned up hem

Bust: 18" flat across from side seam to side seam
Waist: 14" when measured flat across the back from side seam to side seam
Hips: open
Bodice: 15" from the shoulder to top of the waist band
Pant length: 43" from bottom of waist banding to bottom hem
Inseam: (dropped) 27"

Modern Sizing Equivalent: SML-MED

Item# DD3213

Reference Photo: Cherie, Owner of Shrimpton Couture.

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

George Stavropoulos was known for his evening wear and his signature looks that often involved draping and the use of multiple layers of silk done on a bias cut. He focused on cut and fabric to convey the beauty of each piece. It was said that his gowns "seemed to float on air". He launched his label in 1960 and soon was dressing women like Elizabeth Taylor, Jackie Kennedy, Barbra Streisand and Maria Callas. His dresses were made by hand and to couture standards. By the early 1980s a gown by him started at around $8500 and they went up in cost from there. That starting price point equals to around $26,000 USD in modern terms. So when you buy a vintage Stavropoulos gown you are getting incredible value for your money.

This is a wonderful example of his work and the construction is on par with demi-couture. It is also a soft and romantic shade of pastel pink that I love. It is a color that is very flattering on most skin tones. The dress is constructed from layers of light weight silk chiffon. It is a strapless and the silk chiffon layers float over an inner, more fitted dress that is made of a silk crepe in a slightly more vibrant shade of pink. This inner dress has a corseted, boned inner bodice that keeps the dress in place. From there it skims over the body in a column to the floor. Over this interior structure are three full layers of a soft pink silk chiffon. It is cut so the back has an extra feel of volume and you get a more cascading almost caped feel. I love how the layers softly tier at the front breaking the line just a touch and giving the eye a bit of visual interest. It is very beautiful in person and better then how it has photographed. Excellent condition

Fully lined in pink silk crepe. The interior lining is constructed so it is like a full finished dress inside and out, over which the chiffon layers float. It closes with a back painted metal zipper. Hand finished throughout. The bodice has interior boning through the lining and smaller, fabric encased boning spaced around the bust area for a little additional support. The pink is a slightly softer pink in person. 

Bust: to 17" flat across from side seam to side seam
Waist: 13.5" flat across from side seam to side seam the inside dress
Hips: to 21" flat across from side seam to side seam the inside dress
Length: 50" from top of bust to hem at the front, extending to 52" to the back

Modern Sizing equivalent: SML-MED

Item# DD3212

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

This beautiful Pucci dress is done in one of his signature prints that is screened onto a luxurious velvet. The color palette used for this one combines a black base with turquoise, blue, pale purples, mauve and grey. The bodice skims over the bust with a neat little V neck that is bordered by a bit of the print. It is sleeveless and the waist is cut to angle up slightly to give it just a touch of a baby doll feel through the torso. This tops a sleek and simple skirt that flares and widens out slightly as it nears the hem. The print on the skirt reminds me of a galaxy with suns and moons spinning around a curving design that swirls across the skirt. The waist and hem are finished in the same border as the neckline. This is a classic Pucci silhouette. The colors all work with each other beautifully and the choice to use velvet holds the shape perfectly. Excellent condition

Fully lined in a black silk and closes with a back painted metal zipper. Hand finishes throughout.

Bust: to 17" flat across from side seam to side seam
Waist: 14.5" flat across from side seam to side seam
Hips: to 18" flat across from side seam to side seam
Length: 40" from shoulder to hem

Modern Sizing Equivalent: SML-MED

Item# DD3205

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 Fall 2006 coat is a great example of the work that Marc Jacobs was doing during his time there as Creative Director and still feels fresh style wise now.  It is made out of a beautiful fabric that mixes wool. mohair, alpaca and just a touch of nylon so that the fabric can move on the weft. It has a square front neckline that is highlighted by a mink fur collar. For those opposed to fur, the collar is easily detachable so that you can wear it without. It has a double breasted front with six buttons. The waist is seamed and the lower part of the coat set in with a bit of volume around the upper portion of the skirting of the coat. Each sleeve is cut long and lean with a single tuck above the cuff and five button detail running down at the wrist. At the hem there is a tiered box pleat ruffle for the perfect finish. Excellent condition

Fully lined in a light taupe silk through the body and ivory silk in the sleeves. It closes at the front with the buttons as shown and hidden fabric covered snaps under that. Pockets at the front of each hip. Tagged LV 42 and appears to have been worn little, if at all.

Sleeves: 25"
Shoulders: 15"
Bust: to 19" flat across from side seam to side seam
Waist: to 15" flat across from side seam to side seam
Hips: to 21" flat across from side seam to side seam
Bodice: 14" from top of bodice to waist
Skirt: 26" from waist to hem

Modern Sizing Equivalent: SML-MED

Item# C488

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

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

The woman behind the Maggy Rouff label was Maggy Besançon de Wagner and she started her own label in 1928 after a working at the Haute Couture house of Drecoll. The Maggy Rouf house joined the Chambre de commerce et d'industrie de Paris in 1929 and continued to produce Haute Couture until 1965. She developed a staunch following for her gowns and one of the mainstays of her design was that each gown have a main focal point like the stunning back of this gown. Draping techniques, as we see portrayed magnificently in this gown around the hip ares, where also a signature element.

The gown is tremendously beautiful and has all the hallmarks of Haute Couture. It is entirely made by hand and the fabrics are beautifully. Two fabric were used in its construction -  a rich, heavy weight, Indian Sari silk done in a combination of gold metallic threads on a purple base, mixed with a purple silk satin for the back train and straps. The golden fabric of the front wraps around the body with soft draping that sits across the front at the hips, This gives the hour glass silhouette the dress strives for, even more shape. Above the hips the waist is curved in and then across the bust it is hand gathered again.  The back is magnificent with a sweeping train of silk satin that attaches in just under the small of the back, resulting in a beautiful cascading, trained back skirt. I love the little bow that sits just above the train. again placed to fully highlight your curves. Inside is a full boned bodice as well as a waist stay to hold the dress in place. This dress is all about Old Hollywood glamour and is an incredible piece of mid-century Haute Couture. Excellent condition.

The inner bodice is boned and part of the inner purple silk lining. This layer then closes with a series of snaps and hooks that run down and behind the zipper that closes the outer layer of the dress. The inner waist stay hooks to close. The back train is lined in a stiffened netting to help hold the shape. Completely made by hand as Haute Couture demands and remarkable construction. There is one tiny area on the inner lining's hem that has a touch of fading, that of course this is not something you would ever see when on. Perhaps the tiniest bit of grubbiness to the trains hem but I am being extremely picky.  Otherwise appears to have been worn very little if at all

Bust: 17" flat across from side seam to side seam
Waist: 13.5-14" flat across from side seam to side seam
Hips: 18" flat across from side seam to side seam
Length: 57" from top of shoulder to front hem, the train extends another 8.5" ato its longest point at the back

Modern Sizing Equivalent: SML-MED

Item# DD3118

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 from one of Gaultier's most memorable runway presentations, the collection where Madonna closed the show pushing an antique pram from which she lifted a young puppy to the great delight of the audience. Vogue'a Laird Borrelli-Persson wrote in her review: “We designers think we’ve invented something, but we haven’t at all,” Jean Paul Gaultier told Vogue when talking about his Fin de Siècle collection, the subject of which was a century of fashion, from S-curve corsets to Lycra. Gaultier’s aim was not to replicate the past: “It’s not modern to do an exact copy,” he told Vogue. “You have to mix up the decades in order to achieve a modern silhouette.” If current fashion is defined by a high-low mix, that of the late 1990s was fixated on an old-new one. “A lot of young girls like old movies and dream to have old dresses that you can’t find anymore,” Gaultier told The New York Times. “I played with that.”

This is look 61 from that same show and true to the runway version. It is actually two pieces, an inner fitted mermaid skirt finish dress with a scenic net overlay that zips over that. The inner dress is made from a lingerie grade stretch Lycra and is cut to hug and fit the body from bust to where the low skirt flares out. The skirt is amazing and poufs out low on the leg in a cloud of silk chiffon over a built in tulle and net base. It is made of three layers of chiffon, white, nude and black over an inner layer of chiffon that is finished with a 4.5" wide stiffened mesh tape that holds it shape and gives it the volume you see. All of the edges of this are left raw as it was for the runway. The straps on this inner dress are clear lingerie straps and the body a deep nude color. The fabric stretches to fit and shape the body. A large chunky zipper runs completely down the back, right to the hem of the skirt. This inner dress is good enough to wear on its own, or you can pop the lace overlay for the full on effect. The lace piece is done in black and has scenes of Paris, the Eiffel Tower and his initials worked into the design that runs all the way around it. It also zips to close with a big chunky zipper and is cut to follow the lines of the inner dress. The back is scooped low on both layers for an unexpected expanse of skin. It is beyond amazing. Overall excellent condition with a special note on the lace overlay to review below.

Both the inner and outer dress close at the back with the chunky zippers as shown..The inner dress is lined in a black stretch chiffon under the nylon lingerie weight exterior. The skirt is comprised of layers as per the above description. The outer lace layer is unlined and there are a couple of tiny breaks in the netting. There is also a tiny area on the seam of the inner skirt that has come away from the seam. All these areas are photoed and follow the photo of the label. My client told me that these are deliberate and in line with the raw, unfinished feel that the skirt has and is how she bought it. I chose to leave it as found based on that feedback and the fact that none seem unstable or comprising tot he design or construction. Hand finished with raw seams at the skirt. tagged a vintage JPG 38. Note the inner and outer dress do have stretch and I have measured both flat to tjeir comfortable ranges. You may be able to get a bit more out of the stretch on a real body.

Inner Dress
Bust: 14-17" flat across from side seam to side seam
Waist: 11.5-13" flat across from side seam to side seam
Hips: 16-18" flat across from side seam to side seam
Length: 58" from top of shoulder to hem

Outer Lace Layer
Bust: 16-18" flat across from side seam to side seam
Waist: 12-14" flat across from side seam to side seam
Hips: 15-19" flat across from side seam to side seam
Length: 39.5" from top of shoulder to hem

Modern Sizing Equivalent: XS-MED

Item# DD3116

Reference Photo: S/S 1995 Jean Paul Gaultier Runway Collection, Look 61.

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 early little black dresses that Ceil Chapman made on the late 40s and early 50s are some of the best examples of her work out there. This piece is quite fabulous with its mix of inky black velvet and ivory silk matte satin. I hope that the girl that decides to make it hers will truly love and cherish it. These early Chapman pieces are very hard to come by and you can see the masterful seaming techniques she employed in this piece. The ivory silk on the bodice inset bodice is sharply pleated across the waist and in the offset notch of the bust. I love how she has set this detailing off center so it looks like the wearer is wrapped into the dress. The skirt is cut slim and long to just past the knee. At the back two black velvet panels drape down the skirt on either side of the center. These are finished with a backing of the same ivory silk used on the bodice so that you get the perfect, unexpected, flash of ivory as you move. An extraordinary piece that is highly collectible. Excellent condition with one minor note below

Fully lined in a combination of an ivory rayon backing the bodice and a black silk through the reminder of the dress. It closes with a back painted metal zipper and is boned through the bodice. There is perhaps an area or two where the velvet's pile is not laying the same way as the rest but this is normal on a velvet dress of this age so more a sign of normal patina then a flaw but still mentioned for accuracy.

Shoulders: no true defined seam
Bust: 17" flat across from side seam to side seam
Waist: 14" flat across from side seam to side seam
Hips: 19" flat across from side seam to side seam
Length: 46" from shoulder to hem with the back hem about an inch longer and the panels extending about 2" past that

Modern Sizing Equivalent: SML-MED

Item# DD3103

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

I have this same dress in a brown version that is also currently available in the shop. If you want to see it in that color option, please click here to pop directly to that listing.

Geoffrey Beene's evening wear rarely misses the mark.  It always has this combination of elegance and sexiness with great details and workmanship that makes you feel that you are really wearing something special. Here we have a beautiful and very sexy silk chiffon bias cut gown with a fabulous squared off back cut out that leaves the back left bare. On this one the color combination begins with a nude underlay that is then topped with a layer of a deep green and finished with a deep blue. This creates that unique color that you see and gives the dress a really unusual tone and depth. Depending on the light and how the fabric is sitting the color seems to change before your eyes. It is quite unusual. The bodice has a wide band at the waist and on this version that band is left simple and clean. The arms are full near the body - they begin from the top of that waist band and then narrow as they reach each cuff. The skirt swings out from the waist and there is literally yards and yards of fabric in it - if you twirl it is a full circle. The neck scoops at the front but the back is left completely bare - that bit of sexiness I mentioned above. It is just absolutely stunning. Excellent condition

Fully lined in a nude silk crepe, it closes with a low back, hand set zipper. Each sleeve has hidden snaps at the wrist. Hand finishes

Sleeves: 27" approx.
Shoulders: no defined seam
Bust: 18" flat across from side seam to side seam
Waist: 14" flat across from side seam to side seam
Hips: 21" flat across from side seam to side seam
Bodice: 12" from top of shoulder to top waist seam, band is 4.25"
Skirt: 42" from bottom waist seam to hem

Modern Sizing Equivalent: SML-MED

Item# DD3094

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 fall 2008 collection was called 'The Girl Who Lived in a Tree'. My client bought it in that time period and though it is not a piece shown on the runway you can see the same bird and woodland animal references within the silk brocade it is made from. The 2008 collection was inspired by a combination of McQueen's trip to India and a 600 year old elm in his garden and this dress certainly has that element. The birds adorning Look 23 from the runway collection is especially close to the pattern of the birds in this dress. The V&A says of this collection:

McQueen’s Autumn/Winter 2008 collection centred on a fairytale 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 centre of the set stood a giant tree swathed in fabric, inspired by Bulgarian artist Christo, who is renowned for wrapping buildings with material.

The dress is astounding and the work of a master tailor. Rarely does one see this level of workmanship in ready to wear. The fabric is a beautiful silk brocade with a forest of animals romping over its surface. The cut is pure McQueen with a high neckline that is made from numerous, tightly spaced seams that curve and create the ruffled effect that frames the neckline in a graceful swoop of fabric. The sleeves are high and curved under with just a touch of volume.  At the front the bodice is fitted and buttons. I have shown it completely buttoned so you can get the full effect of the intended shape and line but you could wear it more open to show a touch of skin. This fitted upper shoulder, neck and front bodice perfectly balance the enormous volume of fabric that curves out from the waist and then curves in at the hem. At the back this curve originates just under the shoulder with those beautiful seams running down the upper back and then opening to create that amazing silhouette. It is a work of art from one of the great creators of our time. Excellent condition with one note below to review on the interior seams. Appears unworn otherwise.

Fully lined in olive colored silk and closes at the front neck with buttons. There is stress to the inner seam construction that runs under the tag at the back but this of course does not effect the exterior. I have taken a shot of it so you can see the seams all the way down the interior - they are still sound so have been left exactly as found. Tagged a McQueen 40 and otherwise appears unworn.  The cut will allow for a variety of sizes as long as the bust fits.

Shoulders: no defined seam
Bust: 17" flat across from side seam to side seam
Waist: 16" flat across from side seam to side seam
Hips: open
Length: 44" from neck to hem

Modern Sizing Equivalent: XS-MED

Item# DD2858

Reference photo: Alexander McQueen Fall 2008 for Vogue Runway, Look 23, Model Georgina Stojilkovic

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

This is an interesting dress for several reasons. 2013 marked Oscar's 50th year and of course, we know that we lost him in 2014 making this one of his final collections. It is also the only collection that he had John Galliano come in to work with him on as Galliano made his way back into the fashion world. At the time rumours were swirling that Galliano was being tested to take over the house but that of course did not transpire and thought it was acknowledged that he had worked on the collection he did not make an appearance during the runway presentation. Nicole Phelps said of this collection for her Vogue review: "Oscar de la Renta made headlines last month when he invited John Galliano to be a designer-in-residence at his studio for three weeks. It wasn't long after the news broke that people began wondering if the disgraced former Dior designer would be working on de la Renta's Fall collection. We got our answer tonight. De la Renta came out for his bow, as he always does, but Galliano was in the building. When his PR chief was asked if Galliano had worked on the collection, she demurred, saying, "Well, he is backstage." There was that, and then there were the clothes themselves. Certain looks seemed very much to bear the Englishman's hand, especially the opening jackets with their draped necklines and flaring hips; there was something of Dior's classic Bar silhouette in them."

The dress is made out of a purple silk and is cut with an almost sculptural line and the bodice is shaped to curve over the body to create an hour glass shape. The front and back plunge into a quite low V and the shoulders are cut wide so that the waist appears even smaller.  The fabric is gathered and draped from the rounded shoulders and down into the nipped in waist. Below the waist the hips flare out beautifully. The skirt is set under the top and flows to the floor. It hugs the hips and flares out as it reaches the hem for one final beautiful curve. At the back it flares out and is cut a little longer for a slight trained effect. from the side this creates another set of curves from tip to bottom. No matter what angle you see the dress at all your curves are shown off to the maximum. Excellent condition

Fully lined in a purple silk and closes with a back hidden set zipper. Tagged a modern ODLR 10 but please check measurements as it is cut smaller. It appears to have never been worn. This was priced well over $10,000  new

Bust: 18" flat across from side seam to side seam
Waist: 14.5-15" flat across from side seam to side seam
Hips: 19.5" flat across from side seam to side seam
Bodice: 14" from shoulder to top seam on waist + 2.75" band
Skirt: 45" from lower seam at waist to front hem, 50" to back hem

Modern Sizing Equivalent: SML-MED

Item# DD2855

Reference Photos: (1) A/W 2013 Oscar De La Renta, Look 43. Model: Codie Young.  /  (2-4) Cherie, Owner of Shrimpton Couture, by Erin Leydon.

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

This is Oscar at his best and really showcases some of signature design details. When the twin of this dress walked the runway in the fall of 2004 Janet Ozzard of Vogue said of the collection: "Fabulous handiwork; rich, spicy colors; shapes cut to flatter. These are Oscar de la Renta’s calling cards, and his socialite-packed front row is testament to the designer’s mastery of the opulent-meets-elegant genre. For fall, de la Renta played up the curves. ... De la Renta’s evening looks, all garnished with Fred Leighton jewels, hit a series of luxurious highs. A Balenciaga-esque cascade of satin poured down the back of a strict, fitted satin sheath, while a dramatic black-tulle bustier was paired with a swinging beaded skirt. And for those with a fairy-tale ball in their future, any of the designer’s star-spangled tulle gowns will be just the ticket."

The dress is made from a rich black silk taffeta and is almost sculptural in its execution. The neckline scoops at the front and scoops even low at the back to leave an expanse of skin. It curves over your torso in an hourglass shape that is fitted to below the hip. A wide panel of black feathers circles around you just below the butt and miraculously only highlights your curves rather then add unwanted ones. The skirt falls in a full bell below that, complete with built in underskirts that give it that fantastic curve and shape that you see. Another wide swath of feathers finish the bottom hem. As you move the feathers move and this is a stunning contrast to the otherwise structured shape. My favorite detail is the two pockets that sit on each hip. Each is finished with a sweet little silk satin bow that is absolutely, perfectly Oscar. It is magnificent and was well over $10,000 at retail new. Appears unworn. Excellent condition

Fully lined in silk with extensive underskirts in the lower skirt as mentioned above. It closes with a back hidden set zipper. Tagged a US6. Appears unworn.

Bust: to 18" flat across from side seam to side seam
Waist: 14" flat across from side seam to side seam
Hips: 18" flat across from side seam to side seam
Length: 60" from shoulder to hem

Modern Sizing Equivalent: SMl-MED

Item# DD2878

Reference Photo: F/W 2004 Oscar de la Renta Collection, Look 49. Model: Nicole Trunfio.

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

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

For Resort 2009, Karl Lagerfeld had the models seem to walk on water as they worked their way over a curving runway built over the pool at the Raleigh Hotel in South Beach, Miami. Laird Borrelli-Persson reviewed the collection for Vogue and said of it: "The clothes themselves, though, nodded to an entirely different era. The 74-look collection mixed rock 'n' roll with seventies swing and high glamour, all rendered with Lagerfeld's forward-minded attitude. Models with Brian Jones-inspired hair looked as smart in smokings as they did in seventies-style full-legged light-wash jeans, tie-dyed logo tees, and haute hippie headbands. These are sure to be in high demand among the easy-living types who make the rounds of tony beachside resorts, but it wasn't all just sun and fun. A series of elaborately beaded dresses with clear or smoky plastic insets were examples of pure urban sophistication, just as the few goddess dresses were exemplars of restraint. ..."This kind of production speaks to the importance of the [Resort] market and signals how commercially viable it is," said Saks' Ron Frasch. Perhaps only Lagerfeld, though, can make the whole enterprise seem like so much fun."

The dress was Look 48 on the runway and I have also included a reference photo of Selma Blair so you can see just how spectacular the fit of this dress is once on. This is Karl at his best and has a level of fantasy to it that gives it the feel of Haute Couture. The lace that covers the dress is spectular and I love that is has been layered over two semi-transparent layers of black and an inner nude - this gives the lace more depth and allows the pattern to really show despite its dark color. Vertical sections of lace are places between horizontal bands that are placed to shape and mold the body underneath. The shoulder and neckline has a padding under the lace and this gives them an almost warrior feel. I love the ay it frames the neck and face. The same padding treatment is used at the hem and it only heightens the hourglass effect that the rest of the dress has. This is the kind of Chanel that dreams are made of. Excellent condition.

Fully lined in a semi-transparent black and closes at the back with a hidden set zipper. Immaculate construction. It appears to have never been worn. Tagged a Chanel 38

Bust: to 17" flat across from side seam to side seam
Waist: 13" flat across from side seam to side seam
Hips: 18" flat across from side seam to side seam
Bodice: 17" from natural neck to waist
Skirt: 25.5" from waist to hem

Modern Sizing Equivalent: XS-SML

Item# DD2872

Reference Photos: Resort 2009 Chanel, Look 48. Model: Bobbi Wiens.  /  Selma Blair at the Dark Glamour Book Signing Event, September 16 2008.

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

On the 2008 Resort runway for Chanel this was shown in a longer, graphic black and white, but was produced in this shorter all-black version. Diane Kruger later wore the twin of the version I have here to the Chanel Haute Couture collection, giving us a fabulous reference of how amazing this looks on a real girl. It is made from a stretch bandage fabric in black with different finishes used for each part of the dress. The bodice is made from strips of the fabric woven into a basket weave pattern. Straps button into place so you can change how they sit if you wish. Through the waist the pattern is set vertically and the knit has just a touch of transparency to it for a hint of sexiness. The skirt swings out from this beautifully fitted shape in a a "faux" pleat - the lines that give the illusion of pleats are actually worked directly into the knit. It's fabulous and absolutely gorgeous on.

Nicole Phelps of Vogue said of this collection in her review: "The spectacle Karl Lagerfeld and Chanel staged on Friday night at a Los Angeles airfield was so audacious, so over-the-top, it elicited a standing ovation before the first model hit the people mover. The designer, who took over Grand Central station in New York last May and commandeered a fleet of buses in Paris the year before that, chose a Santa Monica plane hangar for this year's resort extravaganza...."Airports and flying have become a nightmare," Lagerfeld had said backstage a few minutes earlier. "L.A. is about the dream of private jets and beautiful cars and glamour. Cruise collections are about the dream of freedom." 

Unlined and tagged a Chanel 36. It still has the plastic that held the hang tag through the label and has never been worn. The fabric is meant to stretch and hug the body.

Bust: 13.5-17" flat across from side seam to side seam
Waist: 10-14" flat across from side seam to side seam
Hips: to 20" flat across from side seam to side seam
Length: 45.5" from natural neck to hem

Modern Sizing Equivalent: XS-SML

Item# DD2871

Reference Photos: Resort 2008 Chanel, Look 10. Model: Irina Lazareanu.  /  Diane Kruger attending the Chanel Haute Couture Show in Paris, January 22, 2008.

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 Valli at his best and is a stunning achievement in cut and concept. The dress is a superb example of high end workmanship and design. It is made from a very high end silk in a deep blue. Through the silk is a secondary patter woven in black thread that gives it texture and detailing. The dress is cut to fit the body. So much so that the skirt is cut with no vent making it an extreme fit right to just past the knee much like the true wiggle dresses of the 1950s. The bodice is sleeveless and has his signature straight cut neckline at the front and a deep plunging V at the back. That deep back is cut with a slight curve that follows the lines of the torso and leave s a beautiful expanse of  bare skin showing. The waist in cinched and the hip slightly accented with pleat work that add to the hourglass figure the dress creates. The border of the lower hem is truly wonderful with a dense covering of black, prong set crystals adorning the surface all the way around. Just wonderful and appears to have never been worn. Excellent condition

Fully lined in a black silk crepe chiffon and closes with a hidden set low zipper. Tagged a Valli 42/S. Note that the skirt has no vent and the bottom of the hem measures 16.5" flat from seam to seam

Bust: 16.5" 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: 13" from neck to waist
Skirt: 31.5" from waist to hem

Modern Sizing Equivalent: XS-SML

Item# DD2864

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