
karl lagerfeld
Avent Garde 1990s Karl Lagerfeld Suspended Sleeve Dress w Flat Silver Sequin Detailing
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This dress is from Karl Lagerfeld's own label. He launched his self-named label in 1984 and I believe this dress is from the early 1990s. Pieces from his personal label were far edgier then the work he did for Chanel. It was a label where he explored a more avant garde feel with his designs and pushed the envelope more. This is a fantastic example of that yet is still cut with the sharp tailoring and flattering lines he was known for.
The dress is made from a black crepe that is light in weight and falls beautifully once on the body. The body of the dress is cut in a simple silhouette with a full length skirt, a simple bodice and straps that curve up and around each shoulder. The waist is seamed and detailed with a panel of the same fabric that has been gathered in a band that runs around the waist to the back where the back buttons in place over a zipper. The sleeves are spectacular. Each is suspended from a flat strap that is attached to the top of each shoulder strap. These swing over the front of your shoulder and then you slip your arm through the attached sleeve. Another strap is set at the back of the neck extending out from each side. Once this strap is hooked together it cleverly holds everything perfectly in place so the sleeves don't fall down your arms. I love how this leaves your entire upper shoulders bare and how the edge of the top of the sleeves perfectly lines up with the top of the bodice. The sleeves have a wide panel of flat rectangular silver sequins around the elbows and again at the wrist for a pop of metallic flash. The cuff under that flares out slightly and there is an extra high slit that runs up one leg. This is a dress that really needs to be on to fully come to life. It is spectacular. Excellent condition with a note below
Unlined except for the front bodice panel which is lined in a black silk. It closes at the back with a hidden set zipper and buttons. The neck strap hooks to close behind the neck. Hidden set zippers on each cuff. Light boning through the bodice. I see one of the silver sequins missing and two that are cracked or broken. There is minor pilling to the fabric on the sides of the bodice. Please see the three photos after the label shot. Priced in mind of these small flaws. Tagged a vintage 38
Sleeves: approx 25"
Bust: 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: 15" from shoulder to dropped seam above hip
Skirt: 44" from waist to hem
Slit: 28" from hem up
Modern Sizing Equivalent: XS-SML
Item# DD3407
This garment has been professionally cleaned, pressed and is odor free. Thoroughly checked over before shipping, it will be ready to wear upon arrival.

alexander mcqueen
Important Fall 2004 Alexander McQueen 'Pantheon Ad Lecum' Runway Feather & Bead Collar
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It is extremely rare to find the accessories that appeared on the runway from the Alexander McQueen shows. They were often not produced in significant numbers and were often only found at the flagship store in very limited quantities if they were even made available at all. This masterpiece is from the Fall 2004 show entitled 'Pantheon Ad Lecum' or 'Towards the Light'. The twin of this collar walked the runway topping a dress worn by Karen Elson and it was spectacular. In the book Alexander McQueen these feather capes are remarked up in particular as being a nod to the Native American culture. This is a remarkable piece of McQueen's history and I have never seen one for sale before and might never again.
The collar is glorious. It sits on the shoulders and comes up and around the neck in a graceful curve to frame the face. It is completely covered with rows of overlapping feathers done in rows that follow the curving cut of the collar. The feathers cover every square inch of the collar front to back. Worked into and through the feathers are hand cut mother of pearl shell discs along with large oval amber coloured glass beads. The shell discs have a raw feel to them and the glass beads catch the light beautifully. Smaller round amber glass beads are mixed in and all of the work has been done by hand. It is backed in an ivory silk satin and closes with a back zipper. It is a true treasure that is a once in a life time find. Excellent condition with a minor note below.
The collar zips to close at the back and is lined in a hand set ivory silk satin. All the work is done by hand. There may be the occasional bead missing but nothing that stands out. The feathers around the very top of the neck show a slight crushing that is impossible to avoid given the way they are set in place. It is otherwise as close to being fresh off the rack as you can get and a remarkable piece of fashion history.
The neck is 15.75" around and the width at its widest point is 21". The collar is 2.25" high and then it is 9" wide from the bottom neck seam to the edge.
Item# DD3919
Reference Photos/Video: (1-4) Fall 2004 Alexander McQueen Runway Collection. Look 34 worn by Karen Elson. (5) Text from the book Alexander McQueen edited by Claire Wilcox, Abrams
This garment has been professionally cleaned, pressed and is odor free. Thoroughly checked over before shipping, it will be ready to wear upon arrival.

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Paco Rabanne was a Spanish designer who became known as the 'l'enfant terrible', or unruly child, of the 1960s French fashion world. He began his career making jewellery in unusual materials for many of the French couturiers. In 1964 he was only 30 years old when he presented his first official collection. In 1966 he had his breakout show: 'Twelve Unwearable Dresses in Contemporary Materials.' and it was with this show that he found his calling. The Met museum noted that 'unlike Pierre Cardin and André Courrèges, who employed traditional couture techniques for their "futuristic" designs, Rabanne was interested in creating fashion with uncharted and imaginative production methods using novel postwar industrial materials.' After a few attempted revivals the label is doing very well under Creative Director Julien Dossena. He has been integral with giving new life to the brand.
The Paco Rabanne pieces made from a fine Oroton metal mesh were a spring board from the earlier chain mail examples and were heavily sought after and collected - then and now. This is a classic design that has been re-issued a couple of times since Julien came on board. My client bought this a few years ago and there is an identical gold version coming soon to the Paco website priced at $6400USD.
The dress is completely made from a gold metal mesh. The mesh has a good weight to it but settles onto the body wonderfully and feels spectacular once on. The metal is very cool at first but once your body heat warms it up, it stays at your body temperature and feels quite sensual. The dress is fairly simple yet complex in its design. You slip it on and it drapes loosely across the shoulders and plunges under the arms. Snaps run along the top of one shoulder and then it snaps to close down one side. The snaps are spaced looser apart along your side but then when it hits the hips the snaps are placed closer together. This causes the fine metal mesh to have a draped effect and hikes the dress up on that side. It snaps to close at the top of the side of each waist. At the back it drapes over your curves in the most beautiful of ways. The mesh creates an almost bias cut effect so that is follows the movement of your body. It has just a touch of transparency to it cause by the tiny spaces between each piece of the mesh. On one side of the bust the mesh is fused together slightly differently to create the slightest illusion of a triangle pocket. It is just stunning and on an actual body it is even better as the mesh moves like molten liquid over you and catches the light from every angle. Exceptional. Excellent condition
It slips on and there are snaps on the shoulder and then along one side as described above. Each snap is engrave with the PR initials and the metal Paco Rabanne tag is attached at the back neck. It appears to have been worn very little if at all. Tagged a 38. It is cut looser through the top and narrow through the hips. Once on the waist does drape over a bit
Bust: 18" flat across from side seam to side seam
Waist: to 15" flat across from side seam to side seam
Hips: to 16" flat across from side seam to side seam
Length: 38" from shoulder to shortest point of hem, 44" to the longest.
Modern Sizing Equivalent: XXS-XS
Item# DD3909
Reference Photo: From the Paco Rabanne Website.
This garment has been professionally cleaned, pressed and is odor free. Thoroughly checked over before shipping, it will be ready to wear upon arrival.

oscar de la renta
Fall 2006 Oscar de la Renta Muted Gold & Silver Paillette & Sequin Silk Netted Runway Dress
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The twin of this dress was shown on the Fall runway for 2006. In Vogue's review of the collection journalist Nicole Phelps said in part; 'While other designers flit from one influence to another, Oscar de la Renta has made a four-decade-long career of staying true to his brand of ladylike elegance'. On the runway the dress was styled with long gloves and a wide expanse of black silk tulle wrapped around the neck. Once those styling elements are stripped away you really see how beautiful the lines of the dress are. 2006 was an important year in Oscar's history. This is the same year that Parsons awarded him with the Lifetime Achievement Award at their 58th Annual Benefit and Fashion Show.
This Oscar de la Renta dress is absolutely gorgeous. It is red carpet worthy and would even make an amazing wedding piece for the bride looking for a non-traditional choice or as an alternative dress in a more extended wedding celebration. It is in fabulous condition. The dress is covered with a dense application of muted gold sequins and silver paillettes in various shapes and sizes. These are densely set onto the entire dress and even overlap each other for the majority of the application of them. I love how the are so tightly spaced to cover the top of the dress and then as they run past the hips and down the skirt they start to be spaced further apart so that you get more of a sense of the black netting underneath. It gives it this amazing fairy tale quality and makes you think of stars and the night sky. Running around the the neckline is a dense band of large gold toned beadwork and crystals. A smaller band of the same bead and crystal work runs around the opening for each arm. The dress is made up of four layers. Under the top appliquéd layer are three other layers of black silk tulle netting. All of the sequins and beads have been applied to the very top outer layer. The use of various sizes and shapes for the sequins that cover the dress cause the light to catch the dress in a slightly different ways as you move and it creates the most amazing effect and they also highlight the shape of the dress. The dress is sleeveless and cut to be fitted tot he body to below the hip. At this point the lower skirt flares out dramatically. It is cut longer at the back for a beautiful sweeping line and suggestion of a train. It is very well made and absolutely stunning in person. It appears to have been worn very little if at all. Excellent condition.
The black netting serves as the inner lining through the bodice and fitted parts. Below that the skirt is constructed from four layers of silk tulle as described above. It closes at the back with a metal and nylon zipper and there is an inner grosgrain waist stay that hooks to close. There are couple areas where the netting shows through a little more then others. Please see the photos after the label shot. Tagged a size 2. It does close completely at the back on the proper sized person.
Bust: 15.5" flat across from side seam to side seam
Waist: 12" flat across from side seam to side seam
Hips: open
Length: 62" from shoulder to front hem, 72" to back hem
Modern Sizing Equivalent: XXS-SML
Item# DD3613
Reference Photos: Fall 2006 Oscar De La Renta Runway Collection, Look 62. Model: Emina Cunmulaj.
This garment has been professionally cleaned, pressed and is odor free. Thoroughly checked over before shipping, it will be ready to wear upon arrival.