The twin of this incredible dress was shown for Look 62 on the Fall 2006 runway. This dress is quintessentially Oscar in feel and Vogue agreed with that sentiment with journalist Nicole Phelps saying; '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. No matter how gorgeous this dress photoed it can't come close tot he impact it has in person. It is literally covered with sequins from top to bottom and is just mind blowing to see in real life.

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. The dress is made up of four layers of silk which give it the light floating quality it has. The top layer is a netting that you can see has been completely covered with sequins. Then under that are are three more layers of black silk tulle. The sequins that cover the dress are a mix of silver and gold. They catch the light from every angle and I love the mix of the metals as it gives you endless styling opportunities. All of the sequins are done in different shapes and sizes. They are set to overlap each other and are very tightly spaced over the top part 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 floating feel. It makes me think of stars and the night sky. Running around the the neckline is a dense band of large gold toned beads and crystals. A smaller band of the same bead and crystal work runs around the opening for each arm. The dress is cut to be fitted to the body to below the hip. from there it flares out dramatically around you in a pouf of skirting. The back is cut longer and fuller for a beautiful sweep of fabric behind you. It is very well made and absolutely stunning in person. Excellent condition.

The inner layers of the black netting act as the lining through the bodice and hips. Below that the skirt is constructed from four layers of silk tulle as described above. It has a back zipper closure and an inner grosgrain waist stay that hooks to close. Tagged a size 2. It appears to have been worn very little if at all.

Bust: 16" flat across from side seam to side seam
Waist: 12" flat across from side seam to side seam with the inner waist stay hooked, 13" of left unhooked
Hips: to 19" flat across from side seam to side seam
Length: 62" from shoulder to front hem, 72" to back hem

Modern Sizing Equivalent: XS-SML

Item# DD3613

Reference Photos/Video: 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.

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.