• The twin of the dress walked the runway for the Spring 1988 collection.
• It was made under the creative direction of Christian Lacroix
• The dress is very well documented. Besides the runway shots it was photographed on Yasmin Le Bon and one is held in the permanent archives of The Met Museum.
• Lacroix's Luxe label was only produced the very first couple of seasons after launching his label. It was a very high-end (very expensive) ready-to-wear line that was made to demi-couture standards. It was available primarily to his couture clients and a select few beyond that. It was the predecessor to his regular ready-to-wear collections. The label only lasted the first two seasons because some of the couture clients complained at how close the garments were to their Haute Couture pieces. Very few pieces were made so they are almost as rare as finding one of his Haute Couture pieces.
• The dress is spectacular. It is strapless and meant to be fitted to the body. The bodice is covered with a black lace that is finished with an iridescent silk ribbon that follows the underlying pattern. This gives it a gorgeous 3D texture.
• The inner bodice is boned and shaped and I love the two pink grosgrain bows that sit on the top of each peak. The back dips quite low to expose an expanse of bare skin.
• It curves in at the waist and the inner underskirt is attached there and acts almost like a bit of a corset around the waist. 
• The bodice ends in a point at the front and the back with the skirt is set under its edge. The skirt has wide inverted flat pleats that open out to achieve the fullness that you see. The skirt is made out of a brilliant yellow silk and I love the vibrant colour and contrast to the pink bows.
• Over that yellow silk base is a lace overlay that combines a striped lace with a floral. The lace lets the yellow peek through and it adds a bit of a cabaret feel to the dress.
• The underskirt underneath is what gives the dress its incredible volume. It is made out of a stiffened lace and all the volume that you see is from the underskirt. It has added built-in side panniers inside to add extra volume and hold the width of the skirt. The very lower edge is finished with a stiffened netting and then that is covered with a band of black lace that peeks out from under the edge of the skirt.
• The dress is fully lined in a black silk through the bodice and has built in boning to hold it in place around you. The inner attached skirt hooks to close around the waist and the dress zips to close over that. Hand finishes throughout. I see a couple of extremely minor marks near the hem at the back. Please see the photo after the label shot. Perhaps the tiniest bit of fade to the pink ribbons but this feels more like natural aging than a flaw. It otherwise appears to have been more very little if at all.
• There is no size tag so please go by the measurements listed below
• Excellent condition

Bust: 16.5" flat across from side seam to side seam
Waist: 13.5" flat across from side seam to side seam
Hips: open
Bodice: 11.5" from top of bodice to inner waist
Total length: 31" from top of bodice to hem

Modern Sizing Equivalent: XS-SML

Item# DD5764

All items are thoroughly checked over before shipping. Unless noted everything in our shop has been professionally cleaned. All sales are final. Overseas clients will be emailed to obtain agreement to our final sales policy before the order is shipped as per our return policy.

• The twin of this dress walked the runway for the Spring 1988 collection.
• It was made under the creative direction of Christian Lacroix
• The dress is very well documented. It is also extra interesting because its counterpart on the runway was actually shown for his Haute Couture collection. This dress perfectly walks the line between Couture and Demi-Couture.
• Lacroix's Luxe label was only produced the very first couple of seasons after launching his label. It was a very high-end (very expensive) ready-to-wear line that was made to demi-couture standards. It was available primarily to his couture clients and a select few beyond that. It was the predecessor to his regular ready-to-wear collections. The label only lasted the first two seasons because some of the couture clients complained at how close the garments were to their Haute Couture pieces. Very few pieces were made so they are almost as rare as finding one of his Haute Couture pieces.
• The dress is spectacular. It is made from a silk that has a heavy texture to it and then the way that he has gathered the dress in places to emphasize the design highlights the texture even more.
• It is fitted through the bodice and I love how this counteracts the volume of the skirt. The silk is gathered horizontally and boning sits inside and runs vertically up to the front peaks. A zipper runs down the centre of the bodice and into the skirt. As it runs around to the back it dips down on a curve to leave most of your upper back bare and exposed.
• It cinches in at the waist and the inner underskirt is attached all the way around you inside. It has a stiffer band around its waist that acts like a corset. 
• The skirt is phenomenal. It is one of the best that I have ever seen from him.
• The top layer of the skirt is backed with a stiffened organza and then the same silk used on the bodice covers that. Onto that he has put panels of the textured silk that have been gathered into vertical ruffles and attached to the skirt down there centres. These are spaced perfectly apart all the way around the entire skirt and they add to the incredible volume that the skirt has.
• The underskirt helps to give the dress the support it needs to hold its shape. It is made out of a stiffened fine mesh net and it has added built-in side panniers to add extra volume and hold the width of the skirt. The very lower edge is finished with stiffened netting and then that is covered with a band of black lace that peeks out from under the edge of the skirt.
• The final perfect finish is the attached shoulder piece. This extends out from from the centre of the bodice and is a wide panel that wraps around the shoulder. You can really get a better sense of how this sits on the body from the runway and editorial photos.
• The dress is fully lined in a black silk through the bodice and has built in boning to hold it in place around you. The inner attached skirt hooks at the waist and the dress zips to close over that at the front. Hand finishes throughout. It appears to have been worn very little if at all.
• There is no size tag so please go by the measurements listed below
• Excellent condition

Bust: to 17" flat across from side seam to side seam
Waist: 12.5-13" flat across from side seam to side seam
Hips: open
Bodice: 10.5" from top of bodice to waist
Total length: 31" from top of bodice to hem not including the shoulder piece. 

Modern Sizing Equivalent: XS-SML

Item# DD5762

All items are thoroughly checked over before shipping. Unless noted everything in our shop has been professionally cleaned. All sales are final. Overseas clients will be emailed to obtain agreement to our final sales policy before the order is shipped as per our return policy.

• This dress is very special and an extremely well documented piece from Spring 1988 collection. 
• It was made under the creative direction of Christian Lacroix.
• It has the special added provenance of being the twin of one of the four dresses portrayed in that instantly recognizable photo taken in his atelier that year. That photo is perhaps one of the most famous photos in the Lacroix history.
• The dress is from his Luxe label that was only produced the very first couple of seasons.
• It was very high end expensive ready-to-wear that was made to near couture standards and was available primarily to his couture clients and a select few beyond that. The label was the predecessor to his later regular ready-to-wear collections. It is said that this label only lasted a couple of seasons because some of the couture clients complained at how close the garments were to their Haute Couture pieces.
• We found numerous reference photos of the dress as it appeared on the runway so you have an amazing idea of how this dress looks on the body.
• The dress is made out of a printed silk organza that has a slight texture running through it.
• Onto that is a glorious floral pattern in pinks and yellow with pops of green. It feels so vibrant and beautiful with that gorgeous print.
• The sleeves are long and they are cut on a slight curve in the traditional couture manner.
• The shoulders are lightly shaped and the front falls into a shallow V.
• The dress has a little bit of gathering just at the bust area down the centre seam and then it falls smoothly  to the hem under that.
• It is cut to skim over you through the body with just a suggestion of shape through the waist.
• At the back the bottom 9" of the skirt has an inset bustle. The fabric there is gathered into a curving seam and there are three black organza half bows stacked one on top of the other to create a bustle feel.
• This is one of his most famous dresses and its amazing. It can be considered to be Demi-Couture.
• The body of the dress is fully lined in a black silk and the sleeves are lined in a white silk. The dress zips to close at the back and each cuff has a zipper to close it. Light padding in the shoulders. Laughing hilarious. It appears to have been worn very little if at all.
• Tagged a vintage Lacroix 44
• Excellent condition

Sleeves: 22.5" and they are 13" around the upper arm
Slightly dropped shoulders: 17"
Bust: to 19.5" flat across from side seam to side seam
Waist: to 16.5" flat across from side seam to side seam
Hips: to 19.5" flat across from side seam to side seam
Total length: 35" from top of shoulder to hem with 2" turned under the hem

Modern Sizing Equivalent: MED-LRG

Item# DD5714

All items are thoroughly checked over before shipping. Unless noted everything in our shop has been professionally cleaned. All sales are final. Overseas clients will be emailed to obtain agreement to our final sales policy before the order is shipped as per our return policy.

• A gorgeous and striking piece that can be worn as a jacket or a dress.
• Made under the creative direction of Christian Lacroix 
• The piece zips up at the front and fully opens. This is why it can play double duty as either a dress or a jacket.
• The fabric has a black backdrop and then has beautiful flowers woven through it in a deep red and an almost purple colour.
• It has no collar and the front is detailed with a wide band on either side of the zipper that has a swooping pattern made out of a cord applied onto the fabric. This panel extends down the back with more cording there as well.
• The waist is brought in and seamed and then the skirt under that is pleated into that seam. This allows it to be very full.
• Little pockets sit on each side of the hip so you can put your hands into the pockets and exaggerate the fullness of the skirt even more.
• The sleeves are wonderful. They are set into a slightly dropped shoulder and widen out to be quite wide by their ends.
• It is lined in a black silk and there is light rounded padding in each shoulder for shape. It zips to close at the front.
• Tagged a IT40, FR38, GB32, US6
• Excellent condition

Sleeves from the drop shoulder: 17" and are 13" around the upper arm
Dropped shoulders: 20"
Bust: 17" flat across from side seam to side seam
Waist: 12.5" flat across from side seam to side seam
Hips: open
Bodice: 16" from neck to waist
Total length: 36" from neck to hem

Modern Sizing Equivalent: XS-SML

Item# DD5081

All items are thoroughly checked over before shipping. Unless noted everything in our shop has been professionally cleaned. All sales are final. Overseas clients will be emailed to obtain agreement to our final sales policy before the order is shipped as per our return policy.

• Note that due to new regulations this coat can only ship to a Canadian address 
  
• This appears to be the actual Haute Couture sample coat that walked the runway for the Fall 1985 Jean Patou collection for Look 12
• Made under the creative direction of Christian Lacroix 
  
• This is an extremely rare and important piece of fashion history. Very few pieces of his work at Patou come up for sale and this is more then likely the only piece to exist.
• Made in the Paris atelier
• Made of a soft orange wool shaped in an enveloping cocoon shape highly reminiscent of a 1920s flapper coat.
• It is all cut on the bias so once it is on the body it wraps around you beautifully. It is extraordinary. 
  
• The sleeves are quite extremely wide and they have a long wide cuff that flips up and over the sleeve. The cuff is completely covered in hand dyed feathers.
• More of the same hand dyed feathers are used to create a huge shawl collar that drapes down and over the shoulders. It continues to run all the way to the hem and circles around to the back hem.
• The coat narrows in as it reaches its bottom. This is a classic cut for this style of cocoon coat
• It feels wonderfully decadent and opulent, both key design elements in Lacroix's work. It is literally like wearing a work of art.
• Partially lined in a silk through the upper body of the coat and through the sleeves. The rest is unlined.
• Has its hand written Haute Couture sample label in place and attached metal couture tag
• Excellent condition

It is very full and open and has no closures so should fit almost any size. It is approximately 52 inches from neck to hem but that will come up a bit once it is on the body.

Modern Sizing Equivalent: OSFA

Item# DD5048

All items are thoroughly checked over before shipping. Unless noted everything in our shop has been professionally cleaned. All sales are final. Overseas clients will be emailed to obtain agreement to our final sales policy before the order is shipped as per our return policy.

• The twin of this dress walked the runway for the Spring 1992 collection.
• It was made under the creative direction of Christian Lacroix
• I love that the dress was chosen and featured in the ad campaign that year.
  
• This dress is so simple in some ways yet so dramatic and glamorous in others.
• It is that perfect combination of a pretty piece that you can wear all the time but it still has that Lacroix signature feel.
• The fabric is a crisp cotton printed with a bright floral print. This print is set on a black base and the strong colours pop against that beautifully.
• The bodice is structured with cupped and shaped fronts that are set separately from each other. This leaves a open keyhole at the centre. Straps extend up and crisscross over the front before curving around the neck.
• At the back the straps extend down from the neck and then slip through six oversized gold toned metal grommets. Each grommet is finished with a ring of rhinestones.
• An attached set of straps extends out from the sides of the waist. You can tie these to the front or back. You can tie these to the front or back to add more shape through the waist area.
• The skirt is gathered into a low dropped seam under the natural waist and the print creates a border at the hem of the skirt.  If you prefer a fuller skirt like the runway shots you could easily add a light underskirt under the skirt.
• At the back of the skirt there is an extra panel of fabric gathered there for a little extra volume. It is the perfect Lacroix finish.
• The bodice is lined in the same fabric as the exterior and and the skirt is unlined. Light boning through the bodice. It laces to close at the back with a zipper set under the waist. It appears to have been worn very little if at all.
• There is no size tag present. Please go by the measurements below
• Excellent condition

Bust: to 16" flat across from side seam to side seam
Waist: 13" flat across from side seam to side seam
Hips: open
Bodice: approx 15" but is adjustable up or down slightly by the ties
Total length: approx 34" from neck to hem and adjustable slightly by the ties

Modern Sizing Equivalent: XS-SML

Item# DD5763

All items are thoroughly checked over before shipping. Unless noted everything in our shop has been professionally cleaned. All sales are final. Overseas clients will be emailed to obtain agreement to our final sales policy before the order is shipped as per our return policy.

• The twin of this dress walked the runway for the Fall 1997 collection.
• It was made under the creative direction of Yves Saint Laurent.
• I love that the reference photos show you how gorgeous it truly is once on the body.
  
• The dress is made of a beautiful bias cut silk that has an extraordinary brilliant floral pattern running over its entire surface. It is like wearing an entire bouquet of flowers in the best possible way.
• The bust angles on a slight curve up to a wide gathered strap that curves over the shoulder to become a part of the back where it angles softly back down to the side. This leaves the other shoulder bare and exposed.
• The inner dress drapes and skims over the bust and curves in at the waist to a seam. From there it curves back out over the the hips.This gives is a slightly more generous feel through the waist so it is easier to fit. 
• There is an attached panel of fabric at the front waist that loops around and then wraps all the way back around you to attach along the front of the neckline. At the back it snaps into place over a hidden set zipper slightly off to the side. At the front it snaps into place under the arm and then it is attached to the shoulder on the other side.
• This panel is what gives the dress is extraordinary beauty. The panel that is attached to the shoulder curves and cascades over the arm and all the way down the body. As the panel falls down the side of the body it extends well past the hem to create a training affect around you. You can also loop this panel more over your arm to bring it up and off the floor. You can see that in the runway photos.
• On one side of the skirt there is a high side slit so that when you move or sit you get a flash of bare leg and it also allows you to walk.. 
• The way that this is all laid out and attached is a nod to a sarong but at the same time it feel so elevated and chic. It is absolutely the most flattering dress once on the body. This is a true YSL masterpiece.
• The dress is fully lined in matching nude silk chiffon through the upper bodice and then the rest of the dress is lined in a deep blue silk chiffon. It closes with a hidden offset back zipper. The lining is partially set by hand. It appears to have been worn very little if at all.
• Tagged a vintage YSL 38 
• Excellent condition

Bust: to 17" flat across from side seam to side seam
Waist: to 14" flat across from side seam to side seam
Hips: to 18" flat across from side seam to side seam
Total length: 58" from top of shoulder to hem and the slit is 23" from the hem up. The shoulder panel extends out another approx 12" beyond that.

Modern Sizing Equivalent: XS-MED

Item# DD5760

All items are thoroughly checked over before shipping. Unless noted everything in our shop has been professionally cleaned. All sales are final. Overseas clients will be emailed to obtain agreement to our final sales policy before the order is shipped as per our return policy.

• The twin of this dress walked the runway for the Spring 1998 YSL collection.
• It was made under the creative direction of Yves Saint Laurent.
• The re-defining of a men's tuxedo into a piece suited for women is one of the Saint Laurent most enduring symbols. I love that this dress is a play on that.
• The dress is gorgeous and the black silk fabric itself is part of what makes it so fabulous giving it the perfect amount of drape with some structure.
• In contrast to that silk backdrop is a black silk collar with a matte satin finish that sits against the inky black of the dress underneath. 
• The collar is of course what gives the dress it's fantastic nod to the tuxedo and it becomes a central focus point of the dress.  
• This is a piece that shows his strong tailoring and detailed knowledge of how to cut a piece to best suit a woman's body. 
• The dress crosses over itself and hooks at the side with a large glossy decorative button.
• This creates the perfect slightly curved plunge at the front. The sides near the arms angle up and in towards the collar. This allows the notching of the collar to sit against bare skin. A small detail that is quite genius.
• The waist is nipped in by the wrapped cut of the dress with no horizontal line to break the eye. 
• It glides over the hips and then widens out a touch as it nears the hem. 
• The way that it wraps to close at the one side creates that fantastic flash of bare leg when you move and the front opens with your movement. You can see how fantastic and sensual this feels from the runway photos.
• It is a phenomenal YSL from this time period.
• The dress is fully lined in a black silk and it wraps to close and then hooks at the side of the waist under a decorative button. There is an inner attached silk band that hooks into place to help hold it around you. It appears to have been worn very little if at all.
• Tagged a vintage YSL 36
• Excellent condition

Bust: to 17" flat across from side seam to side seam
Waist: to 13" flat across from side seam to side seam
Hips: to 20" flat across from side seam to side seam
Bodice: 15.5" from neck to inner waist band
Total length: 58" from neck to hem

Modern Sizing Equivalent: XS-MED

Item# DD5757

All items are thoroughly checked over before shipping. Unless noted everything in our shop has been professionally cleaned. All sales are final. Overseas clients will be emailed to obtain agreement to our final sales policy before the order is shipped as per our return policy.

• The dress is from the Spring 1990 Givenchy Haute Couture collection.
• It was made under the creative direction of Hubert de Givenchy
• We found a reference photo of its twin, which lets you see how fantastic it is once on a body.
• A similar dress in black walked the runway and you can see the twin of this dress in the background walking away from the camera in that shot.
  
• The dress would have been completely made by hand in the Paris atelier.
• It is made out of a rich ivory silk that has a beautiful drape to it.
• The silk is gathered up onto one shoulder and then this drapes down under the other arm. There is extra fabric all along the edge so you get a really beautiful drape along that side.
• It is cut so bad it skims over the bust and then the waist is cinched in for shape.
• The skirt is elaborately gathered into the waist area and all of the draping in the skirt is set so that it sweeps upwards into the waist. This allows the dress to drape over the hips as needed, and then it comes in naturally more around the legs to create a very Grecian feel.
• It wraps over itself and closes with an elaborate series of silk covered snaps and hooks. Where it crosses over you will get a flash of leg when you walk or sit. You can see this in the reference photo
• A panel of silk is gathered on the one side of the waist and falls more towards the side and back for added detail and movement.
• There is a very elaborate design done in gold metal pieces that are all hand set onto the silk. It is composed of gold beading in a variety of shapes and sizes, dangling metal cords and prong set glass crystal rhinestones. The entire lower portion of the gold metal design is set in dangling strands off of the dress so when you move this has incredible movement.
• The dress is unlined and snaps to close up the side of the bodice that goes over the shoulder and then it hooks and snaps into place both inside the inner waist and along the front of the waist. The bust and hips are completely cut on the bias so are very forgiving and have movement over the body. On this one, if the waist fits the rest should fit. I see a couple very faint tiny marks here and there and a teeny tiny pinhole near the seam of the waist. Please see the photos after the label shot. These are very minor but mentioned for accuracy.The dress is completely made by hand and has its proper couture label present.
• There is no size tag because it is true Couture. Please go by the measurements below. 
• Excellent condition with the minor notes above.

Bust: 16-22" flat across from side seam to side seam
Waist: 12" flat across from side seam to side seam
Hips: open
Bodice: approx 17" from top of shoulder to waist and meant to blouse over a bit
Total length: approx 40" from top of shoulder to hem

Modern Sizing Equivalent: XS-SML

Item# DD5755

All items are thoroughly checked over before shipping. Unless noted everything in our shop has been professionally cleaned. All sales are final. Overseas clients will be emailed to obtain agreement to our final sales policy before the order is shipped as per our return policy.

• This is a phenomenal Guy Laroche true Haute Couture dress.
• It was made under the Creative Direction of Guy Laroche.
• It would have been made entirely by hand in the Paris atelier.
• The dress is a rich royal purple in colour and the silk that it is made out of is of extremely high-quality.
• The bust extends up to curve over one shoulder and then swoops down and  becomes a part of the back panel of the dress. This leaves the other shoulder bare and exposed. 
• It skims over the bust and is attached to the waist seam on only one side.
• This creates an open cut out on the other side and I love the juxtaposition of the bare shoulder with the bare expanse of skin showing on opposite sides.
• The side that is open has a little tie bow at the top of the hip for added detail. The zipper is set underneath directly under that. This side falls on a slight downward angle to play on the angles of the top.
• A second bow sits on the closed side of the waist with the silk all gathered in towards that bow. It is just fantastically beautiful.
• From there the skirt falls to the floor and slightly widens out as it near the hem. There is a very high slit up the same side as the cut out at the waist.
• When you walk or move you get a fantastic flash of bare leg. It is very sexy but at the same time manages to stay very elevated and chic.
• The dress is fully lined in a purple silk chiffon. All of the inner work is done by hand to haute couture standards. It hooks to close at the top of the shoulder and at the side of the bodice above the cut out. There is a zipper and hook combination at the side. An inner silk waist stay hooks to close. I see a tiny line of stitching between the base of the zipper and the top of the slit. I think at some point the slit was higher and someone closed it. It would be easy to reopen. It otherwise appears to have been worn a little if at all.
• There is no size tag present as it is true couture. Please go by the measurements listed below.
• Excellent condition

Bust: to 16" flat across from side seam to side seam
Waist: to 12" flat across from side seam to side seam
Hips: to 16" flat across from side seam to side seam
Bodice: 15" from the top of the shoulder to the waist
Total length: approx 62" from top of shoulder to hem, with just under 1.5" turned under
Slit: 30" from hem up

Modern Sizing Equivalent: XS-SML

Item# DD5727

All items are thoroughly checked over before shipping. Unless noted everything in our shop has been professionally cleaned. All sales are final. Overseas clients will be emailed to obtain agreement to our final sales policy before the order is shipped as per our return policy.