This dress is from the Resort 2016 collection from the house of Valentino. During this time period both Maria Grazia Chiuri and Pierpaolo Piccioli were acting Creative Directors. It was photoed on Gigi Hadid for the December issue of Vogue that year. as well. Vogue's Nicole Phelps reviewed the collection and said in part:

Maria Grazia Chiuri and Pierpaolo Piccioli's design signature by now is familiar. Their simple, covered-up, almost prim silhouettes act like a canvas for the embroidery and beadwork of the Roman house's atelier.... Resort found them scaling back not an inch on the detailing, yet the effect was more folksy than flamboyant. ...The workmanship is close to couture, but Chiuri and Piccioli very much intend their pieces to be worn every day. "We were thinking about freedom, and Diana Vreeland's famous quote, 'The eye has to travel,'" Piccioli said.... Beyond the exquisite beadwork, the loveliest pieces were the subtlest: softly pleated dresses both short and long patchworked from different prints and laces. They'll weigh next to nothing in a carry-on; the lucky girl who wears one will win best dressed no matter her location.

This dress is exactly one of those patchwork creations mentioned above and it is gorgeous. It is made from a combination of netting, silks, wool, printed cottons and lacework. All of which are masterfully mixed into the stunning patchwork design that you see. I love that the back is open with crossed straps in a deep coral orange. It adds an unexpected touch to the dress. The sleeves are long and left unlined so you get a touch of transparency through the mix of fabrics. The skirt is maxi length and widens out as it nears the floor. The mix of fabric here help it to hold its shape wonderfully. This is new with all original tags and has not been worn. Excellent condition

The front bodice and skirt are lined in a nude silk. The straps that go across the back button into place with hidden set buttons. It sips to close at the back waist. Tagged a 46 bit Valentino is cut small so please check actual listed measurements. Original tags. 

Sleeves: 25"
Shoulders: 15"
Bust: to 18" flat across from side seam to side seam
Waist: 15" flat across from side seam to side seam
Hips: to 20" flat across from side seam to side seam
Bodice: 15" from top of bodice to waist
Skirt: 42" from waist to hem

Modern Sizing Equivalent: MED-LRG

Item# DD3062

Reference Photos: (1) Look 60, Resort 2016 Valentino.  /  (2) Gigi Hadid & Domhall Gleeson photographed by Mario Testino for Vogue, December 2015.

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 twin of this dress was photoed for Vogue Italia in 1975 which giving us the exact date on it. Having that as a reference photo has the added bonus of giving you an idea of how great it is on a real body. It is made out of a light and airy silk cotton voile and this choice of fabric gives the print a pretty washed feel and slight transparency. The dress is cut to flow over the body in a loose and easy fashion. It sits, suspended from the shoulder, with elastic running all through the neckline. This allows you to wear it on or off the shoulder. The sleeves are long and full and each has an elastic gathering so they balloon up over the cuff. The body is very full with the hem is finished with a wide ruffle that has that same beautiful floral print as the rest of the dress. It is so pretty and volume seems to be once again in fashion so it feels very relevant yet again. You can easily add a belt to give it more shape and a totally different feel. Excellent condition.

The body of the dress is lined in a nude silk chiffon and the sleeves are unlined. It slips over the head to wear with elastic through the neckline. Tagged a 38 but will fit virtually any size

Sleeves: approx 22"
Shoulders: variable
Bust: 17-22" flat across from side seam to side seam
Waist-hips: open
Length: 54" from top of shoulder to hem and once on it will fall to full lengthas its worn off shoulder

Modern Sizing Equivalent: OSFA

Item# DD3060

Reference Photo: Marie Helvin and Susan Moncur in YSL. Photo by David Bailey, Vogue Italia, January 1975.

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

At the age of 31, Stephane Rolland took over as Artistic Director for the Jean Louis Scherrer Haute Couture atelier, making him the youngest of the 20 official couturiers at the time. That was in 1997 and he continued as the head of the Couture division until the last showing in 2005 when the house closed is couture atelier. This gown is from the Spring 2000 Haute Couture presentation and is the actual runway defile sample presented and worn on the runway, Look 16. This particular collection is very poorly documented and I have included reference photos of a similar gown using comparable techniques from the Fall collection of the season before so that you can get a sense of how it sits on the body.

I love when I have any Haute Couture piece in the shop and to have the actual runway sample is always wonderful as it truly represents the designer's vision. The dress is even more stunning in person and the photos really can't do the impact that the head to toe silver mesh and sequins justice. In person the entire dress shimmers and seems like some kind of fantastical second skin as it flows over the body. It has the slightest hint of transparency to it which is very sexy and adds to the allure of the gown. The fabric is an actual silver metal mesh with hundreds of thousands of silver sequins hand applied to cover every inch. It is cut with a classic one shoulder silhouette from which the dress flows down and over the body to highlight every curve. It is cut long and with a slight train that add to the illusion of height. The bodice curves up and over one shoulder and then the mesh acts like a bias cut fabric on the body and hugs and moves with you as you move. Onto the dress are hand applied, ivory dyed horsehair detailing that cure around the body and create a Haute Couture fantasy. The dress is a masterpiece  with its beautiful lines and flowing cut. It is an incredible piece of modern Haute Couture. Excellent condition

Unlined and closes with hidden set back zipper.  Hand work throughout. Unlabeled. This is the actual runway sample worn on the presentation. The fabric gives it the flexibility of a bias cut so has a bit more range of sizing them a more structured piece would have. It weighs several pounds because of the metal mesh used.

Bust: 16-17.5" flat across from side seam to side seam
Waist: 12-14" flat across from side seam to side seam
Hips: 16-20" flat across from side seam to side seam
Length: approx 63" from top of shoulder to the front hem, approx 69 to the back hem including the train to the very longest point

Modern Sizing Equivalent: XS-MED

Item# DD3058

Reference Photos: F/W 1999 Haute Couture Jean Louis Scherrer Runway Collection.

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.

I have wanted one of these in the shop forever but they are as rare as can be. I am so pleased to finally have one and it is wonderful. I have only ever seen these contributed as being from the 1980s but after some research I feel that it was a production piece based on the Spring 1985 collection. You can see the same fabric, pleating technique and bust treatment on the reference photos included from the runway show that season.

The dress is a masterpiece. This is a design that has been copied countless times over but there is nothing like the original. It is made form a lightweight gold lurex that covers an inner corset so that you are shaped and formed inside while the exterior of the dress seems to simply glide over your curves. The skirt is cut in a slim pencil shape with a slit up the back to allow you to walk. The bodice is amazing. Pleated gold wraps around you to meet in the middle. The bottom portion of this extends and curves down to the hips and flares out to add to the curves it creates. Each breast is held in a high set interior cup and the pleats wrap over these and flare out and over the bust. A small gold fabric strap is suspended between the cups to hold everything perfectly in place. The pleats open and curve around the back to meet in the middle there. Gold colored snaps hide interior hooks. This one is even rare that is a good decent size as all other examples I have seen in the past have been teeny tiny. This is one you will not see often so grab it while you can. Excellent condition with one tiny note to review below.

The skirt is fully lined in an ivory silk and the tip lined in a the same gold lurex. The corset is lightly boned and stiffened with formed cups. It hooks to close with lingerie hooks and then snaps over that. A zipper is set below that starting at the waist. There is a small repair along hte seam where it splits at the back. Very minor. Tagged a 42.

Bust: to 17" flat across from side seam to side seam
Waist: 13.5" flat across from side seam to side seam
Hips: to 20" flat across from side seam to side seam
Bodice: 10" from top of bodice to interior waist
Skirt: 28" from waist to hem

Modern Sizing Equivalent: SML-MED

Item# DD3057

Reference Photos: (1-4) S/S 1985 Thierry Mugler Runway.  /  (5) 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.

Halston began his career as a milliner. In 1959 he was made head milliner for Bergdorf Goodman's and became a sensation. His hats were featured heavily in Vogue and Harper's Bazaar and he gained international notoriety when Jacqueline Kennedy wore his pillbox hat that she wore to the Presidential inauguration. He stayed at Bergdorf's until mid-January 1968 and pieces from this time period are exceedingly rare and this is one of the very few with this label inside that I have seen come to market.

The hat is one of his quirkier pieces and bears a striking resemblance to the part of the Halston hat that we can see, photoed by David Bailey for Vogue in 1965. It is made out of a black velvet with stiffened net inside to hold the shape. It has beautiful rounded curves that play on a beanie shape but with more structure and form. The top is detailed with a flat velvet covered disc that is circled with faux fur. The faux fur shows some flattening from age but is otherwise fine. That little disc sits atop a 'stalk' that enables it to bobble and move as you do. A quirky and unusual little detail. Halston believed that a hat was a "covering which is supposed to make you glamorous, exciting, and more interesting than anyone else". This has all that and more in spades. Excellent condition

20.5" circumference. Hand block and made completely by hand. Attached interior combs and finished with interior horsehair netting and grosgrain ribbon.

Item# A342

Reference Photo: Model in Halston Hat. Photo by David Bailey. Vogue, September 1965.

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

At the age of 31, Stephane Rolland took over as Artistic Director for the Jean Louis Scherrer Haute Couture atelier, making him the youngest of the 20 official couturiers at the time. That was in 1997 and he continued as the head of the Couture division until the last showing in 2005 when the house closed is couture atelier. This gown is from the Fall 2001 Haute Couture presentation and is the actual runway defile sample presented and worn on the runway, Look 7.

I love when I have any Haute Couture piece in the shop and to have the actual runway sample is even that much more amazing. The dress is glorious and nether the photos on the mannequin or the runway photos really do it justice. In person the impact of the layering of the red silk gazaar panels that are hand set to overlap and cover the entire dress from bodice to train give it far more depth and texture then even the photos can convey. It also moves wonderfully and is very sexy. The main body of the dress is cut above the knee and then the dress forms and flows around this. Trailing out and behind you is a massive train of fabric that has an almost organic feel to it with its ever increasing sized patches of red covering its surface. The bodice peaks up on one side and is highly corseted and structured inside to firmly hold the dress onto the body and give you shape. The skirt is a masterpiece  with its beautiful lines and flowing cut. It is an incredible piece of modern Haute Couture. Excellent condition with one small note to review below.

Fully lined in a red silk and closes with two zippers, one on the inner highly structured, formed, boned and shaped corset and the second on the outer layer of the dress. The skirt is lined in a red taffeta. Hand work throughout. The hand written runway sample tag is present. There is some deepening of the color/ marks on some of the squares of silk that make up the train and general grubbiness. Nothing that detracts once the gown is on. Otherwise it is immaculate. It is Couture runway model size tiny - probably closest to a true zero

Bust: 15-15.5" flat across from side seam to side seam
Inner waist: 11.5" flat across from side seam to side seam
Hips: to 19" flat across from side seam to side seam
Inner dress length: 26" from top of bodice to hem NOT including panels that go over the edge of the dress a bit above and blow the actual inner structure
Length including train to the very longest point:  Approx 92" from top of bodice to final tip of the train

Modern Sizing Equivalent: XXS-XS

Item# DD3054

Reference Photos: F/W 2001 Jean Louis Scherrer Haute Couture Runway Show.

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 amazing Rive Gauche jacket by Yves Saint Laurent would have been based on the Haute Couture collection of that season and you can still see the influence of his earlier Russian collection in its cut. As time progressed he exaggerated the lines he used in the 1977 collection even more and the sleeves evolved to a far more dramatic version that we see here. The jacket is constructed from a combination of two of his signature fabric choices-  silk taffeta and a rich velvet - both in a deep rich garnet. The exorbitant treatment to the sleeves is just phenomenal. It is cut to be fitted through the body to give you shape and highlight the waist with a ruffled small peplum just under the seam. Each sleeve is cut wide and full with a huge pouf starting at the shoulder to the elbow. Below that the silk tapers in to the the wrist and buttons just above a wide ruffled cuff. I love the ruffled trim that sits at the base of the pouf and exaggerates the sudden slimming in to the wrists even more. Glossy black faceted jet black glass buttons are the perfect finish. Excellent condition.

Fully lined in a matching silk satin and the sleeves are unlined. It closes at the front and cuffs with buttons. There is a extra jacket button (chipped) and an extra wrist button sewn inside. The slightest of marks on the velvet under where the buttons sit which does not show when on and buttoned.Tagged a vintage YSL 36

Sleeves: 26" to seam at wrist, 29" to end of ruffle
Shoulders: 13.5"
Bust: 16.5" flat across from side seam to side seam
Waist: 13" flat across from side seam to side seam
Length: 17" from neck to waist seam, 22" to hem

Modern Sizing Equivalent: XS-SML

Item# S821

Reference Photo: F/W 1982 Saint Laurent Rive Gauche.

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 began a partnership with the fashion house of Jane Derby in 1965. Jane Derby died shortly after and in 1966 the first labels that bore only the Oscar de la Renta appeared. This label that had Oscar de la Renta for Jane Derby was the label used in those first early years according to the research done by Kent university. That gives us a precise window in which to date this dress and also means it is from the very beginning of his career - prior to Jane Derby he was working under and for other labels but not doing his own accredited design work. The dress is amazing and I am besotted with it. It is the second time I have had a version in the shop, the first time being a blue and silver dot fabric. This time around the dress is a pretty and feminine soft pink silk satin. I love the shape and the simple cut that although it may be simple, the elements used are so fabulous that it ends up being a piece that could still hold its own today. The fabric is sublime and the perfect shade of baby pink. It contrasts wonderfully with the heavily embellished silver accented neckline, waist and hem. The neckline is cut onto a deep V at the from that plunges right down to the embellished waist. A wide band of silver lurex cording, faux pearls and large crystal rhinestones follow the V of the neck and then circle and wrap around the waist. Oscar also embellished the entire hem with this same silver detailing. The photos do not come close to doing it justice - it is even more spectacular in person. Excellent condition with one small note below to review

Fully lined in a blue silk and closes with a side painted metal zipper and hooks to close at the top of one shoulder. Hand finishes. Note that it has a square of fabric that was originally tacked into the base of the V for extra modesty. The original owner removed it but kept it. It will be sent with the dress. There is a small pen mark on the fabric just above the embellishments on one side and a touch of discoloration to the interior lining at the back under the neck. It does not go through to the exterior fabric

Bust: to 18.5" flat across from side seam to side seam
Waist: to 15" flat across from side seam to side seam
Hips: to 23" flat across from side seam to side seam
Bodice: 13" from neck to waist
Skirt: 44.5" from waist to hem

Modern Sizing Equivalent: SML-MED

Item# DD3052

Reference Photo: 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 a beautiful example of Pauline Trigere's work during this time period. The dress comes from its original owner who provided the approximate date that she purchased it.

Trigere was a master at cut and often fitted garments directly on a model. She was also very hands on and the construction of the dress shows this as it is immaculately finished with many hand details. Both the dress and its matching cape are made from a fine silk crepe chiffon.  in a deep blue. Onto that base is a 'fireworks' design in soft pastel colors that graduate from one color to the next as they travel through the swirls and curves of each design. Behind each is a softened, diffused ivory - perhaps to hint at smoke? The pattern covers both pieces and is quite stunning. The body of the dress is cut wide and full with an almost caftan feel to it as it swing out from under the top portion of the dress. The neckline is dipped into a low V at the front and back is cut even lower to leave the back almost completely exposed. Over this lies a gorgeous little capelet that dips down into points at the front and back. It is far, far better in person then how it photoed on a dress form. It is bias cut and really need s a real body in it to show it off best. Excellent condition.

The dress is fully lined in the same silk through the halter top and a blue silk through the skirt. All hand finishes. The dress closes with a low back zipper and the cape slips over the head and buttons at the neck. Bias cut so does have some play

Bust: to 17" flat across from side seam to side seam
Waist: 12-14" flat across from side seam to side seam
Hips: open
Length: 48" from shoulder to hem
Capelet: 39" from neck to longest point in length

Modern Sizing Equivalent: XS-SML

Item# DD3051

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 1940s feel to this dress is distinctive and it was this feature that allowed me to find the date of the collection. We tracked down a photo of Karl with a model in 1974 wearing a dress from that years collection that has that same 1940s feel to it that as we see on this example. The date also matches what I was told about the purchase date by the original owner. It is these collections during the years between 1969 and 1975 that we still see heavily influence the modern bohemian feel of Chloe today. Examples of his work during this time period are held in museums around the world and are rare finds.

At first glance you would think this is a dress straight off the 1940s runway. It has that same cut and feel and even the silk used has that feel of the early crepe silks. You can see the more modern touches (for 1974 that is) with the black lace that edges the sleeves and finishes the hemline. In person it is even better then how it photoed as you can really get lost in that gorgeous print of dragonflies, flowers and butterflies that cover the entire surface. The cut is classic forties in feel with a loose and easy fitting bodice whose cap sleeves are en extension of the fabric used for the bodice itself. So there are no seams there to break the line or disrupt the pattern. The skirt under that falls just past the knee and is also cut to be loose and easy. At the hips on either side sit bows that combine a matching printed fabric with a coral silk that add detail and a touch of volume there. The dress is made from a  fine black silk that has  that wonderful design screened over it surface in a way that give it the appearance that it was hand painted. It came with its matching fabric tie that you can use to cinch in the waist or tie around the neck. Excellent condition

Unlined and closes with a back, hidden set  painted metal& nylon zipper. Has its matching tie belt. Hand finishes throughout

Bust: to 17" flat across from side seam to side seam
Waist: 13" flat across from side seam to side seam
Hips: open
Bodice: 15" from top of bodice to waist
Skirt: 30.5" from waist to hem
Tie: 45" x 2.5"

Modern Sizing Equivalent: XS-SML

Item# DD3050

Reference Photo: Karl Lagerfeld and a model for Chloé Spring/Summer 1974 Fashion Show.

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 painted floral design used on this dress is distinctive and it was this feature that allowed me to find the date of the collection. We tracked down these photos of Karl in the studio with models wearing pieces from the 1972 collection and you can see that there are similar design elements used on the various floral pieces in those photos as we see on this example. This information also matches what I was told about the purchase date form its original owner. It is these collections during the years between 1969 and 1975 that we still see heavily influence the modern bohemian feel of Chloe today. Examples of his work during this time period are held in museums around the world and are rare finds.

This dress is wonderful. In person it is even better then how it photoed as the painted floral print really explodes off of the blue silk backdrop. The cut is kept fairly simple but is still sexy with a halter bodice and a long skirt that falls to the floor. The dress is made from a light, bias cut silk chiffon. Onto the silk is a vivid floral design that appears to be hand painted. Beautiful bright blossoms circle around the base of the skirt and travel almost up to the hips at the highest points of the design. The bodice is left the solid blue so that the eye is drawn instantly to the print on the skirt. The top is cut into a halter style with straps that curve up and behind the beck to leave the shoulders bare. The front neckline dips into a V at the front and the  back is left completely bare. The waist narrows in and then the skirt flows to the floor from there, gradually widening out as it nears the hem. This allows the design to be shows off to its full advantage. It came with its matching, extra long, scarf that has the same print on both ends in a matching silk chiffon. I have shown both ends on the two photos that it is included in. Excellent condition

Fully lined in a blue silk and closes with a side painted metal and nylon zipper. I see one small repair near the edge of the hem that is not seen when on because of the excess of fabric. Hand finishes throughout. The long edges of the scarf are hand rolled and the shorter edges finished with a fringed edging.

Bust: variable as there are no true side seams
Under bust/high waist: 13-14" flat across from side seam to side seam
Hips: to 23" flat across from side seam to side seam
Length: 60" from top of neck to hem
Scarf: 78" x 33"

Modern Sizing Equivalent: XS-SML

Item# DD3049

Reference Photos: Karl Lagerfeld with Models at Maison Chloe, 1972.

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 Givenchy comes to me from its original owner who unfortunately removed the label from it.The placement of the label itched when she wore it and having a label in the dress did not mean anything  of significance during this time period so out it went. A version of the dress was heavily photoed on Audrey Hepburn that year and another version also appeared in Vogue. My client chose to purchase it in the version made out of a sold colored silk taffeta that did not have the floral embellishments nestled in the folds of the side ruffled detailing.

The dress is wonderful and even better on a real body. The bodice is cut on a one shoulder silhouette and you can see that it is set a little higher up on the chest than you would normally expect. This really allows the beautiful ruffles to frame the face and give you coverage, but still have that flash of skin on the opposite shoulder. The body of the dress hugs your curves with the shape created by the gathers along the sides. The skirt is dropped and set into the body of the dress at the same angle as the shoulder is, sweeping up and creating length and curves. It has quite a bit of volume and this adds to the hour glass feel that dress has. Trailing up one hip is a ruffled detailing topped by silk taffeta rosettes. I love the shape this gives and the dress is stunning in real life. Excellent condition.

Fully lined in a purple silk and closes with a side, hidden set metal and nylon zipper. It appears to have been worn very little, if at all. Hand finished

Bust: to 18" 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
Length: 58" from top of shoulder to hem

Modern Sizing Equivalent: SML-MED

Item# DD3048

Reference Photos: (1) Wanakee Pugh in Givenchy shot by Bill King, Vogue US, April 1982.  /  (2-4) Audrey Hepburn with Givenchy at the exhibition "Givenchy- 30 Years" at the Fashion Institute of Technology, May 10, 1982.  /  (5) Audrey Hepburn photographed by Douglas Kirkland for the publicity of “Love Among Thieves”.

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 an incredible dress by Marc Bohan for Christian Dior from the 1978 Fall Haute Couture collection. It is very dramatic with extra long, extended and trained sleeves. Gowns like this really define the fantasy nature of Haute Couture. It has both the dated and numbered couture label from the atelier and  the original hand written tag from Neiman Marcus where it would have been ordered through directly from the atelier in France. That tag identifies it as being Look #54 from the runway and with an original price of $7,975 which converts to $29,434.97 in modern dollars. A sum that would still be well below the price in a modern day couture garment. I have also included editorial reference photos from that year as it was widely documented

The dress is made of a vivid blue, liquid feeling silk satin, reminiscent of the silks used in the 1930s. The fabric drapes exceptionally well, feels almost weightless once on and holds the vibrancy of the color exceptionally well. The neckline is cut square and highlighted with a wide band of the same fabric that is top stitched for contrast. The dress flows from there to the floor in a bias cut column of silk with no defined waist. The sleeves are attached to the top part of the shoulder and they then drape over the arm with the inner edges left open to create a caped effect.  Little open loops lie along the edge near your hands and along the bottom. These allow you to slip a finger through to control the placement of the sleeve if you do not wish them to hang down so much. You can see that in one of the reference photos they have draped the sleeves s an option. The full length of each sleeves from the shoulder to hem is approximately 7 1/2 feet so you have a lot of fabric to play with and style. It is an incredible piece of fashion history. It present as in good condition but does have some notes below to review.

Fully lined through the body in a blue tissue silk and closes with hidden set painted metal zipper at the side and a series of hook & eye just above that. Hand finished to Haute Couture standards. The fabric shows some slight areas of fading and slight discoloration throughout and there is a small area under each arm that shows discoloration (this does not show when on because of the cut of the sleeves) and also yellowing to the fabric here and there, most noticeably at the back. I have photoed the largest area which is about 1/4 the way up the back from the hem. Some darkening/storage marks to the sleeves that are minor. Sold as found

Sleeves: 87" approx.
Shoulders: no defined seam
Bust: 17" flat across from side seam to side seam
Waist: 18" flat across from side seam to side seam
Hips: to 20" flat across from side seam to side seam
Length: 61" from waist to hem (sleeves add 28" to length)
Slit at the side: 31" from hem to top of slit

Modern Sizing Equivalent: SML-MED

Item# DD2566

Reference Photos: (1) Dior, 1978. Photo by Patrick Bertrand. Hair by Carita.  /  (2) L'Officiel n.645, 1978. Photo by Michel Picard.

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 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. Maggy gained early recognition by designing for the some of the Hollywood starlets of the day like Theda Barra, Pola Negri, and Greta Garbo. I found a photo of a garment from 1963 that has a similar, if not the same, fabric treatment from the 1963 collection. 

This is a chic and deceptively simple dress from Maggy Rouff's Haute Couture atelier. The work is exceptional throughout and it is in immaculate condition. It is made of a pale blue silk that is topped by a pale metallic blue net. Onto the net are hand dyed ribbons that are coiled and formed into flowers that are strewn across the surface of the dress. These also have a very slight metallic finish to them and change in color along their lengths from a pale blue to a dark blue. Each is hand placed and set with the slightly curled edges facing up and away form the dress so that the flowers have a 3D feel. It is cut in a long column that skims over the bust and waist and then the skirt flares out as it nears the hem. The shape is created through vertical seaming that curves in from the waist and shapes the dress. The interior is a combination of net and silk and the hem is weighted all the way around. It is a dress made to last a lifetime with classic lines will forever remain in style. Excellent condition.

Fully lined in silk and closes with a fine painted metal zipper at the side. Completely hand made and finished to Haute Couture standards. Weighted hem

Bust: 18" flat across from side seam to side seam
Waist: 17" flat across from side seam to side seam
Hips: 20.5" flat across from side seam to side seam
Length: 52.5" from shoulder strap to hem

Modern Sizing Equivalent: MED-LRG

Item# DD2743

Reference photo: Model in a Maggy Rouf gown, 1963. (credits unknown)

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

My client was a couture client of Ungaro's during this time period and this was one of her few RTW purchases. You can clearly see the reference to the longer version that walked the couture runway that was worn by Iman. I love the shorter version equally as much and the craftsmanship on it is wonderful.

The dress is one of the best Ungaro pieces I have come across. It feels shockingly modern and you can clearly see where many of the modern day designers have gotten their inspiration from the past few seasons. It is made out of a black silk satin that is trimmed in a black lace. Onto that lace are hand applied sequins that give it the perfect little shot of glitz. The shoulders are exaggerated and padded and the sleeves below have tremendous volume until they reach the cuffs. Each cuff is a full XX" ling and are fitted to the arm with a row of metallic thread knot buttons to close. The dress wraps and snaps into place and I love how the lace is set around the waist to draw the eye on and make it appear smaller. The dress is lined but only tot he upper portion of the lace at the hem so that it has a touch of transparency.  Its fabulous. Excellent condition

Fully lined in a black silk and closes with a combination of snaps and hook and eye at the waist. The cuffs button to close. Inner waist stay hooks to close. Padding at each shoulder

Sleeves: 28.5"
Shoulders: 16" but padded and over-sized
Bust: to 17" flat across from side seam to side seam
Inner waist stat: 13.5" flat across from side seam to side seam
Hips: to 19" flat across from side seam to side seam
Bodice: 15" from top of bodice to waist
Skirt: 22" from waist to hem

Modern Sizing Equivalent: SML-MED

Item# DD3046

Reference Photo: (1) Iman for F/W 1988 Emanuel Ungaro Haute Couture. / (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.

I love when I can document a dress and this gorgeous Bill Blass number is not only dated but was used for the ad campaign that year in conjunction with Martha's, a high end boutique of this time period. The dress comes straight from its original owner and was extremely well cared for. It even retains its original snakeskin belt which I have never seen on the very few examples of this dress that I have seen come to market in the past.

This beautiful sequin covered dress is absolutely stunning. It is also insanely sexy once on the body and beautifully made. The base of the dress is a snakeskin printed silk that is backed in a silk chiffon. Onto this are thousands of hand applied clear sequins placed side by side to completely cover the surface of the fabric. This gives the fabric the suggestion of liquid that runs over the scales and when you move the light catches the sequins and creates the most sensual and magical effect. The neckline is a high and hooks behind the neck to leave the shoulders exposed and bare. The waist nips in and you can wear the belt or leave it off if you prefer to not break the line. The skirt falls to the floor and gradually widens out as it nears the hem. The halter neck design leaves the back completely bare. It is truly beautiful. Excellent condition

Fully lined in a fine red silk chiffon. It closes with a low back zipper and the halter hooks to close at the very back of the neck. Hand finishes and original belt.

Bust: to 16" flat across from side seam to side seam
Waist: 12-12.5" flat across from side seam to side seam
Hips: to 18.5" flat across from side seam to side seam
Bodice: approx 15" from top of bodice to waist
Skirt: 43.5" from waist to hem

Modern Sizing Equivalent: XS-SML

Item# DD3041

Reference Photo: Bill Blass for Martha Ad, 1974.

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 silk Swiss dot netting used for the outer layers of this dress are so fine and light that it seems almost an impossibility that it could even be shaped & sewn properly to create the dress. The workmanship is exceedingly fine and the final result is beautiful. It has the added benefit of a well documented provenance. It's twin was used for a Bill Blass advertisement that year that was shot by Francesco Scavullo. The ad ran in the October 28, 1978 issue of WWD. This exact dress for sale today was also worn by Michelle Monaghan to attend the 2016 Vanity Fair Oscars After Party.The dress is semi transparent from top to bottom and you can see the effect best on the photo of Michelle. The inner bodice has a layer of nude silk chiffon throught he fron of the bodice only and those extra panels of netting that run down and over each bust. From a distance this gives the illusion that it is only the vertical panels providing coverafe. The back is covered with a thin layer of netting only and the skirt is made up of the same netted silk over semi-transparent inner silk chiffon.  The waist is cinched with a wide silk taffeta belt that gas pretty little dots of cording running along its length for embellishment and detailing. The workmanship is exceptional and most is done by hand.  Excellent condition.

The front bodice is lined in a nude silk chiffon and the skirt has an inner layer of black silk chiffon. It closes with a hidden set zipper at the low back with two buttons above that and hook and eye at the back of the neck. Each sleeve has a hidden set snap. I see one teeny repair to the net on one sleeve. Note that it was a little tiny on my dress form and will sit on a proper sized girl like the reference photos provided. Hand finishes throughout. Tagged a vintage 4 but please go by listed measurements

Sleeves: 24"
Shoulders: 13"
Bust: to 16" flat across from side seam to side seam
Waist: 12" flat across from side seam to side seam
Inner hips: to 20" flat across from side seam to side seam
Bodice: 15" from neck to waist
Skirt: 38" from waist to longest point of back hem. The front hem is 31.5"

Modern Sizing Equivalent: XS-SML

Item# DD3039

Reference Photos: (1) Bill Blass Ad shot by Francesco Scavullo from the October 28, 1978 issue of WWD.  /  (2-4) Michelle Monaghan at the 2016 Vanity Fair Oscars After Party.

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