If you loved the volume and excess of the eighties this dress will make you fall in love. It is very unusual in many aspects but once on the body it really looks wonderful. It is made from a black chiffon that has little silver strips of foil applied to the fabric in rows that run down the length of the dress. What is interesting is that some are applied on the top layer but most are applied underneath so they become muted and give the fabric depth and a sense of texture. The collar, cuffs and waist are defined by bands of silver glass tube beads, again applied in tightly spaced rows, The bodice is cut with a ton of volume that floats over a low drop waist. The sleeves are cut equally full and pouf from shoulder to cuff. From under the beaded band at the waist the skirt flows out to the floor and beyond to the trained back. To balance all of that fabric and the train, the back is scooped in a wide low curve to leave a bare expanse of skin. Excellent condition

Fully lined in a layer of black chiffon. It has no closures and is meant to slip over the head and sit low and loose on the body. The cuffs have loop & buttons to close.

Sleeves: 26"
Shoulders: 15.5"
Bust: 19" flat across from side seam to side seam
Waist: 17.5" flat across from side seam to side seam
Hips: 19.5" flat across from side seam to side seam
Length: 58.5" from waist to hem - train adds 11"

Modern Sizing Equivalent: SML-MED

Item# DD2825

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 Spring 2005 Prada show is one of the label's most iconic and recognizable. In her review of the show, Vogue's Sarah Mower stated: Just when the whole fashion world has turned ladylike—thanks, of course, to Miuccia Prada—she's tossed it all in the air, looking for a certain freedom. "A vague idea of birds; birds of vanity, like peacocks, parrots, and swans," was a starting point in her restless search for change, she explained. "I also wanted to move toward something more young and sporty, tall and narrow.... In broad terms, the news from Prada included a different silhouette (short hemlines, worn mostly with flat sandals), a return to one of her favorite palettes (brown-ochre-rust), and as always, lots of artful eccentricity (peacock feathers, flowerpot hats, Bakelite digital watches). There was also a Jamaican dance hall vibe, with reggae on the sound system, Rasta stripes in the knitwear, and Caribbean crochet in the raffia hats and cardigan coats. The birds really took flight for night, in the form of skirts overlaid with peacock feathers, dresses covered with digitalized feather prints, and pretty chiffon gowns whose fan-like pleats hinted subtly at dove's wings."

This is Look 48 from the show and one of my personal favorite pieces. It is in that color mentioned above, a brown-ochre-rusr, with a slight sheen to the silk wool mix fabric. It is cut short and simple with a little A-line cut skirt and that fabulous one shoulder shilhouette. Black insets define the shape and cut and the front middle panel of the skirt is heavily embellished with cut out shapes, beads and crystals anchored over black lace shapes cut to match each embellishment. The fabric choice allows for that wonderful shape to stay true when it is one the body and the jeweled appliques are striking. Excellent condition

Fully lined in a deep brown, fine silk and closes with a hidden set side zipper. Hand set boning through the sides. Tagged a Prada 40

Bust: 16" flat across from side seam to side seam
Waist: 14" flat across from side seam to side seam
Hips: 18" flat across from side seam to side seam
Bodice: 13.5" from top of shoulder to waist
Skirt: 21" from waist to hem

Modern Sizing Equivalent: XS-SML

Item# DD2818

Reference Photo: Prada Spring 2005 Runway Show, Look 48. (Model: Querelle Jansen)

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 gorgeous dress is by Bob Mackie and from his main line which can be considered as demi-couture. He Mackie is best known for dressing Cher. His work showcases his love of over-the-top opulence and often showcase extensive bead work and applique work. He worked for both Edith Head and Jean Louis before starting his own label. This early entry into costume design and the glamor of Hollywood continued to influence his work through his career. His designs are always extravagant and glamorous in the best possible way. Here we have a piece from the 1980s and it has that opulent feel in spades. The gown in made in delicious shades of metallic golds through the bodice mixed with a pastel coral based metallic silk for the skirt. The bust is strapless and has a gold cord embroidered "lace" applique that covers it all the way around. This is layered over the same silk the skirt is made up of. Scattered over this are gold and clear crystals that catch the light when you move. The skirt is fabulous and the silk is a nod to Fortuny in the pleating treatment. The silk here has a lame feel to it and seems to glow. The underskirt is a gold silk taffeta and there is a lot of fabric there so it really has fullness and movement when you move. The bodice is very structured and molded. It feels like couture once on. Extremely well made. Excellent condition with two small condition notes to review below.

Fully lined in a muted gold silk though the bodice and the silk taffeta underskirt is interlined in a silk organza. The bodice has a built in, molded bra and boned corset built in under the lining. There is also an inner waist stay. It closes with a back painted zipper. Hand finished throughout. There is a small repair to the silk near the hem at the front and another near the base of the zipper. The pleating treatment to the silk effectively hides these when on but mentioned for accuracy and I have photoed both.

Bust: 17.5-8" flat across from side seam to side seam
Waist: 14" flat across from side seam to side seam and the inner waist stay hooks to fit a either a 26-27" waist, if you need the full 28" you can leave the stay undone or remove it
Hips: open
Bodice: 9.5" from top of bodice to true inner waist
Skirt: 43.5" from true inner waist to hem

Modern Sizing Equivalent: SML-MED

Item# DD2814

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 fabulous dress was definitely inspired by the work that Loris Azzaro was doing during this time period. At first glance you would almost think that it was one of his pieces. It has that same signature looped keyhole neckline that has a highly detailed embellished neckline just like his pieces did. This version is made from a fluid silver-grey jersey that drapes fantastically. The color perfectly off-sets the detail at the neck and it has a cool, chic feel to it. It is gathered up and around the bodice with all the pleat work used for the gathers converging into the center keyhole. The skirt cascade from just below the bus line to flow to the floor in yards of fabric. I love the neckline and it is absolutely the center piece of the dress. It curves up and around the neck and the straps are completely encrusted with faux pearls, densely set, glittering rhinestones and beads scattered in between. It is a fantastically sexy dress. Excellent condition

Fully lined in a matching color silky rayon and closes at the back with a painted metal and nylon zipper. There is some light scuffing/grubbiness along the hem but nothing that detracts.

Bust: 17" flat across from side seam to side seam
Waist: 15" flat across from side seam to side seam
Hips: open
Bodice: approx 11" from neck to empire waist
Skirt: approx 49" from empire waist to hem

Modern Sizing Equivalent: SML-MED

Item# DD2386

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

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

This is a wonderful example of his work. The color is the most beautiful and romantic shade of pale lavender over inner layers of the palest blue and creams. There are five full layers of the finest, lightest silk laid over each other that make up the body of this gown. Each layer is bias cut ad float over each other and move beautifully. The three most inner layers are an off-white colored silk. This is then topped by a pale baby blue layer of silk and then the final exterior player is that pale, pastel purple. This gives the gown a remarkable and unique color. That combined with the incredible movement that silk has as you move is fabulous. I love that you you get a glimpse of the other layers and colors. The entire gown is entirely cut on the bias so drapes to skim over your body when on. This is also a feat of technical achievement to have all those bias cut layers sit over each other so perfectly. The sleeves are very full and each poufs out beautifully above the wrist and are finished with a bead applique cuff. The front and back plunge into V's and there is a hand done applique of fine bead work that curves over  one side of the bust and down to the waist on the other side. It is a work of art, very romantic and ethereal in feel and even better in person then how it photoed.  Overall excellent condition with some condition notes to review below.

The inner layers of silk act as the lining and there are a total of 5 layers of silk as described above. It closes with a back hand set, painted metal zipper. There are some faint water spots/smudges scattered across the front and a faint spot on one arm. I have had it lightly cleaned when it came into the studio and these may come out more with a more aggressive round of cleaning.

Sleeves: 25"
Shoulders: Inset 13"
Bust: 16-18" flat across from side seam to side seam
Waist: 12-15" flat across from side seam to side seam
Hips: open
Length: 58" from shoulder to hem

Modern Sizing Equivalent: XS-MED

Item# DD1378

Shown photographed on Laura McLaws Helms by Kimi Selfridge.

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

I have a version of this dress in black in the shop already and am excited to now have a red one too. There are 4 or 5 Burrows dresses that I always look for because they are just amazing examples of his work, and still hold strong today. This dress is one of those. It is made of a fine, slinky, sexy jersey in red. This one differs from the black in that it ties around the neck and angles down and around from there. It then falls in a beautiful bias cut and ends with an angled cut. All the edges are finished in his signature lettuce hem seaming. It is the front bodice that is truly spectacular - it showcases a design done in sequins, seed beads and tube beads that pop against the red. This is all hand done work and you can clearly see that on the opposite side of the fabric. It is magnificent and a real collectible from a truly amazing American Designer who was the first African American fashion designer to really achieve international recognition for his work. Burrows won three Coty awards (1973, 1974 and 1977). He was also one of the five American designers to show at Versailles in 1973 when America was pitted against the French couturiers. Excellent condition

There was recently an exhibit on his work called "When Fashion Danced" and it was the first major examination of Burrows' work. Here is what the museum said of his work: "Stephen Burrows: When Fashion Danced looks at the period spanning the 1970s when Stephen Burrows’s meteoric rise to fame made him not only the first African-American designer to gain international stature, but a celebrated fashion innovator whose work helped define the look of a generation. With vibrant colors, metallic fabrics, and slinky silhouettes that clung to the body, Burrows’s danceable designs generated a vibrant look that was of a piece with the glamorous, liberated nightlife of the era. Through photographs, drawings, and original garments, the exhibition will trace Burrows’s evolution from creating eclectic looks for his friends in the 1960s to his work with the chic 57th Street retailer Henri Bendel to the floor of Studio 54, as he dressed such 70s style icons as Cher, Liza Minnelli, and Diana Ross."

Unlined and slips over the head with no closures. Tagged a vintage 4 but please check actual measurements. The fabric does have stretch so will accommodate a range of sizes - the comfortable range of that stretch when laying flat is noted in the measurements.

Bust: variable as there are no true side seam
Waist: 15-19" flat across from side seam to side seam
Hips: 19-22" flat across from side seam to side seam
Length: approx 58-60" from top of shoulder to longest point of hem, 40-42" to the shortest depending on high you tie the neck

Modern Sizing Equivalent: XS-MED

Item# DD2802

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

This beautiful dress was created by Ceil Chapman who is often referred to as Marilyn Monroe's favorite designer. It is so beautiful in person and the level of detail put into the construction is wonderful. The dress is constructed from a blue silk crepe that has a touch of stretch to it which allows the dress to move and mold itself the the wearer. The silk is then covered in swirls of blue glass tube beads mixed with iridescent blue sequins that trail over and on top of the beads. Once on, the dress seems to be sculpted onto the body. The skirt hugs the hips and is cut close to the leg with a back vent to allow you to walk. The waist nips in to create that sexy hourglass silhouette. The bodice has an inner boning and a front tulle detail to bring all the attention to the bust. The shoulders, upper back and arms are left exposed. The workmanship is exquisite and it is absolutely stunning and provocative. What I love most is that is is very close in design to the dress that was worn by Marilyn to performing for the U.S troops in Korea, February 1954 (click here to see more on our blog). Excellent condition.

Fully lined in matching blue silky rayon. Boned through the front and back and the interior has hand finishes. It closes with a painted metal side zipper. Note that the color has a slight purple undertone that does not quite come across in the photos. Museum quality

Bust: 19" flat across from side seam to side seam
Waist: 14" flat across from side seam to side seam
Hips: 19" flat across from side seam to side seam
Bodice: 10" from top of bodice to waist
Length: 31" from waist to hem

Modern Sizing equivalent: SML-MED

Item# DD1163

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 near twin of this dress is held at The Metropolitan Museum which enables us to exactly date it. The difference between the one in The Met's collection and this one is that this one is opaque top to bottom so even though it would have originally been intended as lingerie piece you can easily wear it out as a dress now. The vast majority of John Kloss pieces that one finds are usually too thin or too sheer to wear as proper dress, but every once in a while you find a fabulous little exceptions like this one. John Kloss was a contemporary of Ossie Clark and I love how you can see that same British sense of sexiness in his pieces. This gown has a simple but sexy cut that really shows off the body once on. The halter cut bodice has an almost scandalous plunging front that goes right to the waist. At the point where the waist and the halter join is an elaborately beaded pair of swan set so they highlight the plunge and add a beautiful detail. At the back it is cut so you have an almost slight cowled effect and the entire back is left bare above that. From there it flows to the floor in a column of bias cut nylon jersey. A slit up the front shows miles of leg. Kloss was genius at choosing extremely high quality nylons that held the color well and would drape exactly as he wished. Excellent condition.

Unlined and slips on to wear and ties at the back neck. Tagged a vintage Kloss for Circa Small but please check measurements. The fabric does have some stretch so the size range is slightly more variable then usual.

Bust: variable with no true side seams
Waist: 14-16" flat across from side seam to side seam
Hips: 26" flat across from side seam to side seam
Length: 55.5" from neck to hem

Modern Sizing Equivalent: XS-MED

Item# DD2785

Reference Photos: John Kloss, 1971. Both from the MET Collection. ( 1  /  2 )

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 exception 1920s cape by Adair is utterly amazing and a true work of art. The Adair atelier was based in Paris and made beaded pieces to export into the American market. The pieces were based on the Haute Couture ateliers of the day and the work was done entirely by hand. They were one step away from being couture pieces themselves but did not have the official designation by the La Chambre syndicale de la haute couture. The cape is made from a luxurious deep red silk that drapes to perfection once on. The collar is gathered and padded with a ruffled top so it stands up and frames the neck and face. This closes with a simple series of flat hooks at the front. From there the cape falls to the knee area in a cascade of silk. Onto this is a dense pattern done in a variety of glass tube beads in black, white and a silver and these absolutely pop off the red silk. It is stunning. They add the perfect bit of weight so the cape hangs perfectly. It is an absolute treasure of a find and such a rarity to find a piece this old and in this condition considering it is entirely original and so many of the pieces you see at market at this level of condition have had restoration work done to them. Excellent antique condition.

Unlined and closes at the neck with three hook & eye. I do see a small amount of beads missing here and there and a thinning of the fabric across each shoulder where I suspect it was hung at some point during its life. Please review the photos. For an original piece that is now almost 100 years old I would rate this as excellent overall condition

Length: 46" from neck to hem

Note that antique and twenties pieces are final sale. They will be packed exceedingly well and we only sell pieces that will stand up to the stress of shipping, however, having pieces potentially shipped multiple times through multiple customs and countries is too hard on garments that are historically important and deserve to be treated with love and care. Please purchase accordingly.

Modern Sizing Equivalent: OSFA

Item# C438

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

Arnold Scaasi did absolutely exquisite and elaborate designs and the best of his work featured heavy adornment . His work is for when you want to have all eyes on you. He worked under Charles James at the beginning of his career and you can see that influence of that time in the lines of his own work. He cut and created his designs to extremely high standards and the workmanship is fabulous. This dress and jacket set combines the richness of a black cotton velvet with an elaborate and brilliant design. The work and attention to detail is incredible. Onto the velvet base is a dense application of gold braid, sequins and beads that are all hand applied and set in this amazing 3D design that covers both pieces. Many of the paillette used are shaped and colored to form flowers and petals. The dress is a strapless, sculpted piece that hugs the bodice and then falls away from the body in a pretty A-line. The jacket is cropped and sits over this and you can close it for a very fitted feel. It has pro[per curve cut sleeves and I love the pink lining. I love that the applique design is left off the very top and bottom of the dress so that it becomes a natural design element without having to add a third element to the design. The two pieces are is equally stunning worn together or as separates and adds to the versatility of the piece by being able to wear it together or separate. Scaasi dressed actresses, socialites and first ladies.  He also studied at the Chambre Syndicale de la Couture Parisienne and you can see the evidence of that in work like this set. He was never an official member of the Chambre so even though this is made to couture standards it, like his other work from his main atelier, is considered demi-couture. Excellent condition.

The dress in fully interlined in a black silk through the bodice and hand finished and aslo has a second lining in the skirt. It closes with a back, hand set painted metal zipper and a second metal zipper on the interior bodice. The bodice is boned. The jacket is fully lined in a fine, high end pink silk and is hand finished. It closes with fabric covered snaps. If you even remotely like it in the photos you will be extremely pleased in person as it is wonderful. There may be a missing or broken shaped sequin paillette here and there but nothing that needs to be pointed out as a jarring flaw. Someone cut the interior lining of the skirt at some pint so it now falls just past the hip and has an unfinished edge. It is left as found.

Dress
Bust: 17" flat across from side seam to side seam
Waist: 13" flat across from side seam to side seam
Hips: 20" flat across from side seam to side seam
Length: 29" from top of strapless bodice to hem

Jacket
Slightly dropped sleeves: 19"
Shoulders: 15"
Bust: 18" flat across from side seam to side seam
Waist: 16" flat across from side seam to side seam
Length: 19" from neck to hem

Modern Sizing Equivalent: XS-SML

Item# DD2762

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 fun little piece is an absolute dream to wear and just begs to go out, have fun and dance the night away. It is cut to fit and hug your curves in a way that is extremely flattering and sexy. The shoulders are strong and padded (though you could easily remove the padding for a sifter look) and the back is scooped low so you get a bare expanse of skin. The elaborate fringing around the bottom hem gives it movement and a strong nod to the twenties that it is inspired by. More fringes circle each short sleeve. The surface of the black silk base of the dress is entirely covered in a dense covering of beads and sequins. The beads and sequins that cover the dress are all sewn on by hand. The colors used are bright and vibrant and I love how the fringes are all different colors that pick up the colors in the dress. It's fantastic and so amazing once on. Excellent condition.

Fully lined in a silky black and closes with a back zipper. Padding in each shoulder that could easily be removed.

Wide set shoulders: 17"
Bust: 16.5" flat across from side seam to side seam
Waist: 12" flat across from side seam to side seam
Hips: 16.5" flat across from side seam to side seam
Length including fringes: 37" from neck to longest point of fringe on the hem

Modern Sizing Equivalent: XS-SML

Item# DD2761

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 exceptional Malcolm Starr dress is absolutely gorgeous and these far more elaborate pieces like this one, from this label, are getting harder and harder to come across. When woman do find them they are snatched up and tucked away The work is exceptional and you could not possibly get this level of bead and sequin work a modern day ready to wear equivalent. The base of the dress is made of a plush cotton velvet in an inky black and this has been cut into that perfect sixties sculpted shape. The velvet is then densely covered from top to bottom with a swirling design application of gold braiding, a mixed variety of beads and sequins that cover the dress in an intricate pattern. At the waist, cuffs and hem the sequins are applied to completely cover the fabric and highlight the lines of the dress. The bead work has a 3D quality to it so you really get this wonderful sense of texture. It is just beautiful. I love the simple shift shape and the way it glimmers in the light. Excellent condition

Fully interlined in a black muslin and then has an interior lining of black silk. Closes with a back painted metal zipper. Hidden pockets along the inset front seams

Sleeves: 22"
Shoulders: 15"
Bust: 17.5" flat across from side seam to side seam
Waist: 14" flat across from side seam to side seam
Hips: 19.5" flat across from side seam to side seam
Bodice: 13" from neck to second braid at waist
Skirt: 28" from second braid at waist to hem

Modern Sizing Equivalent: XS-SML

Item# DD2760

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

In 1962 Capucci opened his first atelier in Paris and took the fashion world by storm. In 1968 he went back to his native Rome and opened his atelier there and by 1972 his work was presented in a museum in Rome at the Museum of Etruscan Art. A remarkable achievement for a living designer. He exhibited again in 1990 and in 2005 he founded the Roberto Capucci Foundation to preserve his numerous drawing and archives. His pieces tend to be highly architectural and the ones you see in exhibits border on not being wearable, so it is a treat to find a beautiful and highly wearable example of his work. From the late 1970s comes this fabulous little deep blue chiffon dress that is cut to flow and drape over the body. The neck is cut wide to give a glimpse of the upper shoulders and the sleeves flow from there in an expanse of volume and fullness above the buttoned wrist. The skirt has yards and yards of chiffon and flows to the floor in a pretty, light expanse of fabric. The back and bodice are especially pretty with their pin tuck lattice design that is detailed with a little clear bead where each pin tuck crosses over the other. It is lovely and a rare example of a hard to find designers work. Excellent condition

Fully lined except for the sleeves and closes with a back zipper on the interior fabric and snaps on the outer. Each cuff closes with a hidden snap under a silk covered button detail. Hand finished inside and hand applied beads.

Sleeves: 24" approx.
Shoulders: no defined seam
Bust: 17" flat across from side seam to side seam
Waist: 13" flat across from side seam to side seam
Hips: open
Bodice: 15" from shoulder to waist
Skirt: 45" from waist to hem

Modern Sizing Equivalent: XS-SML

Item# DD2753

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 gorgeous dress is by Bob Mackie who is best known for dressing Cher and for his love of opulence and bead work. He worked for both Edith Head and Jean Louis before starting his own label and his love for the big screen and glamor of Hollywood continued through his career. His work is always extravagant and glamorous in the best possible way. This silk chiffon dress in a beautiful ivory is a combination of silk chiffon and bead work. The bust is strapless and fitted to the body with hand applied rhinestones, silver and clear glass beads and dangling strands adorning its surface. It would not be a Bob Mackie without some glitz after all. Under that beautiful beaded bust, silk chiffon skirt flow the floor and swirl around you as you move. Excellent condition

Fully lined in a white silk that is completely hand set, with a boned, slightly padded bust and waist stay interior. It closes with a back painted zipper. Hand finished throughout. Two layers of silk chiffon over the inner lining of the skirt. It is numbered by hand on one side of the interior. I see a couple of very minor marks and a small repair on the top layer of silk near one side at the back but you only spot these when it is laid out flat due to the yards and yards of fabric in the skirt. In person it is a touch more cream then how it photoed

Bust: 16.5" flat across from side seam to side seam
Waist: 12" flat across from side seam to side seam
Hips: open
Length: 49" from top of dress to hem

Modern Sizing Equivalent: XS-SML

Item# DD2748

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 stunning dress is a numbered haute couture gown by Balmain. It is a fantastic blend of green silk chiffon that is layered over a pale pink base. The effect of the two colors together is quite beautiful. The bodice, cuffs and hem are all heavily covered with hand applied embellishments in pink, gold and clear beads & sequins. Additionally, the upper portion of the bodice on both the back and front is covered with this hand bead work. The neckline is scooped and that same scooped shape is mirrored at the back but cut deeper with a thick panel of beading following the curve. The bead work at the wrist and hem is a full two inches deep. This not only adds detail but gives the hem and cuffs some weight so that the dress sits and drapes perfectly as Balmain intended. The sleeves billow out at the wrist adding the perfect feminine touch. There are endless couture level details - little straps set just inside the bodice to hold your underpinning perfectly in place; weights encased in silk near the back zipper so it falls just so - all perfectly and meticulously done. It is an amazing example of the fine workmanship and attention to detail of Haute Couture. It is a true piece of fashion history. Excellent condition.

The dress is fully lined in a pale peachy pink grosgrain textured silk through the body and silk chiffon within the sleeves. The heavy beading detail that adorns the bodice, cuffs and hem are all applied on netting and there may be the occasional loose or missing bead and thread but it is so profusely done it does not deter. The numbered tag found under the main label is there but the writing has faded so I am not 100% certain of the number. Hand finished. It closes with a back, hand set, painted metal zipper and each cuff has a hidden painted metal zipper. There are two teeny areas on the front where the silk has thinned but they do not go all the way through the fabric.

Sleeves: 22"
Bust: 16" from side seam to side seam
Waist: 14" from side seam to side seam
Hips: 19" from side seam to side seam
Total length: 49" from shoulder to bottom hem

Modern Sizing equivalent: XS-SML

Item# DD456

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

Todd Oldham began designing in NYC in 1989 and instantly became a superstar through the nineties "with his scrupulously constructed garments, featuring extravagant embellishments and raucous color combinations." Last year he was the subject of his first major exhibit "All of Everything" RISD Museum. He produced the peices from his own studio in the years he was designing and most were not large scale productions and his more elaborate pieces in particular were either very small runs or one offs which I suspect this would have been due to its unique design and elements used. This dress is wonderful. It is made from a lush black velvet and cut into one of his signature designs - the strapless dress with a simple and chic silhouette. He then takes this simple base and amps up the volume to full on glamour. Covering the entire dress are hand set medallions made from glass crystals and Swarovski prong-set crystals that give each design a "snowflake" feel to me. These glitter and catch the light beautifully. The straps are extraordinary. They are really jewellery and not just straps. Each is a crystal encrusted metal backed shape that is lined to the next. Harts and elephants mix with flowers and sprigs and each opens at the top of the shoulder for ease of getting it on and off. It is a work of art and a true testament to Oldham's genius. In the show notes for the RISD exhibit Oldham states: “We were always throwing curve balls,” Oldham recalls. “I felt I had something to say and it was meaningful and had duality and juxtaposition.” Excellent condition

Fully lined in black silk and closes with a back metal and nylon zipper. Each strap hooks to close and the straps are crystals set into silver toned metal. Hand set embellishments. Tagged a M and appears unworn

Bust: 18" flat across from side seam to side seam
Waist: 15.5" flat across from side seam to side seam
Hips: 21.5" flat across from side seam to side seam
Length: 39.5" from top of shoulder strap to hem

Modern Sizing Equivalent: SML-MED

Item# DD2703

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

This dress is exceptional and a unique piece as it is a press sample and as far as I have been able to ascertain was never put into production. To the best of my knowledge and my client's, there is not another one out there. This sometimes happens as sample are made for the runway presentation and then are edited out of the final cut, or a designer decided to go in a slightly different example. The closest piece I see that was produced was the dress worn by Miranda Kerr. The dress here is so very intricate and so very sexual in feel, that it is easy to see why the final cost and  the niche amount of women who would have been able to wear it, would have made it prohibitive to produce. Peter's beaded dresses while at Pucci often retailed for well over $10,000 and this would have easily fallen in that elite group.

The dress is a short shift with its surface entirely hand beaded. Large plastic discs in green are surrounded by glass tube & ball beads, with green crystals prong set among them. Every inch of the dress is covered as a result. It is like a honey comb design and the intricacy and time needed to follow each of those individual segments is astounding. The neckline is a stunning halter that trails over the shoulders and meets mid-back. Each segment of the dress is suspended from the others with little ladders of bead embossed silk that leaves skin exposed between. This creates a plunge effect around the front and leave skin exposed down each side. It is absolutely incredible. The Karla Otto agency tag is attached on the care tag. Excellent condition

Fully lined in a green silk and closes with a hidden set zipper set at the side back to follow a seam. Tagged a Pucci 36. Has the Karla Otto press sticker on the inner tag and a hand written number. Very heavy and cut tiny through the top of the bust. Note that due to the excessive beading and value this item will only be sold as a final sale item as to not incur potential wear and tear from excessive shipping back and forth.

Bust: 16" flat across from side seam to side seam
Waist: 14.5" flat across from side seam to side seam
Hips: 18.5" flat across from side seam to side seam
Length: 38" from top of dress to hem

Modern Sizing Equivalent: XS-SML

Item# DD2700

Reference Photo: Miranda Kerr in Pucci at the 2015 Warner Music Group Grammy celebration, Feb 8 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.

At the height of her popularity in the eighties Vicky Tiel was best known for her body hugging, sexy, fitted designs and her elaborate gathering of fabric on her dresses. This dress is from her couture line which by Couture standards would be considered as a demi-couture piece. Under the label is a second label that denotes the model name of the dress "Kaimak" along with other hand written information. It is very well made and with that signature fitted Vicky Tiel cut. The body of the dress is made of a beautifully and extensively draped silk net chiffon that is entirely hand set into place. This creates a head to toe gathering of soft drapes that cover the entire dress, back and front, top to bottom. It is cut to hug your every curve and shape the body. The bodice has interior boning to form and shape the bust. Set into the top is a panel of extensive bead work on a backdrop of black lace. This peeks put as if it is a separate undergarment and adds to the sensuality of the dress. Her best pieces have that old world, high glamour sense of the "Femme Fatale" and this dress has that in spades. Excellent condition

Fully lined in a black silky rayon and closes with a back metal and nylon zipper. Boned through the bodice. It has a 16" opening/slit up the back to allow for walking. Appears unworn. Tagged a 40 with handwritten tag. Hand finishes throughout

Bust: to 17.5" flat across from side seam to side seam
Waist: to 13" flat across from side seam to side seam
Hips: to 18" flat across from side seam to side seam
Length 53" from top of bodice to hem

Modern Sizing Equivalent: XS-SML

Item# DD1384

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