halston
Rare 1976 Halston Couture Iconic Well Documented Front Tying Bias Cut Black Velvet Strapless Column Dress
I Have a Question
- This dress is from the Spring 1976 Collection
- It was made under the creative direction of Roy Halston.
- These front tie dresses are one of the most iconic signature pieces from Halston. It was heavily documented that season and remains one of the most beloved silhouettes of all the pieces he designed.
- Halston created several of these dresses in different colours that season. They tended to be mainly produced in a bias cut silk or a hammered bias cut silk and rarely in velvet. Even the silk versions are hard to find now and finding one in a black velvet is very rare.
- It is said that before even putting scissors to fabric, Halston already had a mental image of how he wanted to dress to look. He believed that evening pieces should be as easy-to-wear and comfortable as day wear but absolutely elegant at the same time. When these dresses were shown for the first time in 1976 the press dubbed them as being "clean and and yet still with sex appeal".
- This is from the main Halston label and these were pieces were custom-made or made to order at this point in the brands history.
- The dress is strapless and ties at the front of the bust. This creates a little discreet keyhole under the tie. It also allows you to adjust the fit by how loose or tight you tie it.
- The cut is very forgiving as it skims over the bust, comes in slightly at the waist. and then curves back out over the hips. It is not meant to be super fitted. This is a dress that is very easy to fit. On a smaller frame it drapes more and the bias cut will allow it to move to accommodate if you need more room.
- From there it continues to skim over the body all the way to the hem widening out slightly as it nears the floor.
- The seaming is all set on an angled curve that wraps around the body. This means the entire dress is made out of one piece of black velvet. Do not underestimate its simplicity. Creating the dress in this way is actually quite complex and a technical challenge. Without seaming at the sides, the shape of the dress completely relies on the way it drapes, making it a much more difficult task and complex problem to have it fall over the body as perfectly as it does.
- Personally, I think this might be one of the most iconic little black dresses to have ever been created. It's a highly collectible piece for the Halston collector.
- The dress is fully lined in a black silk and slips on to wear with a tie at the front that you can adjust for fit. I see slight change in the pile of the velvet where it ties at the front from being tied. This is a natural occurrence and is not considered a flaw but mentioned for accuracy.
- There is no size tag present so please go by the measurements listed below
- Excellent condition
Bust: approx 17-19.5" flat across from side seam to side seam with the ability to adjust the size at the front because of the tie
Waist: 15-21" flat across from side seam to side seam
Hips: 18-24" flat across from side seam to side seam
Total length: 56" from top of bodice to hem with approx 2.5" turned under the hem
Modern Sizing Equivalent: SML-LRG
Item# DD5596
Reference Photos: (1) ‘The Strapless’ in Women’s Wear Daily, August 1976. / (2) ‘The New York Collections: Easy Winners!’, Jacques Malignon for Vogue, September 1976. / (3) ‘Your Night to Star’, Ladies Home Journal, December 1976. / (4) Elizabeth Taylor in Halston at the 1976 Oscars. / (5) Marisa Berenson in Halston, Vogue 1976. Photo by Richard Avedon. / (6) "Yves Saint Laurent + Halston. Fashioning the 70s" Exhibit at the Museum at FIT, 2015. / (7) Halston's original sketch for the tie-front strapless dress & Lee Radziwell, 1976. / (8) Rachel Zoe in Halston at the Zoe Report Dinner, 2014. / (9-10) Cherie, Owner of Shrimpton Couture. / (11-13) Spring 1976 Halston Runway.
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.
yves saint laurent
Spring 1980 Yves Saint Laurent Floral Cotton Gauze Wide Shoulder Dress w Matching Tie Belt
I Have a Question
- This is a phenomenal dress in a floral print version of the dresses that walked the runway for the Spring 1980 YSL show.
- It was made under the creative direction of Yves Saint Laurent.
- The dress is made out of what feels like a feather light cotton and silk mix. This fabric choice holds the colours beautifully.
- The neckline is set wide across so that it sits at the edges of the shoulders. If you are not very broad across the shoulders you may be able to wear it fully off the shoulder but for most I think it will sit at the edges of the shoulder like you see on the dress form here. A wide 7" ruffle follows the entire neckline and gives it the prettiest flounce all the way around you.
- Under that the bodice skims down to a low dropped waist that is cut more generously through the middle. I have taken a photo without the belt so you can see how it is cut generously through the body. The dress comes with its matching tie belt that you can cinch in the waist as much as needed.
- The skirt is set into a slightly angled seam around the waist that comes up into a peak at one side. Tiny gathers are set in all along that seam and this is what gives the skirt its incredible volume.
- The skirt falls shorter at the side to match the peak of the seam of the skirt. As it circles around the back it gets longer. If you were to lay this out and open the skirt it is more than a full circle around. That volume combined with the lightness of the fabric gives you incredible movement when you move.
- This is an absolutely stunning example of his work during this time period and this particular cut of dress is one of my favourites from him. I have had it in several colours and patterns now and this is one of the prettiest I have had.
- The dress is unlined and closes with a side set zipper. The tie belt is original to the dress.
- There is no size tag present. Please go by the measurements listed below.
- Excellent condition
Bust: 17" flat across from side seam to side seam
Waist: 14" flat across from side seam to side seam
Hips: open
Total length: 45" from top of shoulder to the shortest point of the front hem, 57.5" to the longest point of the hem.
Modern Sizing Equivalent: XS-MED
Item# DD5589
Reference Photos: Spring 1980 Yves Saint Laurent
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.
chanel
Gorgeous Cruise 2010 Chanel by Karl Lagerfeld Runway Look 33 Silk Chiffon Floral Print Dress
I Have a Question
- The twin of this dress walked the Chanel 2010 Cruise runway for Look 33.
- It was made under the creative direction of Karl Lagerfeld
- The show was set on the boardwalk of the Venice Lido at dusk. "Coco at Lido" is how Karl Lagerfeld described this cruise collection. Vogue described the scene as Karl "reinstating the long-lost leisurely sensation of a fashion show as an exceptional one-off experience. The 350 guests reclining on sun beds in the famous white tented cabanas certainly felt privileged to be witnessing the extreme glamour of the designer's learned-but-light invocation of an important part of Coco Chanel's biography." The location was "one of Coco Chanel's favourite summer haunts—she visited Venice for almost ten years beginning in 1919 and met Diaghilev here".
- The inspiration behind much of the show was the twenties and thirties and you can see that in the lines of this dress.
- The dress is made out of a feather light ultra fine silk chiffon whose weave gives it the feel of a fine netting or mesh.
- The silk is covered in a beautiful oversized floral print in dusky pastels done in a way that makes then look like they have been hand painted directly onto the fabric. The base colour is a deep blue-purple.
- The dress is sleeveless and the very upper portion of the bodice around the shoulders is a single layer of the chiffon so that it has a touch of transparency. It is cut to skim over the bodice down to the waist. An attached panel of the same fabric wraps around your waist and hooks into place at the back for added shape and subtle detailing.
- The dress falls from there in a swoop of feather light silk to the hem which widens out as it nears the floor. The back feels slightly fuller than the front so you get this pretty billowing effect around you when you walk. This is a signature Karl silhouette to give his dresses as much movement as possible.
- The famous double C logo is worked throughout the floral print of the dress making it clear that you are wearing Chanel.
- The dress is lined with the same fabric through the bodice and the skirt is lined with a layer of a deep blue silk. It closes at the back with a hidden set zipper and has a hook and eye at the back of the neck with a keyhole between the two. The dress appears to have been worn very little if at all.
- Tagged a modern Chanel 36
- Excellent condition
Bust: 16-17" flat across from side seam to side seam
Waist: to 13" flat across from side seam to side seam
Inner hips: to 20" flat across from side seam to side seam
Bodice: 15.25" from top of shoulder to waist
Total Length: 59" from neck to hem
Modern Sizing Equivalent: XS-SML
Item# DD5583
Reference Photos/Video: Resort 2010 Chanel, Look 33.
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.
valentino
Dreamiest Resort 2020 Valentino by Pierpaolo Piccioli Runway Look 23 Silk Chiffon Print Dress
I Have a Question
- The near twin of the dress was Look 23 in the Resort 2020 Valentino presentation.
- It was made under the creative direction of Pierpaolo Piccioli.
- Vogue said that 'Pierpaolo Piccioli had his Resort collection photographed in Rome’s Orto Botanico, a green oasis in the center of the city with giant bamboo stands and towering palm trees.' This is one of my favourite Valentino dresses of the collection and it is even dreamier in real life.
- The dress is made out of a beautiful lightweight ivory silk chiffon that has the teeniest palest touch of green to its undertone.
- Onto the entire dress is a beautiful floral pattern that gets larger as it near the hem. The flowers are done in pale greens and soft pinks with more vibrant pinks around the hem mixed with bands of colour.
- The shoulders are soft and the sleeves flutter over the very top of the arm. They are a single layer of the silk chiffon so have a beautiful delicacy to them.
- The dress skims over the bust from a high scooped neck and drapes easily over the body to the waist. Ruffles made out of the same silk sit behind vertical panels of the chiffon with lace ribbon insets. These run vertically down the centre of the top and there is a row of little functional buttons that runs down the middle.
- The dress comes with a long matching tie in the same fabric that you used to cinch around the waist for added shape.
- I love that parts of the print in the chiffon are signed Valentino.
- The skirt flows to the floor from there and it is extremely full. It has a second ivory silk layer underneath so that it is opaque enough to wear. The excessive amount of fabric used through the skirt give it a ton of movement when you walk and move.
- The lightness of the silk and the way that it lays over the body allows it to move spectacularly over you and it will pick up the slightest bit of air. It really is even more stunning in person.
- The dress is lined through the bodice with an ivory silk chiffon and the skirt is fully lined in an ivory silk. It closes with a hidden set back zipper. The buttons at the front are functional. Comes with its original matching tie belt in the same chiffon. In its original uncut length and it appears to have been worn very little if at all
- Tagged a vintage Valentino 40
- Excellent condition
Shoulders: 14.75"
Bust: 16.5-17.5" flat across from side seam to side seam
Waist: 13.5" flat across from side seam to side seam
Hips: open
Bodice: 15" from neck to waist
Total length: 62" from neck to hem
Modern Sizing Equivalent: XS-SML
Item# DD5507
Reference Photo: Resort 2020 Valentino, Look 23.
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.
emilio pucci
Fabulous Fall 2011 Emilio Pucci by Peter Dundas Runway Look 3 Green Print Corset Front Dress
I Have a Question
- The twin of this dress was presented for Look 3 for the Fall 2011 Pucci collection
- It was made under the creative direction of Peter Dundas.
- Besides being shown on the runway it also made an appearance on the amfAR red carpet that season.
- I love that all the various reference photos and video give you an amazing idea of how gorgeous this is on the body.
- The dress is made out of the classic modern Pucci jersey that makes it extremely comfortable to wear but also perfectly defined your curves. The fabric has some stretch and it is lined in a black stretch silk so that it sits very flattering on top of the body.
- The front neck is scooped and is edged in a bit of ruffled raw edged silk for a pretty detail. The shoulders are soft and the sleeves are long.
- Each sleeve zips to close around the wrist and are finished with that same pretty little ruffle detail.
- The front bodice is phenomenal. It has an inner boned corset piece that starts near the top of the shoulders and then comes down in on angle to the waist. This helps to flatten out the front and push the breasts up. It is a nod to a historical front corset and is very flattering once on the body.
- It skims over the bust and waist around this front corset piece and is brought in slightly to add shape around the waist area. From there it curves back out over the hips and falls to the floor.
- The bottom flares out quite a bit so you have some movement around you when you move. You can see that on the runway video. The back is cut longer than the front so you get a pretty sweeping feel behind you.
- This is a gorgeous example of Peter's time at the label.
- The dress is fully lined in a black stretch silk layer. The back of the corset part is lined in a black cotton mix. It closes with a back hidden set zipper and has hidden set zippers at each wrist. The jersey has some stretch and I have put the comfortable range of measurements below. Its easy fit and stretch should allow it to fit a range of sizes. It is in its original uncut length. It appears to have been worn very little, if at all.
- Tagged a more modern Pucci IT40, FR36, US6, UK8
- Excellent condition
Sleeves: 26.5" and they are 9-11" around the upper arm
Shoulders: 15-16" and are meant to sit a little wider across the shoulder
Bust: 16-18" flat across from side seam to side seam
Waist: 12-14" flat across from side seam to side seam
Hips: 16-19" flat across from side seam to side seam
Total length: 64.5" from top of shoulder to hem and the back extends 11" past that.
Modern Sizing Equivalent: XS-SML
Item# DD5432
Reference Photo/Video: (1-4) Fall 2011 Emilio Pucci, Look 3. Model Daphne Groeneveld. / (5) Toni Garrn at the amfAR Gala in Milan, 2011.
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.
Rodarte
Prettiest Spring 2021 Rodarte Runway Look 20 Bias Cut Silk Pink Print Flower & Hearts Dress w Removable Flower
I Have a Question
- The twin of the dress was presented as Look 20 in the Spring 2021 Rodarte collection.
- It was made under the creative direction of Kate and Laura Mulleavy.
- “Everything we do is about fantasy and dreams, but we are located in a moment, and we are a part of what is happening now,” said Kate. A fanciful gown, both designers agree, has little place in today’s world, so instead they channeled their efforts into clothing they would want to wear now “without distilling the ideas".... Vogue continued their review by noting that the floral story continues in the 1940s dresses they played with last season, now relaxed in shape with prints that radiate from the navel or appear in handkerchief-like grids.
- Its twin was worn by Anya Taylor Joy to the Venice Film Festival that year and Liz Gillies also wore one while in character for Dynasty.
- The dress is absolutely exquisite and really showcases the charm that the Rodarte collections have and why people love collecting them.
- With its pretty combination of white, pink and red this might also make a fantastic dress for a bride for one of her events around her ceremony.
- The dress is made out of the perfect white and pink bias cut silk that is a beautifully light in weight. It is very soft and supple and the bias cut lets it glide over your curves once it is on.
- Onto the white and pink base is a gorgeous print that features tiny pink flowers ad black bows nestled among green leaves and dots. These are set in large medallions that cover the entire dress.
- Tiny black silk straps curve up and over the shoulders. The front dips into a shallow V and the back also dips into a V that is set lower for a bare expanse of skin to show above.
- The bias cut lets the dress skim over your bust, waist and hips to fall to the floor. It flares out prettily at the hem and this give it beautiful movement when you walk.
- A little silk flower in a pretty pink sits at the base of the V of the front. The flower is detachable so you can move it to where it sits on you best.
- The dress is unlined and slips on to wear with no closures. The flower pins into place and is also labelled at the back. The dress is in its original uncut length. I see a tiny bit of grubbiness near the hem in a tiny hole near the seam at the back of the hem. It doesn't look like the dress was ever worn otherwise so this is probably from improper storage. Please see the photo after the label shot. The bias cut allows for some give so I have put the comfortable range while lying flat below. The length may come up a bit because of the bias cut once it is on the body.
- Tagged a modern Rodarte
- Excellent condition
Bust: 14-17" flat across from side seam to side seam
Waist: 13-16" flat across from side seam to side seam
Hips: 17-21.5" flat across from side seam to side seam
Total length: 66" from top of the shoulder strap to hem
Modern Sizing Equivalent: XS-SML
Item# DD5276
Reference Photos: (1) Spring 2021 Rodarte, Look 24. / (2-4) Anya Taylor Joy at the Venice Film Festival, September 2021. / (5) Elizabeth Gillies in the show Dynasty, 2021. / (6) Model in Rodarte photographed by Kourtney Kyung Smith.
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.
celine
Iconic Spring 2017 Celine by Pheobe Philo Pale Red-Pink & Ivory Knit Sweater Dress w Exaggerated Ribbing
I Have a Question
- This is a dress from the Spring 2017 collection. It was not a piece shown on the runway but it was shown in the Lookbook for that season and has since become another of her iconic pieces.
- It was made under the creative direction of Pheobe Philo
- As with many of her pieces, this dress and the longer variation of it that were released, were loved by her loyal clients. We have included some photos for reference for you so you can see how this looks on the body.
- The knit has stretch so it is very easy-to-wear dress. This one is the slightly shorter length that has the added patchwork insets of extra colour at the sides. The longer length was a more monotone with the ivory hem. You can see the difference in the reference photos.
- The neck line is cut wider across the top and there is a slight seam that runs underneath the neckline where the striping has been offset for a little added detail. The sleeves are long and are slit at their wrist. There is a gusset set underneath each arm with the stripes set differently there as well.
- From there the dress skims over you to the hem. The stretch and ribbing allow it to expand and contract as needed as it follows the body. She has used seams to cleverly break up the stripes and change the direction of the ribbing. On one side there is an inset of a more densely woven knit that runs all the way to the hem for a block of extra colour.
- The front bottom portion of the hem and around partway to the back is finished with an ivory knit.
- The colours of the net are a pinky-red and an ivory. The way it has been knit creates a beautiful texture and colour over the entire dress.
- The dress is unlined and slips over the head to wear with no closures. It has its original tag attached and was never worn. The easy cut and stretch of the knit should allow it to fit a range of sizes.
- Tagged a Celine large
- Excellent condition
Sleeves: 26.5" from the drop show and are 8-12" around the upper arm
Dropped shoulders: approx 16"
Bust: 15-20" flat across from side seam to side seam
Waist: 14-20" flat across from side seam to side seam
Hips: 16-26" flat across from side seam to side seam
Total length: 52" from neck to hem
Modern Sizing Equivalent: SML-LRG
Item# DD5253
Reference Photo: (1) Spring 2017 Celine Look Book. / (2-3) Irina Lakicevic at SS18 Paris Fashion Week, October 2017. / (4) Credit unknown.
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.
pierre cardin
Minimalist c.1978 Pierre Cardin Haute Couture Black Silk Chiffon Dress w Huge Balloon Sleeves
I Have a Question
- When my client sold this to me I told me it was from 1978. We have not yet sourced a runway photo of it because these early collections were not always documented but if we do at some point we will forward that on to its new owner.
- It was made under the creative direction of Pierre Cardin.
- The dress would have been made completely by hand in the Paris atelier.
- The dress is made out of a very high-quality black silk chiffon that is feather light in weight. It gives the dress phenomenal movement around you once on the body.
- This is a fantastic and surprisingly avant garde Haute Couture dress by Pierre Cardin that shows the breadth and depth of his talent. From a historical perspective it is also an interesting insight on the volume and play on proportion being done during this time period.
- The design is simple and has a minimalist feel but is still striking and dramatic. It is really a piece that will only truly come to life once on so is a bit of what I like to call a 'trust me' dress because you have to trust a bit on how phenomenal it will be.
- The neckline is squared off right to the outer edges of the shoulder on both the back in the front. The back dips down a little bit lower for more skin to show. I think that you might be able to also wear this fully off the shoulders if you wished.
- Inside there is a little strapless soft cupped bra made out of lingerie nude netting.
- The silk falls from the shoulders and skims over the inner bra, flows generously past the waist and hips and then it widens out a touch more as it nears the floor.
- Under the top layer of black silk chiffon there is a layer of a dark brown silk chiffon. This keeps the dress from being too transparent and at the same time it creates the illusion that the dress has more transparency than it actually does as the two colours play against each other.
- The sleeves are phenomenal. They are cut on a curve and are gathered into a piped wrist finished with a little bow, made of the same piping. Once on they pouf and balloon out fantastically above your wrists. They are one of the most exaggerated balloon sleeves that I have ever actually seen on a dress but in the best possible way. On my dress form they appear to hang very long and low but once on and held in place by your wrists they sit properly and billow out around the arm. They are quite brilliant.
- It is an incredible dress and like many of his pieces it truly will only come to life once there is a body in it.
- It is remarkable piece of true couture and a true piece of fashion history.
- The dress is fully lined with a layer of dark brown silk chiffon. It slips on to wear and the inner bra hooks to close. You could adjust the fit a bit by replacing that inner bra with one fitted to you and I have included the measurements of the outer dress for you as well as the inner bra.
- The dress has no size tag since it is couture so please go by the measurements below.
- Excellent condition
Sleeves: 24" to the actual wrist and then the sleeve extends another 10" past that when hanging loose. They are 17" around the upper arm.
Inner bra: tagged 34-35B and is 15-17" flat across from side seam to side seam, the outer dress is to 17.5" flat across from side seam to side seam
Waist: to 16" flat across from side seam to side seam
Hips: to 19-20" flat across from side seam to side seam
Total length: 58" from top of shoulder to hem
Modern Sizing Equivalent: XS-MED
Item# DD5225
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.
christian dior
Late 1960s-70s Christian Dior by Marc Bohan Floral Print Cotton Smock Dress
I Have a Question
- This exceptional dress is by Marc Bohan for Christian Dior and it is a wonderful example of his work during this time period.
- This best matches the work that he was doing from about 1969 to 1972 when he was doing these wonderful dresses. We found a similar one to this with variations on the print that this dress has and I have included it so that you can see how perfectly this will drape and fall on the body.
- It is a very easy and comfortable dress to wear
- The dress is made from a cotton that has a pretty floral print that covers the entire dress.
- The neckline is set high and detailed with a black cotton collar that extends down the front and buttons to about the waist area.
- Under that the bodice is meant to skim over you to fall loose and easy over the natural waist and then the skirt billows out from under that to the floor.
- The sleeves are set into the shoulder with slight gathers and they have a more full cut that balloons out over the wrists. At their ends they are edged with that same black fabric that sits around the collar and this extends out and tie into pretty bows around the wrist.
- The dress comes with its matching tie belt in the same fabric so you can wear it loose and easy or cinch in the waist for shape.
- Once on the body the entire dress has this stunning movement and yet feels minimalist and elegant.
- Unlined and slips over the head to wear. The front buttons up to about the waist and each sleeve ties with attached ties. The belt is original to the dress.
- Tagged a vintage Dior 12 and the easy cut should allow it to fit a range of sizes.
- Excellent condition
Sleeves: 25" and are 13" around the upper arm
Slightly inset shoulders: 14.5"
Bust: to 20" flat across from side seam to side seam
Waist: to 17" flat across from side seam to side seam and then you use the tie belt to cinch it in as much as you need
Hips: to 23" flat across from side seam to side seam
Total length: 61" from neck to hem
Modern Sizing Equivalent: SML-LRG
Item# DD5057
Reference Photos: (1) Model in Dior for British Vogue, March 1969. / (2) Model Kellie Wilson in gypsy-style Dior, wearing a long chiffon dress in lilac with white batik print, a ribbon belt and massive gold pendant Vogue October 01, 1969. Photo by Bert Stern.
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.
lanvin
Prettiest c1972 Lanvin by Jules-Francois Crahay Printed Silk Jersey & Waffle Weave Low Back Dress
I Have a Question
This dress was designed by Belgian-born Jules-Francois Crahay, who headed the Lanvin ateliers from 1964-1984. He has been noted as one of fashion’s 'great colorists with his colorful patterns making his 1970s Lanvin designs hugely desirable and influential.' His time at the Lanvin label is one of my personal favourites for the house. I especially love the his work during the period through the late sixties and into the early 1970s. He was a genius at print and colour and he pushed the envelope in terms of using cutting edge fabrics available during this time period. He mainly used this type of fabric for his 1971-1972 collections. This is the second time I have had a version of this dress and I love it even more this time.
This Lanvin dress is gorgeous and is from the main label. I am in absolute love with it. The dress has a gorgeous colour and print combination. It is made from mixing two fabrics and both hold colour exceptionally well so the colours are still crisp bright and true. The top portion of the dress is an easy silk jersey and then the skirt is one of his signature waffle weave cottons. The sleeves are long and simple. The neckline is scooped with a slightly wide cut. The top skims over you and the back goes down in a scoop to leave a bare expanse of skin showing. The waist is seamed and I love how the skirt is set into the waist in soft gathers so that it puffs out slightly around the waist. It also has a bit of a wrap effect where one side is open down the full length, but it is fully wrapped underneath so that you are completely covered. From there the skirt falls to the floor and it widens as it nears the hem. The fabric change on the skirt gives it a touch of weight so that it holds the shape well. The pattern is the same on both fabrics and yet they look slightly different because of the change in texture. It is brilliant. This full on pattern from head to toe makes the dress instantly recognizable as a piece of his work. Excellent condition with a note below.
The bodice is unlined and the skirt is fully lined in a white silky rayon. It closes with a back zipper. I see what looks like remnants of a lining here and there along the seams of the top. I see a mark at the front. Please see the photo after the label shot. Hand finishes. The fabric of the top has some stretch.
Sleeves: 25" and are up to 11" around the upper arm
Inset shoulders: to 14"
Bust: 16-17" flat across from side seam to side seam
Natural waist: 12-14" flat across from side seam to side seam
Seam at top of hip: 13"
Hips: to 22" flat across from side seam to side seam
Bodice: 19" from top of shoulder to seam at the top of the hip
Total length: 57" from top of shoulder to hem
Modern Sizing Equivalent: XS-SML
Item# DD4941
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.
I Have a Question
In 1952, Givenchy founded his namesake house on Rue Alfred de Vigny in Paris and quickly rose to fame as one of the grand couturiers. 16 years later for the 1968-69 season, he added a ready-to-wear line of clothing and accessories called 'Givenchy Nouvelle Boutique'. The line was initially sold in the United States exclusively through Bergdorf Goodman stores and was eventually available at other retailers as well. The line was high end and extremely well made. He launched this line to expand his customer base and it made to appeal specifically to his non-couture clients. This label continued until 1992. This dress is a gorgeous example from the time period. I love it.
The dress is a fantastical confection of dotted silk organza tiers that run from the top of the dress to the hem. The bodice is suspended from the shoulder with straps made of the same silk. Each strap curves over the shoulder and then the first ruffle of silk starts from around the top edge of the top. The neckline is cut fairly straight across on both the front and back. The ruffles continue down the entire length of the dress and each one gets wider than the one above it. There are eight ruffles in total and it is just spectacular. The movement that the ruffles create as you move is fantastic. The dress underneath is made from the same dotted fabric and it also follows that widening line of the dress all the way to the hem. The skirt falls to the floor in a dramatic sweep that widens out as it near the floor. This cut is incredibly easy to wear and flattering. I love how the silk ruffles move around you beautifully with the slightest movement. There is a little silk flower attached at the base of one strap that gives the dress a little extra pop of colour for the perfect finishing touch. Tons of hand finishing throughout. It is truly magical. Excellent condition with a minor note below.
Fully lined in a red silk and closes with a back set zipper and then each tier has tiny snaps to close each of the ruffles over the zipper to hide it. Tagged a vintage Givenchy 8. I see one tiny hole near the hem of one ruffle near the bottom. It otherwise appears to have been worn very little if at all. Hand finishes throughout.
Bust: to 17" flat across from side seam to side seam
Inner seam under the bust: 15.5" flat across from side seam to side seam
Waist: to 15" flat across from side seam to side seam
Inner hips: to 17.5" flat across from side seam to side seam
Total length: 58" from top of shoulder to hem
Modern Sizing Equivalent: XS-SML
Item# DD4935
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.
alexander mcqueen
Gorgeous Fall 2004 Alexander McQueen 'Pantheon Ad Lecum' Runway Off Shoulder Knit Dress
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This is a spectacular and rare dress from the Fall 2004 McQueen show and its twin walked the runway that season. On the runway it was shown with a sash wrapped around the hips and you could easily replicate this if you wished. It is equally as good on its own. The runway pieces were not produced in significant numbers and were often only found at the flagship stores in very limited quantities. For this collection McQueen was quoted as saying that he wanted to 'strip away all theatrics and focus purely on design'. The colours in the show focused on a nude palette and these taupe pieces were a predominant element in the collection. He also kept the embellishments to the bare minimum throughout the collection and this dress showcases that nod towards simplicity.
The dress is made from a very fine knit jersey that has a slight sheen to it. The seams are then either surged and top stitched, or have been covered and highlighted with a silk cording. This use of the seams as a way to create design details within the dress is a very McQueen feeling signature and it really highlights the cut of the piece. The neckline on the dress is a wide ribbed panel that has a lot of stretch available to it. You could wear it up and off the shoulders but it is best worn as shown on the runway, stretched and pulled down to leave the shoulders bare and exposed. The bodice is cut to skim over you and the sleeves are long. Each sleeve has some fullness above its 4" cuff. On the runway, they pulled the cuff up and inside so you just saw the part that blouses over and not the cuffs itself. A very clever styling trick. From there it continues past the hips to the floor. If you thought the way the seams have been detailed on the bodice is pretty, the skirt is magical. There are stacked side by side peaked panels whose tops sit at different heights around the entire skirt. Each has a touch of open cut work around their seams which gives the dress more depth and detail. This piecing of the side by side panels also allows the skirt to have more of a flare at its bottom. You can see how beautifully it moves in the runway video here. It is my understanding from my client that only a limited amount of these were produced. This is an iconic piece of McQueen's history. Excellent condition with a minor note below
Fully lined in an ivory stretch lingerie type fabric and slips over the head to wear. The knit jersey has stretch and the measurements below are the comfortable range when the dress is laying flat. I see a tiny area on the knit where it misses a stitch. Please see the photo after the label shot. Tagged a McQueen 38. Any change in colour you see is just the lighting. The stretch fabric should allow it to accommodate a variety of sizes.
Sleeves: 25"
Shoulders: variable
Bust: 17-21" flat across from side seam to side seam
Waist: 11.5-15" flat across from side seam to side seam
Hips: 17-22" flat across from side seam to side seam
Total length: approx 60" from the top of the natural shoulder to hem
Modern Sizing Equivalent: XS-MED
Item# DD4816
Reference Photos/Video: Fall 2004 Alexander McQueen.
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.
malcolm starr
One of Two Identical 1970s Malcolm Starr Red Zipper Front Coats w Applique & Braiding Detail SZ MED
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This is one of two identical coats landing in the shop today. The only difference its that one is a medium (this one) and the other is a small. This is from the time period that Youssef Rizkallah headed the company. Youssef joined the Malcolm Starr label in 1969 and remained as the head designer until 1975. The years that Youssef headed the line are among some of my favorites and in particular his pieces that utilize quilting and patchwork, like these coats, are truly iconic. Rizkallah was born in Egypt and studied at the Ecole de dessin appliqué and the Ecole des arts decoratifs in Paris. His designs seem to combine that sense of couture lines that he gained in Paris with the colour and vividness of his homeland.
This is a wonderful piece that can be worn as either a coat or as a dress thanks to the zip front that completely opens. We were able to date it based on the very similar piece that was featured in the ad campaign for 1970. Which makes it a very early piece for his time at the label. The base of the coat is a red fabric that feels like a light wool that has a slight ribbed texture to it. The entire coat is detailed with a combination of a deep blue braiding and blue ric rac that follows the detailing and lines of the coat to emphasize the pattern and cut. Elaborate designs run around the hem and panels in the palest possible blue follow the lines of the coat. A floral patchwork is set around the hem and edged by the rib rack to create that fantastic design that you see. This anchors all the various parts of the design and gives a pop of contrast to the colour combination. The coat is collarless and it zips up the front. The shoulders are soft and the sleeves widen out to be full at their hem. The coat falls from the shoulders and widens out as it nears the hem. I took a shot of it laying flat so you can see the incredible shape that it has. It is quite full by the time it reaches the hem. Because it zips to close at the front and fully opens, you can wear this as a proper coat or you can wear it on its own as a dress, which lets it play double duty. It even has weights in the hem so that once on it falls perfectly in place and pockets that are hidden along those front seams. I just love that spectacular design through the body of the coat. It is so dramatic and like wearing art. I love it. Excellent overall condition with notes below
Fully lined in a hand set pale blue silk and closes down the front with an unpainted silver zipper. I see some faint yellowing, grubbiness to the bottom pale blue panel and maybe a touch of the same on the blue on the cuffs but I am being pretty picky there especially. Grubbiness to the inner lining around the hem and neck. Tagged a vintage Medium.
Sleeves: 24"
Inner shoulders: 14"
Bust: 19" flat across from side seam to side seam
Waist: 21" flat across from side seam to side seam
Hips: 26" flat across from side seam to side seam
Length: 58" from neck to hem
Modern Sizing Equivalent: XS-MED
Item# DD4481
Reference Photo: "The Malcolm Starr All Starrs" Ad, 1970.
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.
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