This fabulous Azzedine Alaia knit dress is one of his classics. The silhouette and fabric and the pleats he used to create the shape are all instantly recognizable as his work. This is the type of dress that is a mainstay in any Alaia collector's closet. The dress is made from one in his signature ribbed stretch knits. The fabric is has a decent thickness to it and once on acts like a slimming corset and shapes and molds the body into curves you did not even know you had. The dress has three distinct textures. The shoulders and upper bust are a solid knit and then through the waist you see raised rows. These are used to create that hug and shape you inwards. These then flare out and turn into sharp knife pleats that allow the skirt to flare out with amazing fullness. It is fabulous and a classic for a reason. Excellent condition.

Unlined and closes with a hidden set back zipper. Tagged a modern Alaia 38 but these do fit a touch small. The fabric does have stretch so will accommodate a range of sizes

Sleeves: 21"
Shoulders: 14.5"
Bust: 15.5-18" flat across from side seam to side seam
Waist: 12-14" flat across from side seam to side seam
Hips: open
Length: 36" from neck to hem

Modern Sizing Equivalent: XS-MED

Item# DD2817

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

USE CODE couture50 AT CHECKOUT TO GET THIS AT 50% OFF

I am very happy to be able to pass on this extraordinary opportunity to you. Throughout the shop there is now a collection of items you can buy at a discount of by 50%, identified by this note at the top of the listing. (to see all the available items click here).

Some of them are couture pieces and all of them are of exceptional quality and highly collectible. All are from the archives of one client with whom I have worked with for many years, getting a steady stream of vintage and couture pieces from then as they have downsized their extensive collection. It is now time for them to retire. They have asked me to put all of their items down to 50% as a final clear out with all sales final for these items. For those of you that have shopped with me all these years this is a golden moment.

USE CODE couture50 AT CHECKOUT TO GET THIS AT 50% OFF

This amazing little Azzedne Alaia black knit dress is from his Fall 1990 collection. It is made from one of his signature stretch knits that was made to mold to the body like a second skin and exaggerate every curve. It instantly sucks some parts in and emphasizes other and is quite genius in its cut and design. The neckline is scooped low and is set very wide on a curved line that shows off a girls cleavage to full advantage. You can see how it would sit on a body on the reference photo I found from a 1990 Vogue editorial. The dress in that photo was worn by Christy Turlington and is a version of the dress in white with the same neckline but a fuller skirt. On our version, the dress is fitted from shoulder to hem. The seaming on the dress further exaggerates the curves and give it an hourglass feel. At the back the seaming is curved to follow up and around the butt. Each sleeve is cut lean and long. It is sexy as hell. Excellent condition.

The dress is unlined and slips on to wear. Tagged a vintage Alaia medium. The fabric does have stretch

Sleeves: 23"
Dropped shoulders: 16"
Bust: 16-18" flat across from side seam to side seam
Waist: 12.5-15" flat across from side seam to side seam
Hips: 16-19" flat across from side seam to side seam
Length: 31" from neck to hem

Modern Sizing Equivalent: SML-MED

Item# DD1694

Reference photo credit: Vogue 1990, Hans Feurer

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

These long, slim dresses made of pure cashmere wool were a Halston staple and were designed for that chic modern woman to wear while entertaining at home or in an intimate setting. The wearer was able to move and be superbly comfortable, never worrying about getting wrinkled or being inappropriate or uncomfortable. Really these were one of his signature pieces and every chic woman had to have one. Variations were recently featured in the Museum at FIT exhibit "Yves Saint Laurent + Halston: Fashioning the 70s" In their notes on some of his work they mention these cashmere pieces:

"Halston’s use of historical elements to create new collections was sparing. Rather than re-interpret the designs of those who came before him, he made subtle allusions to those designers whose work he most admired. He was inspired by body-revealing activewear and the sinuous, bias-cut gowns of Madeleine Vionnet from the 1930s, while primary influences from the 1940s included the cashmere sweater sets of Mainbocher and the ingenious ties and closures employed by Claire McCardell"

The dress is full length and cut with long slim sleeves and falls form the shoulders in a column of red cashmere to the floor. The color is amazing - a true red that will flatter most skin tones. Versatile and beautiful, it is an amazing and rare piece of fashion history. Note that this is not perfect but does present very well. Please review condition notes below.

Unlined and slips on to wear. It is made from hand-loomed 100% cashmere made in Italy. There has been some old repairs done to the fabric. It could probably be re-woven properly and the value would instantly double. It could be worn as is and the larger area easily hidden under a belt. Please review the photo provided. This is priced at half the current market value with these small flaws present as is. The fabric does have stretch and due to he forgiving cut will fit a variety of sizes.

Sleeves: 25"
Shoulders: 15"
Bust: 16.5-18.5" flat across from side seam to side seam
Waist: 15.5-17.5" flat across from side seam to side seam
Hips: 19-21" flat across from side seam to side seam
Length: 55.5" from neck to hem

Modern Sizing Equivalent: XS-MED

Item# DD2723

Photo: The Museum at FIT, permanent 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.

Gene Shelly dresses are amazing and they are some of the best of the early sequined pieces out there. All of the sequin work that covers this amazing dress was done by hand in Hong Kong - which, at the time, was doing the best sequin and bead work in the world outside of the specialty ateliers in Paris. The base of the dress is a fabulous pink knit that was a signature of the label. Onto this are thousands and thousands of iridescent sequins, each meticulously applied into place and packed onto the fabric to cover every inch. Interspersed among them are cream flowers and these are made of more sequins mixed with beads. The petals are larger cream sequins set on their sides and hand sewn into place so that the have a 3D dimension to them. Little tiny glass gold seed beads outline each petal and create the stems that wind over the surface and connect all the flowers. At their centers are a large crystal marquis stone in a prong setting and pear shaped beads make the leaves. The dimension and texture is fantastic. The dress itself is immensely flattering with a single long, slim sleeve and figure hugging body. The knit base makes it insanely comfortable to wear. It is set on the bias so shaped and molds to your figure.  Excellent condition.

The base is a light pink knit and it closes with a painted metal zipper at the back. The sequins are all applied by hand and I see no bare spots. The measurements are taken flat and shows the comfortable range of each measurement. Note the picture of the label is the best color example. Its a true pastel baby pink in person. The photos of Amanda in the dress are the correct color 

Sleeves: 20" approx.
Shoulders: no defined seam
Bust: 16.5-19" flat across from side seam to side seam
Waist: 14-16" flat across from side seam to side seam
Hips: 17.5-19.5" flat across from side seam to side seam
Length: 53" from top of dress to hem

Modern Sizing Equivalent: SML-MED

Item# DD2690

Reference Photos: Amanda Lee Shirreffs for her weekly column on our blog, Curated. (Photos by Erin Leydon) Click here to see the full column >

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

Alice Temperly founded her label in 2000, a year after graduating from the Royal College of Art and this dress is from one of her early collections. She has continued to grow and build her label and it has become one of the best loved on the globe for her sense of romance and femininity without be saccharin. I love this sexy little knit dress with its color combination of a neutral silk thread mixed with black and gold. This lies over an inner lining of fluid lingerie weight jersey so it very easy to wear, comfortable and travels perfectly. It is a sleek sheath of a fine, soft, silk knit that has a deep plunging keyhole at the front with one small hook that perfectly keeps your modestly in check. I love the shape this creates there. It skims and clings over the body but in a forgiving way, helped by that beautiful design that runs down the front and back and down each wide sleeve. Excellent condition

Lined in a nude lingerie weight nylon and slips on. Tagged a UK 12/US8. I see a tuny area of darkening on the front of the knit but it is not noticeable when on and very very light - too light to capture in the photos.

Sleeves: 16.5"
Shoulders: 16"
Bust: to 19.5" flat across from side seam to side seam
Waist: 17" flat across from side seam to side seam
Hips: 21" flat across from side seam to side seam
Length: 37" from natural neck to hem

Modern Sizing Equivalent: MED-LRG

Item# DD2516

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

When researching this piece the most similar thing I could find reference wise was the photo (attached) from the 1983 show but the tags on this piece date to later then that and I am guessing that it is from the late nineties perhaps. Regardless of the date it is a fabulous example of her work with its nod to deconstruction and her punk roots. The pieces are knit and a loose open weave so are semi-transparent, making them shocking if worn over undergarments alone or one can make them feel more safe by layering them over other pieces. The top is cut tank style with a crossed back strap. As in the skirt she mixes two knits - a neutral shot through with pink thread that has a thicker more ribbed feel, topping a almost spiderweb thread fine silk knit. The front of the tank is painted with a gilt design. The skirt is magnificent, cut super model length with that same duo knit used. I love the raw edges and the way it clings to the body and trails behind. In person the finer knit present as more a mulled raspberry - the photos and transparency in the camera's light wash the color out a bit. It's never been worn and still has its original tag and sample tag attached. Excellent condition

Both piece pull on the wear and the knit has stretch. Maybe even a little more then what is listed below but the measurements given are at a comfortable stretch. It acts a little like a bias cut once on a shortens up a bit depending on your curves. Elastic through the skirt waist. I see the occasional pull in the knit but cant honestly say they are not intended to be there - the bottom hem displays this as well and it all looks deliberate. I do not consider this to be a flaw but integral to the piece. Tagged a MED.

Top
Bust: 16-18" flat across from side seam to side seam
Waist: 15-18" flat across from side seam to side seam
Hips: 17-20" flat across from side seam to side seam
Length: 26" from shoulder to hem

Skirt
Waist: 14.5-17" flat across from side seam to side seam
Hips: 16-20" flat across from side seam to side seam
Length: 53" from waist to hem

Modern Sizing Equivalent: SML-LRG

Item#DD2430

Reference Photo: Sara Stockbridge walking for Vivienne Westwood’s s/s 1983 Punkature collection (credit: Niall McInerney)

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

Made of a deep burgundy knit with fine threads of gold worked through the fabric, this bias knit dress has a subtle glimmer in the light that is just fabulous. It is completely cut on the bias so shapes itself to your curves as soon as you slip it on. The main body and complete back of the dress is done in a fine ribbing while the body has a puckered, gathered feel that is remarkably like a later theme used by Prada in one of their shows. This is the mainline label so the knit was more then likely very high end and innovative at the time. I love how it creates a long lean line and if you wanted to add more shape the knit is light enough that you could easily belt it. It is a touch too large on my mannequin so on a girl who is the proper size to fit this it will fall even better. A great and early example of his work. Excellent condition.

Unlined and slips over the head to wear. The bias cut knit will fit a variety of sizes. Off the body it is of course very skinny and slim but is meant to stretch over the body so the range of measurements given seems quite large.

Bust: 16-20" flat across from side seam to side seam
Waist: to 18" flat across from side seam to side seam
Hips: to 20" flat across from side seam to side seam
Length: 62" from shoulder to hem (will come up when on the body depending on how much it stretched width wise)

Modern Sizing Equivalent: MED-LRG

Item# DD2343

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 "slashed" and cut out one shoulder design is well documented when it made its original appearance on the 1988-89 runway. It is even a design beloved enough that a version of it was revived for the 2013 couture collection by Azzedine Alaia. The 2013 dress was photoed on Giselle and done in a sheer silk and referenced here along with some images of version from the original collection.

This dress is from that original 1989 collection and it is spectacular. It is made of his signature black stretch 'bandage' knit through the body and skirt. This is contrasted with a ribbed knit top that is backed in nude giving it a different contrast and tone. The skirt hugs your curves with a slit at the back that allows you to walk comfortably. The top is genius in its cut. It curves up and over the shoulder with a cut out detail running down the middle that is set on an angle. At the back the fabric curves around and wraps to meet with a circle suggesting a large bloom blossoming across your shoulder blade. It is truly a work of art and a rare piece. This is a holy grail for the Alaia collector and that perfect mix of sexiness and supermodel, high glamour that Alaia excels at. Excellent condition.

The skirt is unlined and the top is interlined in a nude lingerie weight stretch jersey. It has a low set zipper at the back of the skirt. Tagged a vintage Alaia XS. The fabric does have stretch

Bust: approx 16-19" flat across from side seam to side seam
Waist: 10.5-13" flat across from side seam to side seam
Hips: 15-19" flat across from side seam to side seam
Bodice: approx 15" from top of bodice to waist
Skirt: 38" from true waist to hem

Modern Sizing Equivalent: XS-SML

Item# DD2340

Reference Photos: "All About Alaia" Photographed by Hans Feurer Elle Us 1989  /  Yasmin Le Bon for Alaia, 1989  /  Gisele Bundchen in Alaia Couture by Gilles Bensimon, Elle Jan 2003.

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

Insanely sexy, this low scooped front Azzedine Alaia dress from the 1990 collection has that in your face sensuality  that Alaia is known for. It is made form his signature bandage knit so it clings and hugs the body and your every curve. This one is scooped with a low curve at the front that sits under your bust with equally low V's cut down each side and a modified halter back. These were meant to be worn with one of his signature bra tops or you can pair it with a bustier as I have done (not included). The main seams are all held together by a criss cross of fine cording so that a bit of skin peeks through. It is cut to create a long lean line with seam work curving across and under the butt. Here the seam changes to a curved horizontal line that follows the curve of a woman's backside. The dress is finished with a saucy little pleated "fishtail" skirt that kicks up with your every move. This pleat detail wraps completely around the lower skirt. Excellent condition

Unlined and slips on. The knit has stretch and will adapt to follow your curves. It is a little large on my mannequin so the fit will be better on the proper sized girl. No size tag is present. Note that the black bustier is for styling only and is not included.

Bust: open with no true side seams
Waist: 16-18" flat across from side seam to side seam
Hips: 16-18" flat across from side seam to side seam
Length: 49" from shoulder to hem

Modern Sizing Equivalent: SML-MED

Item# DD2338

Reference Photo: Azzedine Alaïa, Dress, photographed by Gilles Bensimon for ELLE, 1990  /  Cindy Crawford image credit unknown  /  Image from the book 'Alaia- Azzedine Alaia in the 21st Century,' the accompanying exhibit book for the Alaia exhibit at the Groninger Museum.

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

Even in 1992 Azzedine Alaia was a pricey proposition - Elle reported that year that his collection was "extraordinarily pricey with cardigans run around $1,400 and dresses between $2,500 and $3,500". Unheard fo pricing in 1992. In a 10 page spread that featured the striped version of the runway pieces (see the listing in this collection for those), Azzedine speaks of his "delights in the space-age fabric he used for his Spring 1992 collection (he calls the NASA-developed material "Relax" for its purported ability to act as a screen against microwave emissions)". Amongst the many pieces made of this new fabric were the body clinging bandage like dresses of which this is one. Striped versions of this design were featured prominently both in the Alaia exhibit at the Groninger Museum and accompanying book 'Alaia- Azzedine Alaia in the 21st Century,'.

The knit is made to hug and exaggerate your every curve. The dress is cut to fit and sculpt over the body. The neckline sits low across the bust for the suggestion of a Victorian corset in cut and I love the off shoulder strap detail with its second strap that curves around the top. On this version the upper edge of the neck has a slightly scalloped ribbed finish for a pretty and feminine touch. There is no defined waist - it simply glides past the bust and down and around the hips. It is utterly amazing and sexy as hell. Excellent condition

Unlined and made of his signature "bandage" knit - this one a cotton mix. It closes with a hidden set zipper up the back. Tagged a vintage Alaia medium. The fabric has stretch

Bust: 15.5-18" flat across from side seam to side seam
Waist: 12.5-14" flat across from side seam to side seam
Hips: 16-19" flat across from side seam to side seam
Length: 33.5" from shoulder to hem

Modern Sizing Equivalent: SML-MED

Item# DD2336

Reference runway photo: fashionanthology.com

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 1990 collection had a wide range of ideas and themes including a nod to the beautiful calligraphy in the Kufi script that was embroidered onto the runway version of a knit bodysuit, worn by Naomi Campbell and a very few select other pieces. This romper is a take of that same print with a more stylized version of that calligraphy mixed with an abstract floral design. Azzedine was so private at the time that the actual runway show was not even formally announced, nor were invitations sent out. Despite that the mere word of mouth caused a line up of people to stand and wait for entry. Such was the power of Alaia. Very few pieces were produced and this is an exceptionally rare piece.

The romper is cut low at the front with a low scoop neck and racer back halter back that leaves a wide expanse of skin showing. I have styled it in some of the photos with a simple black bustier (not included). It is made of his signature "bandage" knit so hugs and molds to the body. The shorts are finished with a edging of black ribbing. It's amazing. Excellent condition

Unlined and closes with a hidden set side zipper. Note that if you over-open the zipper at the bottom it can get finicky about closing but is still fully functional and is original to the piece so I was hesitant to replace it. Tagged a vintage Alaia small. Bustier shown is not included

Bust: no true side seam because of the scooped front
Under-bust: 12-15" flat across from side seam to side seam
Waist: 11.5-13" flat across from side seam to side seam
Hips: 15-18" flat across from side seam to side seam
Length: approx 34" from shoulder to hem

Modern Sizing Equivalent: XS-SML

Item# DD2335

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

Fabulous and very sexy Missoni knit gown in their signature multi-hued print. This one is cut to show off the body with an around the neck halter and a deep front plunge. This curves around and leaves the back entirely bare! The bodice flows into a nipped in waist and then the skirt cascades to the floor skimming over the hips and flaring out gently as it nears the hem. I love the bias cut feel the light knit gives and the movement that this creates through the skirt. The knot itself has a touch of metallic so the texture and depth is incredible. Excellent, appears unworn condition!

Unlined and slips on with closure at the back of the halter neck

Bust: variable since there are no true side seams
Waist: 11-15" flat across from side seam to side seam
Hips: variable as the knit will stretch accordingly
Length: approx 60" from neck to hem

Modern Sizing Equivalent: XS-MED

Item# DD2102

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

USE CODE couture50 AT CHECKOUT TO GET THIS AT 50% OFF

I am very happy to be able to pass on this extraordinary opportunity to you. Throughout the shop there is now a collection of items you can buy at a discount of by 50%, identified by this note at the top of the listing. (to see all the available items click here).

Some of them are couture pieces and all of them are of exceptional quality and highly collectible. All are from the archives of one client with whom I have worked with for many years, getting a steady stream of vintage and couture pieces from then as they have downsized their extensive collection. It is now time for them to retire. They have asked me to put all of their items down to 50% as a final clear out with all sales final for these items. For those of you that have shopped with me all these years this is a golden moment.

USE CODE couture50 AT CHECKOUT TO GET THIS AT 50% OFF

If you are looking for in your face sexy - Versace is one of the go to labels. This is a great little sexy knit in a vibrant color. It slips on and the top has a deep, deep plunge. Part of the halter cut goes up and around the neck and the other part is suspended by rhinestone detailed gold chains. The back dips equally low and the knit clings to your curves. It is Blantantly sexual - which is exactly what you want from Versace. Excellent, unworn condition.

Unlined and slips on with buttons at the back of the neck. Has its original tags and is marked a size 40. The measurements have lots of stretch as it is a bias cut knit - the measurement are taken flat unstretched to a reasonable stretch. No rhinestone are missing from the shoulder straps and it has an extra button for the ones at the back neck.

Bust: 12-18" flat across from side seam to side seam
Waist: 11-15" flat across from side seam to side seam
Hips: 13-19" flat across from side seam to side seam
Length: approx 36" from neck to hem

Modern Sizing Equivalent: SML

Item# DD1854

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

Love this sexy little knit dress by Missoni. It is a sleek sheath of fluid, fine knit that is topped by a triangle style top and criss cross straps at the back. The back is left almost completely bare and it weighs ounces! The knit has metallic thread woven through it so the dress has a subtle glimmer. It skims and clings over the body but in a forgiving way, helped by the angled print that draws the eye in and the amazing cut! Excellent condition

Lined in the signature nude lingerie weight nylon that Missoni lines their garments in. Note that the tag was lost but it is guaranteed to be Missoni. Slips on to wear

Bust: to 16" comfortably flat across from side seam to side seam
Natural waist: 13" flat across from side seam to side seam
Hips: open
Bodice: " from top of bodice to waist
Skirt: " from waist to hem

Modern Sizing Equivalent: XS- SML

Item#DD1405

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

A rare and fabulous sexy plunge dress by Rudi Gernreich that is in an unusual and subdued, for Rudi, basic black. One sees such wild graphic designs from him normally that a black dress is almost more interesting in his case! And what a fantastic dress it is! Made of a lightweight wool knit, the bodice is very sexy rounded shoulders, cap sleeves and a front plunge that scoops right down to the empire waist! The waist is cut full and loose so it infinitely comfortable for the wearer to have on. The skirt flows from the waist to just above the floor. It has enough fullness to give it a sleek yet full shape that perfectly balances the deep V front. Collectible and wearable - it is Rudi Gernreich at its best. Excellent condition.

Bust: to 19" flat across from side seam to side seam
Waist: 15" flat across from side seam to side seam
Hips: open
Bodice: 12" from top of shoulder to empire waist
Skirt: 41" from empire waist to hem

Unlined and slips on the wear. There are snaps and a hook & eye that begin at the waist band on the front

Modern Sizing equivalent: SML-MED

Item# DD946

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 amazing Courreges dress that looks like it could have stepped out of a time capsule. It is a true white and has absolutely no discoloration. A tiny bikini halter top with crossed straps tops a long skirt. I love the ribbing that defines the waist and hem. Slips over the head to wear and is constructed from a chunky cotton/acrylic mix knit. Tagged a vintage Courreges 0

Bust: front will cover 13-15" flat across
Waist: 11-13" flat across from side seam to side seam
Hips: 18-19" flat across from side seam to side seam
Bodice: 13" from shoulder to empire waist
Skirt: 39" from empire waist to hem

Modern Sizing Equivalent: XS

Item# DD1220

Reference Photo: Courreges Dress in L'Officiel, April 1978. Photo by Patrick Bertrand.

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