• The mainline version of this dress dates to 1973 and then this RTW version was released in 1974.
• It was made under the creative direction of Gnyuki Torimaru.
• Gnyuki Torimaru started out as an architect before becoming a textile engineer and then a designer. He worked for Louis Feraud, Pierre Cardin and Norman Norell before striking out on his own in 1972.
• Shortly after the launch of his couture label he teamed up with Rembrandt to produce a ready-to-wear line that had the feel of his couture pieces but was available at locations outside of his atelier. 
• His name became very well known around the globe after creating pieces for Princess Diana’s visit to Japan in 1986. 
• An entire exhibit was dedicated to him at the Kobe Fashion Museum "Gnyuki Torimaru: Legendary Fashion Designer" in 2019. The twin of the dress was also shot for several publications in both 1973 and 1974.
  
• This dress is amazing and it is an incredible statement piece.
• The fabric is a light-in-weight ivory jersey that has a soft slinky feel to it.
• The dress is very easy to wear despite its dramatic presence. It is cut very loose and easy through the entire body and the sleeves are phenomenal.
• The neckline is done in a phenomenal plunge that goes right down to the waist. The jersey is gathered into the waist from the sides to create the soft vertical draping that you see.
• The gathering at the front and the deep plunge are key features to the design of the dress. It is what creates that beautiful draped feel that runs all the way to the hem.
• The sleeves are created by extending out the jersey from the body of the dress. Each one starts incredibly wide as it comes out from below the waist area and then narrows down to a extra long cuff that closes with two buttons at their ends.
• The extreme volume above the long defined cuffs are what helps them to billow up above the wrist more.
• This design leaves the caftan completely opened on the sides from the bust area all the way down through the waist and hips.
• From there it swoops down to the hem to create the unbelievably dramatic draping down each side and it lets the fabric billow around you beautifully when you move.
• At the back it falls in one swoop of fabric to give an almost caped effect
• The movement and boldness of the design is amazing to see. Everything about this dress has a feel of organic movement and drama. It is a remarkable dress and even more stunning on.
• The dress is unlined and it closes at the front at the base of the plunge with a zipper. There is a jersey covered elastic piece that you can step into around the waist if you wish. It could also be worn without that if you need more room. The outer jersey layer is tremendously voluminous and its easy cut should allow it to fit a range of sizes. On a smaller frame it will just drape more. 
• There is no size tag present. Please go by the measurements listed below.
• Excellent condition. 

Shoulders: no defined seam
Bust-hips: open
Total length: 59" from neck to hem

Modern Sizing Equivalent: OSFA

Item# DD5790

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

• This is a gorgeous Couture dress from 1970s Lanvin.
• It was made under the creative direction of Jules-Francois Crahay
• Jules-Francois 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.
  
• The dress is not perfect so please make sure to read the entire description and view all the photos.
• The fabric is made from a combination of an ivory silk chiffon with panels of silk brocade handmade ribbon that have been added in vertical lines down the front.
• The shoulders are soft and the sleeves are set into them slightly deeper than a normal sleeve so they have a bit of volume. 
• The sleeves are made of a single layer of the chiffon so that they have a touch of transparency. They remain wide all the way to the elastic set around the wrist. This lets them puff out above your hands in the most beautiful way.
• The bodice skims over the bust to a seamed but generously cut slightly dropped waist. You could add a belt if you wanted extra shape. When worn as it is photoed it simply skims over you to let the full impact of the ribbon take centre stage.
• From there the skirt curves over the hips and continues to expand outwards to the floor. There is an immense amount of fabric used in the skirt. It has been gathered in soft pleats all the way around and this is what helps to give it its fullness. When you move, it moves beautifully around you.
• The ribbons that run down the full front of the dress are beautiful. There are seven in total. Four of them are done in shades of blue and green and three in pale yellow. These are set vertically over the bodice, stop at the waist and then are picked up again just under the band of chiffon at the waist.
• On the skirt they are set on the top of the pleats so when you move you get a vertical band of silk chiffon between them. It is very pretty.
• The dress is fully lined in an ivory silk and the sleeves are unlined. It closes with a series of hidden hooks and snaps down the front. Elastic at each wrist. I see a small very faint mark on the outside of one sleeve and some minor grubbiness around the edges here and there. There is a more substantial yellow mark near the hem. I have taken a photo of it spread out so you can see the full extent of it. I have also taken a photo of it as it falls so you can see that the impact of it is lessened once most of it is hidden within the pleats. I have everything dry cleaned but it was not aggressively cleaned so it is possible that it could come out with a more aggressive specialized cleaning. 
• There is no size tag present. Please go by the measurements listed below
• Excellent condition

Sleeves: 25.5" and they are 14"around the upper arm
Shoulders: 15.25"
Bust: to 20.5" flat across from side seam to side seam
Waist: to 15" flat across from side seam to side seam
Hips: open
Bodice: 18" from neck to waist
Total length: 61.5" from neck to hem

Modern Sizing Equivalent: SML-MED

Item# DD5789

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

• This dress dates to the early-mid 1970s.
• It was made under the creative direction of Gnyuki Torimaru.
• Gnyuki Torimaru started out as an architect before becoming a textile engineer and then a designer. He worked for Louis Feraud, Pierre Cardin and Norman Norell before striking out on his own in 1972.
• Shortly after the launch of his couture label he teamed up with Rembrandt to produce a ready-to-wear line that had the feel of his couture pieces but was available at locations outside of his atelier. 
• His name became very well known around the globe after creating pieces for Princess Diana’s visit to Japan in 1986. 
• An entire exhibit was dedicated to him at the Kobe Fashion Museum "Gnyuki Torimaru: Legendary Fashion Designer" in 2019.
• This dress is amazing and it is also an incredible statement piece.
• The fabric is a light in weight ivory jersey that has a soft slinky feel to it.
• The dress is very easy to wear despite its dramatic presence. It is cut very loose and easy through the entire body and the sleeves are phenomenal.
• The neck line is high and then the entire front is gathered into a circle that sits at about the waist area. It is gathered into the circle from both the top and below.
• This gathering at the front is key to the design of the dress. It creates that beautiful draped feel that runs all the way to the hem at the front.
• The sleeves are created by extending out the jersey from the body of the dress. Each one starts incredibly wide as it comes out from below the waist area and then narrows down to a easy cuff.
• The extreme volume above the cuff is what helps them to billow up above the wrist more.
• This leaves it completely open on the sides in the bust area and it is very full and generous through the waist and hips.
• From there it swoops down to the hem to create that unbelievably dramatic effect. It lets the fabric billow around you beautifully when you move.
• At the back it falls in one swoop of fabric to give an almost caped effect.
• The movement and boldness of the design is amazing to see. Everything about this dress has a feel of organic movement and drama. It is a remarkable dress and even more stunning on.
• The dress is unlined and it closes at the back with a zipper. There is a jersey covered elastic piece that you can wrap and hook around the waist if you wish. It could also be worn without that hooked if you need more room. The outer jersey layer is tremendously voluminous and its easy cut should allow it to fit a range of sizes. On a smaller frame it will just drape more. The neck would not close on my dress form and I have included its measurements below. I see a couple of tiny minor very faint marks. Please see the photo after the label shot for an example.
• There is no size tag present. Please go by the measurements listed below.
• Excellent condition. 

Neck: 13" around
Sleeves: approximately 24" and they are full and open around the upper arm.
Shoulders: no defined seam
Bust-hips: open
Total length: 62" from neck to hem

Modern Sizing Equivalent: OSFA

Item# DD5788

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.

• John Bates founded the Jean Varon label in 1960 and it quickly became known for the futuristic designs and innovative use of fabrics.
• He dressed Dianna Rigg portraying Emma Peel in the 1965 season of the action TV series "The Avengers" and that helped bring him more commercial success. 
• By the late sixties and into the seventies his work tended more towards more floating, feminine designs. Some of the very best pieces were made during this time period.
• His caftans in particular are fabulous and they are some of my favourites to find. This is the second time I have had this design in the shop.
• My client who bought the original one had sent me some shot shots of her and her daughter-in-law wearing hers and she graciously has allowed me to share them so that you can see how fantastic this is once on the body.
• This is one of the best caftans I have seen from this label and because of the voluminous and open cut it should fit just about anyone and any shape.
• It is made from a wash and wear jersey that has just enough weight to it to help hold the lines and make it drape correctly once you slip it on.
• It is seamed all around the edges so it is closed down each side.
• The neckline is cut into a wide squared off opening across the shoulders. It dips down and has an edging of crochet work that you can see a glimpse of skin through.
• At the centre of the front there are attached ties that curve up to tie behind the neck. You can also wear it off the shoulder and let the sides drop depending on how wide across the shoulder you are. This gives it another look again and is really fabulous.
• There are slits along the side to slip your hands through and then the entire body of the caftan is a simple loose and open cut.
• An elaborate crane and ocean design runs over the entire surface of caftan. The backdrop is a pale blue-grey colour and then the print is done in soft tones on top of that. As it nears the bottom of the caftan it turns to a solid black with cranes flying over the surface. The contrast between the two is spectacular.
• When it is on the body the black at the bottom helps to add to the drama and floating feeling the caftan has.
• Everything about this piece feels pretty and romantic while still managing to feel strong and bold. It is really an exceptional piece.
• The caftan is unlined and slips over the head to wear. It ties at the neck as described above. The edges of the cotton lace around the neck have softened a touch and there is a tiny faint scuff of mark here and there on the white part. Two tiny breaks in the fabric near the hem. It is very minor but mentioned for accuracy.  The open cut should fit a wide range of sizes.
• Excellent condition

From widest point flat across edge to edge: 55"
Length: 61" from shoulder to hem and the outer edges hang a bit lower when its on

Modern Sizing Equivalent: XS-XL OSFA

Item# DD5786

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

• The twin of this dress walked the runway for the Spring 1976 YSL collection.
• It was made under the creative direction of Yves Saint Laurent.
• On the runway the skirt was pulled up more than how I have shot it here and I love that that shows you how versatile the dress is in terms of how you can wear the length.
• A similar dress was also used for the ad campaign.
• The dress is made out of a light floral printed pink silk jersey that has some stretch to it and drapes beautifully over the body while keeping light in weight.
• The neck line is set wide across so you can wear it off of the shoulder for a bare expanse of skin to show. An elastic is woven through the top of the neckline so you could also wear it up and on the shoulders if you wished.
• The sleeves extend out from there and are cut to just above the elbow. Their ends have elastic which allows you to change their length on your arm and how they sit.
• The bodice skims down to an elastic waist and this tops, a another panel of the same fabric that also has an elastic band that goes all the way around.
• The two bands of elastic are what let you choose how high to wear the dress around your waist and hips. You can dramatically change the length from a very long full length to something more like what you see on the runway. Bringing the dress up just allows the silk jersey to drape more over the layer underneath.
• The skirt is under the final band of elastic, flares out slightly as it reaches its hem. When the dress is laid out flat, it is extra long and then once on adjusting where the elastic band sit determines the final length.
  
• This is an absolutely stunning example of his work during this time period and one of my favourite pieces I have ever had in by him.
• The versatility and ability to style. The dress in multiple ways is just fantastic.
• The dress is unlined and slips over the head to wear with elastic as described above. It appears to have been worn very little if at all.
• Tagged a YSL 40
• Excellent condition

Sleeves: approximately 16" and they are very full around the upper arm
Bust: 16-20" flat across from side seam to side seam
Elastic waist: 11-17" flat across from side seam to side seam
Lower elastic band: 14-22" flat across from side seam to side seam
Bodice: approximately 15" from top of natural shoulder to elastic waist and there is 16" between the two elastic bands
Total length: 70" from top of natural shoulder to hem and then you can shorten the length by how much you adjust where you wear either elastic band

Modern Sizing Equivalent: XS-MED

Item# DD5776

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.