This is a very rare runway documented Givenchy Couture dress from the Spring 1998 ready-to-wear collection "Rhinestone Cowgirls". It is the twin of the one that walked the runway. This is from the small period of time that Alexander McQueen was the Creative Director for the house. At just 27 years old he succeeded John Galliano as head designer in 1996. In 2001 his contract ended and he departed, telling the press that his creativity was constrained. His appointment had been tumultuous from the start. Hubert de Givenchy had describe his appointment as a "total disaster” and McQueen had shot back that the founder was “irrelevant”. Of course now in hindsight we see his collections for the genius that they were. It also showed his ability to design Couture. He said in later interviews that he walked away from the label with a greater knowledge about the process and techniques of couture, which benefited his own label afterwards. 

In the 'Givenchy Catwalk' book they note that the collection was heavily influenced by Westerns and said that "the hairstyles were inspired by the 1970s, especially Farrah Fawcett's iconic look with thick hair and flicked out ends. Dresses and suits made out of dip, lambskin, covered with flames and star motif created with insets of fabric appliqué." This is one of the most recognizable dresses from the collection and its photo also appears in that same book.

This dress is remarkable. It is strapless and the body of the dress is beautifully seamed. The upper edge of the bodice is finished with a dusty pink suede and the inner bodice is boned and shaped to hug the person wearing it. It is held in place by that inner corset and then it skims over the waist and down to the hips. I love how the skirt is set into the hip with a series of curved scalloped designs. This allowed him to do long vertical panels to make up the skirt. There are eight of them in total and each one spans out to be a full 25" across by the hem. That makes the bottom of the skirt incredibly full and if you lay it out flat, it is more than a full circle skirt. To emphasize the fullness of the skirt he had the model hold the skirt up and flick it around her as she moved. You can see in the photos here that when you are standing still you do have some idea of the fullness that the skirt has but this is really a piece that it is when you have it on and you see it moving that the amazing amount of fabric in the skirt gives it an entirely new dimension. The bottom of the skirt has been inset with the same dusty pink suede in the flame motif that ran so prominently throughout the show. I laid the dress out with the skirt extended so that you can get an idea of just how much fabric is in there. This is an amazing piece of both Givenchy and Alexander McQueen's history. Excellent condition with a note below.

The bodice and body to just past the hip is lined in a black silk. The skirt is backed in black. The dress closes with a hidden set side zipper and the inner bodice is boned throughout with a built-in corset to the waist. A waist stay hooks to close. The suede shows some very slight minor fading and light grubbiness here and there. There is a small area on the bodice where the black has slightly lightened to have a reddish tint and there are a couple areas on one part of the skirt that has done the same. Please see the photos after the label shot. Tagged a vintage Givenchy 40

Bust: 16-17" flat across from side seam to side seam
Inner waist: 13.25" flat across from side seam to side seam. Note that the outer waist is up to 15" so you could adjust the corset if you needed more room.
Hips: to 25" flat across from side seam to side seam
Bodice: 9.5" from top of bodice to inner waist of corset
Total length: 56" from top of suede edge of the bodice to hem

Modern Sizing Equivalent: SML-MED

Item# DD4872

Reference Photos/Video: (1-5) Spring 1998 Givenchy Runway.  /  (6) From the book "Givenchy Catwalk: The Complete Collections" by Anders Christian Madsen.

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.

The twin of this Geoffrey Beene dress was showcased in the Met Museum's exhibit 'In America: A Lexicon of Fashiont' and that  dress resides in their permanent collection. This was already one of his most iconic dresses and it is now even more so after the exhibit and being included in the accompanying book. The dress is heavily documented and was photoed extensively the year that it debuted. It is an extraordinary dress

The cut of the dress is so perfectly simple. It is made out of a black very light wool jersey that has an almost soft t-shirt feel to it. The dress is unlines and the jersey has perhaps the slightest bit of transparency in certain lights, which only adds to its sensuality. The sleeves are long and sleek. Each one ends in a hidden set zipper and their edges are finished in a black silk ribbon. That same black silk ribbon edges the neckline. The dress is cut to skim over you at the front with slight shaping through the waist. It curves back out over the hips and then falls to the floor where it widens out. At the back, you see that bare expanse of skin which is what makes the dress so famous. It hooks at the back of the neck and then it curves out and around to a very low dipping back. Insets of a pale silk chiffon curve down and into the sides of the hip seams to give the illusion that you are even more bare than you actually are. Where are those inserts end, the seams extend down and curved to the front where they run down towards the centre hem. This clever bit of seaming helps to shape the dress around you and continues that curved feeling that the open back gives. It is quite genius. One of the most iconic dresses ever made. Excellent condition with a minor note below.

The dress is unlined and slips over the head to wear. It hooks at the back of the neck. Ribbon finished inner seams and hidden set zippers at each cuff. Tagged a vintage Beoffrey Beene 8. I see two teeny tiny repairs near the centre back seam. The jersey has stretch through the body and the comfortable range of the measurements are below 

Sleeves: 24” and 14-16" around the upper arm
Shoulders: 15”
Bust: 17-20” flat across from side seam to side seam
Waist: 12-16” flat across from side seam to side seam
Hips: 18-22” flat across from side seam to side seam
Total length: 61” 

Modern Sizing Equivalent: SML-MED

Item# DD4871

Reference Photos: (1-5) Fall 1989 Geoffrey Beene (credits unknown)  /  (6) Model in Geoffrey Beene for Mirabella magazine, 1989, photographed by Michael O'Neill.  /  (7) Part of The MET Collection online.  /  (8) Image from the book "In America: A Lexicon of Fashion" that accompanied the MET Exhibit of the same name.

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.

The book 'Givenchy Catwalk' says of this collection that "the new collection was heavily influenced by the fashions of the 1940s and was the height of sophistication." Several pieces walked the runway that season that had these Trompe L'oeil ribbons adorning their silk surfaces. The book notes that "the exclusive bow and ribbon prints on some day wear outfits reference the motif that had made Elsa Schiaparelli's name in 1927, but it was after dark that these features truly came into their own. In the evening were large ribbons tied into bows or loosely draped, decorating the bust like a tie or nipped in the skirts of extravagant colourful designs." This dress, or a very near version of it, was shown on the runway under a white jacket nipped in at the waist. We have also included a photo from the book that shows some of the other designs from that season that featured these sequin bows as well. It is a beautiful piece.

Modern Sizing Equivalent: XS-SML

Item# DD4870

Reference Photos: (1) Spring 1979 Givenchy Haute Couture.  /  (2) Spring 1979 Givenchy Haute Couture Looks from the book "Givenchy Catwalk: The Complete Collections" by Anders Christian Madsen.

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 one of two remarkable dresses that I have today that are absolutely insane to see in real life. Each is so very good and they are not even photoing half as good as either is in person. The sheer amount of hand work to apply those thousands of sequins, crystals and beads needs to be seen in person to truly appreciate. This is one of those pieces that really showcases the higher end work that the label was capable of. The dress is the work of Elinor Simmons who designed for the Malcolm Starr label from the early 1960s to 1972. She excelled at these early heavily embellished pieces that the label became known for and this is an outstanding example of that. It is even more amazing in person and the photos cannot convey the impact and presence it has. It is gorgeous

The fabric on this dress is gorgeous and you would never see its equivalent in modern fashion unless you are looking at a couture piece. The base fabric is a red silk brocade that has a heavy shot of gold metallic thread running through it that gives the dress its golden glow from shoulder to hem. The bodice skims over the bust and the neck is cut into a curving V at the front. The back also curves into a V and it dips lower for a bare expanse of skin to show. The waist is seamed and set a touch higher under the bust. From there the skirt falls to the floor and widens out as it nears the hem to perfectly balance the shape of the bodice. The simplicity of the shape is what allows the extraordinary detailing that sits on top of the brocade to shine. Onto the red and gold thread silk brocade are thousands upon thousands of tiny silver sequins, gold beads, glass tube beads, paillettes, and pink and red glass prong set crystals that have all been applied by hand. These cover every square inch of the dress and give the dress an incredible 3D feel and shine. The hand work was all done in the British crown colony of Hong Kong, which, during this period of time, was doing some of the best hand work on the planet. The dress has weight to it but it is balanced so perfectly that it is not too heavy once on the body. It just feels like you are wearing something of substance and beauty. The entire dress has a beautiful and subtle shimmer from every angle. I love it. It is just a beautiful dress that showcases just how good hand work and detailing can be. Excellent condition.

Fully interfaced in a red cotton muslin to hold the weight of the bead work and then lined in a silky rayon through the bodice and a red silk through the skirt. It zips to close at the back. It appears to have been worn very little if at all. I see the tiniest bit of grubbiness along the inner edge of one arm. Ribbon edged inner hem and hand finishes.

Bust: 18" flat across from side seam to side seam
Seam under the bust: 15" flat across from side seam to side seam
Hips: to 20" flat across from side seam to side seam
Bodice: 11" from top of shoulder to the seam under the bust
Total length: 54" from top of shoulder to hem with about 3.25" turned under

Modern Sizing Equivalent: SML-MED

Item# DD4867

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.

Vicky Tiel was backed by Elizabeth Taylor as a young designer after working on the costumes for 'Whats New Pussycat'. After a stint with a partner she launched her self named label in Paris in 1970. She as one of the very early boutique owner/designer that offered a ready-to-wear option in Paris. That said, her clothes often walk a fine line between ready-to-wear and couture in terms of their construction and techniques used. By the mid to late seventies her style had developed into the ultra sexy and feminine clothing that she is now known best for. By the eighties and into the nineties, she had a cult celebrity following. This is a stunning example from 1984 of just how gorgeous and dramatic her work could get. 

The dress has the added modern provenance of being worn by both Julianne Hough and by Liz Gillies. We have included some of the photos from those two events and they show you just how fantastic this dress is once on the body.

The dress is made of a metallic gold lame fabric that gives it an extra shot of glamour. The fabric is quite light in weight so despite the elaborate construction of the dress is not heavy to wear. It is just heavy enough to hold the intended shape fabulously. The bodice is cut in a strapless rounded sweetheart finish that is very flattering. It is elaborately gathered and fitted around the bust with hand placed and gathered folds. Hidden inside is a built in under the lining internal structure with light boning so that the dress stays perfectly in place when it is on. The boning extends at each side, down and around the hips, which helps to hold the hourglass shape around the body. It is genius. The waist is nipped in but without any seam to break the gorgeous gathers that go across the dress. It curves out and over the hips and then under that the skirt falls in a straight long pencil silhouette with a vent up the back to allow you to walk and move. The gold glimmers in the light and it is one of the best Vicky Tiel dresses that I have ever had in the shop. It is so sensual and sexy and is even better once it is on an actual body. Excellent condition

Fully lined in a black silky rayon and closes with a painted metal and nylon zipper at the back. Boning through the bodice and sides as described above. Tagged a vintage Tiel 38. 

Bust: 15-16" flat across from side seam to side seam w up to a B-small C at the front
Waist: 12" flat across from side seam to side seam
Hips: to 18" flat across from side seam to side seam
Total length: 51" from top of bodice to hem with about 1.5" turned under

Modern Sizing Equivalent: XS-SML

Item# DD4868

Reference Photo: (1) Vicky Tiel in Town & Country magazine, December 1984.  /  (2) Julianne Hough in this dress at the NYC Ballet Spring Gala, 2023.  /  (3) Liz Gillies in this dress, November 2023.

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 one of two remarkable dresses that I have today that are absolutely insane to see in real life. Each is so very good and they are not even photoing half as good as either is in person. The weight and sheer amount of hand work to apply those thousands of sequins, crystals and beads needs to be seen in person to truly appreciate. This is one of those pieces that really showcases the higher end work that the label was capable of. The dress is the work of Elinor Simmons who designed for the Malcolm Starr label from the early 1960s to 1972. She excelled at these early heavily embellished pieces that the label became known for and this is an outstanding example of her work. It is even more amazing in person and the photos cannot convey the impact and presence it has.

I think that this might be the best Malcolm Starr dress that I have ever seen in real life. If the other one is great, this one is even a bit beyond that. The base is a gold thread lame fabric that is one solid gold colour. Onto this are thousands of cut out paillettes in a brilliant pink, pale sea foam and bright royal blue. These are mixed with pale pink and soft mint & silver sequins. There are gold beads and sequins, and then a heavy dose of green, blue and deep pink glass prong set crystal rhinestones. I don't think I have ever seen anything quite so elaborate and brilliant. The mix of all of these is astonishing to see. The intricate pattern covers every square inch of the dress and give the dress an incredible 3D feel and shine. The hand work was all done in the British crown colony of Hong Kong, which, during this period of time period was doing some of the best hand work on the planet. The fabric on this dress is gorgeous and you would never see its equivalent in modern fashion unless you are looking at a couture piece. The dress has weight to it but it is balanced so perfectly that it is not too heavy once on the body. It just feels like you are wearing something of substance and beauty. The bodice skims over the torso and the neck is cut into a low V at the front that ends just above the heavily embellished waist 2" band. The band is heavily embellished with more of the bead work, but here it is set horizontally, so that it wraps around the waist. The skirt falls to the floor and widens out quite a bit as it nears the hem to perfectly balance that shape of the bodice. I love how the entire dress glimmers in the light. It is a work of art and I have never seen another one like it. Excellent condition.

Fully interlined in a pale ivory cotton muslin to help support the weight of the dress and then it is lined in a pale ivory silk. It zips to close at the back. It appears to have been worn very little if at all. Hand finishes throughout. Tagged a vintage Malcolm Starr 10. Note that there is no colour change in the dress. If the gold looks like it changes in hue any of the photos it is because of the lighting.

Bust: 16.5" flat across from side seam to side seam
Waist: 13" flat across from side seam to side seam
Hips: to 23" flat across from side seam to side seam
Bodice: 12" from top of the shoulder to the top of the 2" band at the waist 
Total length: 56" from top of the shoulder to hem with 2" turned under

Modern Sizing Equivalent: XS-SML

Item# DD4869

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.

When we looked for photos of this dress we did found these incredible shots of Margo Robbie from 2019 in a dress that was attributed as being the twin of this one. The dress has that classic high quality that we expect from a Chanel mixed with the perfect eye and grace that Karl had. The exact thing that we love to see when collecting pieces from his many years at Chanel.

Everything about this dress has that chic Chanel feel that makes many of Karl's designs forever classics. Even with its simple cut, once in hand and you see how well it is made, it feels very Chanel. It is beautiful in person and the simple lines of it make it the kind of dress that you can wear multiple times with the styling and accessories you add making it feel different each time. It is made of densely woven black knit. On the bodice there is a subtle diamond pattern woven into the knit that gives it the perfect amount of added texture. The denseness of the knit through the body give the dress a slight 'bandage' effect so that it gives you shape and support. The dress falls from one shoulder and then the neckline curves around and under to the other side. I love that this leaves one shoulder exposed and bare. It hugs the body over the bust, around the waist and it is shaped to curve over the hips. The knit extends down and past the hips and then the lower skirt is inset into it in a series of little jagged points that is reminiscent to the way that you see dresses from the 20s and 30s. The skirt under that is also a knit but the pattern changes. The knit there has cut outs and a pattern that combines a very dense weave with a looser feeling weave. The design is set horizontally and this allowed him to make the skirt extremely full and open. There is a ton of fabric in the lower skirt. It still falls in a smooth line when you are standing but when you move, you really get the sense of all that gorgeous fabric around you. It is that perfect easy minimalist dress, but very flattering and with the added impact of being a Chanel. The dress is new with its original tag still attached and its original Chanel packet that has extra yarn/thread inside. Excellent condition

The dress has no closures and slips on to wear. Tagged a Chanel 40. The easy cut and slight stretch of the dress should allow it to fit on a variety of sizes. The measurements given below are the comfortable range when the dress is laying flat. 

Bust: 14.5-18" flat across from side seam to side seam
Waist: to 13.5-18" flat across from side seam to side seam
Hips: 17.5-22" flat across from side seam to side seam
Total length: 61" from top of shoulder to hem

Modern Sizing Equivalent: SML-MED

Item# DD4863

Reference Photos: Margot Robbie in Chanel by Art Streiber for Glamour Russia, August 2019.

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.

The twin of this dress was featured prominently in the 2016 exhibit at the Museum of FIT. This dress is often referred to as the fairy castle, or skeleton castle dress, because of the print that runs over the front of the dress. It is an interesting dress in that it is instantly recognizable as a McQueen piece, and yet it was not one that was featured on the runway. Despite being a museum exhibition piece, and one that is very well known, it was a piece produced for limited production in stores. He also produced an all black version of this dress, that you will see more often, but this printed version is far more rare. We have had that all black version as well and it was worn by Alix Earl to the Grammys before it was purchased. Besides the exhibition photo of the twin of this dress, we have included some photos of Alix in the all black version for you so that you can see how amazing this will be on the body. It is truly one of the more iconic McQueen pieces.

No matter how good you think that this dress looks like in photos or in its all black version on Alix, it is even better in person and moving. The dress is made out of a black bias cut silk that has a stunning grey scale scene printed over its entire front. I love that you literally feel like you are wearing a piece of art when you wear this dress. The dress is cut completely on the bias so it just glides over the body. It skims over the bust with a draped front that falls in a soft fold. The back is incredible and it is scooped down into a low draping that leaves a good portion of your back bare. From there  it skims past the waist and hips to the floor. The silk follows your curves and highlights the body underneath without it being too tight and fitted. Once past the hips the dress flares out as it nears the bottom so that it has beautiful movement when you move. The back is cut slightly longer than the front so you get a beautiful sweeping feel behind you. The dress is in its original uncut supermodel length. The design on the front features a castle that has winged skeleton fairies and leaf bare trees sweeping up and over it. The design is all printed into the silk to add the perfect amount of detail to the otherwise perfectly simple dress. It is just amazing. Excellent condition with a very minor note below

Fully lined in a black silk and closes with a hidden set side zipper. The measurements given below are the comfortable range when the dress is laying flat. Being bias cut the length may come up a bit once on the body and it should fit a range of sizes. There is a tiny area of thinning near the back hem on the outer fabric and I do see some scuffing and a couple tiny holes on the inner lining. Please see the photo after the label shot. Tagged a vintage McQueen 42

Bust: 17-21" flat across from side seam to side seam
Waist: 13-17" flat across from side seam to side seam
Hips: 17-22" flat across from side seam to side seam
Total length: 64" from top of shoulder to front hem, 67" to the back

Modern Sizing Equivalent: SML-LRG

Item# DD4862

Reference Photos/Video: (1) 2007 Alexander McQueen Gown on display at the Fairy Tale Fashion Exhibit at The Museum at FIT January, 2016.  /  (2-4) Alix Earle in Alexander McQueen from Shrimpton Couture, at the Grammys, 2024.

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 gorgeous dress is from Mr. Valentino's final show before he retired. Its twin in a pale green walked the runway for Look 75 and we were very happy to find both runway shots and video for you to  see just how great the dress is on. Vogue said this last collection was; 'Crisply puncturing the potential for a predictable end-of-era wallow in sentiment, Valentino played it as an upbeat, fast-paced whirl of breezy, pretty, drop-dead gorgeousness that blew any lingering sense of ladylike stuffiness to the winds. If there's a problem, it's only being spoiled for choice. What to pick from the head-spinning plethora of dresses on offer?' This was one of my favourites of the show and I think it is even better in the more versatile black.

I love the contrast between the two types of silk used for the dress. It adds that little extra flash of interest when you see it. The dress falls from one shoulder and then drapes down and over the body to the floor. The shape is created by vertical seaming that run from shoulder to hem. The softer silk parts are bias cut and allow the dress to skim and drape over you so that is shows every curve but is not overly fitted. The seaming is intricate and beautifully done. A single shoulder panel curves over your shoulder and runs across the bust to the other side. There is a large bow set at the front of that shoulder and then a second bow sits just below the hip on that same side. The bodice curves down into the side panel on the bow side, draping down and along the curved panel that cuts across the body and extends down into the skirt. The waist is shaped by the vertical seaming. The skirt flares out and is quite wide by the time it reaches the hem. It sweeps around you as you walk and even more movement is created by the slit that runs from the hem to that pretty little bow. The dress is even better in person. It is an gorgeous example of his work and looks to have been worn very little if at all. Excellent condition

The bodice is lined and then the rest of the dress is unlined. It closes at the side with hidden set zipper. In its original uncut length and looks too have been worn very little if at all. Tagged a vintage Valentino 8

Bust: 16-17" flat across from side seam to side seam
Waist: 13-15" flat across from side seam to side seam
Hips: 18-19" flat across from side seam to side seam
Length: 62" from top of shoulder to front hem
Slit: 25" from hem up

Modern Sizing Equivalent: SML-MED

Item# DD4493

Reference Photos/Video: Spring 2008 Valentino, Look 75. Model Laura Blokhina.

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.

The Fall 2005 ready to wear show was called 'Propaganda' and for the pieces sold from her personal collection in the recent Christie's auction they referred to some of the information from the Vivienne Westwood Catwalk book which I will share here; With "Propaganda‘ Vivienne Westwood, more than perhaps any other fashion designer, understands the power of a garment to communicate a meaning and a message…The message was writ large: PROPAGANDA, in block lettering worked into multitudes of garments. The inspiration was an essay by Aldous Huxley, ‘Propaganda in a Democratic Society’, asserting – Westwood stated – that the world suffers from three evils: ‘Nationalist Idolatry’ in place of religion; ‘Non-Stop Distraction’; and ‘Organised Lying’. Headbands also bore the word ‘Branded’, reference to Canadian author and social activist Naomi Klein’s book, No Logo. Again, Westwood was challenging orthodoxy through her designs.’ --Alexander Fury, Vivienne Westwood Catwalk"

The collection also featured a segment of pieces that were a mix of stripes, silks and tulles in a variety of colours. The near twin of this set walked the runway and I love that we have video so you can see how fantastic this is on the body. The dress on the runway seems to have had a half skirt made of the white tulle that tied into place over the skirt. I think if you wanted the full on look, you could easily have that re-created. It is gorgeous worn without as well and perhaps a touch more wearable this way too. This might even make for a beautiful set for a bride who doesn't want to go the traditional route.

I love the soft dusty ballet pink silk striping combined with the ivory and soft green cotton striped fabric. The corset has one of her trademark flattened front bodices that is boned and shaped so that it angles towards the centre waist inside. It closes at the back with a zipper and then the silk buttons over itself so that the zipper closure is completely hidden. The top angles down on one side and she has inset a panel of white tulle from shoulder to the long point of the hem. Combining both the pale green striped pattern with the pink silk stripes over the bodice creates this wonderful contrast. The skirt is equally as remarkable. Again we see her play with the pink striping and the green, mixing them together in that perfectly Westwood way to create interest and shape over the body. I love that the zipper is set on an angle at the back of the skirt to follow the pattern instead of creating a vertical line across all of those angles. The skirt is meant to fit more snug around the hips and then flares out tremendously into a pointed hem around you. Under that layer you see a multi-length finish of tulle. Five layers of tulle are wrapped around you and sit over top of a heavy cotton muslin inner skirt for support. It is all constructed to have this incredible fullness and movement. I also took a close-up of the pink striped fabric so you can see the beauty of the secondary floral pattern that runs through the pink striping. No matter how good it looks in the photos the mix of colour and extraordinary patterning that the pieces have is just phenomenal to see in person. Both pieces appear to have been worn very little if at all. Excellent condition

The corset is lined in a combination of the green striped fabric and stretch lingerie netting. It closes with a zipper at the back and then buttons over the zipper as described above.  The front of the corset is fully boned, and the sides have stretch lingerie net. The skirt is lined in a pale pink silk above the cotton muslin lower portion of the skirt. It closes with an angle set zipper that follows a seam and a button at the waist over that. Both pieces are tagged a UK10 US6

Corset
Bust: 16.5" flat across from side seam to side seam
Waist: 12-13" flat across from side seam to side seam
Length: approx 15.5" from top of bodice to shorter side and 30" to the longer

Skirt
Waist: 12-14" flat across from side seam to side seam
Hips: 18-20" flat across from side seam to side seam
Total length: 45" from waist to longest points of the tulle of the hem

Modern Sizing Equivalent: XS-SML

Item# DD4861

Reference Photos/Video: Fall 2005 Vivienne Westwood.

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 Oscar de la Renta dress is gorgeous and it is a definite statement piece. We believe this to be from the early 2000s and probably part of a bridal collection. It might even be a custom piece. His wedding pieces range from about $10000-$20,000 USD with the more elaborate ones like this tending to be in the upper range of that. Oscar launched his first bridal collection in October of 2002 and his wedding pieces have been worn by some of the most famous women in the world. He once said 'In the same manner that she fell in love with that man, I hope she's going to fall in love with that dress.' Countless brides have done just that. This gown is absolutely beautiful and if you are a bride looking for that very full princess feel and with the added pop of pink, this is the dress. 

The skirt of the dress is magnificent. Underneath the top layer are two layers of a pale smoky greyish white tulle and then that tops nine layers of pink tulle. Then under that are three more layers of a stiffen white tulle. Incredible! The dress is strapless to balance out the incredible volume that all of those layers create. The neckline is embroidered and finished with muted silver gold thread and tiny little pink beads, mixed with clear iridescent beads. This is all attached to the dress with pink thread. Inside the bodice there is a full built-in hidden corset that is boned and has underwire cups hidden under the pink silk lining. It nips in at the waist for shape and then the skirt explodes out in volume under that. I did not add any additional crinolines to the dress for these photos. The very top layer of tulle is covered with a scattering of tiny silver sequins and little clear beads that are fixed in patterns over the bodice as well as the skirt. This allows the dress to sparkle in the light from every angle it is seen from. The top layer of the skirt is gathered into the waist and on the sides it is gathered more so you get a bit of interest and draping of that top layer of tulle. The hem has been finished with an elaborate pattern that picks up on what you see on the bodice. On one side of the skirt the hem and tulle have been gathered up and into a pink bow for the perfect little finishing detail. If you needed the dress to feel even fuller you could have the inner layers starched and you would get even more volume. I love the bareness of the shoulders the strapless silhouette gives you. It is the perfect balance to that full princess skirt. Gorgeous. Excellent condition with a minor note below

The bodice is lightly boned with wired inner cups under the lining for structure and support. The dress closes at the side with a hidden set zipper. Multiple layers of built in tulle and skirting as described above. I do see some tiny breaks in the net and you will see the occasional missing bead or sequin or loose thread. 

Bust: to 18" flat across from side seam to side seam
Waist: to 18" flat across from side seam to side seam
Hips: open
Bodice: 9" from top of bodice to waist
Total length: 50" from top of bodice to front hem, 52" to the back 

Modern Sizing Equivalent: MED-LRG

Item# DD4860

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.

Bellville et Cie was founded in 1953 by Belinda Bellville who later launched the Bellville Sassoon label in 1970 with David Sassoon. When the label was originally launched it was as a couture house and pieces were produced one at a time and by hand for Belinda's clients. It became the go to label for London society and in 1970 David was brought on to help Belinda meet the demand for dresses that she has created and move into ready to wear as well. The label found worldwide fame after Princess Diana became a client. The original label for the brand in those first early years when it was just Belinda creating each dress in her small couture atelier was Belleville et Cie as you see in this dress. It is a very rare label to find. 

The dress is spectacular. It is made out of a silk ivory net that has a little pink chiffon swirls that have been attached by hand and cover the surface of the entire dress. Holding each little pink bit of silk in place is a cluster of beads that are set to dangle off of the dress. This creates a beautiful 3D effect over the entire dress. The neckline angles down into a V and the edge of the neckline are finished with an band of that same pink silk chiffon. The top net layer of the bodice is set over the inner lining so that it sits out and slightly over the pink silk satin ribbon that runs around the waist. The ribbon is attached and adds definition and adds a little detail around the waist. The skirt falls to the floor and gently widens out as it nears the hem. The back of the skirt is cut slightly longer than the front and there is a touch more fabric there so you get a beautiful sweeping field as you move. The volume of the skirt is held by the several layers of tulle underneath that sits between the netting and the inner lining. At the back it dips down into a V for a little bit of skin to show there. It is an extraordinarily well made and wonderfully beautiful dress. Excellent condition with a minor note below.

The dress is fully lined in an ivory silk and there are built in underskirts through the skirt. It closes with a back painted metal zipper and the belt hooks into place at the back over that. The net of the bodice snaps into place over the inner zipper. There are some very faint marks along one side of the skirt and perhaps a very faint spot here and there on the skirt, but nothing outstanding. Please see the photo after the label shot. Made to Couture standards and completely made by hand. I have added some detail shots that include one of the hand done inner seams.

Bust: to 19" flat across from side seam to side seam
Waist: to 13.5" flat across from side seam to side seam
Hips: to 23" flat across from side seam to side seam
Bodice: 13" from top of shoulder to top of band at the waist
Total length: 60" from top of shoulder to front hem, 61" to the back 

Modern Sizing Equivalent: SML-MED

Item# DD4859

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 one of three spectacular and extremely rare Dior pieces by John Galliano from the 2008 Resort collection. This dress is the twin of the dress that walked the runway for Look 60 and it is a very rare piece to find. Vogue said that the collection was done "in an electric-bright palette.. and channelled Barbara Hutton's sixties—a glittery, lame, paisley, and leopard-print world of muumuus, bikinis, capri pants, trapeze dresses, cat-eye sunglasses, and scarf-wrapped hats. It bordered on camp... and Kitschy or not, there was no denying the workmanship that went into crafting the large collection." I love having the runway photos that give you an idea of how fantastic this is on the body. It is absolutely brilliant and a true jewel.

Just as a side note and to give you an idea of the cost of these beaded pieces by Dior, the coat that I have from this collection has its original price tag and in 2008 it was US$16,775 and it is the simplest of the three pieces design wise. Even though that is only 16 years ago, the inflation value of that in 2024 dollars is about $25,000. And that is not even taking into account the value that John Galliano adds to the equation!

The fabric of this dress is incredible. It is a brilliant blue silk brocade that has a floral pattern running through it that is made from a silver thread woven into the silk. The bodice has been heavily detailed with silver sequins, beads and rhinestones. It is incredible to see. The design runs over the entire dress and the dress seems to almost glow from within as a result. The silver thread has been done in such a way that it feels like it sits within the base a bit which gives the design this fabulous bit of extra texture. The blue has a very rich and vibrant feel to it and in person the entire dress has a more luminescent effect to it then how it photoed. I know the person who buys this will be very pleased once they see this one in real life. The bodice is strapless and it is cut to curve around the bust with an built in cupped, wired and boned inner corset. The inner dress begins just below the bust with a natural waist that curves in by the cut alone. There is no seam there to break the eye. It is shaped from there to curve out and over the hips. From there it falls to the hem, slightly narrowing in as it reaches the floor. A slit at the back allows enough room to walk. Over this is a huge over skirt that is set in to that seam under the bust with a little flared peplum that wraps all the way around you. The over skirt is incredibly full and billows out around you as you walk. It is cut and open down the centre at the front so that you have incredible movement like you see in the runway video. Above that the entire bodice is detailed with silver beads, sequins and prong set rhinestones. These are set on top of the floral pattern of silver underneath and are densely applied for a touch of a 3D feel. It is stunning. The construction of this dress is impeccable. It is also drop dead gorgeous and even better in person. Excellent condition

Fully lined in a blue silk. There is a full built in netted corset with lightly padded underwire cups and boning. The corset closes with its own set of lingerie hooks and then the dress closes over that with a hidden set zipper. There are little loops inside the bodice that you could add straps if you wish. Fabric could be stolen from one of the inner hems to make them. If having them is important to you, let me know when you purchase and I can have those made for you before shipping the dress. Tagged a vintage vintage Dior FR40, GB12, IT44, US8

Bust: 16-17" flat across from side seam to side seam with room for up to a B-maybe small C cup at the front
Seam under the bust: 15" flat across from side seam to side seam
Natural waist: 15.5" flat across from side seam to side seam
Hips: 19.5" flat across from side seam to side seam
Total length: 54" from top of the bodice to inner hem and 55" to the hem of the over skirt, with approx 2" turned under both hems

Modern Sizing Equivalent: SML-MED

Item# DD4858

Reference Photos/Video: Resort 2008 Christian Dior Runway, Look 60.

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 one of three spectacular and extremely rare Dior pieces is by John Galliano from the 2008 Resort collection. This piece is particularly interesting because it can be worn as a coat like it was presented on the runway or as more of a caftan dress if layered over something underneath. On the runway it was shown as a sort of half dress/coat over peg leg trousers. Its twin help to open the show and walked the runway for Look 2. Vogue said that the collection was done "in an electric-bright palette.. and channelled Barbara Hutton's sixties—a glittery, lame, paisley, and leopard-print world of muumuus, bikinis, capri pants, trapeze dresses, cat-eye sunglasses, and scarf-wrapped hats. It bordered on camp... and Kitschy or not, there was no denying the workmanship that went into crafting the large collection." This one is new with tags and was never worn.

Just as a side note and to give you an idea of the cost of these beaded pieces by Dior, this coat has its original price tag and in 2008 it was US$16,775 and it is the simplest of the three pieces design wise. Even though that is only 16 years ago, the inflation value of that in 2024 dollars is about $25,000. And that is not even taking into account the value that John Galliano adds to the equation!

The fabric of the coat is beautiful. It is a brilliant turquoise blue silk faille that has a paisley pattern running over it in green and paler shades of blue mixed with small pops of white. The entire upper bodice and sleeves have been heavily detailed with clear and coloured crystals that catch the light brilliantly and add to it sixties feel. The beads and rhinestones go all the way across the upper back and around to completely cover the shoulders. There are five rows that wrap around the  neckline and then there are long marquis shaped medallions made out of the same clear and coloured rhinestones that sit under that. When you look at the design closely, you can see the care that has been put into making sure the pattern is uninterrupted over where it passes over seams or around that inverted pleat at the back. Another five bands circle each cuff on the sleeves and more medallion sit above that. It is just spectacular. The coat / dress hooks at the top of the neck and then there is a hidden panel where it snaps closed to just about the top of the hips. From there it is open with no closures to the hem. The shoulders are dropped, and the cut is loose and easy all through the body. It is meant to feel slightly oversized. There is a seamed inset that runs around the top of your shoulders and then there are two little faux flat pockets on each side at the front. Each faux pocket sits above an inverted pleat that runs all the way to the hem and then there is another inverted pleat that runs down the middle of the back. It already widens out substantially as it falls to the floor and this extra pleating gives it even more volume. It is like he took a sixties hostess piece and exaggerated it to the extreme. The sleeves are very wide and full and each falls to just below the elbow. The caftan is lined in a brilliant turquoise silk and this flash of the solid blue colour is fantastic when you move. You can wear this so many ways. It works over something light and easy almost like a dress. You could wear it over pants like it was worn on the runway, or use it as a light evening coat. You could probably add a soft or structured belt to add shape if you wished and add even more to its versatility. I love that you can wear this in so many ways. This is very special and are rare piece of John's history and time at Dior and it is also very beautiful. Original Dior packet with extra beads included as well as the original price tag. Excellent condition.

Fully lined in a turquoise blue silk and hooks to close at the front as described above. You could add more hooks so that it closes more down the front if you wished. Its easy and open shape should allow it to fit a range of sizes. The occasional missing stone but there are extras in the packet and nothing that you would ever notice unless inspecting closely. Tagged a vintage Dior FR40, GB12, IT44, US8

Sleeves: approx 21 from top of natural shoulder and are 16" around the upper arm
Dropped shoulders: 18.5"
Bust: to 21" flat across from side seam to side seam
Waist-hips: open
Total length: 55" from top of shoulders to hem with approx 2" turned under the hem

Modern Sizing Equivalent: SML-LRG

Item# DD4857

Reference Photos/Video: Resort 2008 Dior Runway, Look 2. Model Tanya Dziahileva.

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 one of three spectacular and extremely rare Dior dresses by John Galliano from the 2008 Resort collection. This version is one produced for the shops in limited quantities and it is the only one of the three whose twin did not walk the runway. It is based on the runway Look 60 and it is made out of the same amazing fabric as the twin of that look that I also have today. This one is just more body conscious. Vogue said that the collection was done "in an electric-bright palette.. and channelled Barbara Hutton's sixties—a glittery, lame, paisley, and leopard-print world of muumuus, bikinis, capri pants, trapeze dresses, cat-eye sunglasses, and scarf-wrapped hats. It bordered on camp... and Kitschy or not, there was no denying the workmanship that went into crafting the large collection." I love having the runway photos that give you an idea of how fantastic this is on the body. It is beautiful

Just as a side note and to give you an idea of the cost of these beaded pieces by Dior, the coat that I have from this collection has its original price tag and in 2008 it was US$16,775 and it is the simplest of the three pieces design wise. Even though that is only 16 years ago, the inflation value of that in 2024 dollars is about $25,000. And that is not even taking into account the value that John Galliano adds to the equation!

The fabric of this dress is incredible. It is a brilliant blue silk brocade that has a floral pattern running through it that is made from a silver thread woven into the silk. The bodice has been heavily detailed with silver sequins, beads and rhinestones. It is incredible to see. The design runs over the entire dress and the dress seems to almost glow from within as a result. The silver thread has been done in such a way that it feels like it sits within the base a bit which gives the design this fabulous bit of extra texture. The blue has a very rich and vibrant feel to it and in person the entire dress has a more luminescent effect to it then how it photoed. I know the person who buys this will be very pleased once they see this one in real life. The bodice is strapless and it is cut to curve around the bust with an built in cupped, wired and boned inner corset. Just below the bust there is a wide band of the same fabric that has been hand gathered in and around you for added detail and shape. The natural waist below that curves in by the cut alone. There is no seam there to break the eye. It is shaped from there to curve out and over the hips. From there it falls to the hem, slightly narrowing in as it reaches the floor. A slit at the back allows enough room to walk. The entire bodice is detailed with silver beads, sequins and prong set rhinestones. These are set on top of the floral pattern of silver underneath and are densely applied for a touch of a 3D feel. At the back there is a large bow that sits over the zipper and its ties extend down to conceal the closure down your back. Even in the areas that are hidden by the way the panel sit or the bow sit, all of the fabric underneath is still properly finished with the bead work underneath. It is stunning. I also love that this one has detachable straps so you can wear the dress with or without them. The construction of this dress is impeccable. It is also drop dead gorgeous and even better in person. Excellent condition

Fully lined in a blue silk. There is a full built in net corset with lightly padded underwire cups and boning. The corset closes with its own set of lingerie hooks and then the dress closes over that with a hidden set zipper. The bow at the back snaps into place over the zipper. Hand finishes. Tagged a vintage vintage Dior FR36, GB8, IT40, US4

Bust: 16-17" flat across from side seam to side seam with room for up to a B-maybe small C cup at the front
Seam under the bust: 15" flat across from side seam to side seam
Natural waist: 15" flat across from side seam to side seam
Hips: 18" flat across from side seam to side seam
Total length: 55" from top of shoulders to hem with approx 2" turned under the hem

Modern Sizing Equivalent: SML-MED

Item# DD4856

Reference Photos/Video: Resort 2008 Christian Dior Runway, Look 60.

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 remarkable dress is the twin of the one that walked the runway for the Fall 1986 Rive Gauche collection by Yves Saint Laurent. I was so pleased to find a shot of it on because it really shows you just how much it comes to life when worn. He did several variations of this look for that season and this deep brown velvet with its leopard print within the velvet is one of my favourites. I am obsessed with his work and this one is so well known, especially since other designers have copied it (most notably Gucci when they did a green version of this dress). It is a pleasure to have it in the shop.You can see that they belted it on the runway and you could certainly add a belt to add more shape to this one as well.

This gorgeous dress is made out of a brown silk velvet with a leopard print done in a different finish of velvet within the fabric. This pattern gives the velvet an extra depth and richness, and also catches the light as you move. It is stunning. It drapes absolutely beautifully over the body. It is really an outstanding fabric. The bodice is set into a deep V that crosses over itself where it is set into the waist. Without a belt it has a more deeply plunged feel but you could cross it over a bit more and have a sash or belt hold it more closed if you wished. In a classic Yves shape, it drapes loosely over you at the front with a touch of extra fullness. The waist is seamed and cut slightly on the more generous side. The top of each shoulder is gathered and the sleeves start out very wide and then narrow down to a zippered cuff. The skirt falls to the floor in a pretty sweep of fabric. Extra fabric has been gathered down the centre of the front for a little added detail. It makes it so glamorous and it gives the dress a bit of a wonderful 1940s feel too. It is a gorgeous dress and a wonderful piece of his fashion history. Excellent condition

Unlined and closes with a side set zipper. Each shoulder has very light padding and each cuff has a hidden set zipper. It appears to have been worn very little if at all. Tagged a vintage YSL 42. 

Sleeves: 23.5"
Slightly inset shoulders: 14.5"
Bust: 16-20" flat across from side seam to side seam
Waist: to 15" flat across from side seam to side seam
Hips: to 24" across lowest seam at very top of hips, open under that
Bodice: 17" from top of shoulder to slightly dropped waist
Total length: 59" from top of shoulder to hem

Modern Sizing Equivalent: SML-MED

Item# DD4855

Reference Photo: Fall 1986 Yves Saint Laurent 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.

I had a dress similar to this in the past and I think I love it even more this time around. It is a beautiful example of the genius of Mr. de la Renta's work and his attention to detail. It has a beautiful elegance to it and is quite striking. This sense of refinement is a constant in Oscar's work and I particularly love these earlier examples of that aesthetic. You can see how many of the elements you see in pieces like this were carried forward through his entire body of work.

The dress is made from a sheer brown silk chiffon with a built in under-dress done in a lightweight brown silk chiffon. This makes it wearable, but still gives you the depth of the top layer that has a slight transparency to it. The fabric is beautiful. Depending on which direction the pile of the velvet is in, the colour morphs from a deep charcoal grey to a more taupe grey colour. Stitched in and around the velvet is a deep reddish copper metallic thread that gives the entire dress a subtle glint. The sleeves are incredible. They are unlined and they are incredibly full so that they pouf out above the cuffs. The bodice is cut to skim over you and then is brought in so that it blouses up and over the seam at the waist. The waist has elastic running through it so it is incredibly easy to wear. The skirt falls to the floor from there. The shape is fairly long and slim with just a touch of widening out at the hem for a lean silhouette. At the back there is an open keyhole under the closure there. I love this little unexpected and subtle flash of skin. It is a beautiful example of his work during this time period. Excellent condition.

Fully lined with an inner built in dress made of a nude and black silk chiffon stacked on top of each other. The sleeves are unlined. The inner dress closes at the back with a hand set snaps. The outer fabric snaps and hooks over that. Elastic through the waist and each cuff has elastic. Hand finished throughout. In its original uncut length. It looks to have been worn very little if at all

Sleeves: 26" and they are 26" around the upper arm
Shoulders: 15"
Inner bust: to 18" flat across from side seam to side seam
Elastic waist: 13-19" flat across from side seam to side seam
Hips: 18-22" flat across from side seam to side seam
Bodice: approx 16" from top of shoulder to waist. The elastic at the waist will let you wear it up or down a bit as needed.
Total length: 64" from top of shoulder to hem

Modern Sizing Equivalent: SML-LRG

Item# DD4764

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.

Loris Azzaro launched his label in 1967 and quickly defined his trademark looks by his avant garde way of defining the body. His work was shockingly sexy for the times. Some of the most beautiful women in the world wore his clothing including Marisa Berenson, Raquel Welch, Jane Birkin, Sophia Loren, Brigitte Bardot and Tina Turner. The label had a certain French flare that women world-wide loved. By the seventies and eighties he was experimenting with volume and proportions and new fabrics that at the time were all cutting edge. This is a stunning example of his work during the mid-seventies. When researching we found several examples of dresses from 1973 that combined the same jagged flame cuts with sequins. I have included some of those so you can get an idea of how great this looks on the body. 

This is a gorgeous dress and it is a dress that will really come to life once on an actual body. The body of the dress is covered with densely applied black sequins. They make the dress shimmer beautifully as they catch the light. The sequins start at the shoulder run down the sleeves, over the bodice, waist and hips and then stop about mid-thigh depending on your height. The skirt is set into the sequins in pointed angled that reflects the points of the hem. The skirt part is made from 12 individual panels that are set side by side all the way around. Each panel is a single layer of black silk chiffon that is incredibly light in weight. When you move they move around you. Each panel has only been attached at the top so you also get glimpses of your legs between each panel as you move. It is incredibly sexy. The same silk chiffon is set into the upper bodice and then the back has a huge cut out that is filled with the silk chiffon that dips into a low scoop. It buttons down the back can you see a hint of skin between each button. I love the pointed finished all around the scoop at the back. It is fantastic once on. Excellent condition

Fully lined through the body in a black silk. It closes with buttons down the back and each sleeve has a zipper at the wrist. One of his signature strapless bras is attached inside the bodice which could be easily removed if you wish.

Sleeves: 23" and are 12" around the upper arm
Shoulders: no defined seam
Bust: 16-18" flat across from side seam to side seam
Waist: 15" flat across from side seam to side seam
Hips: to 19.5" flat across from side seam to side seam
Length: 59" from top of shoulder to the longest point of hem

Modern Sizing Equivalent: SML-MED

Item# DD4347

Reference Photos: (1-3) Marisa Berenson in a Loris Azzaro. October 1973. Photo: Michael Holtz.   /   (4) The cover of the book "Azzaro" for Assouline - Marisa Berenson and Loris Azzaro photographed in 1973, for issue 604 of L'Officiel de la Couture et de la Mode de Paris, by Roland Bianchini.  /  (5) Image from the book "Azzaro: Fifty Sparkling Years"  /  (6) Magazine spread featuring a model in Azzaro, 1973.

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.

Louis Feraud opened his first boutique in 1950 in Cannes selling sundresses to the jet set. When Brigitte Bardot was photographed in a white pique and lace number, he became the darling of the fashion world. By 1956 he had moved to Paris and opened a couture atelier and in 1960s made his first official couture presentation. Ready-to-Wear followed in 1970. He won the Golden Thimble in in 1978 and again in 1984. Women like Elizabeth Taylor and Brigitte Bardot were huge fans of the label. This is a wonderful sequin and silk chiffon dress that showcases his depth as a designer. It is just exceptional.

The dress has the bit of a high glamour vibe to it that is fabulous. The sequins make it feel so special and I love the use of the silk chiffon for the upper shoulders and sleeves. The chiffon is set wide across the neckline so you get just a hint of the tops of your inner shoulders showing. It runs down to the bodice on the front and back where the sequins start and it also extends out into those phenomenal sleeves. The body of the dress is made out of a dense application of black sequins, set on top of a chiffon, which gives it a touch of structure but still keeps the dress feather light. It is cut fairly straight over the body so that it just floats beautifully over you once on. A slit on one side that runs up from the hem allows for a bit of leg to show. Outside of the glamour of the sequins it is the sleeves that are the star of this dress. Each sleeve has three tiers of pleated silk chiffon added to it. These start just under the base of the arm and are stacked over each other to the wrist. It gives it a stacked pagoda sleeve feel that is just insanely good. The contrast between all of that detail on the sleeve, the sequins and ease through the body of the dress is the perfect mix. Excellent condition

The body is lined in a satin finish rayon and the upper bodice and sleeves are unlined. It closes with a back zipper that starts at the sequins and there is a button to close behind the neck. Tagged a Feraud 40

Sleeves: 24" and are 14" around the upper arm
Shoulders: 15"
Bust: 18" flat across from side seam to side seam
Waist: 15.5" flat across from side seam to side seam
Hips: to 19.5" flat across from side seam to side seam
Total length: 57" from neck to hem

Modern Sizing Equivalent: SML-MED

Item# DD4854

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.

The twin of this dress was the closing look of the Fall 2019 collection and it is a fantastic piece from Clare Waight Keller's time as Creative Director for the house. Clare described the collection as “The Winter of Eden” and in the Vogue review of the collection the evening pieces in particular were of note; "thanks maybe to her Couture work and her string of red carpet wins, Waight Keller has a lot to say about after-dark sparkle which she handled with a good deal of meticulousness. She also played around with volume, tapping a double breasted corset jacket with a deep flounce of crinkle taffeta and a black gown with an exuberantly poufed sleeved midnight blue bolero in the same demonstrative fabric". This is the dress mentioned in that review and once it went to the shops it was sold separately from the bolero that you see on the runway. I personally prefer it on its own, as did my client, who bought it without. The dress is new with its original hang tag and has its extra thread and sequin packet. It also has its original price tag of $11,520USD. I think Givenchy has since gone beyond that in price point but still a staggering number.

The dress is amazing. It is made out of a fine wool that has a touch of a texture to it. Long triangle shaped silk chiffon panels are set into the skirt to give it the shape that you see and then the entire dress has been finished with a design made from silver beads, silver metal thread and tiny silver sequins. The bodice is kept almost sculptural in cut. The neck is scooped and there are no sleeves. It skims over the bust and it is shaped to come in slightly at the waist. From there it begins to flare out into the volume of the skirt to the floor. The skirt is in its original uncut length and the dress was never worn so it is pristine. As you look at it closer you realize that the dress is made from panels that are all pieced together side-by-side vertically and this starts right from the shoulders. Each is cut on a curve to create the shape around the body. A fantastic example of meticulous tailoring. There are ten of them in total that wrap vertically around the body and extend all the way to the hem. Each panel was then covered in a pattern that suggest flowers on long trailing branches. The applique work ends at different points along the panels with some reaching almost to the hem. I love the unexpectedness of not having them all perfectly end at the same point. The silk organza inserts are a full 30" across at their base and then they narrow to tiny points as they run up the dress in between the wool panels. They end at around the top of the hip. I shot the dress laying out more flat as well so you could get an idea of how much fabric and volume is actually through the skirt. When you are standing still you do get that sense of volume but it is when you move that you truly get the sense of the yards and yards of silk that are hidden in the skirt. Truly phenomenal and an extraordinary piece of the label's history. Excellent condition 

The skirt is lined in a black silk and it closes with a hidden set back zipper. Tagged a modern 36 but generous in cut. New with its original tags and has its extra bead, sequin and thread packet and original price tag. 

Bust: to 17.5" from side seam to side seam
Waist: to 16" flat across from side seam to side seam
Hips:to 23" flat across from side seam to side seam
Total length: 65" from top of the shoulder to hem

Modern Sizing Equivalent: SML-MED

Item# DD4853

Reference Photo/Video: Fall 2019 Givenchy, Look 64. Model Juliane Gruner.

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 is from the Fall 2012 Valentino collection and at this time both Maria Grazia Chiuri and Pierpaolo Piccioli were acting Creative Directors. It was a dress that was highly sought after and we found examples of the great Franca Sozzani wearing one along with Mo Abudu in another. Vogue raved abut this collection saying in part: "Maria Grazia Chiuri and Pierpaolo Piccioli's design signature by now is familiar. Their simple, covered-up, almost prim silhouettes act like a canvas for the embroidery and beadwork of the Roman house's atelier.... Resort found them scaling back not an inch on the detailing, yet the effect was more folksy than flamboyant. ...The workmanship is close to couture." And indeed this dress feels so very special with its embroidered head to toe detailing. 

The dress is almost startling in its beauty. The entire exterior is an open weave embroidered fabric that would have all been pre-planned for so that the end result has the pattern set to lay as perfectly over the dress as it does. This sits over a black net and then there is a built in black silk inner lining so that it is wearable. You can see in the collection photo, and of the one of Franca especially, that in both those cases the dress was worn without the lining. You could certainly remove the lining and wear it this way if you wished and just wear the proper undergarments to be able to do so. Even with the lining in place the dress has the illusion that you are bare under the embroidery. The embroidery is stunning. It is like wearing a garden with flowers, birds and butterflies scattered over you from head to toe. Every line of the dress is perfection. The neckline is scooped and the shoulders are soft with no padding. The sleeves are long and narrow down slightly to the wrist. Each sleeve is unlined so that you see a hint of skin through the netting. Once on the body the dress skims over you to the waist. The waist is defined by what looks like a band of roots or branches. You see that same detailing at the hem and at the end of each cuff. From the waist it falls to the floor widening out gently. On the skirt the pattern is allowed to be uninterrupted and fully show all the way around you and it is a thing of beauty to see. All of the embroidery is laid out on that open weave backdrop and it gives the entire dress this fantastically textured beauty that is hard to truly describe until you see it in person. It is spectacular and a wonderful example of the level of work being done at Valentino during this time period. Excellent condition 

Fully lined in a combination of black netting and a black silk as described above. It closes with a back hidden zipper. It appears to have been worn very little if at all. Tagged a modern Valentino 42. 

Sleeves: 24"
Shoulders: 15" and the upper arm is 12" around
Bust: to 17.5" flat across from side seam to side seam
Waist: to 14" flat across from side seam to side seam
Hips: 19.5" flat across from side seam to side seam
Bodice: 15" from neck to the top of the band at the waist
Total length: 58" from neck to hem

Modern Sizing Equivalent: SML-MED

Item# DD4847

Reference Photos: (1) Resort 2016 Valentino, Look 7.  /  (2) Franca Sozzani in Valentino during Couture Fashion Week, July 2015.  /  (3) Mo Abudu in Valentino at the Toronto International Film Festival, Sep 2016.

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 has no label in it but we did find its runway reference photo dating to the Spring 1981 collection by Dior from the Marc Bohan era. It is a stunning dress. 

I absolutely love the cut of this dress. This is one of those dresses that is so well-made you could wear it either way around. I think that the keyhole is meant to be worn at the back but when I put it on the dress form I preferred it open at the front so that you get a bit of skin showing. I shot it three ways; first with the keyhole at the front and open so that the ruffled shoulders fall a little bit wider, then with the keyhole at the front and hooked closed and finally with the key hole at the back and hooked closed. I love that this gives you different ways to wear it. When you have it in hand, you can decide which way works best on you or change it up each time. The dress also dramatically changes depending on whether or not you wear it with the sash around the waist and again I have shot it with and without the sash. I love a versatile piece. The dress is made out of a feather light black silk organza layered over more layers of silk through the skirt. A breathtaking floral print has been screened onto the silk and sweeps down the entire dress. The flowers are done in bright primary colours of coral, pink, yellow, purple and green and add the perfect amount of colour to the dress. It is breathtaking. The choice of this silk gives it just enough structure to hold the shape but still keeps the dress extremely light in weight. The bodice is cut to skim over the torso and the neckline is extraordinary. All the way around the neck there is a ruffle that has five layers of the organza stacked on top of each other with the top and bottom layer having the floral print. These create the most fantastic framing around your shoulders and neck. The bodice is cut to skim over you and the  seam at the waist is set a little bit below the natural waist. I have added a sash that you can use to cinch the waist in even more. The skirt is very full. It flows to the floor in a cascade of silk. It has two more layers of organza underneath the top layer. For these photos I have not added any additional underskirts but you could easily add a crinoline if you wanted even more fullness. The dress has a fantastic romantic feel. Excellent overall condition with a small note below.

The bodice is lined in a silk chiffon and the skirt has two more layers of black organza. It closes with a side set painted metal zipper and a hook above the keyhole. There is some wear and slight fading around the waist that is covered by the sash once on. Please see the photos after the label shot. The organza sash belt is not original to the dress but will be included. Hand finishes.

Bust: 17.5" flat across from side seam to side seam
Waist at slightly dropped seam: 13.5" flat across from side seam to side seam
Hips: open
Bodice: approx 17" from shoulder to waist at slightly dropped seam
Total length: 57" from shoulder to hem

Modern Sizing Equivalent: SML-MED

Item# DD4848

Reference Photo: Spring 1981 Christian Dior.

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.

The twin of this dress was shown for Look 40 for the Resort 2017 presentation. The entire collection was an explosion of flowers and handwork went into many of the garments. Astounding considering that it is RTW. Vogue explained that "Clothes like these are a very far cry from humdrum commercial fare to fill the gaps in stores between seasons. With Burton’s softening touch, they transcend the source material to become very special, non-disposable items a woman might want to keep forever." It is a terrifically beautiful dress and it is even more interesting for the fact that she made two versions of the dress for the collection, one on black net and the other on ivory. We found reference photos of Lily Collins, Emily Blunt and Bee Schaffer all wearing one that year and all looking phenomenal in it. 

This is an exquisite dress this is covered with an intricate design made out of tiny beads and sequins in a beautiful array of colours. The base is made of black silk netting and then the dress is lined in a black silk chiffon through the body. This gives it enough weight to hold the shape of the dress and to support the weight of the added embellishments but it still feels magically light once on. You rarely see this level of handwork on a modern piece unless you step into the world of couture and it is a joy to see this dress in person. The design that covers the dress has been meticulously done by using a combination of sequins and beads. Many of the sequins are set slightly on their sides and this gives the design a slightly raised 3D effect off of the netting. The designs forms flowers and birds within that gorgeous pattern and it is the kind of piece that the more you look at it the more you see. I took several detail shots so you can get an idea of the workmanship. Cut wise it is an easy dress to wear. The sleeves are long and they are left unlined so that the pattern really shows against your skin underneath the netting. The shoulders are slightly capped and the neck is scooped. It skims over the bust, past the waist and over the hips. There is no seam at the waist. Instead it is cut to slightly come in and the pattern also draws your eye inwards. The skirt falls to the floor from there and it is in its original uncut supermodel length. I love how the width of the skirt flares out and it is quite alive by the time it reaches the floor. The pattern also changes to pick up the grid work on the bust and tie the whole dress together. The extra fabric around the hem also gives you this beautiful movement when you move. Truly an extraordinary piece from the Sarah Burton era. Excellent condition.

Lined in a black silk chiffon as described above. It closes with a hidden set back zipper and each cuff closes with a hidden set zipper. The ease of the cut and slight bias of the netting should allow it to fit a range of sizes. Tagged a modern McQueen 42.

Sleeves: 24.5" and are 12" around the upper arm
Shoulders: 15" 
Bust: 17-18" flat across from side seam to side seam
Waist: 13.5-15" flat across from side seam to side seam
Hips: 17-19.5" flat across from side seam to side seam
Total length: 67" from neck to hem

Modern Sizing Equivalent: XS-MED

Item# DD4849

Reference Photos: (1-2) Resort 2017 Alexander McQueen, Look 40.  /  (3-5) Lily Collins in Alexander McQueen at the 19th Costume Designers Guild Awards, 2017.  /  (6) Katherine "Bee" Schaffer, in McQueen, and Anna Wintour at the 2018 Evening Standard Theatre Awards.  /  (7) Emily Blunt in Alexander McQueen for The Girl On The Train world premiere, October 2016.

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 Lacroix launched his Haute Couture house in 1987 and instantly caused a sensation around the world. A ready-to-wear line soon followed along with perfumes and menswear. His collections are always exotic, lavish affairs and his designs seemed to span the decades with their eccentric glamour pulled from multiple sources of inspiration. This dress is from the Spring 2001 collection and Vogue raved that "It's a very good moment for Christian Lacroix, now that graphic colors, feminine dressing and '80s references are a constant on the catwalks. The designer seized the moment and delivered one of his strongest, most consistent collections in seasons.Lacroix played up his masterful use of color with sexy patchwork strapless numbers and "painting-print" dresses with beaded insets, dangling chains and straps, and embroidered patches. Punky layered chiffons and muslins, ruffled, feathered and pleated, proved that Lacroix can move way beyond his signature pouf." A slight variation on this dress was shown for Look 46 in the show. I think this one is even better.

This Lacroix is magica;. A painted deep pink silk chiffon sits under a more open weave black lace netting and the effect that this creates is fantastic. The inner pink chiffon feels like it has been hand-painted and there is a beautiful abstract flower design running over its surface. One side of the bodice has a wider shoulder that curves up and then ties into place at the top of the shoulder. The other side is a thinner strap and the entire bodice is set on a deep angle at the front and again at the back. All of the seaming on this dress is set on angles and curves so that it feels very reminiscent of the old Hollywood days of the 20s and 30s. An angled panel runs across the waist and down to one hip and then the skirt is set into that coming up on an angle on one side. The skirt is phenomenal. There are yards in yards of silk and lace netting that cascade down and over the body fantastically. One side has a high slit so when you walk you have tons of leg showing. Ruffles cascade across all of the the angled seams that make up the skirt and this adds tremendous movement as you love. The skirt is cut longer at the back to trail out and around you and this combined with the lightness of the silk lets it billow out around you. It is an absolutely astonishingly beautiful piece and feels like a work of art. Phenomenal. Excellent condition.

There is a black silk chiffon through the bodice and a partial inner black silk chiffon inner skirt. It closes with a hidden set side zipper. There may be the occasional break in the lace but nothing I can see that is outstanding to note. Tagged a vintage Lacroix 38. It is all cut on the bias so there is a bit of give and I have measured the comfortable range when laying flat.

Bust: 16-18.5" flat across from side seam to side seam
Waist: 13-15" flat across from side seam to side seam
Inner hips: to 21" flat across from side seam to side seam
Total length: 60" from top of shoulder to inner pink hem and the lace extends past that. 75" to the longest point of the back hem

Modern Sizing Equivalent: XS-MED

Item# DD4846

Reference Photos/Video: Spring 2001 Christian Lacroix, Look 46. Model Malgosia Bela.

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 is from the Fall 2012 Valentino collection and at this time both Maria Grazia Chiuri and Pierpaolo Piccioli were acting Creative Directors. It is interesting to see the pieces that they did in these earlier years. This was a dress that was produced for retail in black, red and white. It has the feel of Looks 25 & 48 from the runway with that deep plunge at the front that is really fantastic. The show was a huge success and the Vogue review for this collection stated in part; "For Fall, the designers wove an enchanting, globe-trotting story through the sweetly feminine silhouettes they've established as their own over the last few ready-to-wear and couture seasons". This dress was one of my favourites of the season and it is just a good now.

This is such a gorgeous dress. Its simplicity combined with an almost shocking plunge at the front add up to it being an incredible piece. It is in its original supermodel long length and it is made in one of Valentino's signature silk crepes that gives it its sleek sculpted feel. The dress is very sexy and shows off some skin but still feels very elegant and refined. The fabric has just a touch of a bias cut to it through the body so its very comfortable to wear. I love the wider straps that curve up and over your shoulders and how all the edges of the bodice are set in a soft curving scalloped pattern. The bust is set wide to the sides of the dress and then it opens up across the upper chest to the outer parts of the shoulder. The front plunges down from there to almost the waist. There is a band of the same fabric that sits part way down to keep it perfectly in place and creates just a subtle little key hole below the breast. The result is a very deep plunge but a very wearable one. At the back it is scooped wide across and then down into a V to leave most of your upper back bare. The skirt falls under that in a sculpted A-line. It widens out as it nears the hem and moves beautifully around you when you move while still holding that shape. A wide band of fabric circles all the way around the hem and this is what gives it a slight bit of added weight and structure to help hold the intended shape. It is a beautiful dress. Excellent overall condition with a note below

The bodice is fully lined in a black silk and the lower panel of the skirt is a double layer of the same fabric. The skirt between is unlined. It closes with a back hidden set zipper. There is a horizontal pull across the back of the dress near the base of the zipper that has reduced the price by half of what previous have sold for. Please see the photo after the label shot. Tagged a modern Valentino 44

Bust: 17-18" flat across the back seam and each cup is approx 8-9" across at the widest point
Band under the bust: 16" flat across from side seam to side seam 
Hips: 20" flat across from side seam to side seam 
Bodice: 11" from top of shoulder to the top seam of the band under the bust.
Total length: 64" from top of shoulder to the hem 

Modern Sizing Equivalent: MED-LRG

Item# DD4841

Reference Photos: Fall 2012 Valentino Runway Collection, Looks 48 & 25.

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

This is a gorgeous Fall 2005 John Galliano that has the added modern provenance of being the exact dress that Brie Larson wore to the Filming Italy Sardegna Festival in June of this year. It is a dress that was made for the shops but you can see its runway influence in the floral piece shown on the runway that season for Look 47. It is a dream dress and I love that we have now added to its history. 

This dress is absolutely dreamy. It is meant to skim over the body and it has that beautiful movement that Galliano is so well known for. It is made out of a combination of black netting for the upper bodice and then a bias cut black silk chiffon that it has texture in it for added interest. The netting covers the upper bodice and then curves over the shoulder to also cover your upper back. Attached to that is the long silk chiffon bodice that runs from the net to a dropped waist at about the hip level. The silk  is cut on the bias and you can see that the slight pattern in the chiffon is all set on an angle. Where this meets the skirt the seam is set on a curving angle that is reminiscent of Old Hollywood dresses from the twenties and thirties. The skirt is made of two tiers and each tier has lace edging with ruffles of the chiffon. Some also have added ruffles made of the black netting. I love how this ties all the elements of the dress together. The skirt has an amazing amount of fabric in it and it is light as a feather over the inner silk skirt. The smallest bit of air will catch the skirt and let it billow out around you as you move.  The final perfect touch are the embellishments that are applied by hand onto the bodice. Black and white flowers made of silk chiffon petals have been secured onto the silk with bursts of tiny little silver sequins. All of the edges on the flowers and the ruffles have been left raw in that beautiful way that Galliano loved to do. When this is on and you are walking the movement it creates is absolutely gorgeous. This is John at his best and it is a tremendously beautiful dress. Excellent condition

Fully lined in a black silk. It slips over the head with no closures. Comes with its original Galliano hang tag and was only worn once briefly by Brie and then cleaned. There are a couple of tiny black sequins near the edge of the neckline on the dress and we have left them to not risk causing a hole in the netting. We believe it’s intentional. The flowers have been hand applied. The silk is cut on the bias, so we put the comfortable range of measurements when the dress is laying flat below.

Bust: 13-16.5" flat across from side seam to side seam
Waist: 12.-14" flat across from side seam to side seam
Hips: to 17" flat across from side seam to side seam
Total length: 58" from top of the shoulder to hem

Modern Sizing Equivalent: XS-SML

Item# DD4842

Reference Photos/Video: (1-2) Fall 2005 John Galliano, Look 47. Model Caroline Trentini.  /  (3-7) Brie Larson in this dress at the Filming Italy Sardegna Festival, June 2024.

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.

In 1951 a 27 year old James Galanos launched his first label called Galanos Originals. By 1954 he had won a Coty award and the Neiman Marcus award. By 1958 he was producing clothing that could range in price from $200 to $3000, an astronomical price for ready-to-wear for that time period. His ready-to-wear line was made close to couture standards and with a level of craftsmanship that was on par with the French couturiers. Galanos was a master cutter and draper and he used many couture techniques in his work. Grace Kelly was an early fan. He was truly one of the great American designers and his work is held in all of the major museums around the world. He is one of my personal favourites. This dress is absolutely gorgeous.

This is a dress that is extremely well made with a very high level of construction techniques. That alone makes it a fabulous piece for me. The dress is made from two types of lace that give the dress its beautiful tactile feel. Everything about the cut is done to highlight and showcase those wonderful sculptural lines that the dress has. The dress falls from lace straps that curve up and over each shoulder. It dips down at the front and the back is scooped to leave a bare expanse of skin. It skims over the bust to the slight empire cut waist. The waist is generous and the lines of the dress are stunning. The bodice is covered with a beautiful black lace with a second layer of lace on top of the nude silk lining underneath so you get a little bit of extra depth to the pattern that you see. The skirt is made out of a heavy corded silk lace. The cording is also a clever way to help to shape the skirt so beautifully. The skirt curves out and over the hips and then widens out to the hem. The top lace layer sits over a deep green silk inner skirt. Having the deep moss green underneath highlights the cord and lace more than adding just a black under skirt would have. It is genius. The silk underneath also helps to hold the fuller shape the skirt has. The shape was all created by clever seaming and cut and it is so much better in person it is ridiculous. He is a designer who cut for the body, not the hanger or a dress form. His work only truly comes to life once on. The workmanship on this dress is exquisite and to demi-couture standards. Excellent condition.

Lined in a nude silk through the bodice and the inner piece of the skirt is backed in a black silk organza. It closes with a back zipper. Hand finishes throughout.

Bust: 16-17" flat across from side seam to side seam
Seam under the bust: 15.5" across
Hips: open
Bodice: 12.5" from top of shoulder to seam under the bust
Total length: 52" from top of shoulder to hem

Modern Sizing Equivalent: SML-MED

Item# DD4843

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.