valentino
Pre-Fall 2022 Valentino by Pierpaolo Piccioli Black Silk Brilliant Dragon Printed Caftan Dress
I Have a Question
- This dress is from the Pre-Fall 2022 Valentino collection.
- It was made under the creative direction of Pierpaolo Piccioli.
- If there is a dress more instantly recognizable and famous then the Valentino dragon dress I am not sure what dress that might be. It is a star even among the many outstanding dresses that Valentino has created over the years.
- The Haute Couture version was first created to great fanfare in 1968-69. Then for the spring of 2001, the Valentino atelier released a limited edition collection of a re-edited copy of the dress. Finally Pierpalo did his version for the Pre-Fall 2022 collection.
- This version of the famous dragon dress softens the lines of the original couture one to make it a more easy to wear caftan feeling silhouette.
- The description of the original dress in the book on Valentino's work sums it up perfectly and you can see the base of the modern elements in this one. 'Printed tunic dress with a yellow, green and red oriental dragon against a very dark background; it features a seamed bust line, a stopped neckline, long sleeves and a deep slit along the left hip.'
- The dress is made out of a very light-in-weight black silk that has that wonderful dragon printed on its surface. The dragon curls around the body on the front of the dress with the back, upper bodice and sleeves left in a stark contrasting black.
- The neck is notched and the shoulders are soft. Each sleeves is cut straight all the way down to the wrist.
- It is cut loose and easy all the way through the body flaring out slightly as it near the hem. This makes it extremely easy to fit and wear and the shape is what gives it it's nod to a caftan.
- There is a slit on each side seam that shows a flash of leg when you move, balancing out the coverage everywhere else. And it has pockets.
- The dress is unlined and slips over the head to wear with no closures. It's loose and easy cut should allow it to fit a range of sizes and frames. It will just drape more on a smaller frame. It appears to have been worn very little if at all.
- Tagged a modern Valentino 38.
- Excellent condition
Sleeves: 18.5" and they are just under 13" around the upper arm
Dropped shoulders: to 18"
Bust: to 19.5" flat across from side seam to side seam
Waist: to 20" flat across from side seam to side seam
Hips: to 21.5" flat across from side seam to side seam
Total length: 47.5" from top of the shoulder to hem and the slits are 16" from the hem up.
Modern Sizing Equivalent: XS-MED
Item# DD5825
All items are thoroughly checked over before shipping. Unless noted everything in our shop has been professionally cleaned. All sales are final. Overseas clients will be emailed to obtain agreement to our final sales policy before the order is shipped as per our return policy.
yves saint laurent
Fall 1979 Yves Saint Laurent Haute Couture Blue Silk Harlequin Print Dress w Ruffled Cuffs
I Have a Question
- This dress is from the Fall 1979 Haute Couture Yves Saint Laurent collection.
- It was made under the creative direction Yves Saint Laurent.
- The 1979 collection was an a homage to Picasso and Diaghilev. Yves had been to an exhibit on Picasso costume and set designs for Diaghilev's ballet Russes. At the time he told French Vogue that he had been on a different path entirely for the collection but then he saw the exhibition and "my collection took on the structure of a ballet. I embroidered on Picasso, on a slightly soft cubism, on harlequin, the Blue Period, the Pink. It's best when in inspiration comes! You no longer have any doubt, you get on with it, you feel an immense joy!"
- You can see that inspiration of the harlequin especially on the pattern of this dress. We found several runway examples where he used the same pattern and added those here. This pattern was a significant part of the collection.
- I snapped the sketch that is closest to this piece from my YSL folio that contains all the drawings from the collection and some shots to show that he used this particular print in several colours including the blue of this dress.
- The dress would have been made completely by hand in the Paris atelier.
- It is made out of a beautiful silk that is scarf weight so is very light and easy to wear. It has a secondary pattern within the weave in the same blue and then it is printed with that black design leaving the blue to show between.
- The collar is neat and done in the same silk. The silk of the bodice is gathered in around it for a added detailing and it closes at the back of the neck above a small keyhole.
- The shoulders are soft and the top of each sleeve gathers into the shoulder. They narrow down to cuffed wrists that ends in a ruffle made of the same silk.
- The cut through the body is loose and easy and it has the slightest bit of narrowing inwards as it nears the hem.
- The more generous cut through the body makes it easy to wear. You have the option of wearing it loose or adding a belt to cinch it in and add shape around the waist. I photoed it both of those ways with an added black rope belt.
- The perfect finishing touch are the little slits on either side of the skirt. These allow for movement when you move and gives you ease of walking plus a little bit of extra leg to show.
- This is a superb piece of Couture and is an early example of his work.
- The dress is unlined and slips over the head to wear with a single button at the back of the neck above a keyhole. Each cuff buttons to close. It is entirely made by hand. The belt is not original to the dress but will be included. The appropriate Haute Couture label is present.
- There is no size tag present because it is true Couture. Please go by the measurements listed below.
- Excellent condition
Sleeves: 23.5" and they are 15" around the upper arm. The neck is 13" around. The cuffs are 6" around where the button is presently but could be opened and the button moved to get 7".
Slightly inset shoulders: 14"
Bust: to 19.5" flat across from side seam to side seam
Waist: to 18.5" flat across from side seam to side seam
Hips: to 19" flat across from side seam to side seam
Total length: 36.5" from neck to hem. Each side slit is 9" from the hem up
Modern Sizing Equivalent: XS-SML
Item# DD5821
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.
roberto cavalli
Fantastic Spring 2005 Roberto Cavalli Coral Runway Print Dress w Phenomenal Ruffled Skirt
I Have a Question
- This dress is from the Spring 2005 Cavalli collection
- It was made under the creative direction of Roberto Cavalli
- For that season Cavalli based everything shown on the 'Fashion Traveller' Theme and Vogue proclaimed that to mean "an eclectic throwing-together of hippie-ish trailing print skirts, ruffled cavalier shirts (worn belted at the hip as tantalizing dresses), and nineteenth century Sgt. Pepper-ish frogged military jackets."
- On the runway this same print in a soft taupe brown was shown on Looks 23 and 25.
- The dress is made of a bias cut silk that is covered with that beautiful abstract coral print on an ivory backdrop. Parts of the print have been deliberately 'aged' with tiny speckles of the coral splashing on them and a touch of lighter and darker corals mixed in. Bits of taupe are also worked in to create an antiqued feed to the incredible pattern that you see.
- The print is very detailed and quite beautiful. I love how the pattern is set to accentuate the curves of the body underneath the dress and build on the cut of the dress itself.
- The dress is suspended from two tiny straps in the same silk that curve up to tie behind the neck. The entire upper back is left bare and exposed and the front comes down in a soft drape. There is a little suspended weight that hangs inside the front drape to help hold it in place and there is a slight gathering on either side of the seams to add to that drape feel at the front.
- The dress curves in slightly at the waist and then curves back out over the hips. Everything is cut on the bias and there are no horizontal seams to break the pattern or the lines of the dress.
- The lower skirt flares out fantastically. It is the type of skirt that makes people obsessed with Cavalli pieces.
- The skirt is set in angles that point upwards into the hip area. Attached to follow the angles are silk chiffon ruffles. What is amazing about the ruffles is how they go up and down on angles to follow sections underneath from where they begin below the hip to all the way to the hem.
- The front angles upwards so that when you walk you get a flash of leg. At the back the skirt falls longer for a beautiful slight sweep behind you.
- The incredible layers of ruffles are what give the fullness to the lower skirt. The extra fabric also gives you wonderful movement as you walk.
- The dress is unlined and slips over the head to wear with no closures. It ties at the back of the neck. A little metal weight is hand sewn in a silk pouch along the edge of the front neckline. I see one tiny mark on the front neckline. The fabric has the darkening all through it and it is an intentional part of the print as described above but I have shown it in the same photo as the small mark so you can see what I am talking about. Once on, that small round mark falls inside the neck line and is not seen. The fabric is bias cut so will just drape more on a smaller frame. I have put the comfortable range of measurements below.
- Tagged a vintage Cavalli S
- Excellent condition with the minor note above.
Bust: the front covers up to 17.5" flat across from side to side
Waist: 14-16" flat across from side seam to side seam
Hips: 19-22.5" flat across from side seam to side seam
Total length: approximately 66" from the neck to the longest part of the hem and can be adjusted a bit by how you tie it around the neck.
Modern Sizing Equivalent: XS-MED
Item# DD5805
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.
thierry mugler
Spring 2000 Thierry Mugler Runway One Shoulder Nude Dress w Large Shoulder Piece
I Have a Question
- The twin of this dress walked the Spring 2000 runway.
- It was made under the creative direction of Thierry Mugler.
- I love that we have both photo and video references so you can see just how beautifully it moves once on the body. And that we have a photo of it with Thierry himself.
- The dress is made out of a nude chiffon that is light-in-weight and drapes beautifully over the body.
- The dress is cut with Mugler's masterful eye and attention to detail.
- It is suspended from one shoulder and the other is left bare and exposed. All the seaming on the dress is set vertically so that it enhances and highlights the curves of the body.
- The bust and waist are created by the shaping of those beautifully curving vertical seams.
- It skims over the hips and then falls to the floor with a slight widening out as it nears the hem. The hem is cut on a slight angle so that the side that has the shoulder is cut a little bit longer than the other.
- The shoulder is detailed with a panel of fabric that you can sweep behind you for a bit of extra movement when you move.
- At the very top of the shoulder is an extra large custom made piece made out of an acrylic that has pale green rhinestones embedded in it to follow its curves. These would have been custom-made for each dress.
- The very outer layer of the chiffon is split quite high along the edge at the back and this adds incredible movement to the dress as you can see on the runway. You are still fully covered by the inner dress underneath.
- It is an extraordinary dress that is rare and highly collectible. It is even better in person then how it shot here.
- The dress is fully lined and closes with a hidden set side zipper. I see one tiny catch in the fabric near the seam just above the hem. It is very minor and only mentioned for accuracy. It otherwise appears to have been worn very little if at all.
- Tagged a vintage Mugler 40
- Excellent condition
Bust: 17-19" flat across from side seam to side seam
Waist: 13-14.5" flat across from side seam to side seam
Hips: to 19" flat across from side seam to side seam
Total length: 58" from top of shoulder to the longest point of the hem
Modern Sizing Equivalent: SML-MED
Item# DD5797
All items are thoroughly checked over before shipping. Unless noted everything in our shop has been professionally cleaned. All sales are final. Overseas clients will be emailed to obtain agreement to our final sales policy before the order is shipped as per our return policy.
valentino
Fall 2014 Valentino by Pierpaolo Piccioli & Maria Grazia Chiuri Deep Blue Silk Chiffon Caftan Dress
I Have a Question
- This gorgeous caftan dress is from the Fall 2014 Valentino collection.
- It was made under the creative direction of Pierpaolo Piccioli & Maria Grazia Chiuri.
- A similar look walked the runway for Look 52 and I love that this gives you a very good idea of how the caftan sits on the body and moves.
- The dress is made out of of a feather light deep blue bias cut silk chiffon that makes it virtually weightless. It comes with its matching separate inner slip that acts as the lining.
- The dress is very easy to wear despite its dramatic presence. It is cut very loose and easy through the entire body and the sleeves are phenomenal.
- A neat little collar made of the same silk chiffon curves around the back of the neck. At the front the neckline sits in a fantastic plunge.
- The body of the dress is loose and easy with inset seams that start under the arm area and run to the hem. This gives the dress a slight bit of shape through the body.
- There are two layers of silk chiffon stacked on top of each other.
- Between the seam and the outermost edges side, the chiffon is open fully down the sides from the cuffs to the hem. This adds incredible movement around you as you move since it allows the layers of chiffon to catch the air as you move.
- You slip your hands through cuffs and each one closes with a single silk covered button at their ends. When you move your arms the entire caftan from under the cuffs moves as well. From there it swoops down to the hem and the open sides create a pretty draping from the cuff to the hem.
- At the back it falls in one swoop of fabric to give an almost caped effect.
- Worn underneath the outer dress is a simple V-neck bias cut silk slip in single layer of the same silk chiffon. It is so well-made that if you found a nude underslip you could probably wear it as its own piece.
- The movement and boldness of the design is amazing to see. Everything about this dress has a feel of organic movement and drama. It is a remarkable dress and even more stunning on.
- The outer dress is made out of two layers of silk chiffon. The inner slip acts as the lining and it is made out of a single layer. Both pieces slip over the head to wear with no closures. The outer layer is tremendously voluminous and its easy cut should allow it to fit a range of sizes. On a smaller frame it will just drape more. It appears to have been worn very little if at all.
- Tagged a modern Valentino 40.
- Excellent condition
Outer Dress
Sleeves: approximately 24" and they are full and open around the upper arm
Bust-hips: to 27" flat across from the inner side seam to side seam
Total length: 62" from neck to hem
Inner slip
Bust: 16-18" flat across from the inner side seam to side seam
Waist: to 15" flat across from the inner side seam to side seam
Hips: to 21" flat across from the inner side seam to side seam
Total length: 62" from top of shoulder to hem
Modern Sizing Equivalent: The outer caftan is OSFA and the inner slip is XS-MED
Item# DD5794
All items are thoroughly checked over before shipping. Unless noted everything in our shop has been professionally cleaned. All sales are final. Overseas clients will be emailed to obtain agreement to our final sales policy before the order is shipped as per our return policy.
yves saint laurent
Spring 1978 Yves Saint Laurent Runway & Ad Campaign Off Shoulder Silk Chiffon Dot Dress
I Have a Question
- The twin of this dress walked the runway for the Spring 1978 collection.
- It was made under the creative direction of Yves Saint Laurent.
- We found a reference photo from the runway and it's twin was also used in the ad campaign that season.
- The reference photos show the dress with a sash that is in a solid print. When the dresses were produced and sold in the shops they were sent with matching dotted tie belts.
- I have photoed it here both loose and easy without the tie belt so you can see how it can be worn as more of a caftan feel and with the belt tied to add shape.
- The dress is made out of a single layer of a black silk chiffon with a multi-colour dot print screened onto the chiffon. It is extremely light-in-weight and moves very beautifully.
- The neckline of the top is set wide across and has an elastic finish so that you can wear it off of the shoulder for a bare expanse of skin to show. I love the little ruffled detail along the edge that the elastic gathering creates.
- Sleeves extend straight out from there and are extremely full and open. They are brought in at the cuff and he repeated the same elastic gathering detail just like on the neckline.
- Under that the dress skims and opens to be very full and easy all the way down to the hem. This gives an incredible movement around you because of the ultra-light weight of the fabric.
- To get a more defined feeling through the middle you just tie the belt and cinch it in as much as you wish. On the runway and in the ad campaign it was styled belted with a solid wider sash. I love that it shows that by changing up the look of the belt it changes up the look of the dress.
- It is very full by the hem and I love how the bottom is finished with a very wide band of the same fabric. The front is cut shorter than the back and that extra ruffle around the bottom and the changing length all help to really allow it to move around you.
- This is an absolutely stunning example of his work during this time period and I love that it is so well documented.
- The dress is unlined and it weighs very little. It slips over the head to wear with elastic through the neckline. Each shoulder has a little less elastic which is purposeful. Each cuff has elastic. The open and loose cut should allow it to fit a wide range of sizes. The belt is original to the dress and is included. It appears to have been worn very little if at all.
- The dress is tagged a YSL 36
- Excellent condition
Sleeves: approximately 25" and the upper arms are very full and easy
Bust: "16-23 flat across from side seam to side seam
Waist-hips: open
Total length: approximately 47" from top of bodice to shortest point at the front and the back falls to approximately 59" at the hem
Modern Sizing Equivalent: OSFA
Item# DD5795
All items are thoroughly checked over before shipping. Unless noted everything in our shop has been professionally cleaned. All sales are final. Overseas clients will be emailed to obtain agreement to our final sales policy before the order is shipped as per our return policy.
christian dior
Spring 1977 Christian Dior by Marc Bohan Runway Striped Silk Chiffon Elastic Shoulder Caftan Dress
I Have a Question
- The twin of this dress walked the runway for the Spring 1977 Dior show.
- It was made under the creative direction of Marc Bohan.
- I have had several other dresses from this collection and it is a personal favourite season in Dior's history.
- I am very happy to have photo references so you can see how fantastic this dress sits on the body and how it can also be worn belted for added shape.
- The dress is made out of a feather light silk chiffon and comes with its original matching ivory silk slip that can be worn underneath.
- I shot the dress with the shoulders up because the slip underneath has a little straps. On the runway it was shown off the shoulder and I love that you have the option of wearing it either way.
- It has a red and two different blue tone abstract stripe print that runs over the entire dress. You can see how he has manipulated the directions of the stripe to highlight the detailing and shape of the dress.
- Matching ties run through the neckline and this is what allows you to bring the neckline in or to wear it more loos and off of the shoulder. Two more ties close the front under that.
- The sleeves are fantastic. They are very wide where they come out from the body of the dress and then are gathered in at the wrist. They each have a little tie bow and elastic around the cuff with a ruffled finish.
- The body of the dress is very full and open and should fit just about any size.
- I love the inset at the front and how it has just the perfect amount of detail and contrast with the stripes going the other way.
- Around the hem is a wide band that also has the stripes placed the other way to the rest of the dress.
- At the back it falls with a more caped feel if you choose to wear it without a belt. If you do add a belt, you can bring the length up as much as you wish. The styling possibilities are endless.
- The outer dress is unlined and it comes with its matching inner slip. You could switch the switch out for another colour to get a different feel. The dress slips over the head to wear and then ties at the front as described above. The inner slip zips to close at the side. I see some minor pulls in the silk here and there. Please see the photo after the label shot. It is an extraordinary dress from this time period. The dress should fit pretty much any frame and you could always wear a different sized slip underneath if you need more room. Hand finishes throughout.
- There is no size tag present. Please go by the measurements list listed below.
- Excellent condition with the minor note above.
Dress
Sleeves: approximately 22"and they are full and open around the upper arm
Bust:-hips: to 33" flat across from side seam to side seam
Total length: approximately 56" from shoulder to hem
Slip:
Bust: 17" flat across from side seam to side seam
Waist: 15.5" flat across from side seam to side seam
Hips: to 19" flat across from side seam to side seam
Total length: 48" from shoulder to hem
Modern Sizing Equivalent: Outer dress OSFA, slip SML-MED
Item# DD5793
All items are thoroughly checked over before shipping. Unless noted everything in our shop has been professionally cleaned. All sales are final. Overseas clients will be emailed to obtain agreement to our final sales policy before the order is shipped as per our return policy.
valentino
Resort 2020 Valentino by Pierpaolo Piccioli Ruffled Silk Chiffon Floral Caftan Dress w Tie Belt
I Have a Question
- The dress is from the Resort 2020 Valentino presentation.
- It was made under the creative direction of Pierpaolo Piccioli.
- Vogue said that 'Pierpaolo Piccioli had his Resort collection photographed in Rome’s Orto Botanico, a green oasis in the center of the city with giant bamboo stands and towering palm trees.'
- This is one of my favourite Valentino dresses I have had and it is even better in real life.
- The dress is made out of a beautiful lightweight silk chiffon that has a joyful floral print over its entire surface. It comes with a matching pink inner dress worn underneath to act as the lining for the dress.
- The flowers of the print are large and combine the most gorgeous tones from mixing pinks and greens.
- The shoulders are soft and the sleeves are full above their wide cuffs. They are a single layer of the silk chiffon and this gives them a beautiful delicate feel.
- The dress skims over the bust from a scooped neck and drapes easily over the body to the waist. It expands outwards all the way to the hem so has a more caftan feel if you choose to wear it without the matching tie belt.
- The matching tie belt is made out of the same printed silk chiffon and you can cinch in the waist area as much as you wish for added shape.
- Ruffles made out of the same silk start at the dropped shoulder and run vertically down the front all the way to the top ruffle on the lower skirt.
- The skirt flows to the floor from there and it is extremely full. The excessive amount of fabric used through the skirt give it a ton of movement when you walk and move.
- At the bottom hem are two stacked ruffle layers that add even more movement and detail.
- The lightness of the silk and the way that it lays over the body allows it to move spectacularly over you and it will pick up the slightest bit of air as you move.
- The inner pink slip dress acts as the lining. The outer dress closes with a hidden set back zipper. The inner dress slips on to wear and has some stretch. I put the comfortable range of measurements below for it. There is elastic around the back upper hem of the inner dress. It comes with its original matching tie belt in the same chiffon. Each cuff closes with small button. On a smaller frame it will just drape more. It appears to have been worn very little if at all.
- Tagged a vintage Valentino 46
- Excellent condition
Outer Dress
Sleeves: 26" from the drop shoulder and they are 15" around the upper arm
Shoulders: 18"
Bust: to 21.5" flat across from side seam to side seam
Waist: to 25.5" flat across from side seam to side seam
Hips: open
Total length: 63" from top of shoulder to the front hem in the back extends another 6"
Inner Slip Dress
Bust: 17-23" flat across from side seam to side seam
Waist: 19-23" flat across from side seam to side seam
Hips: 25-30" flat across from side seam to side seam
Total length: 62" from top of shoulder to hem
Sash: approximately 120" x 6"
Modern Sizing Equivalent: MED-XL
Item# DD5775
All items are thoroughly checked over before shipping. Unless noted everything in our shop has been professionally cleaned. All sales are final. Overseas clients will be emailed to obtain agreement to our final sales policy before the order is shipped as per our return policy.
christian dior
Spring 2000 Christian Dior by John Galliano Black Silk Bias Cut Dress w Low Back & Draped Neck
I Have a Question
- This dress is from the Spring 2000 collection.
- It was made under the creative direction of John Galliano.
- This John Galliano dress is incredibly beautiful and it is a stunning example of his work. No matter how good you think that this dress looks in the photos it is even better in person, on the body and moving.
- The dress is made out of a hammered black silk that has a beautiful texture woven through the silk. I love how that the added texture it has catches the light as you move and adds an extra layer of visual interest to the dress.
- The dress is cut completely on the bias so it just glides over you. It is made to perfectly fall in a sweep of bias cut fabric.
- It skims over the bust with a draped front that falls in a soft fold. Wide straps curve up and over the shoulders and then extend down into the back.
- The back is truly incredible. It is scooped down into a very low open soft V that leaves most of your back bare.
- At the base of the scoop it crosses over itself and has a bit of the same drape that you see at the front. It is so well-made that I think that you could wear it turned around back to front with the V at the front depending on how it worked on your body and how daring you wish to be.
- The dress skims over the waist with a bit of a more generous feel. It curves past the hips and the bias cut of the silk lets it follows your curves and highlights the body underneath without it being too tight and fitted. Galliano is a genius when it came to this cut.
- Once past the hips the dress flares out as it nears the bottom hem so that it has beautiful movement when you move.
- One perfect angled seam runs down the front of a skirt for subtle detail and the very bottom of the lower skirt flares out slightly.
- A row of tightly spaced black silk covered buttons and loops run down one side to finish it with his signature button detail.
- The dress is fully lined in a fine black silk and closes at the side with the buttons. It is cut on the bias so the measurements given below are the comfortable range when the dress is laying flat.
- Tagged a vintage Dior FR42, GB14, US10
- Excellent condition
Bust: 17-22" flat across from side seam to side seam
Waist: 14.5-17" flat across from side seam to side seam
Hips: 18-21.5" flat across from side seam to side seam
Total length: 63" from top of shoulder to hem
Modern Sizing Equivalent: SML-LRG
Item# DD5773
All items are thoroughly checked over before shipping. Unless noted everything in our shop has been professionally cleaned. All sales are final. Overseas clients will be emailed to obtain agreement to our final sales policy before the order is shipped as per our return policy.
john galliano
Spring 2002 John Galliano Black on Black Galliano Logo Printed Bias Cut Dress w Sweeping Back
I Have a Question
- This is a signature bias cut dress from the Spring 2002 collection by John Galliano
- It was made under the creative direction of John Galliano
- There are no closures on the dress. It is completely cut bias and you just slip it over the head to wear and it just falls into place skimming over the body from head to toe.
- The cut of the dress has a strong nod to Couture pieces of the 1930s and 1940s decades. This was a signature theme and cut that he continuously referenced in his collections.
- The fabric has a silk like finish and is a deep black. Various Galliano logos have been woven directly into the fabric in a different finish thread so as you move these catch the light. The effect is fantastic once it is on the body.
- The fabric would have been custom designed by Galliano and made specifically for this dress.
- It scoops down into a V at both the front and the back. A band highlights and follows the neckline all the way around back and front. It skims over the waist and hips from there and flares out at the lower hem.
- The back is cut longer than the front so you get this fantastic sweeping feel behind you. The dress is in its original uncut length.
- A high slit runs up one side for a flash of leg when you walk. Another Galliano signature.
- The dress is unlined and slips on to wear with no closures.
- The measurements have a lot of range because of the bias cut and no closure so I have given the comfortable range for all below when laying out flat. There is probably a little extra room beyond my measurements. It appears to have been worn very little if at all.
- Tagged a FR42, GB14, US8
- Excellent condition
Bust: 16–19" flat across from side seam to side seam
Waist: 14–17" flat across from side seam to side seam
Hips: 18–21 " flat across from side seam to side seam
Total length: 60" from top of shoulder to front hem and then it extends another 8" past that at the back
Modern Sizing Equivalent: SML-MED
Item# DD5771
All items are thoroughly checked over before shipping. Unless noted everything in our shop has been professionally cleaned. All sales are final. Overseas clients will be emailed to obtain agreement to our final sales policy before the order is shipped as per our return policy.
yves saint laurent
Exquisite Fall 1997 Yves Saint Laurent Brilliant Multi Floral Printed Silk Chiffon Bias Cut & Draped One Shoulder Dress
I Have a Question
- The twin of this dress walked the runway for the Fall 1997 collection.
- It was made under the creative direction of Yves Saint Laurent.
- I love that the reference photos show you how gorgeous it truly is once on the body.
- The dress is made of a beautiful bias cut silk that has an extraordinary brilliant floral pattern running over its entire surface. It is like wearing an entire bouquet of flowers in the best possible way.
- The bust angles on a slight curve up to a wide gathered strap that curves over the shoulder to become a part of the back where it angles softly back down to the side. This leaves the other shoulder bare and exposed.
- The inner dress drapes and skims over the bust and curves in at the waist to a seam. From there it curves back out over the the hips.This gives is a slightly more generous feel through the waist so it is easier to fit.
- There is an attached panel of fabric at the front waist that loops around and then wraps all the way back around you to attach along the front of the neckline. At the back it snaps into place over a hidden set zipper slightly off to the side. At the front it snaps into place under the arm and then it is attached to the shoulder on the other side.
- This panel is what gives the dress is extraordinary beauty. The panel that is attached to the shoulder curves and cascades over the arm and all the way down the body. As the panel falls down the side of the body it extends well past the hem to create a training affect around you. You can also loop this panel more over your arm to bring it up and off the floor. You can see that in the runway photos.
- On one side of the skirt there is a high side slit so that when you move or sit you get a flash of bare leg and it also allows you to walk..
- The way that this is all laid out and attached is a nod to a sarong but at the same time it feel so elevated and chic. It is absolutely the most flattering dress once on the body. This is a true YSL masterpiece.
- The dress is fully lined in matching nude silk chiffon through the upper bodice and then the rest of the dress is lined in a deep blue silk chiffon. It closes with a hidden offset back zipper. The lining is partially set by hand. It appears to have been worn very little if at all.
- Tagged a vintage YSL 38
- Excellent condition
Bust: to 17" flat across from side seam to side seam
Waist: to 14" flat across from side seam to side seam
Hips: to 18" flat across from side seam to side seam
Total length: 58" from top of shoulder to hem and the slit is 23" from the hem up. The shoulder panel extends out another approx 12" beyond that.
Modern Sizing Equivalent: XS-MED
Item# DD5760
All items are thoroughly checked over before shipping. Unless noted everything in our shop has been professionally cleaned. All sales are final. Overseas clients will be emailed to obtain agreement to our final sales policy before the order is shipped as per our return policy.
john galliano
Fall 2003 John Galliano Bias Cut Silk & Silk Chiffon Dress w Draped Panels & Side Cut Out
I Have a Question
- The dress is from the Fall 2003 collection.
- It was made under the creative direction of John Galliano.
- This dress is from John Galliano's own label and is an incredible example of his work from this time period.
- For this season he had emphasized a glamorous hourglass shape mixed with nods to pinup girl lingerie style dressing. These bias cut dresses always showcase his love of the 1930s and 1940s and you can see that influence in them.
- The dress is made out of a deep dusky purple silk that has a slight bit of texture to it. It is completely cut on the bias in that signature cut he does so well.
- The dress falls from a delicate strap that curves up and behind the neck and then it drapes down and over the body to the floor.
- The bias cut of it allows the dress to skim and drape over you so that it shows every curve but is not overly fitted.
- The fabric has been pieced together with dropped and angled panels throughout to create the beautiful shape that you see.
- At the back the strap meets behind the neck and then drop down the centre of the back and panels of silk are suspended from it. These curving panels can be worn either down and under the arms or you can drape your arms through them.
- The dress glides over the body past the bust, waist and hips and then flares out as it reaches the hem.
- It buttons to close down the side with a row of his signature buttons covered in the same silk and then on the other side the fabric is gathered in and up into a wired circle. The circle is open in the centre and the panels that gather into the circle have been cut out and opened so that it forms the shape of a flower trailing over one hip.
- Silk lining backs the cut outs at the hip but I have seen this dress in another colour where someone had that part of the lining removed so you see bare skin and it looked great.
- The dress is fully lined in a slightly deeper purple silk crepe and closes at the side with a series of silk covered buttons. I see perhaps a tiny pull in the fabric here and there which happens with this fabric and a teeny bit of shininess here and there from pressing near seams. Very minor and mentioned for accuracy. The bias cut should allow it to fit a range of sizes with it just draping more in a smaller frame
- Tagged a FR42, GB14, US8.
- Excellent condition
Bust: 16-19" flat across from side seam to side seam
Waist: 13-16" flat across from side seam to side seam
Hips: 18-21" flat across from side seam to side seam
Length: 63" from top of shoulder to hem
Modern Sizing Equivalent: SML-LRG
Item# DD5726
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.
stella mccartney
Resort 2016 Stella McCartney Runway Finale Look 34 Silk Dress w Gold Metal Collar & Ruffled Hem
I Have a Question
- The twin of this dress was the finale dress shown as Look 34 for the 2016 Resort Stella McCartney collection.
- It was made under the creative direction of Stella McCartney.
- This was one of the most heavily documented dresses of both the collection and the season. It was worn for editorials, on the red carpet and for television appearances.
- Vogue specifically noted the "citrus-hued, ankle grazing trapeze dresses." saying of that the models who wore these dresses at the end of the presentation "you couldn't have found a woman in the crowd who didn't want to be them or at least look like them for the night"
- This dress was sold out and wait-listed worldwide. Very few were produced.
- I love the bright colour that the dress has been done in. It is incredibly difficult to capture the actual colour in a photo and I think it is even better in person as it is a touch paler then how it photoed here.
- The dress is made out of a single layer of feather light silk that verges on a chiffon. This gives it just enough weight to hold its shape fantastically but the lightness of the silk creates masses of movement around you when you move.
- This combined with the brilliant seaming and cut is what gives the dress its exuberant volume and shape.
- Both the front and back neckline are gathered up into little pleats that sit at the base of the neck. To hold the pleats together there are little gold beads placed on matching tiny silk straps that wind their way through the pleats. This little unexpected touch of gold is striking.
- The ties that go through the neckline extend out on either side and you tie them on the top of the shoulder. This allows you to wear the dress as high up or low as you wish. You can see in the reference photos that sometimes the neckline is dropped quite substantially from where I have it in my photos and the ties are what allow you to do this.
- The sides of the dress dip down into sharp little angles leaving a bit of skin to show at the sides.
- The waist has a generous cut and it is meant to feel more loose and easy. It is really a piece that is easy to fit and should work on a variety of body types.
- The silk falls from underneath the neckline and skims over the body expanding outward to a generously cut seam that sits below the hip. The fabric under that seam then gets progressively wider as it near the hem.
- A wide ruffle of fabric circles all around the lower hem with a wide band of stiffened netting hidden inside to help hold the shape.
- The silk of each tier is gathered into the seam above and below it and this also helps to add to the volume and create that incredible trapeze shape.
- The amount of fabric through the body of the dress and skirt combined with the lightness of the fabric is what lets it billow and move around you in the most spectacular way. And it has pockets.
- This is an absolutely stunning example from that season and it is a very collectible piece.
- The dress is unlined and it slips on to wear. It ties on either side of the neck as described above. There is perhaps a tiny bit of grubbiness along the edge of the hem but it otherwise is pristine. The extremely open cut should allow this to fit most frames. It will just drape more on a smaller frame.
- Tagged a modern Stella McCartney 40
- Excellent condition
Bust-Hips: open
Total length: approx 63" from neck to hem as it is tied here. It could be made longer if you let the ties drop at the top of the dress.
Modern Sizing Equivalent: OSFA
Item# DD5719
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.
mr blackwell
Prettiest 1970s Mr Blackwell Custom Black Jersey Dress w Bright Print & Sequin Detailing
I Have a Question
- This dress dates to the late 1970s, maybe early 1980s.
- It was made under the creative direction of Richard Blackwell.
- The Mr Blackwell label was launched by Richard Blackwell in the late 1950s and even at that time his dresses sold for between $800 and $1000 which in modern dollars converts to up to $10,000 a dress. He dressed many of the big stars of the day including Jane Russell, Dorothy Lamour and Jayne Mansfield.
- His custom label was pieces that were made-to-order and were one-of-a-kind pieces that were fitted to a specific client in the couture tradition.
- During the 1960s he became the first in history to present a collection during a television broadcast and he is also the first to be attributed making for his line available for plus-size women. This is a beautiful example of his work during this point of his label.
- The dress is made out of a very pretty brightly printed black jersey that holds the shape and volume very well.
- The dress has a fairly simple silhouette. The inner dress is meant to skim over the body all the way to the floor, and then there is an attached piece around the neck line that falls over the upper shoulders.
- The front is set a bit wider across the neck and then the back scoops down into a V to add an unexpected flash of bare skin
- A little extra shape is added by the matching tie belt that is made out of the same fabric. I have topped it into a bow that sits just under the edge of the cape for these photos. You could easily wear the dress without it or change it for a wider more substantial belt.
- The there are no sleeves on the inner dress. Instead, the single layer of matching jersey is attached around the edge of the neckline. It is just under 15" in width at its widest point and it drapes over your shoulders and down the top of the arm. This continues all the way around front to back to give you that lovely cape effect that you see.
- Under the cape, the dress is meant to skim over your bust, waist and hips. Once past the hips it widens out slightly to the floor.
- The perfect finishing detail is the addition of hand set sequins that sit over the print of the cape portion of the dress. On the lighter colours they are a clear sequin with an iridescent finish, and on other colours they chose sequins to match the colour underneath. This lets the dress have a subtle glimmer in the light.
- The dress is fully lined in a black stretch jersey and it closes at the back with a zipper. Hand finishes throughout. It appears to have been worn very little if at all.
- There is no size tag present. Please go by the measurements below.
- Excellent condition
Cape: is just under 15" it's widest point
Bust: 16-19" flat across from side seam to side seam
Waist: 14-16" flat across from side seam to side seam
Hips: 17-20" flat across from side seam to side seam
Total length: 58" from top of the shoulder to the hem with approximately 3.5" turned under the hem.
Modern Sizing Equivalent: XS-MED
Item# DD5700
All items are thoroughly checked over before shipping. Unless noted everything in our shop has been professionally cleaned. All sales are final. Overseas clients will be emailed to obtain agreement to our final sales policy before the order is shipped as per our return policy.
yves saint laurent
Spring 2013 Saint Laurent by Hedi Slimane Strapless Black Silk Dress w Scooped Front Hem
I Have a Question
- This dress is from the Spring 2013 YSL collection.
- It was made under the creative direction of Hedi Slimane and this was his debut collection for the label.
- The two closest looks that were shown on the runway that had the same/similar style of skirt were Looks 38 and 45 on the runway. We included both of those so you get an idea of how this falls once on the body.
- The bodice is strapless with a double panel of black silk that wraps around the entire bodice splitting at the back on either side of the zipper. The inner panel is fitted to the bottom and then the other one floats over that and is attached only around the upper edge.
- Inside there is a full built-in corset made out of black lingerie stretch netting that is lightly boned. It hooks to close at the side under the exterior zipper and has an attached waist stay that hooks to close. This is what holds the dress in place around you.
- From the the seem directly under the bodice panel the dress falls to the floor. It is pleated into that seam at the centre of both the back and the front and this helps to give it added volume and hold it slightly away from the body.
- It skims over the waist and curves back out over the hips. It flares out with more volume around the legs and then narrows in words towards the hem.
- At the front, it is caught on a upward curve that makes the front portion of the dress more of a mini dress length. That cut out is cut on a beautiful curve down and around to the hem at the back and at the back it is completely full length.
- It is perfectly minimalist and yet has a definitive nod towards the time period where Yves favoured the same cut through the skirt.
- The dress has a full built-in boned inner corset that closes with its own zipper and hooks at the waist. The rest of the dress is unlined. It closes at the side over the inner corset with a hidden set zipper.
- Tagged a modern YSL FR36
- Excellent condition
Bust: 30-32" around the interior, including the cups
Inner waist: to 12.25" flat across from side seam to side seam
Hips: open
Bodice: 8.5" from top of bodice to inner waist
Total length: 56" from waist to back hem and 28.5" to the shortest part of the front hem.
Modern Sizing Equivalent: XS-SML
Item# DD5690
All items are thoroughly checked over before shipping. Unless noted everything in our shop has been professionally cleaned. All sales are final. Overseas clients will be emailed to obtain agreement to our final sales policy before the order is shipped as per our return policy.
christian dior
Fall 2008 Christian Dior by John Galliano Bias Cut Silver Silk Halter Dress w Flower Detailng
I Have a Question
- This dress is from Fall 2008 Christian Dior collection.
-
It was made under the creative direction of John Galliano.
- The fall 2008 show celebrated the 1960s and marked the launch of a new handbag called the '61. Galliano said of the show "I am always looking for heroines who make me dream". In the book Christian Dior: Catwalk they note that "his muse is included actress, model and Warhol superstar, 'Baby' Jane Holzer, as well as Raquel Welch, and of course Mrs. Robinson in The Graduate." "They inspired a Christian Dior collection Galliano called 'pure glamour,' one that worked the joyful high-voltage side of restraint in near perfection." said Women's World Daily.
- The dress is made from a soft silver coloured silk. The silk is a beautiful weight and is just heavy enough to keep the shape that he wanted without it feeling too heavy.
- Straps extend outward from the middle of the neckline and curve over the sides of your neck. They angle down to connect into the centre of the back.
- The bodice is shaped with a bit of a slightly stiffened lining over the bust. The fabric is softly pleated to angle in towards the centre.
- At the centre of the front, part of the silk extends out and is twisted to form a flower.
- From under the seam of the bust it falls over the body with a more generous feel. The silk all cut on the bias for beautiful movement.
- It is gathered and pleated on one side under the bust. This is repeated on the same side at the back. From there it flows with a more generous cut over the waist and hips.
- The very bottom portion of the skirt widens out as it nears the hem so you have fantastic movement when you move.
- The fabric at the hip on the opposite side of the pleating has been gathered and twisted to form two large flowers.
- It is exquisite and a fabulous example of his work during this time period.
- The dress is fully lined in the same silver silk and closes with a hidden set side zipper. I see a couple of very small, very faint marks underneath the bust area near the pleats. They are very minor, but mentioned for accuracy. Please see the photo after the label shot.
- Tagged a vintage Dior FR40, GB12, IT44, US8
- Excellent condition
Bust: 16-17" flat across from side seam to side seam
Waist: 14" flat across from side seam to side seam
Hips: to 23" flat across from side seam to side seam
Bodice: approx 15" from top of shoulder to waist
Total length: 62" from top of shoulder to hem
Modern Sizing Equivalent: SML-MED
Item# DD5666
All items are thoroughly checked over before shipping. Unless noted everything in our shop has been professionally cleaned. All sales are final. Overseas clients will be emailed to obtain agreement to our final sales policy before the order is shipped as per our return policy.
christian dior
Spring 2006 Christian Dior by John Galliano Blue Bias Cut Silk Chiffon Dress w Silver Sequins & Beads
I Have a Question
- This dress is from the Spring 2006 Christian Dior collection.
- It was made under the creative direction of John Galliano.
- Galliano began his own label in 1984 and he was instantly a bit of a 'boy wonder' in fashion. He was British Fashion Council Designer of the Year in 1987, 1994 and 1995. In 1991 he made his Paris catwalk debut. In 1995 he was asked to head Givenchy and then went to Dior in October of 1996.
- His work, especially the bias cut pieces that he did, have a feeling of the decadence and abandonment of the twenties and they are beautifully cut.
- They marry Old Hollywood with the minimalist spirit of the nineties and early 2000s and the results are stunning.
- This is an amazing example of his work from the Spring 2006 season and it is gorgeous. We believe that some of the detailing is based on / loosely inspired by the opening look of the Couture 2006 collection. We have included a photo of that dress for you and you can see similar bead work through the skirt of that dress that has similarity to the pattern of the beads on this dress.
- The dress is made out of a deep blue silk crepe chiffon that has a slight bit of texture to it and a slight grey undertone.
- It is completely cut on the bias. The dress falls from the shoulders and then drapes down and over the body to the floor. It is very beautiful. The signature bias cut that he often did allows the dress to skim and drape over you so that is shows every curve but is not overly fitted.
- The seaming is highly reminiscent of the work you see from the twenties and thirties which became another of John's signatures.
- The fabric has been pieced together with both curved and angled seams through the bodice and lower skirt to create the fantastic lines of the dress that you see.
- Wide straps extend out from the bust to curve over your shoulders. The front is set in a V and the fabric is gathered across the front of the shoulders.
- I love the angled cut of the front bodice where he has pieced the two side of it together. These are set into a high curving seam that highlights the waist but still stays easy in cut.
- That seam curves around the back curving upwards there as well.
- The back is scooped into a low curved open expanse. The straps become smaller and run down the back to join into each side of the lowest part of that curve.
- An attached panel of silk drapes beautifully down the back in reference to the best of Old Hollywood.
- The dress glides over the body from there and flares out as it reaches the hem. The widening and length of the back hem is created with angled silk chiffon panels inset into the back skirt. It is an incredible feat of patterning.
- This creates a longer bit of a train at the back for a bit of a sweeping feel behind you.
- There is an incredible amount of fabric through the lower skirt which gives you so much movement when you walk.
- The entire dress to just past the knee is beaded with silver beads mixed with the tiniest silver sequins. These are laid out vertically over the dress in beautiful curving lines that cover the dress. They catch the light from every angle and take the dress to another level.
- His signature row of tightly spaced buttons run up one side.
- The dress is even better in person and on the body as the static photos cannot fully convey how a bias cut dress moves. They only truly come to life when worn.
- It has a matching silk inner slip dress that loop through a stitch so that they are attached at the top of the inner shoulders. You could easily remove this to get more room if needed. The bias cut should allow it to fit a range of sizes and we have provided the comfortable range of measurements for both it and the outer dress below. It closes at the side with a series of silk covered buttons. It looks to have been worn very little if at all.
- Tagged a FR42, GB14, IT46, US10.
- Excellent condition
Dress
Bust: to 22" flat across from side seam to side seam
Waist: 15-16.5" flat across from side seam to side seam
Hips: 22.5" flat across from side seam to side seam
Total length: approx 59" from the top of the shoulder to the front hem and approx 74" to the back
Inner slip
Bust: to 18" flat across from side seam to side seam
Waist: 15-17" flat across from side seam to side seam
Inner lining at hips: 20" flat across from side seam to side seam
Modern Sizing Equivalent: SML-LRG
Item# DD5662
All items are thoroughly checked over before shipping. Unless noted everything in our shop has been professionally cleaned. All sales are final. Overseas clients will be emailed to obtain agreement to our final sales policy before the order is shipped as per our return policy.
christian dior
Rare Spring 1999 Christian Dior by John Galliano Black Bias Cut Silk Dress w See Through Lace Insets
I Have a Question
- This spectacular dress is a very rare piece from the Spring 1999 collection.
- It was made under the creative direction of John Galliano
- For this show the Dior Catwalk book noted that "Galliano took a trip on the Trans-Siberian railway and drew inspiration from Russian avant-garde as well as the Chinese red army."
- A shorter version of this dress was shown in the show as well as a long version without the lace insets at the front. We have included reference photos of both so you can see how this will fit on the body.
- This is one of his signature bias cut dresses and it is absolutely stunning.
- The dress falls from two straps that curve up and over the shoulders. The front falls in a soft curving drape and then the back is scooped low to leave your upper back bare. The draped front is a clever way to add shape while still keeping the entire dress soft and with little formal structure.
- Behind the draped silk of the bust is a second halter cut bodice made out of black lace. As the front drapes down this lace peeks out from behind it.
- Set just underneath the bust is an angled panel of lace that is just over an inch and a half wide. This angles up towards the centre of the bust and then runs around the back.
- Another panel of lace highlights the seam that the lower skirt is set into and then the entire hem is finished with the same lace. I love how the placement of lace is done to highlight your shape.
- None of the lace used has any backing so that once this is on the body you get a glimpse of skin through all of the lace parts of the dress.
- The rest of the dress is made out of beautiful slightly textured hammered black silk. The silk is a heavier weighted silk and it is completely cut on the bias. When you put it on it simply drapes over you and highlights every curve without ever being too tight anywhere.
- It skims over the bust, waist and hips and then comes in slightly where the bottom lace is. The lower skirt flares out substantially under that and there are yards of fabric in that part of the dress alone. This gives you incredible movement when you walk and finishes the dress beautifully.
- This flowing hourglass shape was a Galliano signature and this one is absolutely spectacular.
- The inner lining under the lower skirt is finished with yet another panel of black lace and this peaks out from underneath the skirt to perfectly tie all of the elements of the dress together.
- The dress is an exceptional example from his very early days at Dior. A true piece of fashion history.
- The lace serves as the lining behind the draped front and then the rest of the dress is lined in a black silk except for behind the lace parts which are left unlined. It closes with hidden set side zipper. It is completely cut on the bias so there is a lot of movement and range to the fabric. It is an easy fit and the bias cut should allow it to fit a range of sizes I have put the range when laying flat in the measurements below. On a smaller frame it will drape more. I see a small scuff on the fabric here and there. Very minor and just mentioned for accuracy.
- Tagged a vintage Dior FR40, GB12, US8
- Excellent condition
Bust: 16-18" flat across from side seam to side seam
Waist: 13-15" flat across from side seam to side seam
Hips: 17-20" flat across from side seam to side seam
Bodice: approx 13" from top of shoulder to lace under the bust
Total length: approx 65" from top of shoulder to hem. The length may come up a touch once on because of the bias cut.
Modern Sizing Equivalent: SML-MED
Item# DD5654
Reference Photos/Video: Spring 1999 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.
lanvin
Gorgeous Resort 2012 Lanvin by Aber Elbaz Ivory Lace, Silk & Silk Netting Wedding Dress
I Have a Question
- The twin of this dress was a part of the presentation for the Resort 2012 collection.
- It was made under the creative direction of Alber Elbaz.
- The dress is made of an ivory cotton lace with silk net edging that falls beautifully over the body.
- The bodice has a soft and romantic feel as it glides over you. The shoulders are wide and curve into a shallow scoop at the front. I love how he chose to edge the neckline and openings for the arms with that little bit of silk for a pretty contrast.
- The lace skims over the bust and is cut more generously around the waist. This helps to keep the silhouette soft and pretty. If you did want a more defined shape you could easily add a belt or silk ribbon around the waist that could be as elaborate as or simple as you wished it to be.
- The lace skims past the waist and then the skirt is set over top of the lace of the bodice in a very deliberate way that makes the seam there a part of the design. The workmanship is exquisite where they meet and I love how the fabric of the skirt has been gathered into little ruffles that curve all the way around you.
- From there it falls over the hips and down to the floor in a beautiful drape of lace. The fabric is light and soft and there is an additional layer of silk chiffon underneath so that it feels amazing against the skin.
- All of the fabric that was gathered in around the top of the hips is allowed to expand and give you the fullness of the skirt so that you get this pretty sweep of fabric around you when you move.
- It is extremely pretty and romantic in feel.
- The dress is fully lined in an ivory silk chiffon. It closes with an exposed bronze colour zipper at the side. It is in its original length. It appears to have been worn very little at all.
- Tagged a Lanvin size 38
- Excellent condition
Bust: 16-17" flat across from side seam to side seam
Waist-seam at top of hips: to 16" flat across from side seam to side seam
Hips: open
Bodice: 17" from top of shoulder to dropped waist
Total length: 68" from top of shoulder to hem
Modern Sizing Equivalent: SML-MED
Item# DD5646
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.
richard tyler
Exceptional 2000s Richard Tyler Black Silk Dress w Gathered Inserts & Scooped Open Back
I Have a Question
- The dress is from one of the 2000s Richard Tyler Couture collection.
- It was made under the creative direction of Richard Tyler.
- Richard Tyler was the designer to wear in the 1990s and early 2000s. He won the Council of Fashion Designers of America New Talent award in 1993. In 1994 and 1995 he won the Council's Womenswear Designer of the Year award. Julia Roberts, Janet Jackson, and Sigourney Weaver were just a few of the stars who loved his work and his dresses made regular appearances on the red carpet.
- Tyler was known for his impeccable tailoring and finishes and at the time employed some of the best tailors and seamstresses in the business.
- The dress is made out of silk and is beautifully structured. It is cut to appear like it just drapes into place, but with its lining and infrastructure around the bodice area, it does have more structure than it appears at first glance.
- This gorgeous little number is in amazing condition and is cut beautifully. It is suspended from the shoulders by tiny straps that curve over and down the back.
- The dress is cut to follow the curves of your body but without being super tight.
- The neckline dips into a wide cut V at the front that allows the straps to sit at the edges of your shoulders.
- There are ruffled gathered panels that are set over the dress to highlight the cut and shape. You see this across the front bodice as they follow the curve, shape and angle down towards the waist, and then start their angled descent down the length of the full dress.
- When you turn around, the back has a low scoop that leaves most of your back completely bare and exposed. It is very sexy.
- The shape through the waist is cleverly created by those inset panels that curve over the body.
- From there, it curves back out over the hips and then falls to the floor. The skirt comes in slightly around the knee area and then the lower part of the skirt widens out substantially as it reaches the hem. Extra fabric has been worked through the back of the skirt where it is cut on a curve that is longer than the front hem. This gives you a sweeping feel as you walk away.
- There are added weights around the lower skirt and the piping that finishes the bottom hem has a touch of padding and weight to it. This has all been done to help hold the shape and volume of the lower skirt around you.
- It looks so simple on my dress form but this is a dress that is a bombshell piece once it is on an actual body. It is so good.
- The dress is fully lined in a black silk and closes with a hidden set side zipper. There is vertical boning on the sides of the bodice to help hold it in place. Perhaps a tiny bit of grubbiness and wear to the edge of the hem but this is extremely minor and only mentioned for accuracy. It otherwise appears to have been worn very little if at all.
- There is no size tag present, so please go by the measurements listed below.
- Excellent condition.
Bust: to 17" flat across from side seam to side seam
Waist: to 14" flat across from side seam to side seam
Hips: to 18" flat across from side seam to side seam
Total length: 61" from top of shoulder to front hem in the back extends another 6.5" past that.
Modern Sizing Equivalent: SML-MED
Item# DD5632
All items are thoroughly checked over before shipping. Unless noted everything in our shop has been professionally cleaned. All sales are final. Overseas clients will be emailed to obtain agreement to our final sales policy before the order is shipped as per our return policy.
christian dior
Spring 2007 Christian Dior by John Galliano Black Strapless Inner Corset Dress w Rhinestones & Beads
I Have a Question
- This is from the Christian Dior Spring 2007 collection.
- It was made under the creative direction of John Galliano.
- Galliano often used inspiration from his Couture dresses when he looked to creating ready-to-wear pieces and vice versa and we have added a photo of the piece from the couture collection that has similar bead work.
- The bodice is strapless with an inner boned and cupped corset that holds the dress in place.
- A panel wraps around the very top of the bodice with a double pleat detail running around the very the top edge.
- Under that the dress is wrapped around to overlap itself and on one side there are stitched pleats that open up at about the waist area and then continue to the hem. On the side that wraps under that there are top stitched seams set on angles towards the outer edge of the dress. All of this seamwork and stitching is subtle but adds this very interesting detail when you see it as a whole.
- From there the dress simply skims and drapes over you to the floor. Because of its generous cut through the body it will be easier to fit and is extremely comfortable once on the body.
- It flares out slightly at the bottom to create a beautiful column over you. It is an incredible feat of patterning.
- Floral designs made of fabric covered domed bead are mixed with prong set rhinestones. More rhinestones are scattered down the body of the dress to about the hip. These were all added by hand and you can clearly see that on the other side of the dress.
- The dress is unlined and has an inner boned and cupped corset that hooks to close at the side. The dress closes over that with a hidden set zipper. Hand finishes. It appears to have been worn very little if at all.
- Tagged a vintage Dior FR40, GB12, IT44, US8
- Excellent condition
Bust: 16-17.5" flat across from side seam to side seam
Inner waist: 12.5-15" flat across from side seam to side seam
Hips: open
Bodice: 11" from top of bodice to inner waist
Total length: 58" from top of bodice to hem
Modern Sizing Equivalent: SML-MED
Item# DD5610
Reference Photo: Spring 2007 Christian Dior Couture, Look 32.
All items are thoroughly checked over before shipping. Unless noted everything in our shop has been professionally cleaned. All sales are final. Overseas clients will be emailed to obtain agreement to our final sales policy before the order is shipped as per our return policy.
christian dior
Incredible Spring 2003 Christian Dior by John Galliano Black Silk Open Cut Out Bow Dress w High Slit
I Have a Question
- This dress is from the Spring 2003 Dior collection.
- It was made under the creative direction of John Galliano.
- Vogue set of the collection that John Galliano "has rebranded the legendary Parisian house via high-octane couture shows that broach the wilder shores of creativity and are then filtered down to be instantly recognizable ready-to-wear pieces for Christian Dior addicts."
- I love that we have photos of Laetitia Casta wearing a gold version so you can see how spectacular this is on the body.
- To help visualize what this dress looks like on the body in black, we changed Laetitia's dress too black, which gives you a great idea of what the final result will be on.
- The dress is made from a bias cut black silk that has a slight texture to it that is beautiful. It is strapless and has an inner built-in and boned bodice to hold the dress in place around you.
- It's skim over the bus and he has used beautifully curved seaming to shape the dress in words at the waist, and then it curse back out over the hips.
- The back simply circles around to leave the entire upper back and shoulders bare and exposed.
- The skirt falls to the floor in a beautiful line. It is cut to curve over your hips and then flares out dramatically for the lower portion of the skirt. There's actually quite a bit of fabric in a lower skirt, and this allows it to move beautifully around you as you walk and move.
- Adding to the movement that the dress has is an exceptionally high slit that runs up one side all the way to just under the hip. This leaves an incredible amount of bare leg to show. It's just fantastic.
- Besides, that high slit, the star of the show on this dress is that incredible curved cut out that runs from the centre of the bodice on a graceful arc down to the hip.
- Interspersed along that cut out or four bows that are made of the same fabric. Each bow has been tied around the silk that connects the two pieces together.
- I love how there is an open, cut out between each bow all the way down that leaves that unexpected flash of skin.
- And then having a slit meet, the bottom bow at the side is just the perfect tie into it all. When you move and the slit opens and you see the leg everything just feels so perfectly designed in that absolutely perfect Galliano way.
- It is a really exceptional dress and is extremely sexy once on the body.
- The dress is fully lined in a black silk chiffon with a lightly boned inner corset attached inside the bodice. It closes with a combination of a row of tiny silk covered buttons at the back that sit above a hidden set zipper that follows one of the curved seams. The inner corset closes with its own zipper. The bias cut and slight stretch of the fabric gives it some movement. I have given the comfortable range of the measurements while laying flat below.
- Tagged a vintage Dior US6, GB10, FR38.
- Excellent condition
Bust: 16-17" flat across from side seam to side seam.
Inner waist: 13-13.5" flat across from side seam to side seam
Hips: to 19.5" flat across from side seam to side seam
Inner bodice: 9.5" from neck to inner waist
Total length: 56" from top of the bodice to hem
Slit: 32.5" from the hem up
Modern Sizing Equivalent: XS-MED
Item# DD5611
All items are thoroughly checked over before shipping. Unless noted everything in our shop has been professionally cleaned. All sales are final. Overseas clients will be emailed to obtain agreement to our final sales policy before the order is shipped as per our return policy.
Rodarte
Dreamy Fall 2016 Rodarte Runway Look 40 White Lace, Silk & Net Bias Cut Dress w Hand Done Detailing
I Have a Question
- The twin of the dress was presented as Look 40 for the Fall 2016 Rodarte collection.
- It was made under the creative direction of Kate and Laura Mulleavy.
- 2016 marked the 10th anniversary of the label and in Vogue's coverage of the show they noted that "The best Rodarte collections - and this was surely one - come across like manifested daydreams. Lots of designers like to talk about tapping into the fantasy element of fashion, but Kate and Laura are perhaps the only ones whose clothes summon the ludic sensibility of kids playing dress up. The demented level of embellishment which here included ruffled leather, hand, cut floral paillettes, and mesh, and lace sequined and watery patterns, recalls a child's take on glamour with every available fancy piled on. That the Mulleavys manage the muchness with such grace is something of a miracle.... the hand craftsmanship, the romance, the touch of the macabre - those qualities were present in Rodarte a decade ago, and they are communicated as clearly now as they ever were."
- There is a lot of hand work in the dress and it is a part of the collections where they were doing a lot of the work in-house and the pieces were not so mass produced as they are now. The pricing for pieces during this era were also extraordinarily higher than what they currently can be, with the then pricing being up to and over the 20k mark.
- I love how heavily influenced by the 1930s and 1940s that this dress is. It has a decidedly vintage feel to its cut.
- The dress combines bias cut silk and netting with a fine lace that is laid out softly over the body but in a way that still gives soft structure. There are lot so beautiful added hand cut details, beads and appliqué.
- As good as it looks on the dress form, I am glad that we have so many reference photos so you can see how beautiful it is once it transforms onto an actual body.
- A ruffle of lace and netting highlight the wide set neckline. Small panels of netting drape softly down from each shoulder and are set more towards the back. These are detailed with hand cut outs and beads. At the back there is a small V for a touch of skin to show.
- I love how the inner dress creates that dramatic cut out effect that sits underneath the top layer of lace at the front. It really makes the dress feel dynamic and special and adds a subtle bit of sexiness.
- The dress glides over the waist and then curves back over the hips. There are more hand applied, hand done cut out appliques and netted beading details on one hip for added detail.
- The skirt is phenomenal. The skirt is split on one side right up to the flower at the hip. The inner part of the skirt is made out of a matching ivory silk that has a layer of soft tulle underneath so you get all of these layers around the slit that help to cover how high it is but still allowing it to open.
- A hand made rosette sits at top of the slit and then on the other hip there is another matching rosette. An inset panel made of netting that has two more handmade handset flower cuts added to it as it trails from under that rosette down to the hem.
- The topmost layer over all of this is a beautiful soft ivory lace that is just magical. I love how the ivory of the lace is offset by the more white leaf cut outs that are on the little cap sleeves and at the waist.
- The final perfect touch is a band of tightly gathered ruffled lace that goes all the way around the hem. There are yards and yards of fabric in the lower skirt.
- I think this is one of the most beautiful dresses that the duo have made throughout their entire career.
- The dress is fully lined in a combination of the netting and the ivory silk and nylon netting. It closes with a hidden setback zipper. It was never worn and all of the applique work is done by hand and set onto the dress by hand. There is an amazing amount of hand work in the dress. There is one small break in the netting on the innermost layer that does not show. It was never worn and is otherwise pristine. The colour is perhaps the tiniest bit more ivory than how it photographed.
- Tagged a modern Rodarte 6
- Excellent condition
Bust: 15-16.5" flat across from side seam to side seam
Waist: 12.5" flat across from side seam to side seam
Hips: open
Total length: 64" from top of shoulder to hem and the slit is 42" up from the hem.
Modern Sizing Equivalent: XS-SML
Item# DD5572
All items are thoroughly checked over before shipping. Unless noted everything in our shop has been professionally cleaned. All sales are final. Overseas clients will be emailed to obtain agreement to our final sales policy before the order is shipped as per our return policy.
christian dior
Important Fall 2006 Christian Dior by John Galliano Pale Silver Grey Version of Runway Look 41 Dress
I Have a Question
- The twin of this dress in red was Look 41 on the Fall 2006 Dior runway.
- It was made under the creative direction of John Galliano.
- He began his own label in 1984 and he was instantly a bit of a 'boy wonder' in fashion. He was British Fashion Council Designer of the Year in 1987, 1994 and 1995. In 1991 he made his Paris catwalk debut. In 1995 he was asked to head Givenchy and then went to Dior in October of 1996.
- His bias cut pieces have a feeling of the decadence and abandonment of the twenties and they are beautifully cut. They marry Old Hollywood with the minimalist spirit of the nineties and early 2000s and the results are stunning.
- The red version was used for the ad campaign that year and was worn by Kate Moss. It has become one of his most iconic dresses.
- We have had this dress in red in the past and it flew. I love having another in this soft pale grey colour. It is just dreamy.
- The dress takes inspiration from the bias cut couture pieces of the 1920s and 1930s. The seam work and simplicity of this dress is stunning to see and it is even better on an actual body.
- It is made from a beautiful silk velvet in a pale silver grey. A design that includes the Christian Dior name has been pressed into the velvet over the entire dress. This gives it this incredible added texture that you see in the photos.
- The dress is completely cut on the bias so that it flows over the body and skims its way over the bust, waist and hips as it falls to the floor.
- The neckline drapes down and there is a panel of silk chiffon tucked just inside the neckline at both the back and the front. This creates a bit of a swooping plunge that is slightly set to the side. Thin bands of a silver grey grosgrain ribbon run up the sides of the dress and around the waist. The velvet is gathered into the ribbon in various spots to create the asymmetrical draping.
- The skirt flows down to the floor from there, skimming over the hips and then flaring out as it reaches the hem. This gives you a ton of movement around the lower skirt when you walk or move. It also adds to the hourglass shape that the dress has.
- This is an amazing example of his work from Dior and it is gorgeous.
- The bodice is lined in a pale grey silk chiffon and the skirt is unlined. It closes with a hidden set zipper down one side. The bias cut fabric does have some stretch. There is a small mark on the inner silk chiffon and a couple tiny marks on the velvet near the hem. Please see the photo after the label shot. The measurements below give you the comfortable range the fabric has when lying flat. It is in its original unaltered length. The bias cut should allow it to fit a range of sizes
- Tagged a Galliano FR38, GB10, US6
- Excellent condition
Bust: 16-19.5" flat across from side seam to side seam
Waist: 13-15" flat across from side seam to side seam
Hips: 16-20" flat across from side seam to side seam
Bodice: approx 16.5" from neck to dropped seam
Total length: 62" from neck to front hem, 64" to the back hem
Modern Sizing Equivalent: XS-MED
Item# DD5549
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.
thierry mugler
Prettiest Spring 1999 Thierry Mugler Curving Pale Pink Dress w Front Iridescent Embellishments
I Have a Question
- This is the ready-to-wear version of the dres referenced here from the Spring 1999 Couture collection.
- It was made under the creative direction of Thierry Mugler
- The dress is cut with Mugler's masterful eye and attention to detail.
- The openings for the arms are cut inwards towards the neck and the neck line is set on a beautiful curve. All the seaming on the dress is set either vertically or on a curving angle so that it enhances and highlights the curves of the body.
- The bust and waist are created by the shaping of those beautifully curving vertical seams. I took a shot of the seams that curve over the hips as it is is really a part of what shapes the dress. Once on this emphasizes the curves of the body.
- It skims over the hips and then falls to the floor where the skirt widens out as it near the hem. The back hem of the skirt is cut on a slight downward curve so that it falls a little bit longer and gives a fantastic sweep at the back of the dress.
- The upper portion of the neck line is detailed with a double layered panel of nude mesh. Onto this is a fantastic design that combines iridescent clear tube beads with iridescent mother-of-pearl finished plastic pieces that vary in size. These are all set to curve outward slightly and are in different sizes. It is a really pretty effect.
- It is an extraordinary dress that is rare and beautiful.
- The dress is fully lined in the same fabric and closes with a hidden set back zipper. I see one tiny very faint mark on the fabric near the seam of the neck line. Please see the photo after the label shot. There is very minor grubbiness and a tiny bit of fading around the hem. I see a stitch at the very base of the mesh at the front where there may have been one more additional plastic piece. All of these are very minor but mentioned for accuracy. The colour is a bit more of a baby pink than how it photoed. It is in its original uncut length.
- Tagged a vintage Mugler 42
- Excellent condition
Bust: to 18" flat across from side seam to side seam
Waist: 15" flat across from side seam to side seam
Hips: to 20.5" flat across from side seam to side seam
Total length: 61" from neck to the front hem, 63" to the back hem
Modern Sizing Equivalent: MED-LRG
Item# DD5525
All items are thoroughly checked over before shipping. Unless noted everything in our shop has been professionally cleaned. All sales are final. Overseas clients will be emailed to obtain agreement to our final sales policy before the order is shipped as per our return policy.
john galliano
Outstanding Fall 2001 John Galliano Runway Look 41 Bias Cut Silk Chiffon Dress w Romantic Floral Print
I Have a Question
- The twin of this dress walked the Fall 2001 runway for a Look 41 and was worn by supermodel Stella Tenant in the show.
- It was made under the creative direction of John Galliano.
- This is the actual dress worn by Caitlin Thompson to the 2024 Emmys
- Madison Headrick privately acquired the first example of this dress that we had in our archives and wore it as part of her wedding celebrations.
- Besides the runway photos, we have included photos of both Madison and Caitlin so you can see how spectacular this is on the body.
- The dress is made out of a floral printed ivory silk chiffon that is feather light in weight.
- Soft pastel flowers done in shades of pale, pink and soft greens run over the entire dress and add to the ultra romantic feel that it has.
- Ruffled cap sleeves curve over the shoulders and they are set wide so that they sit at the very edge of your shoulder. This allows the chiffon to cascade over the top of each arm.
- The bodice is extensively gathered around the bust to the sides and into a seam that curves down just above the waist. All of the seam work on the dress is a heavy nod to the Couture pieces of the 1920s and 1930s. John Galliano often use those dresses as inspiration and you can clearly see that in this piece.
- Gathered ties extend out from the sides of the bodice to wrap and tie around you. They are very long so you can get creative in how they are tied. They add a touch of whimsy to the dress and are also a clever way to add shape through the waist.
- The dress curves back out and over the hips and then narrow down slightly to about the knee.
- The lower skirt is set into a curved seam and the volume below that is amazing. There is a tremendous amount of silk in the lower skirting so that it moves and floats fabulously around you when you move.
- Little added tiered ruffles of silk have been added along parts of the patterned seams for yet another extra romantic touch.
- The dress is completely cut on the bias so moves beautifully over the body. It makes it easy to fit and comfortable to wear.
- This is a spectacular example of his work and one of the most romantic prints from him that I have ever seen. This is an important early piece that is highly collectible.
- The dress is fully lined in an ivory silk chiffon and slips on with no closures. The easy cut and movement in the fabric should allow it to fit a range of sizes. The dress is in its original uncut length. It appears to have been worn very little if at all
- There is no size tag present so please go buy the measurements listed below
- Excellent condition
Bust: 16-19" flat across from side seam to side seam
Waist: 12-16" flat across from side seam to side seam
Hips: 17-22" flat across from side seam to side seam
Total length: 65" from shoulder to hem
Modern Sizing Equivalent: XS-MED
Item# DD5509
All items are thoroughly checked over before shipping. Unless noted everything in our shop has been professionally cleaned. All sales are final. Overseas clients will be emailed to obtain agreement to our final sales policy before the order is shipped as per our return policy.
christian dior
Outstanding Fall 2009 Christian Dior by John Galliano Bias Cut Metallic Silver Floral Print Dress
I Have a Question
- The dress is from the Fall 2009 collection and the same fabric was seen on the runway in other pieces.
- It was created under the creative direction of John Galliano.
- The show was inspired by 1920s and the 1920s Orientalism of couturier Paul Poiret and you can see that in the fabric of this dress and its nod to the metallic silk lames that were seen so prominently during that era.
- The dress is made from the most striking metallic silver & black fabric that has a subtle silver shimmer from head to toe. The photos capture the colour well, but it has a slightly more metallic feel in person that is really outstandingly beautiful.
- It is completely cut on the bias so that it falls and drapes beautifully over the body.
- The neck line is cut wide across and the shoulders extend slightly over the top of the arm. The bodice has angled darts that come out from the centre of the waist and it is cut to skim over you down to the waist area.
- The waist is shaped by a combination of the seam work there and the gathering at the front. After curving in around the waist it curves back out and over the hips.
- The skirt falls from there to the floor and I love how the bias cut narrows it in around the legs slightly and then the lower portion of skirt flares out dramatically. The back of the skirt is cut slightly longer than the front so you get this phenomenal sweeping feel behind you along with added movement as you walk and move.
- The way it is gathered in around the hips is a strong nod to pieces from the 1930s and 1940s. These are eras that John touched on quite often and that is showcased beautifully in this particular piece. There is a centre seam where all of the fabric has been gathered in towards to create shape and interest around the waist and the of the top of hips.
- The dress is in its original uncut length and just an incredible example of his work from time period.
- It is fully lined in black silk and closes with a back hidden set zipper. I see some faded marks to the interior lining around the hem. I think this is from storage. The exterior is pristine. When the dress is off the body, the inner lining hangs a bit past the hem but once it was on the dress form, it falls right. This is because of the bias cut of the inner lining - it doesn't shorten to match the exterior hem until there is a body in it.
- There is no size tag present so please go buy the measurements listed below
- Excellent condition.
Bust: 16-17.5" flat across from side seam to side seam
Waist: 12-14" flat across from side seam to side seam
Hips: 17-21" flat across from side seam to side seam
Total length: 64" from shoulder to front hem in the back extends another 2" past that.
Modern Sizing Equivalent: XS-MED
Item# DD5491
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.
adolfo
Incredible 1960s Adolfo Black Silk Chiffon One Shoulder Dress w Extensive Hand Bead & Sequin Detailing
I Have a Question
- This incredibally detailed dress dates to the 1960s.
- It was made under the creative direction of Adolfo Faustino Sardiña, who professionally known as Adolfo.
- Adolfo started his career under Balenciaga and, like Halston, he was a successful milliner before opening his own fashion house. He became know for his Chanel inspired suiting and beaded pieces.
- Adolfo often did custom work for his clients who ranged from the Duchess of Windsor to Jackie Kennedy Onassis, Gloria Vanderbilt and Nancy Reagan. He even won a Coty Award in 1969.
- The base fabric is a fine black silk chiffon over a black silk and then it is lined in a silk and then onto that are thousands of beads and sequins.
- The extensive bead and sequin work is set onto the silk in a gorgeous design that runs over the dress from top to bottom. The designs are clustered and the work sits up and off the silk for a slight 3D effect. All of the work is done by hand.
- It drapes and sits on the body in a very balanced way despite the elaborate work on it.
- The cut of this dress is a very flattering one shoulder silhouette. The one side curves up and over the shoulder and then from there it curves gracefully across the back. The shoulder strap is an extension of all of the design, so there is no break to the eye.
- The edges of the neck, down and around the one arm opening, and all the way around the hem are all finished with tightly, spaced bead work that is incredible.
- It skims over the bust and there is no seam at the waist. Instead, it is shaped to curve in slightly for shape and then it curves back out and over the hips.
- The dress falls to the floor from there and the skirt widens out a touch as it nears the floor. The hem is on a slight angle and as it curves up to the one side, there is a slit runs up one side for a flash of leg to show as you move or sit.
- I love the contrast of the silver white beads against the black. They catch the light with your slightest movement and from every angle. It is just a spectacular dress.
- The dress is fully lined in a black silk and closes with a side zipper. Hand finishes throughout. There is a tiny bare area between the beading on the shoulder and two small areas around the arm. Please see the photos after the label shot. Otherwise it looks as if it was worn very little if at all.
- There is no size tag present so please go by the measurements listed below.
- Excellent condition.
Bust: to 16" flat across from side seam to side seam
Waist: to 14" flat across from side seam to side seam
Hips: to 17" flat across from side seam to side seam
Total length: 60" from top of the shoulder to hem and the slit is 22" from the hem up.
Modern Sizing Equivalent: XS-SML
Item# DD5489
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.
paco rabanne
Ultra Rare 1990s Paco Rabanne Haute Couture Metallic Silver & Coral Dress w Chainlink Top & Headpiece
I Have a Question
- This is a very rare Paco Rabanne Haute Couture set from the 1990s, maybe 2000s.
- It was made under the creative direction of the original Paco Rabanne.
- This is a very rare collector piece and is almost certainly the only one in existence. It most likely was a runway piece but it is very challenging to find runway documentation for his Couture shows from this time period. If we do come across it at some point, we will certainly send it to its new owner.
- The set is made up of three separate pieces and you can wear them individually or together.
- The inner dress is strapless and widens out substantially around the body as it falls, outward and down to the hem. The back is cut longer than the front so you get a fantastic swoop of fabric behind you as you walk.
- Inside, there is a built-in inner bodice to hold the dress in place. This is the only thing holding the dress in place since the fabric that lays over the inner bodice is cut to be extremely open and full as it falls down to the hem.
- The inner fabric of this piece is foiled silver fabric that has an black woven net with an orange woven applique set into the netting so that it that forms an organic pattern. This unique and innovative fabric is used for the entire dress part of the set. The fabric innovation that he was doing for his Couture shows really highlights how far he was pushing the envelope and how purely experimental his creations were.
- Slipping over the dress is a one of his signature chain-link pieces. It has a part cape / part top feel to it. It combines plastic silver links that have a rhinestone in each of their centres, with round circle loops that are hooked together, plus little orange plastic and gold pieces. All the pieces are hand linked together in a nod to his traditional metal chain link. The top drapes down over the bodice with an upwards curve at the front. At the back, it extends far longer to well past the small of the back, ending in a point that perfectly picks up on the shape of the back skirt.
- Each sleeve of the piece has been made to be very full and wide. They flare outwards at their ends and have an edging made out of with strands of the same pieces as the body of the top with an added little oval shape at their ends.
- The original hooded head piece complete the set. It is extremely rare to have the headpieces included. These were almost always made for the runway show only and is the biggest clue that this was most likely the actual sample piece. The little handwritten tag that says 49 that is attached under the label was probably the order number in the show, giving us the second clue.
- This incredible little headpiece simply slips over the head and is long enough that it covers the neck. All of the edges are finished with the same dangling embellishments you see edges of the on the top. An opening at the front allows your face to peak out but you are otherwise covered over your entire head. The beads are then all gathered into a 'knot" at the top. Once in place it gives the illusion that the headpiece and cap piece are all a singular piece of chain-link over you. It is incredible.
- The dress is completely made by hand and I believe that this is the original sample runway sample dress. Under the tag is a handmade tag that says 49 and I believe that is the Look number that would've been shown on the runway. The edges are all handed basted and this adds to the feel that this is the original sample because that is often how you see runway samples finished from this era.
-
The dress has a built-in inner corset and this is what holds the dress in place around you. This inner bodice is lightly boned and has built in cups and meant to be fitted. Because of the excessive drape of the exterior dress you would be able to add and increase the size of the inner corset and you would never see any changes on exterior nor would it have any effect. That inner piece zips to close at the back and there is an attached waist stay that hooks to close. The dress closes with a series of snaps over that. There are dappled markings on a silver interior that show through to and under the netting. I believe this is all intentional as it is evenly distributed over the fabric on the silver parts of the fabric. There are some small pulls and stressing to the netting here and there.
- There is no size tag present because it is Haute Couture. Please go by the measurements listed below.
- Excellent condition
Inner bust: 15-16" flat across from side seam to side seam
Inner waist: 11.5-12" flat across from side seam to side seam
Hips: open
Total length: 54" from top of bodice to the front hem and the back extends another 8" past that, with 1" turned under the entire hem.
Modern Sizing Equivalent: XS-SML based on the interior corset only. The rest of the pieces are more accommodating to a greater range of sizes. Please read the notes above.
Item# DD5394
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.
simone rocha
Spring 2017 Simone Rocha Runway Look 6 Transparent Raincoat w Embroidered Tulle Backing
I Have a Question
- The twin of this coat walked the runway for Look 6 on the Spring 2017 Simone Rocha runway.
- It was made under the creative direction of Simone Rocha.
- Vogue said of the collection "when it comes down to it, Rocha's work always consists of a limited set of templates: trenchcoats, loosely fitted, lacy, semi sheer dresses, frills and florals, clear plastic heed shoes, and bags. This time, she used her utilitarian theme to bring in wrapping and tying, often leaving one shoulder of raincoat and jackets hanging off, and adding soft Crossbody sling bags on top."
- This is one of the pieces where she left one sleeve hanging off the model. It was shown on the runway layered over a dress.
- The fabric of this is fascinating. It is made out of a clear plastic raincoat fabric that has an ivory net backing. To hold the two fabrics together it is rolled and stitched at the edges but it also has a floral pattern embroidered through both layers. The final effect is this whimsical embroidered raincoat fantasy piece.
- The cut is pure Simone in feel with all of the exaggerated volume and pomp that you expect from her work.
- The collar around the neck is rounded and the as it runs down the length of the front it can be flipped back on itself with buttonholes placed down the front so that you can secure it in place. I have kept it buttoned for all of these photos but you could also undo them and wear it unbuttoned. They can also act double duty as different ways to close and style the jacket.
- The body is loose and easy with slash huge pockets built in around the hip. From there it expands outwards to become extremely full and open.
- It can be worn with all of that volume on full display, or you can use its matching belt to cinch in the waist and add extra extraordinary shape so that you have volume above and below.
- The sleeves are phenomenal. They are more like a mini cape than a sleeve. They come out from where they are set into the body of the coat and are completely open underneath. The hem of each sleeve is gathered in so that you get a very full poof above. I love that each sleeve has ties attached. Those ties are used to wrap around the arm and tie in place to create further shape.
- The entire jacket has a feeling of transformation because of the belt and ties at the arm and the way the buttons run down the front. You really have several options in the way that you can wear it.
- This would also make a phenomenal piece, not just for the collector, but as a piece for a bride looking for a unique cover-up.
- The coat is unlined and has a some transparency. It buttons down the front if you wish and the belt can be buckled or tied into place. The plastic has retained a touch of the dry cleaning solvent smell. It is not overwhelming, but I do want to mention it for accuracy. Because of the textile it would be impossible to not have this happen. It appears to have been worn very little if at all.
- There is no size tag present but its open and generous cut should fit most frames. It will just feel more oversized on a smaller frame.
- Excellent condition
Sleeves: 25" and they are full and open through the upper arm
Shoulders: no true seam. They are meant to slightly drop on a smaller frame and can accommodate a larger one.
Bust: to 26" flat across from side seam to side seam
Waist-hips: open
Total length: 50" from neck to hem
Modern Sizing Equivalent: SML-LRG
Item# DD5391
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.
nina ricci
Outstanding Spring 2009 Nina Ricci by Olivier Theyskens Runway Look 12 Floral Printed Silk Dress
I Have a Question
- The twin of this dress walked the runway for the Spring 2009 Nina Ricci
- It was made the creative direction of Olivier Theyskens.
- In Vogue's review of the collection they said "Olivier Theyskens' collection for Nina Ricci was like watching the performance of a long piece of self-referential romantic poetry. It's a world of his own, and to fully appreciate it, you need to know what's gone before in his work: his love of Edwardiana and tailcoats; the fluttery, flyaway cutting; the delicate prints and the dusty, organic woodland-floor palettes he likes. Essentially, it was a single silhouette, with a high collar, leg-of-mutton sleeves, and skirts cut away to show long lengths of leg, clad in sheer black tights, walking on high-heeled pump"
- Theyskens said he was "inspired by dance and dresses that each evolved their own shape, short in the front and long in the back."
- Pieces from his time at the Nina Ricci label are an important piece of Theyskens history.
- The dress is made out if a hand dyed silk with a print that suggest flowers in soft pastels. It has a touch of a watercolour painting in feel.
- Under the top layer is a second pale pink tissue silk layer that is cut to follow the lines of the dress and it peeks out from behind the edges of the entire piece.
- The bodice is very feminine in feel. The pink tissue silk under layer is cut to give a touch of a ruffle feel all the way around the straps that curved up and over the shoulders.
- At the back there is a rounded soft scoop that leaves your entire back bare and exposed. The pink silk underlayer peaks out to create a touch of ruffle all around that scoop.
- Vertical seaming creates shape through the waist and then the dress curves back out and over the hips.
- The skirt is extraordinary. Depending on your height, it will sit just from mid thigh to above the knee. From there it is set so it has a slight ruffled feel all the way down the sides to the floor and then the back sweeps out behind you.
- The silk used is extremely light in weight so this moves fantastically. I love that we have reference runway stills and video for you to be able to see how beautifully it moves.
- This is an extraordinary example of his work during this time period.
-
The dress is fully lined in a pale pink tissue silk as described above and closes with a hidden set back zipper. It appears to have never been worn or worn very little.
- Tagged a Nina Ricci 36
- Excellent condition
Bust: 15-17" flat across from side seam to side seam
Waist: 12.5-13.5" flat across from side seam to side seam
Hips: to 18" flat across from side seam to side seam
Total length: 32" from top of shoulder to front hem, 85" to the back hem
Modern Sizing Equivalent: XS-MED
Item# DD5379
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.
versace
Fantastic 1990s Gianni Versace Metallic Silver Stretch Jersey Dress w Front Plunge & Long Tie
I Have a Question
- The dress dates to the late 1990s-early 2000s time period of the Versace label.
- It was made under the creative direction of Gianni Versace.
- The dress is made out of of a fabulous metallic silver stretch lame that makes it incredibly easy to wear and fit.
- On the bodice wide panels curve up and over the shoulders. The shoulders are cut wide and sloped so that they sit slightly off the shoulder. There is a bit of padding underneath to hold the shape correctly on your shoulder.
- The front plunges all the way down to the waist. I love how the way the bodice is constructed. It looks like it has all been flung over your shoulders and ties into place at the waist. It looks effortless but this is actually all achieved by the way it is seamed and set.
- Where it meets at the front there is attached tie that loops over itself to create the suggestion of a knot and then that falls all the way down the front.
- The skirt curves out over the hips and the entire upper portion of the skirt at the front has been gathered into the centre seam. From the hem up to the base of all of the gathers is a high slit that allows a flash of leg when you walk or move.
- The silver catches the light from every angle to give it a liquid affect over the body and the stretch of the fabric makes it very comfortable, easy to wear and fit.
- The dress is unlined and slips on with an elastic waist. There is light padding in each shoulder. The stretch should allow it to fit ranger sizes. It appears to have been worn very little if at all.
- Tagged a vintage Versace 40
- Excellent condition
Bust: 15-19" flat across from side seam to side seam
Waist: 11-17" flat across from side seam to side seam
Hips: 16-21" flat across from side seam to side seam
Bodice: 13" from top of shoulder to waist
Total length: 54" from top of shoulder to hem
Slit: 20" from hem up
Modern Sizing Equivalent: XS-MED
Item# DD5369
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.
roberto cavalli
Outstanding Spring 2006 Roberto Cavalli Black Silky Jersey Corset Bodice Dress w Gold Hardware Detailing
I Have a Question
- This is the all black version of the Spring 2006 pink floral dress from the same collection that we currently have in the shop.
- It was made under the creative direction of Roberto Cavalli
- The twin of the pink version of this dress was worn by Noemie Lenoir in 2006 and we have included those reference photos in this listing because even though it is a different colour it still shows you just how phenomenal this is once on the body.
- The dress is made from a black silk feeling jersey that is draped over an inner black body suit that gives you the perfect amount of inner structure and holds the dress perfectly in place.
- That inner corset is lightly boned through the front and the bust area is shaped with inner padding and wire. The jersey on the exterior is draped into place over that and gathered over towards one side. At the base of where it gathers there is a decorative panel that has a tie running through it and little gold metal loops. You could use the ties to wrap around the waist or just let it hang down over the hip as I have done for these photos.
- A single layer of the jersey drapes down from there to form the skirt. The skirt is incredible. It falls to extend down long and dramatically on one side so you get a sweeping feel around you as you move. On the other side there is an inset triangle made out of a black chiffon that gives you the very slightest bit of transparency on that side.
- If you loved the dress in the flower print but are not a flower kind of girl. This is the version for you.
- The inner black bodysuit is shaped and made of a stretched lingerie netting to give you support and shape. It zippers to close at its side and then hooks to close at the bottom. The dress closes over that at the side with a hidden set zipper. It appears to have been worn very little if at all.
- There is no size tag present so please go by the measurements listed below.
- Excellent condition
Bust: 16-18" flat across from side seam to side seam
Inner waist: 12-14" flat across from side seam to side seam
Inner Hips: to 20" flat across from side seam to side seam
Bodice: approx 15" from top of shoulder to waist
Total length: 62" from top of shoulder to the shortest part of the hem at one side and the back extends another 17" past that.
Modern Sizing Equivalent: XS-MED
Item# DD5288
Reference Photos: Noemie Lenoir attends the 'Quand J'Etais Chanteur' premiere during the Cannes Film Festival, 2006.
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.
todd oldham
Incredible & Rare Fall 1995 Todd Oldham Runway Black Silk Creoe Dress w Large Crystal Detailing
I Have a Question
- The twin of this dress walked the runway for the Fall 1995 show.
- It was made under the creative direction of Todd Oldham.
- In an interview with Fashion TV Oldham said that the Fall 1995 show "was the biggest collection he had ever done, it was more well rounded, and that he thought he liked it better than any collection he had ever done... It is rich without being alienating"
- Todd Oldham showed his first collection in 1981 and officially launched his label in 1989. In 1991 he won the Perry Ellis Award for New Fashion Talent. By 1995 he was the darling of the media. His shows were extravagant and all of the reigning supermodels of the day walked his runways.
- Nothing from his label was being produced in great quantities and the more extravagant dresses like this one are extremely rare and hard to find because they were made in such limited quantities.
- The dress is made out of a black silk crepe that has a very slight ribbed texture to it. It has a sleek and simple feel to it that perfectly reflects the 1990s. At the same time it has a very elaborate crystal rhinestone detailing done for the straps that elevates the dress perfectly
- The upper bodice has attached silver metal linked chains that are flexible and have a series of hand set crystal rhinestones set side-by-side along the lengths of the chain and are held in place by prongs set on a mesh ribbon backdrop.
- The front sweeps up to the neck to a centre peak and the attached rhinestone chains wraps around the neck and then runs down the sides of the back to attach to back of the dress. The first chain is set along the top edge of the dress and runs closer to the neck before curving down the back. The second series of chains are set below that and follow the same line just a few inches apart. I love the crisscross shape that this creates at the front. You can see on the runway pictures how this sits on the body. It is interesting to know that there are no claps or closures. You have to put the dress on and then slip your arms through so that they sit on top of your shoulders.
- The chains are made out of big chunky glass crystal rhinestones that are very high quality. The pattern on each chain combines a large marquise shaped stone set between two stacked round rhinestones on either side. They are gorgeous.
- The dress skims over the bust and curves in at the waist. At the back the upper back is left bare and exposed.
- It curves back out over the hips and then the skirt falls to the floor and gently widens out to the hem. The bottom of the skirt flares out a touch and this gives it some extra fullness and movement as you walk
- The dress is fully lined in a black silk and closes with a back zipper. There are little soft half cup sewn into the front bust area. Some of the ribbon backing of the chains has come loose where the glue has given out. It appears to sit properly once on regardless, but if you want my seamstress to look at this before sending let me know when you place your order. Please see the photo after the label shot. Hand work throughout.
- Tagged a vintage Oldham medium
- Excellent condition
Bust: 16-17" flat across from side seam to side seam
Waist: 13" flat across from side seam to side seam
Hips: to 19" flat across from side seam to side seam
Total length: 61" from neck to hem
Modern Sizing Equivalent: SML-MED
Item# DD5226
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.
rochas
Prettiest 2000s Rochas by Olivier Theyskens Blue Silk Floral Watercolour Dress w Ruffles & Velvet Trim
I Have a Question
- I purchased this many years ago and was told this was a dress made under the creative direction of Olivier Theyskens.
- Theyskens debuted at Rochas in 2003 at the age of 25 and stayed at the brand until Spring 2015.
- The dress has a beautiful Victorian feel to it and the fabric is gorgeous. It is very light in weight and feels like a fine silk organza mix. Onto it is a stunning washed watercolour feeling floral print that covers the entire dress. It is very pretty.
- A pretty ruffle circles the collar and ruffles continue down the front on either side of the buttons. The bodice is detailed with stripes of black flat pile cotton velvet and the buttons are covered in that same fabric. The seams are exposed and deliberately top stitched with a embroidered feeling thread. The sleeves are long and each ends in a wide cuff that has a little bit of velvet detail.
- It skims over the bust and waist and is cut to be more full and easy through the body. The bodice extends down past the waist to a seam that sits on the top of the hip. The skirt is attached above the seam with an exposed serging all the way around you.
- The skirt falls from there to the floor and it is wonderfully full. It is gathered in around the seam at the hip and then opens out as it near the hem. The lower portion of the skirt is covered in the same detailing that we see on the bodice, combining the velvet ribbon, exposed seams and ruffles, but on the skirt it is flipped horizontally to wrap around you. Underneath the skirt is lined in a black woven netting that helps to hold the shape.
- It is beautifully detailed and the design is properly and carefully thought out and executed. Its loose easy cut through the body make it an easy to fit dress. I think you could even belt this to create a completely different feel to the dress and add more shape.
- They bodice is unlined and has a touch of transparency to it. The skirt is lined in black netting as described above. It closes at the front with the black velvet buttons. Each cuff closes with a series of five hidden hook and eye. It appears to have been worn very little if at all.
- There is no size tag present so please go by the measurements listed below
- Excellent condition
Sleeves: 26.5" and are 11" around the upper arm
Inset shoulders: 12"
Bust: 17" flat across from side seam to side seam
Natural waist: 16" flat across from side seam to side seam
Seam at the top of the hips: 18" flat across from side seam to side seam
Natural hips: open
Bodice: 19" from top and shoulder to waist
Total length: 61" from top of shoulder to hem
Modern Sizing Equivalent: XS-MED
Item# DD5189
All items are thoroughly checked over before shipping. Unless noted everything in our shop has been professionally cleaned. All sales are final. Overseas clients will be emailed to obtain agreement to our final sales policy before the order is shipped as per our return policy.
I Have a Question
Bust: 15-18" flat across from side seam to side seam
Waist: 14.5-17" flat across from side seam to side seam
Hips: 18-21" flat across from side seam to side seam
Length: approx 60" from neck to hem with the length adjustable by how tight or loose you tie it behind the neck
Modern Sizing Equivalent: XS-MED
Item# DD5157
All items are thoroughly checked over before shipping. Unless noted everything in our shop has been professionally cleaned. All sales are final. Overseas clients will be emailed to obtain agreement to our final sales policy before the order is shipped as per our return policy.
I Have a Question
- A shorter version walked the runway for Spring 2012 for Look 47
- Under the creative direction of Karl Lagerfeld
- The body of the dress is a pale pink knit whose design is set in little individual scallops that slightly overlap the one underneath. It is very intricate and beautiful
- The neckline is scooped and there are flowers made out of stiffened silk organza mixed with an iridescent fabric that also is stiffened. These are curled inward to form petals. There is a cluster of five flowers around the neck and then ten run down the centre of the front. More circle around the entire hem. The iridescent petals catch the light and add a beautiful dimension to the dress.
- The sleeves are made out of a ivory silk chiffon and each closes with a little domed Chanel button with the double C logo in gold. A third button sits at the back of the neck. Despite having the Chanel button I think that these sleeves may have been added at a later date or upon request of the client. It would explain why they still have the Chanel buttons but they don't look like they were integral to the dress by the way they are set into the arm. I have left it as found but if you did not like them they could easily be removed.
- The dress is unlined and slips over the head to wear. It buttons to close at the back of the neck and on each cuff.
- Tagged a Chanel 36
- The button at the back of the neck has lost its little gold double C logo. I see a tiny little break in the silk at the top of one shoulder. It otherwise is an excellent condition.
Sleeves: 23" and are 13" around the upper arm
Bust: 15-18" flat across from side seam to side seam
Waist: 15-17" flat across from side seam to side seam
Hips: 17-19" flat across from side seam to side seam
Total length: 36" from neck to hem
Modern Sizing Equivalent: XS-SML
Item# DD5044
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.
ralph lauren
Spring 2015 Ralph Lauren Purple Label Beaded Silk Net Dress w Low Open Back
I Have a Question
This beautiful dress was Look 49 on the Spring 2015 runway for Ralph Lauren. At the time it was released there was a editorial that noted that the bead work alone on this dress took over 900 hours. Princess Charlene of Monaco wore one in 2016 and Sarah Jessica Parker wore one in 2023. I ove that this gives you a fantastic idea of how this looks like on the body. The Purple Label from Ralph Lauren are the high-end demi-couture pieces the label creates. Ralph Lauren launched it in 1994 and the label was meant to be the pinnacle line for the brand. The dress is beautifully made.
The dress is made from multiple layers of silk tulle over an inner silk. The colour is a earthy deep golden colour. Onto the top netted layer is the extensive and elaborate bead and prong set glass crystals that are mentioned above that took over 900 hours to apply by hand. The design completely covers the bodice and sleeves and then runs down on panels on the skirt. The front neckline is scooped across and rhinestones have been prong set in an elaborate and dense design just under the neck line. These taper down and change to these to very fine beaded curving lines that run down to the waist seam. The sleeves are long and they are also entirely covered with more delicately done bead work. At the back you have an open V that plunges down the back and exposes a bare expanse of skin. The skirt is magnificent. It has multiple layers of the tulle with individual panels attached around the skirt. These panels have the same elaborate hand beading as the sleeves. The entire skirt is made from multiple layers of panels set vertically and separated from each other from the hem to about 23" up, so when you sit or walk a certain way you get a bit of flash of leg from underneath. This gives you incredible volume as well. I loved the dropped waist and you can see that the dress can be worn with a belt as they showed it on the runway, or without for a more 1930s feel. It appears to have been worn very little if at all. Excellent condition.
Fully lined in a matching coloured silk and closes with a low set hidden back zipper. Each sleeve buttons to close at the wrist. The skirts are made of multiple layers of tulle with an inner silk panel. Tagged a modern RL 4
Sleeves: 24.5" and are 10" around the upper arm
Shoulders: 14"
Bust: 17" flat across from side seam to side seam
Natural waist: 13.5-15" flat across from side seam to side seam
Seam at the top of the hips: to 17" flat across from side seam to side seam
Bodice: 19" from top of shoulder to the seam at the top of the hips
Total length: 60" from top of shoulder to longest points of hem
Modern Sizing Equivalent: XS-SML
Item# DD5018
All items are thoroughly checked over before shipping. Unless noted everything in our shop has been professionally cleaned. All sales are final. Overseas clients will be emailed to obtain agreement to our final sales policy before the order is shipped as per our return policy.
yves saint laurent
Spring 1982 Yves Saint Laurent Haute Couture 'Indian Collection' Ivory & Black Tunic/Dress
I Have a Question
The Spring 1982 collection marked the 20th anniversary of Yves' Couture house. In the book Yves Saint Laurent: Catwalk they note that the historical importance of his collection made him feel very anxious. He was quoted as saying "I am frightened of this collection. I am far more anxious than I was for my first collection. It is a reassessment of 20 years… It is the end of adolescence, the beginning of maturity. I really feel like a beginner." But of course, it was a masterpiece of a collection and raved about.
The collection was extravagant and was heavily influenced by India and the beautiful work done by Indian artisans. There was a play on proportions with wide shoulders and a narrowing at the hips. This tunic was one of the more simple pieces in the collection but it still has the touch of an oversized shoulder and the ease and elegance of a beautiful silk in its making.
I love that you can wear this as a tunic over something else. It was shown over a skirt and a modern girl could easily wear it on its own as a dress. It was shown belted with a silk sash in the advance photos for the collection and you could easily add a belt or ribbon if you wanted to have more shape. The shoulders are padded and set a little wide. The sleeves are cut wide through the upper arm and even as they narrow to the wrist, they are still wide set by the cuff. The cuffs and collar are done in a black silk and I love the contrast to the ivory of the body. It is meant to be worn fairly loose and easy to skim over your bust, waist and hips. It falls to about the knee or just above depending on your height. A slit runs up each side and you can see that he has lined the entire inside of the piece in that same black silk as the collar and cuffs. When you walk and move the slits let you to see that flash of black which ties the whole piece together perfectly. The silk is a rich and heavy weight that drapes beautifully over the body. This is a dress that really needs to come to life with a body in it and my dress form photos are nowhere near to doing it justice. It is completely made by hand and an absolutely beautiful, refined and easy piece of true Couture. Excellent condition with a small note below.
Fully lined in a handset black silk and closes at the back with a hand set zipper. Handmade padding in each shoulder. It is completely made by hand to Couture standards. Has it proper YSL numbered Couture label. There is one small mark near the elbow of one sleeve. Please see the photo after the label shot. The easy cut should allow it to fit a range of sizes. On a smaller frame, it will just feel more oversized.
Sleeves: 22.5" and each is 20" around the upper arm
Exaggerated shoulders: 16.5"
Bust: to 19" flat across from side seam to side seam
Waist: to 19" flat across from side seam to side seam
Hips: to 20" flat across from side seam to side seam
Total length: 39" from top of shoulder to hem
Slits: 11.5" from hem up
Modern Sizing Equivalent: SML-LRG
Item# DD4913
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
1973 Loris Azzaro Couture Black Sequin & Silk Chiffon Insets Dress w Pointed Hem
I Have a Question
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.
Ady Couture
Fall 1987 Ady Couture Lausanne for Givenchy Iridescent Purple Metallic Dress w Velvet Bow
I Have a Question
This dress was made by hand in the atelier of Ady Couture who was based in Lausanne Switzerland. Ady herself was a couture trained seamstress and headed a team who had full permission of the Haute Couture houses she worked with to make the designs they showed in Paris for clients based in Switzerland and the surrounding areas. She would purchase the couture fabrics from the couture houses along with the patterns and then make the actual dresses in her atelier. This arrangement with the couture houses was a way to work around customs during this time period and do fittings for clients unable to travel to Paris. So far we have verified that she had this arrangement with Yves Saint Laurent, Christian Dior, Givenchy and Ungaro. There may have been others but those are the four labels we have documentation on from the runway. This dress is from the Fall 1987 Haute Couture collection. Several variations of this dress where produced and we have included reference photos where you can see the strapless version from the runway. And a shorter version of this dress was also shown on the runway and one was worn by Audrey Hepburn as well.
The dress is made from the most incredible iridescent metallic fabric. It is purple first and foremost but when the light hits here it gets a highlight of a hint of the green that is just amazing to see. The fabric has enough weight to it to hold the shape that you see. The neckline is scooped and the sleeves are set into the shoulders so that you get a bit of a peak where they are gathered into the bodice. They are cut wider near the top of your arm and then taper down to the wrist. The bodice skims over you to the slightly dropped waist seam. Around the hip area is a wide band of gathered fabric that creates that incredible volume. A black velvet bow sits the front. The skirt is cut on a sharp angle that widens out to be quite full as it nears the floor. The cut is meant to feel sculptural and contrast the volume around the hips. The back of the skirt is fuller and set a little longer then the front. One version on the runway was belted and you could easily add a belt to add shape. The interior of the dress is completely finished to couture standards with every single seam done by hand. It is beautifully made and appears to have been worn very little if at all. Excellent condition
Fully lined in a black silk and closes with a hidden set zipper at the back and there are hidden set zippers at each wrist. Hand finished throughout. It appears to have been worn very little if at all. Made to Haute Couture standards
Sleeves: 26"
Shoulders: 16"
Bust: to 20" flat across from side seam to side seam
Waist: to 16.5" flat across from side seam to side seam
Hips: to 20" flat across from side seam to side seam
Length: 54.5" from top of shoulder to front hem, 58" to the longest part of the back hem
Modern Sizing Equivalent: MED-LRG
Item# DD3808
All items are thoroughly checked over before shipping. Unless noted everything in our shop has been professionally cleaned. All sales are final. Overseas clients will be emailed to obtain agreement to our final sales policy before the order is shipped as per our return policy.
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