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

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

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

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

Modern Sizing Equivalent: SML-MED

Item# DD4867

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

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

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

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

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

Modern Sizing Equivalent: XS-SML

Item# DD4869

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

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

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

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

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

Modern Sizing Equivalent: SML-LRG

Item# DD4862

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

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

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

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

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

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

Modern Sizing Equivalent: SML-MED

Item# DD4859

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

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

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

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

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

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

Modern Sizing Equivalent: SML-MED

Item# DD4856

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

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

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

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

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

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

Modern Sizing Equivalent: SML-MED

Item# DD4853

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

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

This dress is from the Spring 1977 Bill Gibb collection. In the book, 'Bill Gibb: Fashion and Fantasy' they quote him as saying "for next season, I am going to do semi-sport, separates like a little boy with shorts, something I've never done before... women want to get into pretty clothes" It goes on to describe the invitation for the show as 'a barefooted girl, wearing a simple empire line dress in a garden, surrounded by a garland of flowers' and of the show itself...'Gibb presented one of his most delicate looking collections, combining his cute boyish styles with pastoral illusions… embroidered cheesecloth and broderie anglaise. Even though he called this his flowers and lace collection, Gibbs discerning eye insured the look never became two sugary sweet by punctuating the collection with splashes of black. He said "I like a dress to have great richness. There are many ways to do this like a black cat printed on the hem of a starkly white dress, or I use black and white next to a coloured pattern fabric... It is incredibly effective". We are also very pleased to have found a photo of the dress on the runway. It is an incredibly rare and gorgeous little dress.

Bill Gibb is one of my favourite designers and I am always extremely pleased to be able offer an item from him as they are very hard to find. The really good ones especially, never mind when one is documented like this one is. It is also a gorgeous dress in its own right. I love that this showcases exactly what he said above about using black as a means to contrast and add "richness". It is a dress that in someways is simple but it has huge impact. The halter is made out of a black silk that has a pink ribbon defining all of the seams and edges. The ribbon extends out from the side of the bust to curve up and over your shoulder attaching at the edge at the back. Where the front scoops down into a V ribbon also extends out from there and these ones tie behind the back so that the ends trail down against your bare skin. Using the ribbon to define the seams visually creates six panels around you. Each of those has been hand detailed with tiny silver pink beading, opaque white beads and pink embroidery to form little flowers to perfectly fit into the theme of the collection. It is the prettiest detailing. The halter falls into a V at the front and then the ribbons cross over themselves and there is a open keyhole under that to the waist. At the back, the vertical edges sit several inches apart from each other to add even more to the bare and open feeling it has. The skirt is equally as amazing. It is made out of a white cotton inner skirt and then has an attached over skirt that does not fully meet at the front. The interior skirt is finished with a wide layer of cotton lace at the hem and then the attached top layer starts with a ruffle at the waist. It has five more layers of ruffles as it travels to the hem. The skirt is incredibly full. An interesting little detail is that the inner skirt has pockets and this allows you to put your hands into those pockets and hold the outer skirt away to the sides. This will give you more of the feel that you see on the runway photo. This is an extraordinary little piece and could not be more rare. Excellent condition.

The inner skirt acts as the lining and the halter is lined in an ivory silky rayon. It closes with the tie at the back of the neck and then hook at the back of the waist and has a zipper below that. Pockets on the inner skirt. Sized a vintage Bill Gibb UK 10. 

Bust: 15-16" flat across from side seam to side seam
Waist: 12-12.5" flat across from side seam to side seam
Hips: open
Bodice: 15" from top of shoulder to top of the band at the waist
Total length: 48" from top of shoulder to hem

Modern Sizing Equivalent: XS-SML

Item# DD4850

Reference Photos: Spring 1977 Bill Gibb.

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

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

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

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

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

Modern Sizing Equivalent: XS-MED

Item# DD4846

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

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

This is a gorgeous little knit dress from the Fall 1997 Galliano collection that I believe was made for the shops. It is a dress that really showcases his quirkiness in design and how he loved to use different elements to create something new.

The dress is made out of a fine knit in a deep burgundy red. Through the body of the dress it has a pleated detail that runs vertically. The knit then has a ribbed detail that runs horizontally and the two together create a bit of a thatched effect through the main body of the dress. The top of the dress is made of two attached pieces that are done in a slightly smoother knit and this is where you can see his creativity. Inside the bodice there is a little halter top with ties that run behind the neck to tie in the place. Then attached along the seam underneath that is a knit panel that extends out into long ties. I have shown it tied a couple of different ways here and I think that if you use your imagination you can come up with even more. The back is scooped low so no matter how are you tied the panel you end up with an expanse of skin showing there. This is a great dress that you can layer underneath other things for that perfect little pop of Galliano in your wardrobe. Depending on your height this will be a full length or around the mid-calf. Excellent condition.

Unlined and slips on to wear with no closures. The halter ties behind the neck and the attached panel also ties in place. Tagged a vintage Galliano medium. The fabric does have some stretch so I put the comfortable range when laying flat.

Bust: each triangle covers approximately 7" flat across from side to side
Seam under the bust: 12-17" flat across from side seam to side seam
Hips: 14-20" flat across from side seam to side seam
Bodice: approx 9-10" from neck to the seam under the bust
Total length: approx 54" from neck to hem

Modern Sizing Equivalent: XS-MED

Item# DD4845

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

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

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

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

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

Modern Sizing Equivalent: MED-LRG

Item# DD4841

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

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

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

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

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

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

Modern Sizing Equivalent: XS-SML

Item# DD4842

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

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

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

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

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

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

Modern Sizing Equivalent: SML-MED

Item# DD4843

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

This dress is from the Spring 2006 collection and it is a beauty. The collection was called "Coco meats, James Dean" and the idea was that Lagerfeld organized this imaginary meeting between the two. In real life they had never met but in his eyes he saw them as being rebellious figures and wanted to explore the meeting of the two stylistically. The twin of this dress walked the runway for Look 50. I love it.

This dress is gorgeous and everything you want in a Chanel. The dress is made out of a black silk taffeta with a fine black lace edging. The bodice has an almost scarf feeling front panel that goes up and behind the neck to tie and then it narrows down to the centre of the waist. It is completely edged in the black lace. This sits over an inner bodice at the front and then at the back the upper back is left bare except for two straps that angle down to meet the piece that curves around from the front. The dress skims over your bodice to a wide band of silk around the waist. Again we see the lace edging he has added for a pretty and feminine touch. The skirt is incredible. It has been pleated into tiny but soft pleats and the first tier of it is a more bubble shape. It is brought in under itself to a piece of inner elastic that holds it around your legs but still allows you to move. The silk extends out from that and you have all the volume of the gathered fabric to create a pretty ruffle underneath. There is a little bow that sits in the centre front of this final tier. The bottom of the ruffle is also finished in a pretty edging of black lace to perfectly tie it in with the bodice. It is so pretty and unusual and I love the flash of skin when you turn around. That unexpected touch of sexiness is fantastic. This is one of those dresses that only truly come to life when on. It is an amazing piece of Chanel and shows just how creative Karl was. It looks to have been worn very little if at all. Excellent condition.

The bodice is unlined and the skirt has an inner lining of the same taffeta that the dress is made out of. The dress zips to close at the back and then it has hidden hook and eye at the waist band and a decorative jet black Camellia flower button over those. Two more black Camellia flower buttons close the dress above that. The halter ties to close. It appears to have been worn very little if at all. Tagged a Chanel 38.

Bust: to 17.5" flat across from side seam to side seam
Waist: to 14" flat across from side seam to side seam
Inner hips: to 16" flat across from side seam to side seam
Bodice: approx 15" from top of bodice to top of band at the waist
Total length: approx 40" from top of the shoulder to hem and can be adjusted a bit by how you tie it around the neck

Modern Sizing Equivalent: SML-MED

Item# DD4826

Reference Photos/Video: Spring 2006 Chanel Runway, Look 50. Model Heidi Mount.

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.

No matter how good you think that this dress looks like in photos it is even better in person and moving. The heavy copper / gold coloured metal wire and rhinestones that were used to create the pattern on the silk catch the light from every angle when you move. The dress is made out of the palest ballet pink silk. The dress is cut on the bias so it just glides over the body. It buttons down the back in a row of tightly spaced silk covered buttons and it is cut to just fall over you in a sweep of bias cut silk. The dress is suspended from the shoulders by two tiny silk straps and the front falls over the bust with a V neck plunge at the front and the back. The dress skims over the waist and hips with seams that are reminiscent of the couture dresses of the thirties. All are done so that the bias cut of the silk follows your curves and highlights the body underneath without it being too tight and fitted. Once past the hips the dress flares out as it nears the bottom and it is incredibly full. A wide panel circles all the way around the lower skirt and there is stiffened netting placed behind it so that it holds the fullness around you. When you walk or move the skirt kicks out to add beautiful movement and volume. The final perfect detail is that spectacular design made out of a combination of metal wire in a deep copper gold tone. This is set so that it curves up and off the silk for a 3D effect. Prong set rhinestones are scattered in and among the designs on the bust and around the hips. These catch the light beautifully as you move. It is just wonderful. Over all great condition with a note below

Fully lined with a pale pink silk chiffon and closes with the buttons down the back. The measurements given below are the comfortable range when the dress is laying flat. The bias cut of the dress should work on a range of sizes. On smaller frames it will drape more and be more fitted on larger frames. The very slightest yellowing to the silk here and there and around the waist area in particular. You can see it in the photos presented and I would say the photos make it look worse than it is in real life. Tagged a Cavalli XS

Bust: 14-17.5" flat across from side seam to side seam
Waist: to 16" flat across from side seam to side seam
Hips: to 21" flat across from side seam to side seam
Length: 64" from top of shoulder to front hem, 70" to the back hem

Modern Sizing Equivalent: XS-MED

Item# DD4825

Reference Photo: Jaime Tisch attends a preview gala dinner for the Metropolitan Museum's "Wild: Fashion Untamed" exhibition, hosted by fashion designer Robert Cavalli, on December 6, 2004.

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.

Lace was one of the primary fabrics that Sarah Burton used for the Spring 2012 collection and Vogue reported that "She based her collection on the three Gs: Grès for the pleating and draping, Gaudí for the architecture, and Gaia for the sense of all-encompassing oceanic life that infused the clothes, like the outfits composed of coral or shells." They went on to remark on the beautiful pastels and golds used saying "this collection proved how hot-wired into the core of McQueen Burton truly is. The colour palette—as translucent as the inside of a shell—had the kind of unambiguous prettiness that McQueen himself might have felt inclined to disrupt in some way". The twin of this stunning dress in black was featured in the  Spring 2012 collection Lookbook sent out to select retailers. Pink wore one in black for an editorial shoot and Du Juan wore one on the red carpet. I love it in the gold. It is so striking.

The dress is stunning and it might even make for a spectacular bridal dress or to be worn for the events surrounding a wedding weekend or as a gala / event piece. It is made out of a muted gold lace that tops a pale nude silk underneath. The dress is cut to follow the curves of the body from the top of the neckline to below the hips but in a way that doesn't feel overly tight or confining. It just curves over the body in the best possible way. The neckline is a scooped and the bodice is shaped to flow over your curves. The waist is a touch on the more easy side and you could easily add a wide corset belt to get the effect you see in the reference photos and really cinch it in. It curves over the hips to about the knee and then the lower skirts explode out from there. Insets of the same lace with masses of a silk organza underskirt are set all the way around the skirt. If you lay the lower skirt out flat it has more volume than a full circle. This is what creates those incredible rounded effect and the volume that you see in the photos. We did not add any additional underskirts on this dress. All of that sweeping volume is all built in. It also creates beautiful movement as you move. You can see in the photos that the back is cut slightly longer then the front so you get this beautiful sweeping effect behind you as you walk. It is so special and absolutely stunning. This is Sarah at her best. Excellent condition.

Fully lined in a pale nude silk for the body of the dress and then silk organza through the lower skirts. It closes with a hidden set back zipper. It appears to have been worn very little if at all. Tagged McQueen 42.

Bust: to 18" flat across from side seam to side seam
Waist: 15" flat across from side seam to side seam
Hips: to 18" flat across from side seam to side seam
Total length: 63" from top of bodice to front hem, 66" to the longest point of the back hem

Modern Sizing Equivalent: SML-MED

Item# DD4824

Reference Photos: (1) Spring 2012 Alexander McQueen Lookbook.  /  (2-3) Pink, in McQueen, photographed by Andrew MacPherson, Feb 2012.  /  (4) Du Juan in McQueen at the Deja Vu Screening, June 2012.

Bill Blass launched his label in 1970 when he bought out the Maurice Rentner label and then re-launched it under his own name. Blass was arguably one of the most famous of  the American designers. His forte was the ability to mix simple styles with luxurious materials and his evening wear in particular seemed to have a way of flattering the wearer. He knew how to walk that line perfectly. This is a very chic and sexy example of his work from this time period and it is even better in person. 

The dress is made out of a feather light silk chiffon that is bias cut and backed in a second layer of silk that has the same pretty print over its surface. This layering of the print creates a really pretty depth and added dimension to the dress. Both layers are cut on the bias and the layers float over each other perfectly to drape over the body. It is incredible. The dress is as light as a feather and feels like heaven once on the body. The dress curves over the shoulders and the neckline plunges down between the breasts with a pretty ruffle following the neckline. The back has the same V and ruffle treatment. It cleverly closes at the base of the V and you could probably wear this either way around. It skims over the bust and then from there the dress falls in an extravagant swoosh to the floor with an easy cut over the waist and hips. The bias cut lets it drape over the body underneath but at the same time it feels insanely comfortable on because the fabric weighs ounces. I have added a taupe grosgrain ribbon at the waist to cinch it in more but also shot it without so you could see that as well. It works either way. The skirt widens out as it nears the floor and there are extra long draping panels that extend past the hemline for the perfect and prettiest finish. Excellent condition. 

Made from a layer of silk chiffon topping an inner silk layer as described above. It closes with a hidden set zipper. The ribbon at the waist is not original to the dress but will be included. The bias cut has some give and the comfortable range of measurements are listed below. The dress appears to have been worn very little if at all.

Bust: 18-20" flat across from side seam to side seam
Waist: to 15" flat across from side seam to side seam
Hips: to 20" flat across from side seam to side seam
Total length: 62" from the top of the shoulder to actual hem and then the panels extend up to 12" beyond that

Modern Sizing Equivalent: MED-LRG

Item# DD4823

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 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. Unlike many designers he kept his own label going as well throughout the years at both those houses. 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 2000 season and it is gorgeous. This dress was a piece made for production for retail but it has all the things we love about his work presented in a beautifully chic and minimalist package.

The dress is gorgeous. It definitely takes inspiration from the bias cut couture pieces of the 20s and 30s. 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 that has a matte satin finish. The colour is like a deep pewter silver with a touch of a taupe brown undertone to it. It has that same light in weight feel that the best of the 1930s pieces did that were made from similar fabrics. Like those liquid dresses of the thirties this is also completely cut on the bias. It is cut to flow over the body and skim its way over the bust, waist and hips as it falls to the floor. The dress falls from straps that curve up and over each shoulder. The straps have their own detail that I love. Each one is a double strap that is stitched together at the top of the shoulder, crosses over themselves, and then are attached to the dress with a round disk made out of the same fabric that has been piped and stitched into a circle. He has added this detail to the front and to the back of each strap. The neckline comes down into a V and it does the same thing at the back for a pretty exposure of skin. I love how the V of the neckline picks up with the V shapes created within each strap. It skims over the bodice with no seam at the waist on the front of the dress. At the back there is a low set angled seam that gives a bit of shape through the lower back. The skirt flows down to the floor, skimming over the hips and then flaring out as it reaches the hem. The flaring shape is achieved by the bias cut of the fabric rather then extensive seaming. This gives you some pretty movement around the lower skirt when you walk or move. It also adds to the hourglass shape the dress has. It is all done so that it sits in a certain way on your hips and then that in turn affects how the entire dress sits on your body. The dress comes with its matching shawl piece that is equally incredible. It is 26" at its widest point and just over 8 feet long. At each end, the fabric is gathered into one of those circular piped discs that you see on the base of the shoulder straps, and then they are finished with a beautiful 7 1/2" tasselled fringe. You can simply drape this over your shoulders and it adds that perfect touch for when you make your entrance in the dress. It becomes an integral design detail in itself. It is these subtle little details that Galliano put into his dresses that make them heads above other pieces. The dress is spectacular. Excellent condition.

Unlined and slips over the head to wear with no true closures. Tagged a Galliano FR42, GB14, US8. The bias cut fabric does have some stretch. The measurements below give you the comfortable range the fabric has when lying flat. The bias cut should allow it to fit a range of sizes

Bust: 17-21" flat across from side seam to side seam
Dropped waist: 14-17.5" flat across from side seam to side seam
Hips: 18-21" flat across from side seam to side seam
Total length: 60" from the top of the shoulder to hem
Shawl 26"w x 100" long end to end and including the tassels

Modern Sizing Equivalent: XS-MED

Item# DD4814 

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

The twin of this dress in a yellow was part of the resort 2010 collection. This dress with it stunning agate inspired print is even prettier that the solid coloured version. Printed pieces and these blue tones were used for the Spring 2009 show and a tag inside of this dress does have a date of 2009 so either he repeated the cut of the dress in the solid colour for the Resort 2010 show or this was made in 2010 but based on the 2009 prints and the date reflects the production date. I have seen this dress before once or twice for sale and I was very happy to find one as I have always wanted to see this one in person. It does not disappoint.

The silk chiffon that has been used to construct this dress is wonderful. It is covered with that amazing design that is set over the dress in a pattern done to reflect the colours and hues that you would see in an agate stone. The print runs over the entire dress and is very beautiful. The combination of the silk, the plunging halter top and that amazing back give the dress a soft and romantic feel while still having a bit of that McQueen edginess. The bodice is made of two wide gathered triangle panels of silk that wrap partway around the waist and then extend up and around the neck. At the back two other panels extend up from the waist and curve around the straps from the front. The triangles at the front create a low plunge that goes to the waist. The sides are wrapped slightly to the back waist but you still have a feeling of openness above that and I love that detail. The back is beautiful with those straps running over the bare expanse of skin. There is a soft partially twisted band at the waist for shape and then at the back it extends into long ties that you can tie into a bow as I have or let them trail down to the hem. Under the waist the skirt skims over the hips and then opens out to be very full. The softness and movement that the ultralight silk chiffon create when you move adds to the feminine feel that the dress has. It is genius. The volume in the skirt really becomes apparent when you move and it billows out around you to give the dress a light and airy feel. The dress is gorgeous and even better in person. This is a piece that will really come to life once on an actual body. Excellent condition

The dress closes with a low set hidden zipper and the ties at the back are attached and tie. The triangles have a lining of the same printed silk chiffon and the skirt is lined with an ivory silk chiffon. It is in its original uncut length and appears to have been worn very little if at all. Tagged a McQueen 40.

Bust: each halter will cover up to approximately 8"
Waist: 13" flat across from side seam to side seam
Inner hips: to 21" flat across from side seam to side seam
Bodice: 13.5" from top of shoulder to top of the 3" band at the waist
Total length: 62" from top of shoulder to hem

Modern Sizing Equivalent: XS-MED

Item# DD4795

Reference Photos: (1) Resort 2010 Alexander McQueen Look 25.  /  (2) Daisy Lowe attends the premiere of Boogie Woogie in London, April 2010.

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.

We found a runway shot of a shorter version of this dress and I love that this lets you can see how fantastic this sits on the body. This is from his made order line and he may have done a long version for the show as well but unfortunately there are not full records available for this time period. The other possibility is that the client saw the shorter version and ordered it in this full length. Either way this is classic Halston from his main label couture line. It is instantly recognizable as one of his looks and it is an incredible example of his work from this time period. I love it.

This is an amazing couture Halston dress and a very rare and special find. It is entirely cut on the bias and utilizes his signature minimal seaming. Halston defined how woman dressed in the 1970s and these jersey dresses that he did were tremendously flattering to the body. It is also insanely sexy while still being extremely comfortable to wear. The fabric is a beautiful deep forest green silk jersey that moves and drapes beautifully. This one is especially interesting because unlike its later counterparts it is actually two layers of the same silk jersey. The two layers have been stacked over each other and joined along the top edges and the hem. This gives the dress an inner lining and helps to soften out any bumps underneath the top layer which makes it very flattering to wear. Later dresses were not made like this because it literally doubled the cost of fabric to make them this way. The dress is made to be one long tube that expands outwards at the hem and has two long ties that extend out from the top of the halter at the front. You simply tie it at the back of the neck and then the long ties trail down the exposed back. The depth of the plunge can be controlled by how tight you tie the ties. On my dress form I have left it fairly loose and in the photo from the runway it is tied a bit higher. The front plunges into a scoop and the sides are cut on a curve to a low scoop. This leave the entire back completely bare and exposed. The halter skims over the breasts and then falls over the waist and hips. The skirt flares out at it reaches the floor and it has a ton of movement when you move. It is spectacular. This is a rare example of Halston at his very best and it is easy to see why his work is the subject of so many books and retrospective shows at museums worldwide. Excellent condition with a minor note below

Constructed from two bias cut layers of silk jersey with the ties extending out from the neckline. The dress slips on to wear and ties at the back of the neck. Hand finished. It is all bias cut which should allow for a bit of range of sizing. I see teeny pinhead size dark mark on the bodice and a couple of tiny hard to spot areas on the skirt that will not photo. I am being pretty picky. The fabric has some stretch and I have put the comfortable range of measurements laying flat. You could probably get a little more if needed. 

Bust: if you let the plunge go extremely low, each halter is 4" across just above the bottom of the scoop. The halter just below the scoop will cover 13" across un-stretched. Where it meets the seam from the back it measures 15-19" flat across from side seam to side seam
Waist: 13-16" flat across from side seam to side seam
Hips: 17-21" flat across from side seam to side seam
Length: approx 60" from shoulder to hem, with 2" turned under the hem. The length can be adjusted by the ties at the neck

Modern Sizing Equivalent: XXS-MED

Item# DD4781

Reference Photo: Spring 1974 Halston Made-to-Order Fashion Show.

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

This is the twin of the dress that was shown on the Fall Christian Dior Fall runway show in Prague. This was a special presentation that showed looks from both Fall and Resort 2008. On the regular runway for that season this look was not shown but you did see a similar cut though the bodice and bead work for Look 26. A shorter version in black that had a slightly different bodice was worn that year by Penelope Cruz when she attended the 2008 Cruise collection show. The dress would make an amazing wedding dress for the bride looking for a non-traditional choice or as an alternative dress in a more extended wedding celebration. And of course it could also be worn to any event.

The dress is entirely cut on the bias and it falls beautifully over the body once on. As good as it looks on the form it is even better in person. The dress is made from a rich looking champagne coloured silk that has a slight silver undertone to it. The fabric and the way it is cut and draped allows it to hug the body but without being tight. It skims over you to highlight every curve but is very comfortable and easy to move in. At the front it scoops down at the front into the squared off neckline. From the base of the neckline a wide panel of the same fabric runs down to about the hip. The silk is gathered and hand draped under that front panel in big soft folds. It is then covered with little silver flat metal sequins meant to suggest tiny leaves, hand sewn tube beads and prong set glass crystal rhinestones. These catch the light beautifully as you move. Under the panel the skirt open into soft folds to expand out tot he floor. There are  yards of silk in the skirt and I love the draping around the sides of the hips.At the back the fabric is lightly gathered into the zipper area and then it opens up with a series of panels that are built in for added volume. It extends out past the hem so that you have a sweeping feel as you walk. A very beautiful dress. Excellent condition

The dress is fully lined with a fine ivory tissue silk. It closes with a hidden set zipper at the back. It appears to have never been worn or worn very little. Tagged a vintage Dior US8 

Bust: 16" flat across from side seam to side seam
Waist: 12.5" flat across from side seam to side seam
Hips: to 20" flat across from side seam to side seam
Length: 58" from top of shoulder to front hem, 64" to the longest point of the back hem 

Modern Sizing Equivalent: XS-SML

Item# DD3875

Reference Photos: (1-2) Dior Runway Show in Prague showcasing Fall 2007 RTW/Resort 2008 pieces. Dress shown worn by Miss World 2006 Tatana Kucharova.  /  (3) Fall 2007 Christian Dior Runway, Look 26. Model: Patricia Schmid.  /  (4-6) Penelope Cruz at the 2008 Dior Cruise Collection Presentation.

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.

Philippe Venet apprenticed to a local tailor who is authorized to make Balenciaga designs. In 1951 he moved to Paris and became a cutter to Schaparelli. From there he met Hubert de Givenchy and in 1962 joined his atelier where he was the head cutter. In 1964 he opened his own Haute Couture label with Givenchy's blessings and support. His work tended towards minimalism and clean lines. His business was never as large as Givenchy's which allowed him to be more hands on for a longer period of time. Couture pieces from him are rare and hard to find and the early were ones like this even more so. This was almost certainly a piece custom-made for somebody and it is incredibly beautiful.

The dress is amazing and showcases how wonderful a piece of true Haute Couture can be. It is made entirely by hand and the silk is that beautiful rich silk that you only seem to see in the very best pieces of couture. The dress wraps over an inner dress and this added inner structure keep the dress perfectly in place and also gives it the structure needed so that the outer layer falls perfectly over you. The bodice is cut into a V and it wraps, snaps and hooks into place. I love the way that he has brought in angled seaming and pleating to create the design that you see at the base of the plunge. On the panel that sits underneath the wrap everything is angled towards the centre of the dress and then the panel that sits over the wrap is set so that the pleats fall vertically all the way down to the hem. The hem is set on a curve that goes up at the front and around at the back. So when you walk you get a flash of bare legs. The back is cut longer and depending on your height you will have a bit of a sweeping behind you. The cut also gives you some pretty fullness and shape through the hips. At the back the seams are set vertically so that you just get one long swoop of fabric that extends out as touch at the bottom hem. There are even weights placed inside of the back so that it sits perfectly once on. Underneath this is a structured foundation piece. It has a structured corset top with boning and shaped cups in an ivory silk. The skirt is made of the same silk as the exterior and it is cut to just about the knee depending on your height. All of the inner seams are finished completely by hand and seeing how it is all piece together is a joy in itself.  The colour of the silk is a beautiful creamy ivory. This is a brilliant dress and when you see it in person you will fall in love with how good it is. It really shows how sometimes simplicity can have so much of an impact. It would be a dress that might make an amazing wedding dress for the bride looking for a non-traditional choice, for a day wedding, or as an alternative dress in a more extended wedding celebration. Excellent condition with a minor note below

The inner dress acts as the lining and then the outer dress is also fully lined in an ivory silk. All the work is done by hand to Haute Couture standards. The inner dress closes with a hand set side zipper at the front. The outer dress snaps into place directly onto the inner dress and then the outer dress wraps and snapped onto itself. The zipper on the inner dress was slightly moved at some point but of course you don't see this once on. I have included a photo in the detail shots. I see a tiny hairline mark of thinning near the neckline and some wear to the edges of the top of the seams. Please see the photos after the label shot. Completely made by hand. Proper Haute Couture numbered label present. 

Outer Dress
Bust: 17.5" flat across from side seam to side seam
Waist: 15.5" flat across from side seam to side seam
Hips: to 20" flat across from side seam to side seam
Total length: 57" from top of shoulder to longest point of the back hem

Inner dress
Bust: 15.5" flat across from side seam to side seam
Waist: 12.25" flat across from side seam to side seam
Hips: 17.25" flat across from side seam to side seam
Bodice: 15" from top of shoulder to waist
Total length: 38" from top of shoulder to hem

Modern Sizing Equivalent: XS-SML

Item# DD4779

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

This is such a beautiful dress from Alexander McQueen and I love how wonderfully romantic it feels. It is from his Spring 2010 collection and it is a dress that was produced for the shops. The dress does not have a single unnecessary seam and I think it is even prettier in person. Even with its simplicity it would still be a dress that is red carpet worthy or would make an amazing wedding dress for the bride looking for a non-traditional choice or as an alternative dress in a more extended wedding celebration. And of course it could also be worn to any other event. It is a fantastic example of his work.

The dress is made from a printed, soft liquid silk that is covered with one of the most beautiful and romantic floral prints I have ever seen on a dress. Oversized blossoms trail across the entire dress in a wonderful pale pastel design. The base colour is ivory and then the print is a soft wash of pink, pastel corals and soft taupe that cover the dress from shoulder to hem. Wide straps curved over the shoulders and extend down to form the halter feeling bust. The cut is very reminiscent of pieces from the 1920s and 1930s. The silk is all cut on the bias and the way that it falls over the body is beautiful to see. At the front there is a deep plunge and the fabric is gathered into a centre knot at the base of the plunge. Seams angle down from there across the hips and they actually hide little hidden slit pockets. A wonderful little detail. Those slanted seams are only on the front of the dress. At the back the dress falls in one swoop down from the shoulders. An extra panel of fabric is created from the front knot and then runs down the centre of the dress all the way down to the hem. It creates that beautiful draping and also gives the skirt incredible movement. There is actually a ton of silk through the skirt and the way that it is cut lets it billow and float around you when you move. It is in its original supermodel length and is unworn with its original hang tags attached. It is spectacularly beautiful. Excellent condition 

Fully lined in an ivory silk and closes with a hidden set side zipper. Tagged a McQueen 40. The bias cut should allow it to work on a range of sizes. I have put the comfortable range of measurements below when laying flat. Original hang tag attached. 

Bust: 15-17" flat across from side seam to side seam with a B-C cup
Waist: 12-13" flat across from side seam to side seam
Hips: to 18" flat across from side seam to side seam
Total length: 64" from top of bodice to hem

Modern Sizing Equivalent: XS-MED

Item# DD4777

Reference Photos: Allison Williams in "Girls" Season 1, Episode 10 (aired June 2012).

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

This is an incredible McQueen dress that is very beautiful. This was a dress that was produced for the shops and was most likely made in limited quantities. It is also rare in that it is a size 46 and it is always amazing to find a larger McQueen piece as you find so few. It is in pristine condition and appears to have been worn very little at all. It is an incredible dress. The dress does not have a single unnecessary seam. Even with its simplicity it would still be a dress that is red carpet worthy or would make an amazing wedding dress for the bride looking for a non-traditional choice or as an alternative dress in a more extended wedding celebration. And of course it could also be worn to any other event. 

The dress is gorgeous. It definitely takes inspiration from the bias cut couture pieces of the 1920s and 1930s. McQueen was a master tailor and the seam work and simplicity of this dress are beautiful to see. It is made from a light in weight ivory silk that has that same feel that the best of the 1930s pieces did that were made from similar silks. Like those dresses of the thirties this is also cut on the bias but with a more structured and shaped silhouette because it is completely lined. I love that the fabric is heavy enough to hold the shape while still skimming and moving over the body. The neckline is set into a V at the front and angled darts give a touch of shape through the bust. The bias cut through the body lets it skim over your waist and hips in an easy way. The skirt flows to the floor from there and it is in its original uncut supermodel length. The lower skirt flares out as it reaches the hem. At the back there is extra fabric worked around the centre seam and the back skirt is also cut a little longer then the front. This gives you a bit of a sweeping feel behind you as you walk. The flaring out of the lower skirt and the extra fabric at the back also give you fabulous movement when you walk or move. The bare and open back is the fabulously  unexpected finish to the dress. The back is cut out and squared off at the bottom of the opening. This leaves your entire back open and bare. It is shockingly sexy and the perfect McQueen touch on an otherwise perfectly pretty dress. Excellent condition.

Fully lined in an ivory silk chiffon and closes with a hidden set side zipper. Tagged a McQueen 46. The bias cut fabric does have some movement. The measurements below give you the comfortable range the fabric has when lying flat. It appears to have been worn very little if at all. It is in its original extra long length. 

Bust: 18-22" flat across from side seam to side seam
Waist: 15-18.5" flat across from side seam to side seam 
Hips: 20-23.5" flat across from side seam to side seam
Length: 69" from neck to front hem, 72" to the back hem
Back plunge: 20" from shoulder to lowest part of the plunge

Modern Sizing Equivalent: LRG-XL

Item# DD4776

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

This is a dress that was made for the shops. While you saw elements of it in some of the pieces that walk the runway for both the Fall 2015 RTW how and the Couture show there was no exact twin to it on the runway. In 2015 Valentino was headed by both Maria Grazia Chiuri and PierPaolo Piccioli. They had stepped into Mr Valentino's shoes and were breathing new life into the brand. Most of the looks towards the middle of the fall show had this same very minimalist feel and were done primarily in black with pops of white. I love how this dress showcases their more simplistic and minimal side. It is an amazing dress. 

The fabric is a silk that is heavy and has an almost fine wool suiting feel to it. The weight of the fabric is what holds the dress in place over you. The front is cut straight across the neckline and then it is brought starkly down the sides and set to sit just over the seam at the waist. This is repeated at the back with an addition of a long open keyhole that displays a slice of bare skin from neck to waist. This creates a rectangular cut out on either side from your shoulder to the waist. If you dare you can wear it bare or you can lay this over top of something. What you put underneath is dependent on how much coverage you want from something with just a tiny strap at to wearing a full on sleeved shirt underneath will work. The waist nips in and and then the skirt falls to the floor or ankle depending on your height. The skirt is what gives the piece its weight. There is an amazing amount of fabric used for the skirt. This is because it is flat pleated all the way around your waist and then each of those pleats open up at about 3 1/2 inches under the waist line to the hem. Inside each the open pleat are four more top stitched knife pleats that gradually open as they reach the hem. The detail that this creates all the way around the skirt when you move is amazing. When you stand still everything falls like a normal pleated skirt but when you move and they start to open and you see all those top stitched inner pleats the entire thing just comes to life. It is these touches and extra details that always make Valentino pieces that much more special. It beautifully executed and even better in person. Excellent condition

Fully lined in a black silk through the bodice and the skirt is unlined. It closes with a button and loop at the back of the neck and a hidden set zipper that starts at the waist. Tagged a modern Valentino 40. It appears to have been worn very little if at all. There is no give at the waist so make sure it is the proper measurement for where it sits because it sits touch low.

Bust: the sides are open & the bust covers 11.25" flat across
Slightly low set waist: 12.5" flat across from side seam to side seam
Hips: open
Bodice: 17" from top of shoulder to waist
Total length: 56" from top of shoulder to hem

Modern Sizing Equivalent: XS-SML

Item# DD4769

Reference Photos: (1) Fall 2014 Valentino Couture, Look 8. Model Malaika Firth.  /  (2) Fall 2015 Valentino, Look 40. Model Irina Djuranovic.

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

This dress was designed by Belgian-born Jules-Francois Crahay, who headed the Lanvin ateliers from 1964-1984. He has been noted as one of fashion’s 'great colorists with his colorful patterns making his 1970s Lanvin designs hugel​y ​desirable and influential.' His time at the Lanvin label is one of my personal favourites for the house. I especially love the his work during the period through the late sixties and into the early 1970s. He was a genius at print and colour and he pushed the envelope in terms of using cutting edge fabrics available during this time period. He mainly used this type of fabric for his 1971-1972 collections and in the book on his work 'Jules Francois Crahay" by Lannoo there is a detail photo of a couture fabric noted as been most likely from the fall 1971 Couture collection and you can see it has the same weave as this one. I love it.

This Lanvin dress is gorgeous. I am in absolute love with it. The dress has a gorgeous bright colour and print combination. The cotton pique it is made of is light in weight and holds colour exceptionally well so the colours are still crisp, bright and true. It has a beautiful texture running through it that adds visual interest and structure to the fabric so that it holds the intended shape. The front halter is created by two triangles that extend and curve up and behind the neck. They meet at the top of a wide band that defines the waist starting just under the bust. This leaves the back completely bare and open for a bit of a sexy feel to the dress. The band that gives the dress the shape is a full 5 1/2 inches wide. From there the skirt falls to the floor and it widens as it nears the hem. I love how the pattern is laid out onto the dress to emphasize the different parts of it. The halter has the smaller floral pattern and then the waist has stripes that are set just under the bust. You see the smaller floral anchored with stripes around the hips and then a giant floral pattern wraps around your legs. A double stripe anchors the whole dress at the hem and ties everything together. The colour is a coral red with those pops of yellow, green and soft orange. The pattern is spectacular and it is an instantly recognizable piece of his work. The perfect finish is the top set pockets that sit on each hip. I love it. Excellent condition

Fully lined through the band of the waist and the skirt in an orange silk and the halter top is unlined. It closes with a low set back zipper. 

Bust: each halter covers approx 7" flat across from side to side
Seam at the top of the band: 16" flat across from side seam to side seam
Waist seam at the bottom of the band: 13.75" flat across from side seam to side seam
Hips: to 10" flat across from side seam to side seam
Bodice: approx 13" from neck to top of the band at the waist
Total length: 59" from neck to hem

Modern Sizing Equivalent: SML-MED

Item# DD4756

Reference Photo: From the book "Jules Francois Crahay" by Lannoo.

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During John Galliano's years from 1996-2011 at the house of Christian Dior he arguably produced some of the most amazing bias cut and glamorous dresses in the house's history. His work often has a feeling of the decadence and abandonment of the twenties and thirties with their beautiful cuts. 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 Fall 2006 and it is gorgeous. Look 7 from the runway had similar bead work on the skirt and I have included that here for you to see. This version was made for the shops and like all more elaborate bead work would have only been released in limited quantities. It is a wonderful piece of his history and it is a really beautiful dress.

This striking and beautiful dress is so reminiscent of a twenties piece and I love that. The dress made from three layers that are all attached at the top of the shoulder and then float over each other. The innermost layer is a light weight black silk chiffon and then there is a layer of black silk tulle over that. The very top layer is a combination of silk netting and a black silk lace. The outer layer is pieced together in the most beautiful way with the lace placed at the top of the bodice and then again around the hem. The dress has a very loose and easy cut that picks up on a twenties feel. It skims over the body in a touch of a tubular shape without being overly tight anywhere. The bodice dips into a V at the front and it does the same at the back. The lace is set into the netting underneath in a pretty little curving scalloped design. I love how the edge of the neckline and the openings for the arms have the lace set so that the edges of the pattern adds a pretty detail. The lace around the hem is set in the same way. The way it is seamed gives it its slightly more generous cut through the body. Onto the skirt, starting just under the hip on one side, is a beautiful design that combines metal strands, tiny seed beads, larger tube beads and prong set crystal rhinestones. These are all set by hand and you can see that on the back as I have photoed here. These trail down the side and across the front of the hem as well as partway around the back hem. A tiny little slit sits on one side of the hem near the bead work and he has gathered it up with a stitch, which gives the hem a bit of an asymmetrical feel. I find that with almost all of John's work there is some small touch of something asymmetrical on the piece and this one is no exception. It is truly a special and beautiful example of his work. Excellent condition 

The inner silk chiffon and middle tulle layer act as the lining underneath the top layer. The middle tulle layer has hidden set snaps down one side but the inner silk layer and top layer have no closures so that inner detail is more for design then functionality. You just slip it over the head to where. Tagged a F38 GB10 IT42 US6. 

Bust: 15-17" flat across from side seam to side seam
Waist: to 15" flat across from side seam to side seam
Hips: to 19" flat across from side seam to side seam
Total Length: 59" from top of shoulder to hem

Modern Sizing Equivalent: XS-SML

Item# DD4754

Reference Photo: Fall 2006 Christian Dior, Look 7. Model Doutzen Kroes.

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

This wonderful little 1920s flapper dress was completely made by hand and a wonderful example of the level of craftsmanship being utilized during this time period. It has its original Made in France label still present and these pieces were always a little higher quality then some examples you see from the time period. It has no other label but it is not hard to imagine that it might have been a designer piece as well. The base of the dress is a black silk netting that is strong and sturdy. Onto this is an intricate design made up of gelatin sequins set boxes. Each is a combination of purple, pink & turquoise in an alternating design. The placement of each sequin is by hand and it is amazing to think of the time it would have taken to make the fabric alone. The center of each block makes me think of a cluster of little pink "hearts" that are then surrounded by an abstract shape. A metal based gold lame thread and tiny little gold tubes beads are then shaped around each to make the block design that you see.  These are then stacked in rows to cover the dress entirely with the black netting serving as the separation between each. This combination of colored sequins, gold thread & beads is absolutely fantastic. There is an extra panel of netting inserted at each hip to give the skirt extra flare. Excellent antique condition

The dress is unlined and slips over the head to wear. The edges of the side net panels are raw and at one time there may have an extension to them but it is now cut even with the hem. I see no other flaws and it appears to have been worn very little if at all and is wearble with the care it would deserve to be worn with. Even with that small defect the dress is remarkably sound and shockingly beautiful. It is almost 100 years old and is considered to be in museum quality condition.

Bust: 17" from side seam to side seam
Waist: 16" from side seam to side seam
Hips: 17" from side seam to side seam
Total length: 40" from shoulder to bottom hem

Modern Sizing equivalent: XS-SML

Item# E290

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.

James Galanos was just 27 years old when he launched his first label called Galanos Originals in 1951. By 1954 he had won a Coty award and the Neiman Marcus award. By 1958 he was producing clothing that could range in price from $200 to $3000, an astronomical price for ready-to-wear for that time period. when you convert that to modern dollars and realize that it would be just under 30k for his upper range pieces. Part of the reason for those high price tags was that his ready-to-wear was made to couture standards. Galanos pieces were all produced in very limited quantities in his workshops and his work was as close to couture construction that you could find outside of Paris. Grace Kelly was an early fan and other couturiers looked to his work as inspiration. His work is held in all of the major museums around the world and he is one of my personal favourite designers. 

This is one of my favourite pieces I have seen by Galanos and it is incredibly beautiful in person. The dress is made from a feather light silk and that choice of fabric is what gives it that bit of volume that you see through the skirt. I did not add any underskirts, the shape that you see is all created by the way the skirt is set in and around the waist and the lightness of the silk. Two piped blue silk straps curve up and over the shoulders. The neckline dips in a slight sweetheart at the front with the silk gathered and softly pleated all the way around the top of the bodice for detailing. The silk on the bodice is that same brilliant blue as the straps and it is softly gathered down the sides to the waist. The silk extends out past the waist seam into a edged ruffle that meets a ruffle underneath created by the extension of the silk of the skirt. I love the detailing there that this creates and that underneath the ruffle the waist seam is anchored with a gold braided cording. The skirt has been softly gathered all around the waist and then it open outwards to have the volume and fullness that you see. Four panels of silk have been pieced vertically together to construct the skirt. At the front you see  a deep green panel on one side and a slightly metallic feeling copper brown on the other. At the back both of the panels are the same beautiful blue as the bodice. All of the edges where the panels meet are finished with a hand applied metallic gold cord. Between the green and brown panel at the front the skirt is slit open between the cording so when you walk or move you get a flash of bare leg. The silk is so light  that when you love the skirt billows out around you. Incredible. Excellent condition  

Unlined and closes with a back zipper. Ribbon edge interior seams. Hand finished throighout. It appears to have been worn very little if at all. 

Bust: 16" flat across from side seam to side seam
Waist: 12" flat across from side seam to side seam
Hips: open
Bodice: 16" from top of shoulder to waist seam
Total length: 59" from waist to hem
Slit: 26" from hem up

Modern Sizing Equivalent: XS-SML

Item# DD3736

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.