
john anthony
Extraordinary Spring 1982 John Anthony Couture Strapless Blue Sequin Detailed Netted Lace Dress
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John Anthony is an award-winning American fashion designer best known for simple, elegant clothing with a strong sense of chic. His work veers towards minimalism, with sharp tailoring, striking evening wear being his signature. He is renowned for his cutting and tailoring. From the day that he launched his atelier in 1971 his design philosophy is a fusion of function and purpose. The function is his logical, wearable approach; the purpose, his pared-down ideas. As a designer, he considers it his job to make things easy for the customer. He designs with focus and a narrow palette for both day and night, so items can easily intermingle. He uses natural fabrics and is noted for contradictory daywear fabrics in his evening collections. In the early 70’s he was one of the first designers to promote the idea of easy-to-travel clothes that resist wrinkling. By 1976, he was showing soft, liquid separates in muted colours that became his trademark and received 2 Coty awards, one in 1972 and one in 1976, as recognition. His business was all done on a made to order basis. That means the majority of pieces you will find are a one-off, or if there are similar pieces, very few of each piece exist. This personal attention to each dress is clearly seen in the workmanship of his pieces. His work is very expensive and beaded pieces did, and still do, retail for over $10,000. His work is a personal favourite of mine and I am thrilled to begin to offer these exclusive pieces and samples that John pulled from his own archives. I have included a reference photo of Janet Jackson wearing a similar version of the dress that he made for her Today's Black Women cover in 1998. That design was based on this original piece from 1982. It is stunning
The dress is very light in weight and the fabric is absolutely beautiful. The innermost lining is a blue silk chiffon and then a blue net lace is layered over that. Then onto the are thousands of blue iridescent sequins that follow the pattern in the lace and cover the entire dress. This allows the dress to catch the light from every angle. The effect that it creates is stunning. The dress is strapless and the bodice is set on a curving sweetheart shape to emphasize the bust. The edges at the hem and bodice are done to follow the pattern of the lace and I love the touch of romance this gives to the dress. To wear the dress, the closures have been set down the front of the dress with a hidden zipper. Tiny little hidden set snaps are set to follow the edges of the lace and these snap into place over the zipper. So once you have it on there is no zipper line to break the eye. The snaps under the lace run to about the mid-thigh. This leaves a subtle slit under the overlapping sides. This gives you a flash of leg when you move or sit and it is very sexy. The lower hem is set on a curve so that it comes up slightly at the front and is longer at the back. The skirt is lined in a blue silk chiffon and this gives it a slight transparency in the light. I love the little rosette sitting at the side at the waist for the perfect finishing detail. It is a wonderful dress. Excellent condition.
Fully lined in a hand set deep blue silky rayon through the bust and a silk chiffon through the skirt. It closes at the front with a hidden set zipper and a series of hidden fabric covered snaps. Lightly boned through the bodice. Hand finished throughout. It appears to have been worn very little if at all.
Bust: 16" flat across from side seam to side seam
Waist: 13" flat across from side seam to side seam
Hips: 17" flat across from side seam to side seam
Bodice: 9" from the top of the bodice to waist
Length: 46" from the top of the bodice to longest point of the back hem
Modern Sizing Equivalent: XS-SML
Item# DD3831
Reference Photo: Janet Jackson in John Anthony for Today's Black Women, June/July 1998.
This garment has been professionally cleaned, pressed and is odor free. Thoroughly checked over before shipping, it will be ready to wear upon arrival.

john anthony
Fabulous 1980s John Anthony Couture Pink & Bronze Fully Sequinned Strapless Dress & Matching Jacket
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John Anthony is an award-winning American fashion designer best known for simple, elegant clothing with a strong sense of chic. His work veers towards minimalism, with sharp tailoring, striking evening wear being his signature. He is renowned for his cutting and tailoring. From the day that he launched his atelier in 1971 his design philosophy is a fusion of function and purpose. The function is his logical, wearable approach; the purpose, his pared-down ideas. As a designer, he considers it his job to make things easy for the customer. He designs with focus and a narrow palette for both day and night, so items can easily intermingle. He uses natural fabrics and is noted for contradictory daywear fabrics in his evening collections. In the early 70’s he was one of the first designers to promote the idea of easy-to-travel clothes that resist wrinkling. By 1976, he was showing soft, liquid separates in muted colours that became his trademark and received 2 Coty awards, one in 1972 and one in 1976, as recognition. His business was all done on a made to order basis. That means the majority of pieces you will find are a one-off, or if there are similar pieces, very few of each piece exist. This personal attention to each dress is clearly seen in the workmanship of his pieces. His work is very expensive and beaded pieces did, and still do, retail for over $10,000. His work is a personal favourite of mine and I am thrilled to begin to offer this second round of a dozen exclusive pieces and samples that John pulled from his own archives
I love that both of the pieces in this dress set are strong enough to stand on their own which means you can wear them together as intended or you can mix and match them with pieces you already have in your closet. Both are amazing and both are densely sequinned with every inch of the surface covered. The jacket has a beautiful cit with string shoulders and it is meant to be more fitted through the body. The shoulders are padded for shape and the sleeves each end in an upturned cuff. The waist is brought in and shaped with vertical seaming and then the hips flare out just a touch. Flap pockets sit on each hip for added shape and detail. It closes down the front with a series of hidden hook & eye so that you don't break the lines of those beautiful sequins. The sequins completely cover the silk that the jacket is made from and are set on overlapping rows/ Setting sequins this way is far more costly and time consuming. The sequins combine a pink taupe with a deeper bronze and John has uses the two colours to highlight the back and front collar of the jacket and create a degrade effect with the sequins deepening in colour as they move down to the hem. Under that is a sexy little strapless dress. The dress is cut to hug and highlight every curve of your body. It is covered int he same sequin work as the jacket and he has also done a degrade colour so that the sequins are darker as they near the hem. When worn together this creates this beautiful line and when worn separately it adds a subtle detailing that is gorgeous. Those hundreds of thousands of sequins give the set a stunning shimmer and allow it to catch the light from every angle. Hand finished throughout and just a stunning set to see in person. Far better on the body then how it photoed. Made to demi-couture standards. Excellent condition with a minor note below.
Both pieces are dress is hand lined in silk. The dress closes with a hand set back zipper. The bodice has light boning and slight built in hidden padding on the bust. Interior waist stay hooks to close. The jacket hooks to close down the front as described above. Padding in each shoulder. I see some scuffing to the silk one the inner lining of the jacket where the sequins of the dress have rubbed on it. It looks like the silk lining of the jacket was reset at some point along the hem. Please see the last photo after the label shot. This is minor and of course cannot be seen when on.
Dress
Bust: 16.5" flat across from side seam to side seam
Waist: 13.5" flat across from side seam to side seam
Hips: 17" flat across from side seam to side seam
Length: 27.5" from top of bodice to hem
Jacket
Sleeves: 22"
Shoulders: 14"
Bust: to 17.5" flat across from side seam to side seam
Waist: 15" flat across from side seam to side seam
Hips: 18.5" flat across from side seam to side seam
Length: 21" from neck to hem, including the feathers
Modern Sizing Equivalent: XS-SML
Item# DD4006
This garment has been professionally cleaned, pressed and is odor free. Thoroughly checked over before shipping, it will be ready to wear upon arrival.

alexander mcqueen
Wonderful Spring 2010 Alexander McQueen Floral Strapless Dress w Bubble Hem
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This is an especially interesting dress from Alexandra McQueen. It is from the Spring 2010 collection and it is a one of the original variations of a dress whose silhouette they still make to this day. Julianne Hough just wore a black version of one of those newer ones from my archives. The one that she wore was from a later collection released under the creative direction of Sarah Burton but based on this dress and others similar that McQueen designed. If you missed that you can see it on my Instagram here. This dress I have today is one of the originals that McQueen himself designed. This was a production piece that did not make it to the runway presentation but you can see similarities in the prints from that season. It’s a spectacular example of his work and it is still brand new with its original tags. It is like finding a time capsule piece.
The dress is made from a floral printed silk crepe that has an explosion of flowers in pale pastel colours covering the entire dress. It is strapless with a built-in inner cupped bodice that gives you support and holds the dress in place. The cups are shaped and these cups are one of the things that you see that is different from the later versions of this dress. In this version the cups are shaped almost like a 1950s bullet bra. The seams in the inner cups are exaggerated and this gives them this beautiful curving angle shape at the sides and peak at the front. The silk is all bias cut. The dress glides over the inner structure and falls in column to the skirt. The waist is just a suggestion created by the seaming and it skims over the hips. At the hem you see one of the biggest differences between this dress and later versions. He has gathered the hem up and underneath so that it is sewn to the inner lining. This gives it a slight bubble effect. It is also slightly twisted so that it narrows in around you at the hem. However, the fullness of the skirt is still there so that you are able to walk with ease. It is quite genius. It also creates this incredible movement when you walk and has the added bonus of always immediately going back to that long lean line. The print that covers the dress is spectacular. It is a beautiful and romantic floral print done in dreamy shades of blue-greys, pale purples, pinks and blue. It has its original tags attached and was never worn. It also comes with a detachable pair of matching straps if you don't wish to go fully strapless. Excellent condition
Fully lined in an ivory silk and has a built in cupped corset. The inner corset closes with its own zipper and the dress zips to close over that with a hidden set zipper. Tagged a McQueen 42. It has its original hang tag still attached. The inner corset has some stretch. You could have the inner corset adjusted if you needed more or less room.
Bust: to 17" flat across from side seam to side seam with a B-C cup
Inner corset waist: 13-16" flat across from side seam to side seam
Hips: to 23" flat across from side seam to side seam
Length: 60" from top of bodice to hem
Modern Sizing Equivalent: SML-MED
Item#
This garment has been professionally cleaned, pressed and is odor free. Thoroughly checked over before shipping, it will be ready to wear upon arrival.

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The dress is made to give you length and curves. It has a sculpted feel to it that is incredible. The bodice is strapless and is seamed to be fitted and shaped around you. There’s light boning inside to help hold the shape and curves. It nips in at the waist and then the skirt curves around your hips and the falls to the floor in a chic sheath of sequins. His cut around the hips is actually done on a curve and when it is laid out flat you can see that hourglass shape sculpted into the dress. The dress is in its original super model length and there’s even a couple of inches turned up under the hem. The effect of that long sleek shape is all length and curves once on the body. At the back it closes with one of his signature chunky zippers which becomes its own design detail. To finish the dress there is a high slit that allows you to walk and lets a flash of leg show. The dress is covered in hundreds of thousands of gold sequins. These are laid out in flat side-by-side pattern set in vertical rows and they cover every square inch of the dress. The way that it catches the light is incredible. The dress is wonderfully made and it looks like it’s never been worn. It is in brand new off-the-rack condition. It is a stunning dress and you will definitely turn heads in it when you walk into the room. Excellent condition.
Fully lined in a black silky rayon and closes at the back with a zipper as shown. It looks to have never been worn or worn very little. No inner size tag.
Bust: 16.5" flat across from side seam to side seam with a B-small cup
Waist: 12.5" flat across from side seam to side seam
Hips: 17.5" flat across from side seam to side seam
Bodice: 9" from top of bodice to waist
Skirt: 47" from waist to hem with 2" turned under the hem
Slit: 27.5" from hem up
Modern Sizing Equivalent: XS-SML
Item# DD3978
Reference Photos: Resort 2020 Alex Perry
This garment has been professionally cleaned, pressed and is odor free. Thoroughly checked over before shipping, it will be ready to wear upon arrival.

yves saint laurent
Spring 1984 Yves Saint Laurent Strapless Purple & Green Silk Voile Dress
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I have had one of these dresses in the shop before and it is one of my favorites. It's twin walked the runway that season and then the dress was photoed by David Seidner before it was released to the public to purchase. It is a beautiful example of Yves work during this time period and one of my favorite dresses by him. I myself own one and I love it. It is extraordinarily beautiful.
The first thing you will notice about the dress is that it is as light as air. It is made from a feather light silk voile that has enough crispness to it to hold the shape but that adds as little weight as possible. The dress is strapless and the bodice is gathered into soft draping pleats that are gathered in and held in place down the seam on both sides. There is no shaping or boning inside. It simple drapes over your body and your coverage is provided by two layers of the fabric and the opaqueness caused by that double layer of silk combined with the draping. The gathers run from the top of the bodice to just below the hip. The seam that ends at the hip is cut on a slight downward angle so that the visual line it creates adds length. The skirt falls under that to the floor and it is also made from a double layer of the same fabric. The two layers of the skirt float over each other and will move with your slightest movement. Attached all the way around that seam at the hip is a wide sash of fabric. It extends out into extra long ties at one side. This is how you create that fabulous big soft bow at the side. This adds so much detail and volume and I love it. The print that runs over the entire dress is the perfect final finish. It combines a pretty purple with a muted green and an off-white. The fabric has a touch of transparency to it and with the double layer of the silk the pattern floats over itself and there is a depth created by the effect of the two patterns layered over each other that is fantastic. One of my favorite pieces ever. It is even better in person. Excellent condition
The second inner layer of the same fabric acts as the lining. It closes with a side set zipper. It appears to have been worn very little if at all.
Bust: to 17.5" flat across from side seam to side seam
Waist: 14" flat across from side seam to side seam
Hips: 20.5" flat across from side seam to side seam
Length: 52" from top of bodice to hem
Modern Sizing Equivalent: SML-MED
Item# DD3960
Reference Photo: (1) S/S 1984 Yves Saint Laurent Runway Collection. Model: Anna Bayle. / (2) Yves Saint Laurent 1983, David Seidner Archives.
This garment has been professionally cleaned, pressed and is odor free. Thoroughly checked over before shipping, it will be ready to wear upon arrival.

emanuel ungaro
Documented Fall 1984 Emanuel Ungaro Haute Couture Silver Velvet Dress & Feather Jacket
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This stunning set is from the Fall 1984 Haute Couture collection and its twin was photoed that season as well. Who knows this might be the actual set! I have included that reference photo here for you so that you can see how amazing it is on the body. I love how they pushed the sleeves up for the shots which gives it a totally different feel. Ungaro launched his label in 1965 after working for both Balenciaga and Courrreges. He was a brilliant designer who was known for his of extravagant fabrics and flamboyance. His Haute Couture pieces are not easy to find and this set is fantastic.
Both of the pieces that make up this set are stand outs and can be worn together as intended or you can mix and match them with pieces you already have to really extend their wearabilty. The inner dress is amazing. It is cut in that signature Ungaro silhouette for this time period. These little fitted dresses were meant to hug and highlight every curve of the body. The dress is made out of a silver silk velvet that has a metallic silver and gold foil worked through the velvet. This gives is a subtle shimmer and allows it to catch the light from every angle. The fabric is hand draped over the entire dress to give it an incredible texture. The bodice has a highly modified sweetheart shape with one side set at a high peak and the other in a soft curve. The gathers are shaped to follow the line of the bust and emphasize the breasts. On the side that it zippers to close there is a pretty strip of hand applied beads and sequins that run down that side of the dress for extra detailing. Over this is the jacket. The jacket is made from an ivory lace that is backed with a silk. Onto the lace is a mix of embroidery work, little silk applique, rhinestones and faux pearls. The shoulders are padded and the top of the sleeve is gathered around the shoulder for a bit of a high capped feel. The sleeves narrow in a touch from there as they reach their ends. The waist is brought in and shaped with vertical seaming and then the hips flare out. There are no closures on the jacket, it is meant to just slip on and sit over the dress. It is finished with a dramatic Ostrich feather border that that wraps around the neck, down the front and all the way around the hem. It is completely made by hand and the proper Haute Couture numbered tape is present. Excellent condition
The dress is hand lined in a ivory silk and closes with a hand set side zipper. The bodice is boned. Interior waist stay hooks to close. The jacket has no closures. Padding in each shoulder. I see minor marks on the interior lining of the dress and perhaps a slight grubbiness to the inner arms of the jacket. Please see the last photo after the label shot.
Dress
Bust: 16.5" flat across from side seam to side seam
Waist: 13.5" flat across from side seam to side seam
Hips: 17" flat across from side seam to side seam
Bodice: 9" from top of bodice to waist
Skirt: 25" from waist to hem
Jacket
Sleeves: 23"
Slightly extended shoulders: 16"
Bust: to 20" flat across from side seam to side seam
Waist: approx 14" flat across from side seam to side seam
Hips: approx 19" flat across from side seam to side seam
Length: 32" from neck to hem, including the feathers
Modern Sizing Equivalent: XS-SML
Item# DD3367
Reference Photo: Fall 1984 Emanuel Ungaro Haute Couture. (via @only_french_couture)
This garment has been professionally cleaned, pressed and is odor free. Thoroughly checked over before shipping, it will be ready to wear upon arrival.

yves saint laurent
Dramatic Fall 1987 Yves Saint Laurent Strapless Silk & Taffeta Dress w Ruffles & Bow
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This dress is one of the several versions that were produced for the Fall 1987 season. Versions and variations of the dress were done for both the Haute Couture runway and Rive Gauche. A somewhat similar version in pink and black, worn by Naomi, was featured in the fall ad campaign for the Rive Gauche label. As much as I love the pink version, I think that the all black is even more wearable for a larger variety of occasions. This dress is also one of the most dramatic of all the similar examples I have shared here and I love that about it.
The dress is strapless with a wonderful curved bodice and short fitted cut. The fabric is so unusual. It has a slight bubbled textured feel to it which makes it a much more interesting choice than a plain black fabric would have. I love the ruffle detailing that finishes the edges. This is a classic YSL touch that adds to the impact the dress has. The ruffles follow the upward curving edge of the bodice and then go all the way down and around the back. A double layer of wider ruffles edge the bottom hem to give it extra volume and flare. The front of the skirt has an extra apron-like overlay that has allowed him to curve one of the ruffled finishes along its edge and up to the hip. At that side of the hip is a large black bow set slightly to the back if the side. The bow is made of the same silk taffeta that the ruffles are made from. This adds incredible volume and I love it. Everything about the cut of the dress is done to highlight the curves of the body from the way the hem is set to that final ruffle that curves across the back. It is gorgeous. Excellent condition
Fully lined in a black cotton and the interior bodice is lightly boned for shape and support. Inner waist stay that hooks to close and the back closes with a fine metal zipper. Tagged a vintage YSL 38
Bust: 15.5" flat across from side seam to side seam
Waist: 13.5" flat across from side seam to side seam
Hips: to 18" flat across from side seam to side seam
Length: 31" from top seam of the bodice to hem and the top ruffle adds 2.5" inches above the top seam of the bodice
Modern Sizing Equivalent: XS-SML
Item# DD3090
Reference Photos: (1) Naomi Campbell for Saint Laurent Rive Gauche, F/W 1987. / (2-3) Yves Saint Laurent Haute Couture S/S 1987 Runway.
This garment has been professionally cleaned, pressed and is odor free. Thoroughly checked over before shipping, it will be ready to wear upon arrival.

oscar de la renta
Gorgeous Fall 2006 Oscar de la Renta Runway Look 61 Strapless Dress in a Teal Blue Silk Brocade
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The exact twin of this dress was shown on the Fall runway for 2006 for Look 61. 2006 was an important year in Oscar's history. This is the same year that Parsons awarded him with the Lifetime Achievement Award at their 58th Annual Benefit and Fashion Show. In Vogue's review of the collection journalist Nicole Phelps said in part; 'While other designers flit from one influence to another, Oscar de la Renta has made a four-decade-long career of staying true to his brand of ladylike elegance'. On the runway the dress was worn by model Liya Kebede and it was styled with maximum simplicity. It was just Liya in all her beauty and this stunning gown. Her makeup was barely there and they did not even add an earring to detract from her beauty or the beauty of the dress. It was a stunning moment and I am happy to have the runway clip included here so that you can see just how beautifully the dress moves.
This Oscar de la Renta dress is stunning. It is red carpet worthy and would even make an amazing wedding piece for the bride looking for a non-traditional choice or as an alternative dress in a more extended wedding celebration. It is in fabulous condition. It is coming from the same estate of a woman I am just starting to go through who was personal friends with Oscar and she bought some of his most beautiful pieces. The dress is made from yards and yards of a black silk brocade that has a vivid teal blue pattern woven through the fabric. The silk he chose is just incredible. It has a black base with beautiful motifs woven through the silk. They become a design element in themselves. The silk is just heavy enough to hold the shape and structure of the dress but even with all of that fabric it is not so heavy that it is uncomfortable to wear. It has a full built in boned corset inside the bodice so you don't have to worry about additional underpinnings. I did add a crinoline to the dress for some of these photos so that you can get an idea of just how full the skirt is and see its full shape. I also photoed it without a crinoline so that you can see how it falls on its own. The bust is strapless and fitted with high peaks on each side of the bodice. They curve toward the centre with a scalloped pattern at the edge. It hugs the body, curving in at the waist, and then hugs over the top of your hips. The seaming is all done on the vertical to create that beautiful shape and give the the dress a sense of added length. It is cut to follow and highlight the curves of your body to below the hip. At each hip there is a panel of fabric added to create a fantastic curved ruffle. This acts like a modern day pannier and is quite a beautiful detail. The skirt flows directly out from the bodice with no seam at the waist to break the line. It is cut to sit slightly more sleek and flat at the front and then you have all that wonderful volume starting at each hip and going around to the back. The back of the dress is very dramatic. It is trained so that it flows out behind you in a dramatic swoop of fabric. There is a wide inner band of stiffened netting that circles the hem to help hold the skirt up and keep the shape rather then have it just drag behind you. The upper back is left bare and it is just impossibly wonderful. Those details combined with that spectacular colour make it one of the best gowns I have seen from this time period. It is a stunning example of Oscar's work. Excellent condition.
Unlined with ribbon finished seams. There is a full built in corset that closes with its own zipper and then the dress closes over that with a hidden set zipper. A wide band of stiffened netting finishes the hem as mentioned above. There is an inner grosgrain waist stay that hooks to close. I see a break in the silk that covers the interior netting at the hem but it is inside the dress so does not show at all. Tagged a size 2.
Bust: 15.5" flat across from side seam to side seam
Waist: 12-13" flat across from side seam to side seam
Hips: open
Length: 53.5" from top of bodice to front hem, 75" to back hem
Modern Sizing Equivalent: XXS-SML
Item# DD3861
Reference Photos/Video: Fall 2006 Oscar de la Renta Runway Collection, Look 61. Model: Liya Kebede.
This garment has been professionally cleaned, pressed and is odor free. Thoroughly checked over before shipping, it will be ready to wear upon arrival.

james galanos
Spectacular Late 1970s Galanos Moss Green Silk Chiffon Car Wash Hem Dress w Draped Shoulder Panel
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In 1951, 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. That said, his ready-to-wear line was made to almost true couture standards and piece in it were made 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 the construction of his dresses and other pieces. Grace Kelly was an early fan and he was truly one of the great American designers. His work is held in all of the major museums around the world and he is one of my personal favourite designers. This dress is exceptional and I was very excited to have it come into the shop.
The dress is absolutely gorgeous. The label that is in it was the one used starting in 1977. Looking at the dress it is almost hard to imagine that it is not from an earlier time period with its decidedly Old Hollywood feel. It is made out of a fine silk chiffon that has been dyed to a deep moss green. In the skirt they are also more olive coloured panels mixed in and this adds depth there. The bust is shaped and structured underneath that draped exterior. You would not think it to look at it but that part of the dress is very formed underneath and hides an inner foundation that follows the complete length of the bodice. The top is cut straight across and it curves in at the waist and then hugs the tops of the hips. A long chiffon panel snaps into place on one side of the interior and you can then drape this over your shoulder to create a few different looks. You can let it sit to cover your entire arm like a half cape or just have it trail down the back for a little floating detail as you walk away. You could also have it float over the entire upper chest to drape over the other shoulder. That panel is completely removable so you could also wear the dress without it for a true starless feel. The panel is long enough to play double duty as a sash or even a head piece. You have a lot pf options with it. The silk has been hand draped over the bodice and I love the contrast between the horizontal draping there against the vertical panels in the skirt. The skirt itself is a marvel. It is literally made up of vertical panels of silk that have been cut in different widths and slightly different lengths. These are layered over a inner single layer skirt of the same silk chiffon. When the dress is on it gives the illusion that you are very bare under the panels. Each panel is set in by hand and this would have been a meticulous and tedious method that would have added several hours of construction time to the dress. The panels give the dress a very unexpected sexy feel as they move around you and give the illusion that you will get a glimpse of your full leg at any moment. The dress is stunning on and the movement that the panel over the shoulder and the panels of the skirt have when you move is stupendous. Excellent condition
Fully lined in a green silk and closes with a hand set zipper at the side. Hand finished throughout. The shoulder panel snaps onto place with silk covered snaps. It appears to have been worn very little if at all.
Bust: 15.5" flat across from side seam to side seam
Waist: 12.5" flat across from side seam to side seam
Hips at the bottom of the bodice: 17" flat across from side seam to side seam
Length: 48" from top of the strapless bodice to hem
Modern Sizing Equivalent: XXS-XS
Item# DD3862
This garment has been professionally cleaned, pressed and is odor free. Thoroughly checked over before shipping, it will be ready to wear upon arrival.

loris azzaro
Dramatic 1987 Loris Azzaro Brilliant Red Strapless 'Flame' Dress w Flaring Skirts & Shoulder
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Loris Azzaro launched his label in 1967 and quickly defined his trademark looks with colour, ornate beading, sequins, daring cut-outs and avant garde ways of defining the body. Some of the most beautiful women in the world wore his clothing including Marisa Berenson, Raquel Welch, Jane Birkin, Sophia Loren, Brigitte Bardot and Tina Turner. It was a label that defined sexiness and had a certain French flare that women world-wide loved. By the eighties he was experimenting with volume and proportions and new fabrics that at the time were all cutting edge. This is a killer example of his work during this period and I also one in the shop in a black if the red one is too bold for you. I have dated this to 1987 after we found a reference photo of a model wearing an Azzaro dress with a very similar shoulder treatments. I love it
This brilliant red dress is over the top dramatic and an absolute statement piece that will turn every head when you walk into a room. The bodice is hand draped into soft rounded gathers. It is constructed to follow the curves of the body from the top of the neckline to below the hips. For the main body of the dress he has used a red jersey that has a touch of a metallic feeling finish to it so that it has a liquid effect. Inside is his signature black strapless underwire bralet that is sewn into the dress for support. The bodice is shaped into a low sweetheart curve and the gathers run horizontally down the body. Vertical hand done seams run all the way around to give the gathers a slight scooped feel. This keeps the draping from adding bulk and keep the focus on emphasizing your curves underneath. The low set skirt is made out of a metallic red textured silk that is set over layers of built in under skirting. The fabric of the lower skirt is placed to give the effect that it is wrapped and fanned around you. On each outer side the panels of the skirt lift up and away from the dress. These suggest flames in their shape and the colour. The same fabric and flame-like effect is then used to create a fan of fabric on one side of the bodice and this flares out dramatically up and over the front portion of the shoulder. It is very bold. In person the red and fabric are a touch richer and more textured feeling then how they photoed. Excellent condition.
Fully lined in a red silk with a built in bra though the bodice that hooks to close separately. It closes at the back with a painted metal and nylon zipper. The interior bodice is boned. Layers of tulle and silk underskirts under the low set skirt. The flame/fan detailing on the bodice has stiffening fabric inside to hold it up and it does tend to fall a bit. It would be easy to add additional wire or stiffening inside if you wanted it to really hold tall. Hand finished throughout
Bust: to 18" flat across from side seam to side seam
Waist: 14.5" flat across from side seam to side seam
Hips: to 19" flat across from side seam to side seam
Length: 52" from top of bodice to hem
Modern Sizing Equivalent: SML-MED
Item# DD3587
Reference Photo: Model in Loris Azzaro, L'Officiel No. 734, September 1987.
This garment has been professionally cleaned, pressed and is odor free. Thoroughly checked over before shipping, it will be ready to wear upon arrival.

jean louis scherrer
Extraordinary Fall 2001 Jean Louis Scherrer Haute Couture Red 'Petal' Actual Runway Dress
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At the age of 31, Stephane Rolland took over as Artistic Director for the Jean Louis Scherrer Haute Couture atelier, making him the youngest of the 20 official couturiers at the time. That was in 1997 and he remained as the head of the Couture division until the last showing in 2005 when the house officials shuttered is couture business altogether. This dress is from the Fall 2001 Haute Couture presentation and it is the actual runway sample that was worn on the runway. It was Look 7 In the presentation that day. I have included several runway reference photos for you so that you can see just how spectacular the dress is once on an actual body.
Any Haute Couture piece to come into the shop is a reason to celebrate but to have the actual runway sample is even that much more amazing. The dress is a work of art and is entirely made by hand to Haute Couture standards with the added touch of all those last minute adjustments done to perfectly fit the model to walk the runway that day. This is an amazing opportunity to see what few see; a dress straight from the atelier, overseen and fitted by the couturier himself for its debut on the runway. The entire dress is made from multiple panels of a red silk gazaar that are hand set to overlap themselves as they cascade down the length of the dress. The panels gradually become larger is they run downwards over the dress to the train at the back. They cover the entire dress from the strapless bodice to the very end of the train. By layering the panels the dress has a sense of depth and texture then even the photos can truly convey. Each panel is secured to the base fabric just along its edges so that there is a movement and lightness created when it is on and you move about. The inner part of the dress is cut to above the knee so that you get a long flash of leg at the front. The rest of the dress flows back and around you from there. At the back the train is very long and dramatic. The bodice is strapless and here the panels are set so that they form a peak upwards on one side. The interior is corseted and structured so that it firmly holds the dress onto the body and gives you shape. This is an incredible piece of modern Haute Couture and would have been priced well into six figures when it was originally made. Excellent condition with one small note to review below.
Fully lined in a fine red silk and closes with two zippers. One is on the interior corset and the second is on the outer layer of the dress. The interior corset is boned and shaped. The skirt is lined in a red silk taffeta. Done with Haute Couture construction techniques. The hand written runway sample tag is present. There is some deepening of the colour/ marks on some of the squares of silk that make up the train and some minor grubbiness from being worn for the runway and then stored. Nothing that detracts once the dress is on. It is close to a true zero and will zip properly in the back on the right sized person.
Bust: 15-15.5" flat across from side seam to side seam
Inner waist: 11.5" flat across from side seam to side seam
Hips: to 19" flat across from side seam to side seam
Inner dress length: 26" from top of bodice to hem NOT including panels that go over the edge of the dress a bit above and blow the actual inner structure
Length including train to the very longest point: Approx 92" from top of bodice to final tip of the train
Modern Sizing Equivalent: XXS-XS
Item# DD3054
Reference Photos: (1-4) Fall 2001 Jean Louis Scherrer Haute Couture Runway Show. / (5-8) Alexandra Daddario photographed by Storm Santos.
This garment has been professionally cleaned, pressed and is odor free. Thoroughly checked over before shipping, it will be ready to wear upon arrival.

isaac mizrahi
Bespoke 1990s Isaac Mizrahi Couture Strapless Crystal Beaded & Black Lace Over Nude Silk Dress
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Isaac Mizrahi presented his first collection through a trunk show at Bergdorf Goodman's in 1987. By 1992 Chanel had bought a stake in the company and Isaac's name was everywhere. He was doing custom work for clients and Hollywood on top of his mainline. In 1995 Isaac was the subject of the movie 'Unzipped' based on his Fall 1994 collection. He is known as much for his personality as he was for his clothing. The Council of Fashion Designers of America (CFDA) recognized him with the Perry Ellis Award (now called the Swarovski Emerging Talent Award) in 1988 and the women's wear designer of the year award in 1989. He loved to experiment and would often change his aesthetics from season to season which was his ultimate downfall. After the fall 1998 show Chanel pulled its stake and the company folded. He did have a couple of subsequent come back attempts, but for collectors these early years are the most important pieces to find.
My client had this dress custom created for herself and worked one on one with Issac on it. It is a dress that really showcases his depth as a designer and it is stunningly beautiful. It is made to demi-couture standards and it looks to have never been worn. The bodice is amazing. It is strapless and is densely covered with large, glossy black beading mixed with large prong set glass crystal rhinestones. These are so heavily applied that you cannot see even a smidge of fabric between them. The size of the beads, combined with the ultra tight spacing of them give it a 3 dimensional effect. The beadwork wraps completely around you to the back. The top of the bodice curves in the most flattering of ways and to is molded to follow the curve of the breast. The dress falls from directly under the bust so that there is no line at the waist to break the beautiful curve of the skirt. The body of the dress is made from a fine black lace and he has set that over a inner nude silk lining. From a distance this gives the effect that you are covered in just a layer of lace. The skirt sweeps down from under that heavily beaded bust, skims past the waist and then starts to flare out from there. It is cut so that by the time it has reached the middle of your legs it flares out tremendously for the lower skirt. This combination of the flared out lower skirt and the black lace give it a touch of a Spanish feel I think. Extra tulle attached to the inner lining help to keep that gorgeous shape that you see. It is even better in person and once on an actual body it really comes to life as the skirts float and swish around you at the slightest movement. It appears to have never been worn or worn very little. Excellent condition
Fully lined in a two layers of a golden nude silk. The innermost layer of the skirt has additional tulle around the hem to help hold the shape. The bodice has a built in inner corset that closes with its own set of lingerie hook and eye. The exterior layer closes over that with a back zipper. Some marks to the inside hems but otherwise it appears to have never been worn or worn very little.
Bust: 17" flat across from side seam to side seam with an approx A-B cup
Inner waist: 13.5" flat across from side seam to side seam
Hips: open
Length: 56" from top of bodice to hem
Modern Sizing Equivalent: SML-MED
Item# DD3564
This garment has been professionally cleaned, pressed and is odor free. Thoroughly checked over before shipping, it will be ready to wear upon arrival.

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This dress is absolutely incredible and the workmanship that has been put into making it is just extraordinary. It really is one of the most phenomenal dresses I have ever had in the shop. Philip Hulitar designed under his own namesake label from 1949 to his retirement in 1964. He was known for his sophisticated cocktail dresses and evening gowns. Shortly after the launch of his label, a journalist wrote; 'The star of a gifted designer has risen recently on the fashion horizon'. Prior to launching his own label, Mr Hulitar was the in-house designer and head of the women's dress division for Bergdorf Goodmans for 18 years.
This dress is really a thing of beauty and shows the high level of meticulous care put into the execution of design during this time period. The fabric is a high end, luxurious silk in a pale dusty blue. Onto this is a hand screened custom floral design. The print is set onto the silk in a soft washed feel like a watercolor painting. The silk has then been meticulously hand pleated into rows of sharp knife pleats that are stacked one upon each other. They are set so that the pleats are facing upwards rather then facing down as you would typically see. This gives the fabric a slightly surreal edgy feel and as gravity slightly pulls them and opens them the lines of the body are exaggerated. It is really spectacular in person. The bodice is strapless and fitted. Inside it is boned and shaped. The silk is draped into place by hand draping it to closely follow every curve. It cinches in at the waist and then follows the curve of the hips and narrows at the hem The back is spectacular with a large half bow that sits above a tightly gathered ruffle. This begins at the low back and slowly tapers out just above the knees. Everything on this dress is done to create that highly sculptural shape. Overall excellent condition with some notes to review below
Fully lined in a cream silky rayon and closes with a hand set back painted metal zipper. The interior bodice is boned. The back bow snaps into place. I see some extremely minor pinholes along the one part of the top pf the bodice at the fold and some very minor watermarks on the silk near the hem. It has a area of fading on one hip that I have photoed and placed after the label photo for your review. It can be seen in some of the photos before that as well. You could perhaps shorten it to remove this area or just wear it as is and not worry about it. It is marked a lot lower in price then it would be but for this area.
Bust: 16.5" flat across from side seam to side seam with an A to small B cup
Waist: 14" flat across from side seam to side seam
Hips: 18" flat across from side seam to side seam
Length: 39" from top of the bodice to the front hem, 41" to the back hem
Modern Sizing equivalent: XS-SML
Item# DD3214
This garment has been professionally cleaned, pressed and is odor free. Thoroughly checked over before shipping, it will be ready to wear upon arrival.
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