• The twin of this dress walked the runway for Look 35 in the Fall 2012 Gucci show.
• It was made under the creative direction of Frida Giannini.
• This was the dress of the season and it was documented on a huge variety of people for red carpets and events. I love that it shows just how fantastic this dress is on a range of body types and frames.
• The original inspiration for this dress is a Fall 1985 Hubert de Givenchy Haute Couture dress that walked the runway. We actually have one of those originals in the shop at the moment. You can view that by clicking here.
• This gorgeous dress is made out of a green velvet with a leopard print done in a different finish of velvet within the fabric. This pattern gives the velvet an extra depth and richness, and also catches the light as you move. It is stunning.
• The bodice is set into a V that crosses over itself where it is set into the waist. The bodice drapes more loosely over you at the front. 
• The waist is seamed and cut slightly on the more generous side. There is a 1.5" band that is attached around the waist to add some definition. If you wanted more shape, you could add a belt though it also works perfectly well without.
• The sleeves are more full near the top and then they narrow down to a hand set zippered cuff.
• The skirt falls to the floor and is sad so that it wraps over itself at the front. You can see in the many reference photos that by moving your leg a certain way you can get a flash of bare leg if you wish.
• It is a gorgeous dress and I love it homage to the original Givenchy.
• The dress is fully lined in a black silk. It closes with a hidden set back zipper. Each cuff has a hidden set zipper. It appears to have been worn very little if at all. 
  
• Tagged a Gucci 42
• Excellent condition

Sleeves: 25" and they are 13" around the upper arm
Shoulders: 15.5"
Bust: 17-19" flat across from side seam to side seam
Waist: to 14.5" flat across from side seam to side seam
Hips: to 20.5" flat across from side seam to side seam
Bodice: 15" from top of bodice to the top of the 1.5" band at the waist
Total length: 61.5" from waist to hem with 1.5" turned under the hem

Modern Sizing Equivalent: SML-MED

Item# DD5434

Reference Photos/Video: (1-6) Fall 2012 Gucci, Look 35. Model Yulia Kharlapanova.  /  (7) Doutzen Kroes by Mario Sorrenti for Vogue Paris, August 2012.  /  (8-9) Natasha Poly at Cannes Film Festival, 2012.  /  (10) Isabeli Fontana in Gucci for Schön! Magazine, January 2013.  /  (11) Alicia Vikander at the premiere of Anna Karenina, 2012.  /  (12) Juana Acosta in Gucci at the GQ Spain Man of the Year Awards, 2012.  /  (13) Josephine de La Baume Confession Of A Child Of The Century December 2012.  /  (14) Tamara Ecclestone at the premiere of Skyfall, October 2012.  /  (15) Vanessa Hudgens for Harper's Bazaar Arabia, December 2012.  /  (16-17) Nina Dobrev for Ocean Drive, September 2012.  /  (18) Linda Vojtova for El Pais Semanal, December 2012.  /  (19) Amber Patton at the Studio Museum Gala in Harlem, 2012.  /  (20)  Photo by AdlerFresneda.  /  (21-23) credits unknown.

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 Givenchy dress dates to the mid-late 1980s, maybe early 1990s
• It was made under the creative direction of Hubert de Givenchy.
• In 1952, Givenchy founded his namesake house on Rue Alfred de Vigny in Paris and quickly rose to fame as one of the grand couturiers. 16 years later for the 1968-69 season, he added a ready-to-wear line of clothing and accessories called 'Givenchy Nouvelle Boutique'. The line was initially sold in the United States exclusively through Bergdorf Goodman stores and was eventually available at other retailers as well. The line was high end and extremely well made. He launched this line to expand his customer base and it made to appeal specifically to his non-couture clients. This label continued until 1992.
• This dress has the Givenchy Boutique label without the Nouvelle added and as far as I am aware this label was usually reserved for special orders that were made in the atelier and then shipped to the client without any Paris fittings. 
• You can see that in the many hand finishes throughout the dress. This level of construction can be considered Demi Couture from this time period.
• The dress is made out of a beautiful silk brocade that has pink and copper flowers woven throughout the fabric. The pink and slightly coral parts of the flowers are done in a more matte thread and then the copper and gold parts are done with a metallic thread. As a result the flowers almost seem to glow off of the silk. It is an incredible vintage fabric.
• The top of the dress has a low squared off neckline at the front that is made from a black velvet. It curves up and over your shoulders and has the same squared off opening at the back.
• At the front it dips slightly at the centre and placed exactly in the middle of that dip is a large black bow of the same velvet that has stiffened netting inside to help hold its shape.
• The sleeves are gorgeous. Each shoulder is shaped into a high cap. To help support the bit of a rise above the shoulder there is a stiffen thicker grosgrain ribbon that is pleated and stitched into place along the edge of the inner shoulder to add support.
• The sleeves are cut so that they curve over your arm and narrow down slightly to a zippered wrist.
• The top is meant to be more fitted and create a more empire feel.
• The dress is shaped through the waist area with vertical darts to bring the fabric in and create the curve that you see.
• The skirt falls to the floor from there and it flares out quite dramatically by the time it reaches the hem. I love how the width of the lower skirt perfectly balances the shape through the upper bodice.
• It is spectacular and the cut and design are phenomenal. This is classic Givenchy for this time period.
• The dress is backed in the same velvet where it goes over your shoulders and then the bodice and rest of the dress are lined in a black silk chiffon. It closes with a back zipper and there is a zipper at the end of each cuff. Hand finishes throughout and very well made. 
• There is no size tag present so please go by the measurements listed below
• Excellent condition

Sleeves: 24" and they are 16" around the upper arms
Shoulders: no true defined seam
Bust: 16.5" flat across from side seam to side seam
Natural waist: 13.5" flat across from side seam to side seam
Hips: to 21" flat across from side seam to side seam
Bodice: approx 12" from top of shoulder to where the velvet ends under the bust
Total length: 57.5" from top of shoulder to front hem, 59" to the back hem with 2" turned under

Modern Sizing Equivalent: XS-SML

Item# DD5429

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 walked the Fall 1987 Bill Blass runway.
• It was made under the creative direction of Bill Blass.
• I love that we found a reference photo from the runway so you can see just how fantastic this is once on.
• This is the actual dress worn Mikey Madison to the Oscars Nominees Dinner in February and she landed on several best dressed lists as a result.
• Bill Blass launched his label in 1970 when he bought out the Maurice Rentner label and 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 unexpected materials in way that was very flattering to the wearer. 
• It is one of those dresses that looks amazing on the dress form but is even better on an actual person.
• The fabric feels like art. The base is a rich blue silk and then onto this is a fantastic design made of out a black velvet. The velvet is very soft to the touch with a chenille like finish that gives the design a beautiful texture and softness.
• The dress has the feel of an antique 18th century gown and I love this reference back to the past.
• The top is a fitted and strapless with a band of black silk wrapping around the breasts. It falls from there to skim outward over the waist and hips, and then narrows back down to the floor as it reaches the hem. This gives the front of the dress a more long and lean feel but with a hint that something special might happen as you turn.
• The back is the star of the show. Sitting over the top of the closure at the back is a large black velvet bow. This tops an added panel underneath that is very extravagant. The panel curves outwards and then loops back in to attach just under the hips. A second black velvet bow sits at the base of where it is attached back into the dress. A slit is hidden under the panel to give you room to walk while keeping the narrow silhouette of the hem.
• The dress is fully lined in a black silk. It closes with a back painted metal zipper hidden under a seam and there is an inner hooked waist stay. There is light boning through the bodice. Hand work throughout. It appears to have been worn very little if at all.
• There is no size tag present, so please go by the measurements below.
• Excellent condition

Bust: to 17" flat across from side seam to side seam
Inner waist: 14" flat across from side seam to side seam
Hips: to 21" flat across from side seam to side seam
Total length: 56" from top of bodice to hem

Modern Sizing Equivalent: SML-MED

Item# DD5411

Reference Photos/Video: (1) Fall 1987 Bill Blass Runway.  /  (2-6) Mikey Madison wearing this dress to the Oscars Nominees Dinner, February 2025, styled by Jamie Mizrahi. 

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 sleeved version of this dress walked the runway for the Fall 1987 collection.
• It was made under the creative direction of Arnold Scassi.
• Scaasi launched  his boutique line in 1984 and it was high end ready-to-wear and very expensive. He was born Arnold Isaacs in Montreal and the name Scassi is simply his own surname in reverse. He studied in Montreal and in Paris, apprenticed at the house of Paquin and then worked with the legendary Charles James. In 1964 he opened own couture salon.
•  It is very rare to find documentation of his work from this time period and I love having it so that you can see how amazing it is on. I think this strapless one is even better then the runway version.
• You can easily see the influence of Arnold having worked for Charles James in this piece. The lines are dramatic and yet elegant. 
• The dress is strapless and the top portion of the dress is made from an inky black velvet. It is dramatically shaped at the front with wired peaks and a V plunge at the front. 
• It nips in at the waist and then angles down from one side low on the hip on the other. On the side that sits higher up there is a large bow detail that gives the effect of holding all the gathers of the skirt in place.
• The skirt is set under that and the long angling seam on the opposite hip adds visual length to the dress as it extends down and into a deep point. The skirt is quite full and the shape and volume that you see is held by the inner construction.
• Layers of tulle netting set underneath the outermost layer of silk. The green of the skirt is a true brilliant emerald. This unexpected shock of colour is fantastic.
• The dress is fully lined in a green silky rayon. The bodice is lightly boned and it closes with a hidden set side zipper. Built in stiff tulle under skirts and the skirt is interlined in a green organza. 
• There is no size tag present so please go by the measurements listed below.
• Excellent condition

Bust: to 17" flat across from side seam to side seam
Waist: 13.4" flat across from side seam to side seam
Hips: open
Length: 51" from top of peaks on bodice to hem with 3" turned under the top layer

Modern Sizing Equivalent: SML-MED

Item# DD5403

Reference Photos: Fall 1987 Arnold Scaasi.

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 2005 Galliano collection
• It was made under the creative direction of John Galliano.
• The dress is a little work of art that not only combines his signature bias cut but is also made from a soft bias cut velvet that drapes beautifully over the body.
• The front is cut into a V and is caught up into a twisted knot detail at the base of the V. This creates a pretty draping over the bust area as the velvet is all gathered into that knot. The seam under the bust angles down towards the sides in a nod to the seamwork of the 1920s and 30s, something you see often in Galliano's work.
• At the back that same low V is repeated so that you get a bit of skin showing there. This front and back plunge perfectly offset the sensuality of the velvet..
• From there the dress glides over the waist and curves back out over hips. It falls to the floor and widens out near the hem. With all of the fabric cut on the bias this moves beautifully around you as you move. This superb silhouette is a signature of his work and it is done beautifully on this dress. 
• The colour of the velvet is this deep gold that has a slight antique feel to it. I love the way that it catches the light. Even in these photos you can see how magical the effect of that is and when it is on and you are moving it will be even better.
• The dresses that Galliano does with fabric cut on the bias are outstanding and the velvets like this one are even more so.
• The dress is unlined and has no closures. It slips over the head and then it just drapes perfectly around your curves. The bias cut will allow for range of fit so I have put the comfortable range of measurements below with the dress laying flat. The dress has lost its main Galliano tag but has its proper inside tag inside as shown. I see a tiny spot near the hem where it looks like the velvet is scuffed a touch. It is very minor and just mentioned for accuracy. Otherwise appears to have been worn very little at all.
• Tagged a vintage Galliano FR38, GB10, US4
  
• Excellent condition

Bust: 17-20" flat across from side seam to side seam
Waist: 12.5-16" flat across from side seam to side seam
Hips: 17-22" flat across from side seam to side seam
Total length: 69" from top of shoulder to hem

Modern Sizing Equivalent: XS-MED

Item# DD5395

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 jumpsuit walked the runway for the Fall 2019 Gorgio Armani collection for the Look 80.
• It was made under the creative direction of Giorgio Armani.
  
• This is from his main label and its twin was also seen on both Cressida Bonas and Kelly Chen. I love having the reference photos so you can see how phenomenal it is once on the body.
• The Fall 2019 show was co-ed with both male and female models on the runway. Vogue said in part that "Armani served a pre-millennial nightclub’s worth of smoky whorl and twist." Velvet, beading and wide silk bands were integral to the looks in the show.
• The base fabric of the jumpsuit is an inky black velvet which gives the beading  added on top of it a luxurious background.
• The neckline is high and finished with black silk piping. The shoulders are soft and slightly dropped. The arms narrow slightly at the wrist where they are also finished with black silk piping. At the back the fabric wraps over itself to button and snap into place along the neck line. Very interesting way to close the piece.
• Starting at the centre of the neckline is a black silk ribbon that is 2.5" wide and it runs all the way down the front to the waist. A second ribbon is attached under that to wrap around the waist and tie at the front so that you can cinch in as much shape as you want. It can be worn with the waist left more generous and open, or very cinched.
• On the runway, and in the reference photos, you can see that it the bodice is split completely open down each side of the ribbon. That split is technically. there on this one as well but it is currently tacked closed with an added modesty panel under the lower half of it inside. If you wanted the full split feel of the runway, it would be very easy to reverse this and have it completely open on both sides all the way to the waist. If you preferred it open just let me know upon purchase and I can have my tailor do that for you.
• It skims over the bust and is cut generously around the waist for a easy to fit feel. The waist is finished with hidden elastic since there is no closure on the jumpsuit and you just simply slip it on to wear.
• From under the waist it curves out over the hips and then the legs fall in a wide straight cut all the way. They are very wide and that, combined with the ease and drape of the velvet, gives you gorgeous movement as you walk and move. They are a full 26" around the hem of each pant.
• Applied onto the jumpsuit is an intricate script pattern done in little faceted jet beads that are applied directly onto the velvet. These add the perfect amount of sparkle as they catch the light from every angle. If you look closely you will realize that they are his signature.
• I have taken close-ups of the extraordinary amount of bead work that has been done to make these. It is really exquisite workmanship.
• Hidden set pockets sit on each hip for the final perfect detail.
• The jumpsuit is fully lined in fine black silk. It slips onto where and then buttons and snaps around the back of the neck line. It appears to have been worn very little at all.
• Tagged a vintage Armani 42
• Excellent condition

Sleeves: 22.75" and are 13" around the upper arm
Soft slightly slouched shoulders: 16"
Bust: to 20" flat across from side seam to side seam
Waist: 16-19" flat across from side seam to side seam
Hips: to 22" flat across from side seam to side seam
Bodice: 15.5" from top of shoulder to waist
Total length: 56" from top of shoulder to hem with about 1.5" turned under the hem
Gusset: 16" from the back waist to inner seam
Inseam: 30"

Modern Sizing Equivalent: SML-MED

Item# DD5326

Reference Photos/Video: (1-3) Fall 2019 Giorgio Armani, Look 80.  /  (4) Cressida Bonas at Harpera Bazaar Women of the Year Awards, October 2019.  /  (5) Kelly Chen in Giorgio Armani.

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 near twin of this dress walked the runway for the Fall 2005 show for Look 82 and was worn by Erin Wasson. 
• It was made under the creative direction of the original Mr. Valentino.
• Vogue said of the collection that "Valentino's couture touch brought exquisite workmanship to filmy lace blouses and brocade jackets as well as evening gowns that captured the seasons passion for Victorian and Edwardian effects." They went on to mention the feel of this gown specifically saying "courtly evening gowns had trains, composed of tiers of ruffles."
• On the runway they showed the dress with the ruffles backed in a silk taffeta in what looks to be a more coral red. When the dress was produced for shops this version has a pink behind the bows and it is lined in pink for just a hint of colour. The silk ruffles cascading down dress have no lining in a different colour. I think the dress is more striking this way. It is not so busy as how it looks and was presented on the runway.
• The dress is absolutely spectacular and showcases what made these original Valentino pieces so special under Mr. Valentino's direction.
• The dress is strapless and curves across you at the front and is fitted around the bust. Inside there is a built-in corset that is lightly boned to keep the dress perfectly in place.
• From there it is shaped so that comes in at the waist without any seams to break the eye. It curves back out to glide over the hips.
• The skirt widens out to be very full by the time it reaches the hem. The back of the skirt is cut longer than the front so that you get a beautiful sweeping feel behind you.
• Beginning just under the bust is the first ruffle. It is 7.5" wide and is set to curve down and around you before dipping lower at the back for a very pretty line. And its long longest point in the back it extends to 12". A bow in a matching silk sits at the top centre of the front and this is backed in a pink silk for a tiny touch of colour.
• The second ruffle begins just under the waist and this one follows that same beautiful curve around you. It dips lower and longer at the back to a full 21" at its longest point. This ruffle is also topped by a pretty black and pink silk bow at the front.
• Each of the tiers is gathered in lightly along where they are set into the dress so that they have lots of volume and movement. Under the last ruffle the entire lower skirt at the back widens out substantially and trails behind you in a swooping train. Under the skirt is a pink silk organza lining that is finished with a pink edging made of the same pink silk that the bows are backed with. When you move and your legs kick the dress outward you get a little hint of the pink and it all perfectly ties in with the pink of the bows.
• This is a truly spectacular dress and one that you will not see come around very often if ever again. 
• The dress has a built-in black silk corset that is lightly boned and zips with its own zipper. The dress closes with a hidden set zipper over that. Where the ruffle goes over the zipper, there is a series of hidden snaps to fully close the ruffle over the zipper so that it is all hidden. The skirt is lined in pink organza as described a book. The dress appears to have been worn very little if at all.
• There is no size tag present so please go by the measurements listed below
• Excellent condition

Bust: to 16" flat across from side seam to side seam
Inner waist: 12" flat across from side seam to side seam
Hips: 17.5" flat across from side seam to side seam
Total length: 56.5" from top of the bodice to the front hem and the back extends another 9" past that.

Modern Sizing Equivalent: XS-SML

Item# DD5240

Reference Photos: Fall 2005 Valentino, Look 82. Model Erin Wasson.

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.

• From the Fall 1985 Givenchy Haute Couture collection and we have included some photos showing the extensive use of this particular fabric for pieces shown on the runway.
  
• Under the creative direction of Hubert de Givenchy
  
• Completely made by hand in the Paris atelier to Haute Couture standards.
• This gorgeous dress is made out of a black silk velvet with a leopard print done in a different finish of velvet within the fabric. This pattern gives the velvet an extra depth and richness, and also catches the light as you move. It is stunning.
• It drapes absolutely beautifully over the body. It is really an outstanding fabric. The bodice is set into a V that crosses over itself where it is set into the waist. The bodice drapes more loosely over you at the front. 
• The waist is seamed and cut slightly on the more generous side. I have added a ribbon and if you wanted more shape, you could have it cinched and even more with a belt or it also works perfectly well without.
• The sleeves narrow down to a hand set zippered cuff.
• The skirt falls to the floor in a pretty sweep of fabric that is at the front. This lets the front hem curve up slightly.
• It is a gorgeous dress and a wonderful piece of his fashion history.
• Fully lined in a black silk. There's a inner built-in half skirt. It closes with an inner side set zipper and the outside snapped into place with a series of hidden set, snapped around the waist. And inner waist state hooks to close. Each cuff has a hidden set zipper. It appears to have been worn very little if at all. 
  
• There is no size tag present so please check the listed measurements below
• Excellent condition

Sleeves: 23.5"
Shoulders: 15"
Bust: 16-19" flat across from side seam to side seam
Waist: 13.5" flat across from side seam to side seam
Inner hips: to 22" flat across from side seam to side seam
Bodice: 17" from top of shoulder to slightly dropped waist
Total length: 55" from top of shoulder to hem

Modern Sizing Equivalent: SML-MED

Item# DD5100

Reference Photos: Fall 1985 Givenchy Haute Couture.

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 special edition dress from 2012 and that same year its twin was worn by both Katy Perry and Sonam Kapoor. I love that this gives you the chance to see just how gorgeous this dress is once on and that it is a dress with incredible modern provenance given these two moments. Dolce and Gabbana launched in 1985 by founders Domenico Dolce and Stefano Gabbana who still run the label to this day. After a shaky start in the first few years, by the 1990s, they had started to open their own boutiques and had become a force in fashion. In 1993 Madonna chose them for her 1993 Girlie Show tour and they gained world wide recognition. They are known for their dramatic designs that are heavily inspired by their Sicilian heritage. 

The dress is made out of a deep red velvet and that colour, combined with this fabric, gives it an extra depth and richness that it would not have in any other fabric choice. The top portion of the dress is treated in an almost corseted fashion. It is meant to be very fitted to the body. The bodice is peaked at the front and the velvet is placed over it to drape and wrap around the body in the most flattering way possible. Inside it is boned and shaped so that everything stays in place. The waist is cinched in and the illusion of a tiny waist is made even more so by the elaborate skirt that billows out all around you. The skirt is a work of art in itself. Layers and layers of net and tulle are built-in underneath that top velvet layer so that the volume you see in these photos is actually the volume that the dress has. You see that in the photos of Katie and Sonam as well. It is an extraordinary dress. Excellent condition with a minor note below.

Fully lined in red silk with boning and a cupped inner corset. Added layers under the skirt as described above. It closes with a back zipper and then the skirt snaps to close over that starting under the waist. The zipper pull was not present on the dress and we replaced it with twisted black rubber finished wire so you're able to zip the dress open and closed. Please see the photo after the shot of the label. Other than that one small detail, it appears to have been worn very little if at all. Tagged a vintage DG 36

Bust: 13-15"" flat across from side seam to side seam
Waist: to 12" flat across from side seam to side seam
Hips: open
Bodice: 10" from top of the peak on the bodice to waist
Total length: 38" from top of the peak on the bodice to hem

Modern Sizing Equivalent: XXS-XS

Item# DD5016

Reference Photos: (1-3) Katy Perry at the premiere of 'Part Of Me', July 2012.  /  (4) Sonam Kapoor at Cannes, 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.

Hubert de Givenchy moved to Paris in 1942 where he worked for Jacques Fath, then Elsa Schiaparelli, and eventually Cristobal Balenciaga. Givenchy often attributed much of his later success to the years with to Mr Balenciaga and what he learned while there. In 1952, Givenchy founded his namesake house in Paris and quickly rose to fame as one of the great couturiers of our time. I am always pleased to find any of his Haute Couture work as it is so rare. This particular dress is exceptional with every detail on it finished to Haute Couture standards.

This is an amazing true Haute Couture Givenchy dress that is a very rare and special find. Two things of immediate note for this dress. First is the absolutely beautiful fabric combination. The bodice and sleeves are an inky black silk velvet and then the ruffles on the neckline, end of each sleeve, and the entire top layer of the skirt is a starched cotton and silk mix netting that has beautiful little gold metal thread flowers hand embroidered over the netting. I took closeups of both the front of these flowers and also their backs so that you can see the beautiful workmanship put into each individual flower. I also included close ups of the hand finished seams on the interior of the dress. The time and technique to complete this dress would have been astounding and I cannot even imagine how many hours this would have taken. The second thing of note is that stunning cut through the neckline. It is tremendously flattering to have that bare expanse of skin across the top of the shoulder like that. It feels a little bit sexy with the way the top sits off the shoulder to leave that expanse of bare skin. You could also wear it on the shoulder but I chose to show it off. I love that you have the versatility of the two different ways to wear it. A ruffle goes all the way around the neckline and around the end of each sleeve. It is shaped to come in at the waist and then curves out over the hips. The skirt is set into a seam that sits at the top of the hips and the netting is softly gathered into that seam so you get a touch of fullness. As the skirt flows down to the hem it expands outwards to give you pretty movement as you walk. There is a full black silk organza inner skirt under the top layer of the skirt so that it is opaque enough to wear. It is spectacular. This is a very beautiful example of Givenchy from this time period and an amazing example of the technical skills that can be achieved in Haute Couture. It is easy to see why his work is the subject of so many books and retrospective shows at museums worldwide. Excellent condition

The dress is fully lined in a matching hand set black silk. It zips to close and an inner waist stay hooks to close. Completely made by hand throughout to Haute Couture standards. It appears to have been worn very little if at all. Proper couture tag and numbered tape present. 

Sleeves: 26" and are 11.5" around the upper arm
The opening across the neckline is 18" flat across from side to side
Bust: 16" flat across from side seam to side seam
Waist: 12.5" flat across from side seam to side seam
Seam at top of hip: 16.5" flat across from side to side
Hips: open
Bodice: 19" from top of natural shoulder to seam at the top of the hip
Total length: 61.5" from top of natural shoulder to hem

Modern Sizing Equivalent: XS-SML

Item# DD4975

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 walked the runway for the Fall 1982 show and I love that we found photos of it for you so you can see just how spectacular it is one and how the sleeves sit once on a body. This silhouette with its dramatic sleeves and full skirts was an important element for that season. It is just a stunning example of one of his most recognized looks.

The dress is made from a combination of two of his favorite fabrics, silk taffeta and silk velvet. These became signatures of his and ran through his collections from the start of his career to the finish. It is a stunning piece. The top is cut to skim over the bust with a scooped neckline at the front. It is seamed at the waist and then extends down over the top of the hips. There is an attached silk taffeta sash that wraps around the waist and cinches you in for added shape and detail at the waist. The sleeves are full with a beautiful sweeping cut that starts at the shoulders and remains full to just past the elbow. At that point the fabric changes to to a velvet. Four glossy dome buttons  detail the lower part of the sleeve. These are meant to be pushed up slightly to exaggerate that pouf of the upper sleeve even more. The skirt falls from under the velvet and it is beautifully full. The photos do not really do the amount of fabric in the skirt full justice. I love that under the top purple layer of silk there is a lining finished in a coral red silk taffeta. You don't see that inner layer when you are standing, but when you sit or move just right, you get that extra flash of color. It's a small detail that I am obsessed with. The fabric choices helps keep the intended shape and volume. Pieces by Yves from this time period have become an important piece of fashion history and having documentation like this one has makes it that much better. Excellent condition.

Fully lined through the bodice in a black silk satin. The skirt is lined in a deep red silk taffeta and the sleeves are unlined. It closes at the side with a metal and nylon zipper and each cuff buttons to close. The sash is attached at the back. Slight flattening to the velvet here and there along the waist seam that is covered by the belt once on. Tagged a vintage YSL 40.

Sleeves: 29"
Shoulders: 15"
Bust: 17.5" flat across from side seam to side seam
Waist: 14" flat across from side seam to side seam
Hips: open
Bodice: 17" from shoulder to waist
Skirt: 43.5" from waist to hem

Modern Sizing Equivalent: SML-MED

Item# DD2856

Reference Photos: (1-2) Fall 1982 Yves Saint Laurent Runway.  /  (3) Alice Englert wearing this dress for Harper's Bazaar, 2023.

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