description

detail

Sleeves: 27"
Shoulders: 15"
Bust: 18" flat across from side seam to side seam
Waist: 14" flat across from side seam to side seam
Hips: open
Bodice: 15.5" from top of bodice to waist
Skirt: 44" from waist to hem
Inseam: 28"

Modern Sizing Equivalent:

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.

The label on this dress instantly gives us a date of between 1970-1974. 1970 was the year Janice Wainwright launched her own label and after 1974 her labels only carry her name, not the full ‘Janice Wainwright at Forty Seven Poland Street,’ that we see here. These four years are what has forever defined Janice and her work. She excelled at these embroidered pieces and the Art Deco & Nature inspired designs that she loved flourished and became one of her signatures.

This dress is a beauty and really a museum worthy piece. Her caftans and dresses by her during this time period and of this quality are harder and harder to find. As mentioned above, it has the added bonus of having the coveted, earliest Janice Wainwright at Forty Seven Poland Street label. Pieces with this label are from the beginning of her career and for me, really showcase her talent and are among the very best of her work. The base of the dress is a black chiffon. The bodice is what gives the dress its caftan feel even though technically it is more fitted then a typical caftan dress would be. The sleeves are cut wide for a kimono feel and her signature embroidery runs extensively down each of them and across the back of the dress. The front is cut very low with a loop and button holding it in place. The waist nips in and is highlighted with red embroidered piping. This same red line runs down the skirt, highlighting the sweeping lines as the skirt gently flares out as it reached the floor. It is beautiful. Excellent condition

Fully lined in a black silk rayon and closes with a back painted metal zipper. The front button on the plunging neckline is also functional.

Sleeves: 21" approx.
Shoulders: no defined seam
Bust: open
Waist: 13" flat across from side seam to side seam
Hips: 22" flat across from side seam to side seam
Bodice: 12" from neck to waist
Skirt: 46" from waist to hem

Modern Sizing Equivalent: SML-MED

Item# DD2813

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 particular version of the Thea Porter label was only produced between October 1971-March 1972 and this gown was part of the 1971 collection. It is a beautiful example of her work and I am pleased to share that its twin was part of the 2015 Thea Porter exhibit at the London Museum of Textile and Fashion. Curator of that exhibit and Fashion Historian Laura McClaws Helms who is a contributor to my blog, also was kind enough to confirm that the print on this piece was by Janet Taylor. It would have been screen printed and then had some paint sprayed onto it by hand. Selfridges ran an ad campaign that same season and used another version of the dress as part of that giving it additional documentation. Note that the use of the "The Cream" was not the name of the dress, that appeared on all of the ads in the series that season regardless of the designer highlighted. I have also seen this dress refereed to as "The Cosmic" but according to Laura, who is perhaps the worlds foremost expert on Thea porter, the print did not have a particular name.

It is a beautiful example of her work with a printed cotton voile whose semi-sheerness is kept non-scandalous by white muslin lining underneath. The front dips down into a scoop and the bodice is fitted with a wide black panel that wraps around the chest area. The waistline sits high up under the bodice and the skirt flows down and out from there. Each sleeve is beautiful with a full, wide cut that flares out over the the wrists to make a wonderfully dramatic statement. The skirt also flares out to mid length in a wonderful swirl of fabric and pattern. The print is fabulous and this is instantly recognizable Thea. Museum quality condition with some small notes to review below

Fully lined in a white muslin and closes with a back painted metal zipper. There is some color run and marks on the interior lining of the skirt and I do see some color run from the purple here and there. These were notorious for this because of how the dying process was done so I do not consider this a true flaw. The pattern is so extensive that you only notice upon close inspection anyway. I photoed the worst area on one sleeve. There is a touch of "wrinkling" to the fabric under the arms that stayed out even after its initial cleaning. 

Sleeves: 22"
Shoulders: 13.5"
Bust: 17" flat across from side seam to side seam
Waist: 13" flat across from side seam to side seam
Hips: open
Bodice: 13" from neck to waist
Skirt: 39" from waist to hem

Modern Sizing Equivalent: SML-MED

Item# DD2812

Reference Photos: My own photo of the twin of the dress at the exhibit at the London Museum of Textile and Fashion; 1971 Selfridges ad campaign.

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

The label on this dress instantly gives us a date of between 1970-1974. 1970 was the year Janice Wainwright launched her own label and after 1974 her labels only carry her name, not the full ‘Janice Wainwright at Forty Seven Poland Street,’ that we see here. These four years are what has forever defined Janice and her work. She excelled at these embroidered pieces and the Art Deco inspiration she loved flourished and became one of her signatures.

This set is amazing and really a museum worthy set. Pieces by her of this quality are harder and harder to find. As mentioned above, it has the added bonus of having the coveted, earliest Janice Wainwright at Forty Seven Poland Street label. Pieces with this label are from the beginning of her career and for me, really showcase her talent and are among the very best of her work. It is two separate pieces and the base of both is a black chiffon. Both pieces simply slip on and are very easy to wear. The top "tabard" cut top is fabulous. It is cut into a wide T shaped on both the front and back. This allows the sleeves to be wide and have a kimono feel to them and the front drop over the skirt like an apron. It has elastic that runs through the waist and it ties at each side.  Her signature embroidery is done in sharp geometric angles that follow the cut of the tabard on both sides. The pink and green pop wonderfully against the black. Under this sits a skirt that is completely finished with Fortuny felling pleat finish. It is full length and the solid black of it serves as the perfect base for that spectacular top. Excellent condition

The top is fully lined with the same chiffon fabric as the exterior and slips over the head with elastic all through the wide waist band and ties at each side. The skirt is also lined and closes with a zipper and hook at the waistband.

Top
Length: 54.5" top to bottom
Width: 32.5" side to side

Skirt
Waist: 13.5" flat across from side seam to side seam
Hips: 21.5" flat across from side seam to side seam
Length: 44.5" from waist to hem

Modern Sizing Equivalent: SML-MED

Item# DD2811

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 gorgeous little set by Hanae Mori has lost its tags but I can guarantee that it is indeed Hanae's work as I have sold a light coat in the exact same fabric and print in the past. So I immediately recognized it for what t was when I cam across this set. It is made from  a light weight silk crepe fabric and the design this overs its surface is classic Hanae Mori. It depicts a bamboo print and flowers dine in a white against a pretty blue backdrop. Here and there are scattered pops of pink where she added a larger flower into the design for a pretty splash of color. The top is cut to sit loose and easy over the body and is suspended form the shoulders from two little straps. I photoed it tucked out so you can see the entire print and shape but you can also tucked it in and/or belt it if you want a more defined waistline. The skirt is more fitted around the hip and then flares out in a pretty swing of pleats. It is very chic, pretty and since you can wear the two together or separate, the set is versatile to. Excellent condition.

The top is fully lined in a deep blue silk and slips on to wear. The skirt is unlined and closes at the waist with a zipper and flat hook and eye.

Skirt
Waist: 14" flat across from side seam to side seam
Hips: open
Length: 31" from waist to hem

Top
Bust: 18" flat across from side seam to side seam
Waist: 19" flat across from side seam to side seam
Hips: 21" flat across from side seam to side seam
Length: 25.5" from shoulder strap to hem

Modern Sizing Equivalent: SML-MED

Item# DD2808

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 one of the best Geoffrey Beene gowns that I have seen in some time and is really an outstanding example of his work. My client had this looked at by someone that actually worked closely with Beene and even they said it was one of the best Beene pieces they had seen. I love Geoffrey Beene's work during this time period and this particular dress is just divine. It is really a special piece and Museum worthy. The workmanship is very fine and it is surprisingly light weight despite all that is going on in it. It also has a very refined look to it which is a feat in itself considering how many details and separate elements have gone into its design. It is made form a combination of a gold backe, silk lurexy mixed with netting and chenille velvet yearn embellishments. The prints are a mix of pattern, lines, stripes, dots and  animal prints with a lurex trim detailing.

The body and skirt of the dress is made of a fine metallic silk lurex, with striped netting used  for the sleeves. This same striped netting curves around the back waist and up into the inset bodice. . The bodice has a silk muslin with velvet chenille dot embellishments covering it. It is cut full through the bodice so just skims over the bust and out into the sleeves. The extensive detailing work and lurex piping that details all the design is amazing. From there the skirt floats over the hips to the hem where it is finished with a fine band of black netting set just under the hem line. It is really an amazing dress and a testament to Beene's genius. Note that the dress also comes with a short lurex sash that you can tie around the waist or neck. I chose not to photo it ties around the dress so you could fully see the amazing detail at the waist and neckline. Excellent condition.

The fabric is self backed in gold and the dress unlined. It closes with a back hidden set zipper. Each sleeve has a hidden set zipper at the cuff. I see one small stitch where there was a break on the net at the top of one shoulder.

Sleeves: 24" approx.
Shoulders: no defined seam
Bust: 17" flat across from side seam to side seam
Waist: 13.5" flat across from side seam to side seam
Hips: open
Bodice: 15.5" from neck to waist
Skirt: 43.5" from waist to hem

Modern Sizing Equivalent: XS-SML

Item# DD2807

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 fabulous dress was definitely inspired by the work that Loris Azzaro was doing during this time period. At first glance you would almost think that it was one of his pieces. It has that same signature looped keyhole neckline that has a highly detailed embellished neckline just like his pieces did. This version is made from a fluid silver-grey jersey that drapes fantastically. The color perfectly off-sets the detail at the neck and it has a cool, chic feel to it. It is gathered up and around the bodice with all the pleat work used for the gathers converging into the center keyhole. The skirt cascade from just below the bus line to flow to the floor in yards of fabric. I love the neckline and it is absolutely the center piece of the dress. It curves up and around the neck and the straps are completely encrusted with faux pearls, densely set, glittering rhinestones and beads scattered in between. It is a fantastically sexy dress. Excellent condition

Fully lined in a matching color silky rayon and closes at the back with a painted metal and nylon zipper. There is some light scuffing/grubbiness along the hem but nothing that detracts.

Bust: 17" flat across from side seam to side seam
Waist: 15" flat across from side seam to side seam
Hips: open
Bodice: approx 11" from neck to empire waist
Skirt: approx 49" from empire waist to hem

Modern Sizing Equivalent: SML-MED

Item# DD2386

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

These were all the rage in the early 1970s and the Biba versions are the best out there. This one is amazing. It is an original Biba sequin vest done in bold stripes. I have a few variations of this in the shop right now and each is as fabulous as the last. This one has bold vertical stripes done in a vivid pink and deep royal blue. The entire top is completely covered in tightly spaced sequins so that every square inch is covered.  The base the sequins are on is a stretch elastic that stretches to fit. It is sleeveless and has a V neckline. You can easily wear on its own or slip it over something else. It's a piece that you can style this a million ways and add an instant touch of 70s glitz and glamour. It is iconic Biba at its best and a true piece of fashion history. Excellent condition.

Unlined and slips over the head to wear. It is elasticized so stretches to fit. The measurements are the approx comfortable range but it would give a touch more if needed

Bust: approx 17-18" flat across the back from side to side
Waist: approx 15-16" flat across the back from side to side
Total length: 17" from the top of the shoulder to bottom

Modern size equivalent: XS-SML

Item# S227

Reference Photos: (1) Biba City Girl, 1973.  /  (2) Biba Ensembles, c1970s.

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

These were all the rage in the early 1970s and the Biba versions are the best out there. This one is amazing. It is an original Biba sequin vest done in the prettiest baby blue. I have a few variations of this in the shop right now and each is as fabulous as the last. This is a very rare baby blue and the entire top is completely covered in tightly spaced sequins so that every square inch is covered.  The base the sequins are on is a stretch elastic that stretches to fit. It is sleeveless and has a deep plunging neckline. It crosses over itself and buttons at the front center waist. You can easily wear on its own or slip it over something else. It's a piece that you can style this a million ways and add an instant touch of 70s glitz and glamour. It is iconic Biba at its best and a true piece of fashion history. Excellent condition.

Unlined and closes at the front with fabric covered buttons and a snap inside - the row of buttons down the one side are decorative only. It is elasticized so stretches to fit. The measurements are the approx comfortable range but it would give a touch more if needed

Bust: no defined side seams
Waist: approx 14-15" flat across the back from side to side
Total length: 17" from the top of the shoulder to bottom hem

Modern size equivalent: XS-SML

Item# S229

Reference Photos: (1) Biba City Girl, 1973.  /  (2) Biba Ensembles, c1970s.

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

These were all the rage in the early 1970s and the Biba versions are the best out there. This one is amazing. It is an original Biba sequin vest done in the iconic rainbow design. These are the rarest of all to find. I have a few variations of this in the shop right now and each is as fabulous as the last. The entire vest is completely covered in tightly spaced sequins so that every square inch is covered.  The base the sequins are on is a stretch elastic that stretches to fit. It is sleeveless and slips on with no closures. It's a piece that you can style this a million ways and add an instant touch of 70s glitz and glamour. It is iconic Biba at its best and a true piece of fashion history. Excellent condition.

Unlined with no closures The measurements given are flat across the back but keep in mind the front does not close so there is room at the front of you need a little extra

Bust: 16" flat across from side seam to side seam
Waist: 16" flat across from side seam to side seam
Length: 17" from neck to hem

Modern Sizing Equivalent: XS-SML

Item# S784

Reference Photos: (1) Biba City Girl, 1973.  /  (2) Biba Ensembles, c1970s.

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

It is hard not to love such a strong statement piece. Dresses with these over-the-top, elaborate sleeves are always a favorite and this one is just super. Despite all that drama created by the sleeves, the almost weightless silk used for it keeps it light and easy. There is still a soft and sexy element to it. The silk used for the dress is beautiful. It is a brilliant green with a ribbon finish that gives the fabric visual interest. This combined with the pretty pops of color in the pattern is fabulous. The sleeves  are the star of the show on this dress. Each is a dramatic panel of fabric that flows down from the shoulders. They are each a full 28" in length and trail down the sides. The way they move and flow when you move while wearing the dress is just incredible. The full length skirt is the perfect balance to the sleeves. On the bodice, I love the high neck. Again, the full coverage through the body really just serve to highlight those incredible sleeves. The contrast between the colors and the beautiful cut mixed with the volume of the sleeves is wonderful. Excellent condition.

The bodice and skirt are fully lined in a matching green silk and the sleeves are unlined. It closes at the back with a painted metal zipper.

Shoulders: 15"
Sleeves: 17.5" from shoulder to edge with a 28" drop from top to bottom
Bust: 18" 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: 17" from top of bodice to waist
Skirt: 37" from waist to hem

Modern Sizing Equivalent: SML-MED

Item# DD2090

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 stunning dress is one of the most incredible Stavropoulos gowns I have had in the shop. I love the lightness and airiness of it that created by the layers and layers of the mint green silk chiffon. In person, the layers give it a depth not quite captured in the images here. The photos don't quite capture the tone of the color the layering creates. Trust me when I say it is even better in person. It is also a touch more of a pastel tone in person. The entire gown is cut on the bias and there are yards and yards of silk that have been used to make this beautiful dress. Four full layers of silk are used in the lining of the skirt alone and that is under and in addition to the top layer. The interior bodice has a simple V neckline that you see under the top layer of silk. A second V at the back mimics the front. The waist is shaped by vertical seaming and gives the dress just the perfect touch of shape. That seaming opens up into deep pleats on the skirt that allow the tremendous amount of fabric that makes up the the top layer of the skirt have full movement and drape. Each sleeve is a single layer of silk chiffon and flow cape-like over the arm. The sleeves are cut very wide and full. Each is fully open along the lower edge so you get a real flowing, cape feel from them. It is beautiful. Excellent condition

George Stavropoulos is one of my favorite designers and his work is extremely overlooked in my opinion. He was known for his evening wear and his signature looks often involved draping and the use of multiple layers of silk done on a bias cut. He did not like overt, flashy ornamentation and instead focused on cut and fabric to convey the beauty of each piece. It was said that his gowns "seemed to float on air". He launched his label in 1960 and soon was dressing women like Elizabeth Taylor, Jackie Kennedy, Barbra Streisand and Maria Callas. The majority of his gowns are almost entirely made by hand and to couture standards. By the early 1980s a gown by him started at around $8500 and they went up in cost from there - that starting price point equals to around $26,000 in today's dollars. So when you buy a vintage Stavropoulos gown you are getting incredible value for your money. The only reason many of his gowns are not considered Haute Couture is because he was not an official member of the association.

It closes with a back painted metal zipper and buttons at the neck above the keyhole. I see one teeny bit of darkening to the fabric about mid-waist on one side and two tiny areas on the back of one shoulder.  The dress is entirely bias cut so it will drape to fit a range of sizes.

Sleeves: 31"
Shoulders: 14"
Bust: 16-17" flat across from side seam to side seam
Waist: 12-13" flat across from side seam to side seam
Hips: open
Length: 60" from neck to hem

Modern Sizing Equivalent: XS-SML

Item# DD2502

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 the second time I have had a version of this dress in the shop and each time I find one love it even more. It is one of those perfect, pretty, easy summer dresses that you can wear to just about any event and it easily goes from day to evening. It is utterly gorgeous and has all the hallmarks of the best of what Hanae Mori could do. The colors are stunning and the palette she used for it are vibrant and bright. The soft backdrop print is a brilliant mint green that has touches of blue in it and this has been screened onto a soft, polished cotton feeling fabric. Onto that pretty backdrop are a design that has huge exotic birds flying over its surface. These bold and beautiful birds fly across the dress in an array of bright pinks and corals and they seem about to fly off the green backdrop. It is cut in an easy to wear caftan style with an elastic through the waist. A tie belt in the same fabric allows you to cinhc it in for more shape if you want. The bodice is full and easy and the skirt widens as it nears the hem. Hidden front pockets are hidden along the front seaming detail that runs down the dress. The bodice is left loose and easy and the neckline is cut  a V. The sleeves are left loose and wide with no seams at the arms to break the lines of the print. I actually own one of these myself and wear it endlessly. An absolutely wonderful piece. Excellent condition.

Unlined and slips on to wear with elastic at the waist. It has its original tie belt that can be used to cinch in the waist more. The color in person is a touch more vibrant and more of a true green in person then how it photoed. The easy cut allows for a range of sizes.

Shoulders: no true defined seam
Bust: no true defined side seams
Waist: 14-17" flat across from side seam to side seam
Hips: to 21.5" flat across from side seam to side seam
Bodice: 15" from top of shoulder to top waist seam
Skirt: 40" from top waist seam to hem

Modern Sizing Equivalent: SML-MED

Item# DD1829

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

Like the other dress by Biba that I have in the shop right now, the sleeves on this dress stand out immediately. They are just amazing and really take this simple black dress to a whole new level. Each sleeve ends in a full circle cuff that circles the wrist and gives you really dramatic movement once the dress is on. In typical Biba fashion, the rest of the dress is kept simple and easy with a figure hugging silhouette. It is that perfect British mix of saucy, sexy and girl next door. The fabric used for the dress that fabulous black moss crepe that was favored by the British designers during this time period. The front bodice is fitted and plunges in a V. From there the black moss crepe fabric is cut on the bias and flows out from just under the V neckline on the bust all the way to the floor in a beautiful sweep of fabric that widens as it nears the ground. It is an amazing, original Biba dress that is extremely collectible and still very wearable and fresh feeling. A real treasure. Excellent condition.

Unlined and closes with a back painted metal zipper. The occasional but of sheen to the fabric here and there from it being cleaned and pressed over the years but nothing that really takes away from the dress or would be considered anything but normal vintage wear and patina.

Sleeves: 28.5"
Shoulders: 11.5"
Bust: 16" flat across from side seam to side seam
Waist: 14" flat across from side seam to side seam
Hips: 19" flat across from side seam to side seam
Length: 54" from neck to hem

Modern Sizing Equivalent: XS-SML

Item# DD2571

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

George Stavropoulos was an amazing designer and his work is extremely overlooked in my opinion. He was known for his evening wear and his signature looks often involved draping and the use of multiple layers of silk done on a bias cut. He did not like overt, flashy ornamentation and instead focused on cut and fabric to convey the beauty of each piece. It was said that his gowns "seemed to float on air". He launched his label in 1960 and soon was dressing women like Elizabeth Taylor, Jackie Kennedy, Barbra Streisand and Maria Callas. The majority of his gowns are almost entirely made by hand and to couture standards. By the early 1980s a gown by him started at around $8500 and they went up in cost from there - that starting price point equals to around $26,000 in today's dollars. So when you buy a vintage Stavropoulos gown you are getting incredible value for your money. The only reason many of his gowns are not considered Haute Couture is because he was not an official member of the association.

This is a wonderful example of his work. The print that covers the exterior layer of silk is a beautiful combination of different purples mixed with greens. It is completely made of a fine silk chiffon and through the skirt alone there are four layers of the finest, lightest silk laid over each other. All of the silk used is bias cut which gives the dress incredible movement as you move. You will note that I have photoed the dress with that scoop showing at both the front and the back. I did this because I am actually not sure which way it is meant to sit. It completely sits fabulously on the body both ways and I suspect that on each person one way will feel better then the other - or if you are lucky, it will be like you are getting two dresses in one. The sleeves are very full and each is caught up at the wrist so that they pouf out beautifully. I love the floral print. It is a work of art, very romantic and ethereal in feel and even better in person then how it photoed.  Excellent condition.

The inner layers of silk act as the lining and there are a total of 5 layers of silk in the skirt and another single layer through the bodice. The sleeves are left unlined. It closes with a low hand set, painted metal zipper on the inner layers and hidden snaps to cover the zipper on the outer.

Sleeves: 28"
Slightly inset shoulders: 13"
Bust: to 17" flat across from side seam to side seam
Waist: 13" flat across from side seam to side seam
Inner lining hips: to 21" flat across from side seam to side seam
Bodice: 15" from neck to waist
Skirt: 45" from waist to hem

Modern Sizing Equivalent: XS-SML

Item# DD2806

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 really beautiful and romantic, full length maxi dress, designed by Hanae Mori. The colors on this one are especially wonderful and give it a fairy tale, ethereal feel. A soft lavender backdrop has pretty little bouquets of flowers screened onto the almost weightless chiffon. This combination of color and fabric is magical. It is cut with an elastic through the waist which makes it very easy and comfortable to wear. To cover that and to give it even more shape if you wish, it has a long matching fabric tie belt that wraps around the waist. The bodice has a loose and easy cut and each sleeve is quite full above the cuffed wrist. The skirt flows to the floor in a cascade of chiffon. The lightness of the fabric here allows for lots of floating and swirling movement around you when you walk. I can imagine this with sandals for day and then a stacked heel at night. I am such a huge Hanae Mori fan and I just love this little dress by her. It really feels fresh and modern and it is easy to imagine slipping it on and going out the same day it arrives at your door. Excellent condition.

The dress is fully lined through the bodice and skirt in a very light pastel lavender silky crepe chiffon and closes at the back with hidden hook & eye above the elastic at the waist. It has its original fabric belt. Each cuff has a fabric covered snap to close. The elastic waist allows for a bit greater range of size.

Sleeves: 24"
Shoulders: 14.5"
Bust: to 18" flat across from side seam to side seam
Waist: 12-17" flat across from side seam to side seam
Hips: to 23" flat across from side seam to side seam
Bodice: 15.5" from neck to waist
Skirt: 43.5" from waist to hem

Modern Sizing Equivalent: XS-MED

Item# DD2537

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

George Stavropoulos was an amazing designer and his work is extremely overlooked in my opinion. He was known for his evening wear and his signature looks often involved draping and the use of multiple layers of silk done on a bias cut. He did not like overt, flashy ornamentation and instead focused on cut and fabric to convey the beauty of each piece. It was said that his gowns "seemed to float on air". He launched his label in 1960 and soon was dressing women like Elizabeth Taylor, Jackie Kennedy, Barbra Streisand and Maria Callas. The majority of his gowns are almost entirely made by hand and to couture standards. By the early 1980s a gown by him started at around $8500 and they went up in cost from there - that starting price point equals to around $26,000 in today's dollars. So when you buy a vintage Stavropoulos gown you are getting incredible value for your money. The only reason many of his gowns are not considered Haute Couture is because he was not an official member of the association.

This is a wonderful example of his work. The color is the most beautiful and romantic shade of pale lavender over inner layers of the palest blue and creams. There are five full layers of the finest, lightest silk laid over each other that make up the body of this gown. Each layer is bias cut ad float over each other and move beautifully. The three most inner layers are an off-white colored silk. This is then topped by a pale baby blue layer of silk and then the final exterior player is that pale, pastel purple. This gives the gown a remarkable and unique color. That combined with the incredible movement that silk has as you move is fabulous. I love that you you get a glimpse of the other layers and colors. The entire gown is entirely cut on the bias so drapes to skim over your body when on. This is also a feat of technical achievement to have all those bias cut layers sit over each other so perfectly. The sleeves are very full and each poufs out beautifully above the wrist and are finished with a bead applique cuff. The front and back plunge into V's and there is a hand done applique of fine bead work that curves over  one side of the bust and down to the waist on the other side. It is a work of art, very romantic and ethereal in feel and even better in person then how it photoed.  Overall excellent condition with some condition notes to review below.

The inner layers of silk act as the lining and there are a total of 5 layers of silk as described above. It closes with a back hand set, painted metal zipper. There are some faint water spots/smudges scattered across the front and a faint spot on one arm. I have had it lightly cleaned when it came into the studio and these may come out more with a more aggressive round of cleaning.

Sleeves: 25"
Shoulders: Inset 13"
Bust: 16-18" flat across from side seam to side seam
Waist: 12-15" flat across from side seam to side seam
Hips: open
Length: 58" from shoulder to hem

Modern Sizing Equivalent: XS-MED

Item# DD1378

Shown photographed on Laura McLaws Helms by Kimi Selfridge.

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 fabulous silk Sonia Rykiel set that really sums up her chic French girl style that always feels so chic and has so much charm to it. We lost Sonia last August and it feels even more special to know that this was a piece designed by her. The label tells us this is an early piece designed shortly after she launched her label or a few years into that. The silk is scarf weight and I love her signature combination of black with a chic taupe tan color. Stripes were her forte and this set used them beautifully. The pants are just perfection - they are cut wide with a slight flare cut at the ends and each is split deliberately up the sides. This split detail is mimicked on the tunic with also is split up each side. I love the way the stripes sit over each other once the two pieces are layered. The tunic is suspended from skinny straps and is cut to skim over the torso and flare out over the pant. My favorite detail is the front pockets that are sewn apron style and have a slight droop to them, again deliberate. This gives the set the final perfect touch for me. Together they are perfection but you could of course wear them separately as well. Excellent condition

Both pieces are unlined. The top slips on to wear with no closures and the pants close with a fine metal zipper at the side. Handwritten fabric tag. All hand finished inside. The seams on the side of the tunic are set inside out - again this is deliberate and a design detail

Tunic
Bust: 16" flat across from side seam to side seam
Waist: open
Hips: open
Length: 45.5" from neck to hem

Pant
Waist: 14" flat across from side seam to side seam
Hips: 20" flat across from side seam to side seam
Length: 33.5" from waist to hem
Inseam: 22"

Modern Sizing Equivalent: XS-SML

Item# DD2805

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 am amazing piece and a piece for a brave girl who wants to drop jaws. Its about as risque as you can get and even more so when you think of when it is from since it looks like it could have walked off a runway yesterday. The bodice is made of a texture black crepe chiffon with stitched lines running vertically from shoulder to waist. It is left completely sheer and the only thing covering your modesty are those rickrack panels of glossy black sequins. At the back the sequins run down the center of the back. The panels keep your modesty intact and the high neckline keeps it from moving. The waist nips in and is attached to the flared, wide legs. For the lower portion of the jumpsuit Varon used a textured "bubble" 3D fabric. It is amazing and I doubt you will see this one again. Excellent condition

Unlined in a black rayon and closes with a back painted metal zipper. Tagged a vintage UK 10. Pockets hidden along each hip

Bust: 17.5" flat across from side seam to side seam
Waist: 13.5" flat across from side seam to side seam
Hips: 20.5" flat across from side seam to side seam
Bodice: 16" from neck to waist
Pants: 39.5" from waist to hem
Inseam: 27"

Modern Sizing Equivalent: XS-SML

Item# DD2804

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 lovely dress is made from layers of black chiffon set in tiers over each other to create that pretty ruffled effect. This combination of ruffled tiers perfectly offset the black of it to give the dress a wonderful romantic feel. Each layer widens gently out as they near the floor and each panel of fabric is set so that it floats above each other and moves when you move. The bodice is cut with a slight scoop across the front and has two tiny straps that go up and around the shoulders. At the back it dips into a slightly lower scoop. I love that the straps and trim are a cream and each ruffled layer is finished with a cream stitch for the a little detailing. Note that it was a teeny bit small on the mannequin so on a girl that it fits properly it will of course zip all the way up, rather then being open at the very top as the photos show. Excellent condition.

Fully lined in a black silky crepe rayon. It closes with a back painted metal zipper.

Bust: 15" flat across from side seam to side seam
Waist: 12" flat across from side seam to side seam
Hips: 17.5" flat across from side seam to side seam
Bodice: 14.5" from top of shoulder strap to waist
Skirt: 41" from waist to hem

Modern Sizing Equivalent: XS- SML if you are small busted

Item# E636

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

I have a version of this dress in black in the shop already and am excited to now have a red one too. There are 4 or 5 Burrows dresses that I always look for because they are just amazing examples of his work, and still hold strong today. This dress is one of those. It is made of a fine, slinky, sexy jersey in red. This one differs from the black in that it ties around the neck and angles down and around from there. It then falls in a beautiful bias cut and ends with an angled cut. All the edges are finished in his signature lettuce hem seaming. It is the front bodice that is truly spectacular - it showcases a design done in sequins, seed beads and tube beads that pop against the red. This is all hand done work and you can clearly see that on the opposite side of the fabric. It is magnificent and a real collectible from a truly amazing American Designer who was the first African American fashion designer to really achieve international recognition for his work. Burrows won three Coty awards (1973, 1974 and 1977). He was also one of the five American designers to show at Versailles in 1973 when America was pitted against the French couturiers. Excellent condition

There was recently an exhibit on his work called "When Fashion Danced" and it was the first major examination of Burrows' work. Here is what the museum said of his work: "Stephen Burrows: When Fashion Danced looks at the period spanning the 1970s when Stephen Burrows’s meteoric rise to fame made him not only the first African-American designer to gain international stature, but a celebrated fashion innovator whose work helped define the look of a generation. With vibrant colors, metallic fabrics, and slinky silhouettes that clung to the body, Burrows’s danceable designs generated a vibrant look that was of a piece with the glamorous, liberated nightlife of the era. Through photographs, drawings, and original garments, the exhibition will trace Burrows’s evolution from creating eclectic looks for his friends in the 1960s to his work with the chic 57th Street retailer Henri Bendel to the floor of Studio 54, as he dressed such 70s style icons as Cher, Liza Minnelli, and Diana Ross."

Unlined and slips over the head with no closures. Tagged a vintage 4 but please check actual measurements. The fabric does have stretch so will accommodate a range of sizes - the comfortable range of that stretch when laying flat is noted in the measurements.

Bust: variable as there are no true side seam
Waist: 15-19" flat across from side seam to side seam
Hips: 19-22" flat across from side seam to side seam
Length: approx 58-60" from top of shoulder to longest point of hem, 40-42" to the shortest depending on high you tie the neck

Modern Sizing Equivalent: XS-MED

Item# DD2802

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 black pleated full length cape is a wonderful example of Giorgio di Sant'Angelo's work and aesthetic. He first hit the fashion map when Diana Vreeland asked him to design clothing for a desert location shoot that starred Verushka in 1968. That shoot is now legendary - it created such a buzz that his clothing was instantly sought out by all the most fashionable women on the planet. In 1976 he dropped the "di" from his name giving us a post-1976 date for this. His pieces were sexy, bold and had a hippie flair to them that few other designers could match at the time. I love his work. This spectacular cape is constructed from an unusual perma-pleat fabric that is lightweight but gives it some structure and keeps the slim line  of the piece until you need to move around in it. It falls all the way to the floor in a full length swoop of fabric. The collar is gathered and it has ties running through it that allow you to loose or tighten that ruffle around the collar as you wish. This lets you have it so that it sits wide at the shoulder or tightly framing your neck. The lightness of the fabric gives it a billowing effect when you move and walk that is stupendous. A really lovely and romantic cape that will top just about anything. Excellent condition.

The cape is unlined and ties at the neck. It will fit any size

Length: 57-60" from neck to hem depending on how you tie the neck

Modern Sizing Equivalent: OSFA

Item# C441

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 dramatic and beautiful silk dress is by Bill Blass and is magnificent. The gown is a masterpiece and I feel that it really is one of the highlights of his career and work. It really demonstrates aspects of his work that he touched upon again over the coming decades. I have dated it to the 1974-78 range based on other designs during this time period where he used fur cuffs like the ones on this dress. It is made from one of the best fabrics I have yet to see. The silk is feather light and a deep red that graduates to a chocolate around the hem. Fine gold lame thread create vertical stripes and on the skirt is an additional application of gold sequins - all applied by hand. It has a definitive nod to the 1930s in its cut but he has exaggerated some elements to keep it modern. The bodice crosses over itself and there is a silk chiffon tank set inside that adds some coverage. If you wanted a full plunge feel you could remove this. The sleeves are of course the showstopper. Each widens as it nears the cuff and the wide band of sable fur helps hold the wide bell shape, They are each a full 18" around. A brown silk ties sits at the waist so you can cinch in for shape as much as you desire. The skirt falls on a perfect sheath to the floor.  A real treasure and important and beautiful gown. Excellent condition.

The dress has a full attached second dress underneath in a brown silk chiffon. Closes with a back painted metal set zipper. An inner waist stay inside hooks to close. Hand finished and hand set sequins.

Sleeves: 24" approx.
Shoulders: no defined seam
Bust: 18" flat across from side seam to side seam
Waist: 14" flat across from side seam to side seam
Hips: 22" flat across from side seam to side seam
Bodice: 15.5" from neck to waist
Skirt: 42" from waist to hem

Modern Sizing Equivalent: SML-MED

Item# DD2800

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