• Victor Costa launched his label in 1974 and was known for producing versions of what was seen on the Paris runways. Costa chose good fabrics for his designs and even though his work was often very close interpretations of other designs, he did add his own unique twist when it came to colours, cut and fabrics.
• The dress is made out of a red synthetic feeling fabric with a slight sheen finish. The red colour is a good clear red that should be flattering on most skin tones.
• It is strapless and the neckline is cut into a rounded sweetheart shape that is very flattering. A band of fabric edges the entire neck line and where it meets in the centre it continues down the front to form a pretty panel to the waist.
• The bodice is gathered inwards towards that centre band giving a lovely added detail. Big domed silver buttons with six large rhinestones set within the dome are added down the centre of the front band for extra detail and a shot of glamour.
• The bodice is shaped with internal boning at the sides so that it cinches in at the waist.
• The skirt cascades outwards from there to fall very full all the way around you. Underneath the top layer of fabric there is a built-in layer of red netting with added panels that help to hold the shape. We did not add any extra crinolines under the skirt but there is definitely room to add more structure underneath if you wanted the dress to be extremely full and more in line with a 1950s shape.
  
• The dress is fully lined through the bodice in a red fabric and then that attaches to the tulle under skirt. The dress closes with a back zipper. 
• There is no size tag present so please go by the measurements listed below
• Excellent condition

Bust: to 18" flat across from side seam to side seam
Waist: 14" flat across from side seam to side seam
Hips: open
Total length: 50" from top of bodice to hem

Modern Sizing Equivalent: SML-MED

Item# DD5280

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 silhouette of this dress is very well documented and our research turned up two different ads for a black and gold version that appeared in Vogue. It also made an appearance in one of Vogue's party round up editorials. The ads were from the September issues of both 1980 and 1981.
• It was made under the creative direction of Bill Tice
• Countless celebrities own and have worn the different colours of this dress. Lady Gaga wore a version, as have girls like Rachel Zoe & Nicole Richie and every girl that has bought one through me has loved it. It is one of those fail safe pieces that you know is going to work every time you put it on.
• The dress is insanely sexy and bare feeling with a halter style front that plunges to just above the waist. It ties behind the neck and then the back is left completely open and bare.
• The dress is made of a wash and wear metallic gold that has a slight texture to the fabric. It is very light in weight.
• The cut is very clever so that despite its bare appearance it stays in place perfectly once on the body. At the front of the skirt there is a high slit that shows lots of leg when you walk or sit.
• I love his signature wide top-stitched gold fabric belt at the waist. The belt is attached all the way around the back and then ties at the front to cinch you in exactly to where you want.The belt is really what gives it that signature Bill Tice look.
• The dress has the added bonus of travelling very well. It is the kind of piece that you can throw into your suitcase and slip on with either flats or heels when you reach your destination and be instantly ready to go. It packs down to almost nothing and barely wrinkles. 
  
• Unlined and slips on. Ties at the back of the neck and with the attached belt at the waist. Elastic through the front portion of the waist. The easy fit allows it work on a variety of sizes. The gold is a true bright gold in person. 
• Tagged a vintage Tice 6
• Excellent condition.

Bust: variable as there are no side seams
Partial elastic waist: 12-17" flat across from side seam to side seam
Hips: open
Bodice: approx 15-17" from neck to waist and can be tied to adjust the length if needed
Total length: approx 53" from neck to hem
Front slit: 19" from the hem up

Modern Sizing Equivalent: XS-MED

Item# DD5273

Reference Photos: (1) Bill Tice for Swirl Ad. Vogue US, September 1980. / (2) Bill Tice Ad. Vogue US, September 1981.  /  (3) Nancy Kissinger in Bill Tice, Vogue, October 1980.

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 phenomenal dress in a floral print version of various versions that walked the runway for the Spring 1980 YSL show.
• It was made under the creative direction of Yves Saint Laurent.
• The dress is made out of what feels like a feather light cotton / silk mix. This fabric choice holds the colours beautifully. 
• The neckline is set wide across so that it sits at the edges of the shoulders. If you are not very broad across the shoulders you may be able to wear it fully off the shoulder but for most I think it will sit at the edges of the shoulder like you see on the dress form here. A wide 7" ruffle follows the entire neckline and gives it the prettiest flounce all the way around you.
• Under that the bodice skims down to a low dropped waist that is cut more generously through the middle. I have taken a photo without the belt so you can see how it is cut generously through the body. The dress comes with its matching tie belt that you can cinch in the waist as much as needed.
• The skirt is set into a slightly angled seam around the waist that comes up into a peak at one side. Tiny gathers are set in all along that seam and this is what gives the skirt its incredible volume.
• The skirt falls shorter at the side to match the peak of the seam of the skirt. As it circles around the back it gets longer. If you were to lay this out and open the skirt it is more than a full circle around. That volume combined with the lightness of the fabric gives you incredible movement when you move.
• This is an absolutely stunning example of his work during this time period and this particular cut of dress is one of my favourites from him. I have had it in several colours and patterns now and this is one of the prettiest I have had.
• The dress is unlined and closes with a side set zipper. The tie belt is original to the dress.
• There is no size tag present so please go by the measurements listed below
  
• Excellent condition

Bust: 17" flat across from side seam to side seam
Waist: 14" flat across from side seam to side seam
Hips: open
Total length: 45" from top of shoulder to the shortest point of the front hem, 57.5" to the longest point of the hem.

Modern Sizing Equivalent: XS-SML

Item# DD5265

Reference Photos: Spring 1980 Yves Saint Laurent

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

• We believe the dress is from the 1986 collection and Kim Kardashian wore its twin in 2008.
• It was made under the creative direction of Thierry Mugler.
• The fabric that it is made out of is a light in weight metallic gold fabric that drapes beautifully and has a beautiful deep gold tone to it.
• The dress is cut with Mugler's masterful eye and attention to detail.
• The bodice is strapless. One side is curved and is gathered in underneath the other side. There is a peaked panel that folds down to create a little flap on the other side.
• A panel of the metallic gold fabric extends out from the side with the peaked bodice and this buckles into a gold metal buckle belt coming around from the back. This creates a heavy gathering at that side that sweeps up and adds shape through the waist area.
• The buckle is metal and is signed at the back. These would have been specifically made for Mugler.
• The skirt falls under that with a bit of a curving hem at the front so that it is all brought upwards as you can see in the photos. It is meant to feel hourglass in shape.
• This is a spectacular and very rare example of his work.
  
• I love how the entire dress shimmers in the light because of the gold metallic fabric.
• The dress is lined through the bodice with a more structured fabric that creates an inner built-in corset that is boned and cupped. The skirt is fully lined in a lighter feeling silk. It closes at the back with a zipper and then buckles around the waist with the attached buckle belt. The actual interior of the Terry Mugler tag has been cut out.
• Tagged vintage Mugler 42
• Excellent condition with a bit of wear above the grommets and on the belt buckle.

Bust: 17-18" flat across from side seam to side seam
Waist: 14" flat across from side seam to side seam. 
Hips: to 20" flat across from side seam to side seam
Bodice: 10" from top of bodice to waist
Total length: 33" from top of bodice to the hem

Modern Sizing Equivalent: SML-MED

Item# DD5137

Reference Photos: (1) Kim Kardashian in vintage Thierry Mugler at the 2008 Video Game Awards.  /  (2-4) Spring 1986 Thierry Mugler.

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 has been dated by the one that is its twin and was part of the 2014 exhibit 'Chicago Styled'.
• It was made under the creative direction of Thierry Mugler.
• The dress is made out of a light in weight metallic gold fabric that drapes beautifully and is perhaps a touch paler gold than how it photoed here.
• The dress is cut with Mugler's masterful eye and attention to detail.
• It drapes up and over the shoulders with wide panels of the gold. On one side the fabric is heavily gathered and hooks in at the waist underneath. On the other side the dress comes out from under that and is not as gathered so that it falls more down and over the top of the shoulder.
• The side with the wider shoulder is set into a panel that runs down the opposite side of the dress.
• This panel is finished with gold studs and this is where the dress closes. The panel runs all the way down the side to where it splits for the hem. There is even a weight added inside the base of the panel to hold the dress perfectly in place.
• The body of the dress is all gathered into that side panel. It wraps around you and then is gathered into the panel at the back. This creates incredible draping down the body and around you.
• The vertical side panel draws the dress up a few inches above the hem and this then creates a bit of an angled curve along the lower hem of the dress that beautifully picks up the angles on the bodice.
• This is a spectacular and very rare example of his work.
• The dress snaps to close where you see the studs at the side and underneath that there is a hidden set zipper. A grosgrain ribbon wraps around the waist and is attached to the part of the bodice that tucks underneath the crossing over at the front to hook to close inside the dress. It is very cleverly put together. 
• I love how the entire dress shimmers in the light because of the gold metallic fabric.
• The dress is partially lined through the bodice and fully lined through the skirt. There are little padding shells set through the inner shoulders but it feels like their inner padding has been removed at some point. It would be easy to add padding back in if you preferred a stronger shoulder.
• There is no size tag present so please go by the listed measurements below.
• Excellent condition

Bust: approx 14-19" flat across from side seam to side seam
Inner hooked stay at waist: 12.5" flat across from side seam to side seam. Without the stay the waist is 13.75" flat across
Hips: to 18" flat across from side seam to side seam
Bodice: 14.5" from top of shoulder to inner waist
Total length: 40" from top of shoulder to end of the side panel, 49" to the longest point of the hem

Modern Sizing Equivalent: XS-MED

Item# DD5118

Reference Photo: Gold lame rouched evening dress, designed by Thierry Mugler, 1986. Shown as part of the Chicago History Muesum's November 2014 'Chicago Styled' exhibition.

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

• This wonderful and very rare dress is from the the Fall 1986 "Hiver Russe" collection.
• It was made under the creative direction of Thierry Mugler.
• 'Mugler saw the fashion show as an opportunity to build new worlds of fantasy, to tell the story of a heroine on an extraordinary adventure each season.' Early pieces of his work are particularly hard to find. I have included several reference photos from the show of pieces that share similar fabric, pleating techniques and that amazing shell feel of the bust.
• We have also included some try on photos from the original owner that show you how it looks on. For reference she is about 5'4" and a size 0-2
• The twin of this dress is currently being exhibited in the "Azzedine Alaia/Thierry Mugler 1980-1990" exhibit at the Azzedine Alaia foundation in Paris 
• The dress is a masterpiece. This is a design that has been referenced countless times since it was first made but there is nothing out there that can compare to the original.
• It is made from a lightweight gold lurex that is draped and shaped to cover a fitted inner corset.
• This inner corset shapes the body while the exterior of the dress seems to simply glide over your curves.
  
• The bodice is amazing. A weightless knife pleated metallic gold lurex is wrapped around the body to meet in the middle. The bottom portion of this extends and curves down and around the hips where it then flares out to exaggerate your curves. Each breast is held in a high set interior cup and the pleats wrap over these, flaring out in the suggestion of having the breasts cupped and held in place by two shells. A small panel of pleated gold fabric strap sits between the cups for added detailing.
• The pleats curve around the back to meet in the middle there mimicking the front and adding to that hourglass feel.
• The skirt is cut to be fitted and curves in at the hem. 
• Gold coloured snaps close the back and under those lie hidden interior lingerie hooks to close the corseted portion of the interior.
• I love how the entire dress shimmers in the light because of the gold metallic fabric.
• It is a rare dress and showcases his extraordinary approach to the female form and his tendency to made living sculptures out of his models. I have seen pieces selling for the $10,000USD mark and higher recently.
• The skirt is fully lined in an ivory silky rayon and the bodice lined in a the same gold lame used on the exterior. The corset is lightly boned and with formed and sculpted interior breast cups. Above the waist the inner corset hooks to close with lingerie hooks and then the exterior fabric snaps to close over that. A zipper is set below that starting at the waist. I see a couple of minor marks on the interior, a small tear on one side where it was tacked to the inner bodice, and the skirt has been shortened as mentioned above. 
• Tagged a vintage Mugler 38.
  
• Overall excellent condition

Bust: 16" flat across from side seam to side seam
Waist: 12.5" flat across from side seam to side seam. 
Hips: 16-17" flat across from side seam to side seam
Bodice: approx 9" from top of bodice to waist
Total length: 27.5" from top of bodice to the hem

Modern Sizing Equivalent: XS-SML 

Item# DD5261

Reference Photos: (1) Try on photo.  /  (2-6) S/S 1985 Thierry Mugler Runway.  /  (7) Cherie, Owner of Shrimpton Couture, by Erin Leydon.  /  (8-9) "Azzedine Alaïa-Thierry Mugler 1980-1990: Two Decades of Artistic Affinities” exhibit at the Fonudation Azzedine Alaïa in Paris.

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 twin of this dress walk the runway for the Fall 1987 season.
• It was made under the creative direction of Yves Saint Laurent.
• It is absolutely sensational and I am very pleased that we found photos of it on the runway so you can see how dramatic and amazing it is on the body. He could really push the envelope with some of his designs and this particular dress is a nod back to some of the work that he was doing in earlier decades but in that best of the 1980s kind of way.
• This is not a dress for somebody who does not want to stand out. I think the person that will wear something like this has a certain way of moving through life and doing her own individual thing.
• It combines a brilliant pink silk that has a secondary pattern running through it that catches the light from every angle. Onto that is a black floral pattern that covers the pink. He has used this through the body of the dress and for the very bottom part of the skirt.
• The rest of the dress is made from a sequin detailed lace with black ribbon that has been applied over that for this wonderful layered effect. The texture that all these things together achieve is fantastic and I love the way it catches the light.
• The neckline is cut wide across and the shoulders are soft. The arms are unlined so you see a peak of skin between the net lace, sequins and ribbon detailing. More of the lace goes across the top of the bodice at the front and back. For this part of the dress he gave it a backing of black silk organza so you have just a touch of transparency.
• The pink is set in just at the top of the bust and it is gathered along that seam for extra detail. Those gathers also allow for the dramatic volume that you see through the body of the dress to the top of the hip. Under that is band of the black and there is elastic running through the top of the hip so that you can adjust it up or down and change the length of the dress. The very bottom part of the skirt is a little soft and flirty band of the pink silk.
• It is a very rare and special piece of YSL history.
• The dress is fully lined in a black silk through the body and the lower lace panel. There is black silk organza behind the upper bodice and then the lowest part of the skirt and the sleeves are unlined. It closes at the back with a zipper and each sleeve zips to close at the wrist. It appears to have been worn very little if at all.
• Tagged a vintage YSL 40.
• Excellent condition.

Sleeves: 27" and they are 12" around the upper arm
Shoulders: 15"
Bust: 17.5" flat across from side seam to side seam
Waist: open
Hips: 16-19" flat across from side seam to side seam
Total length: 36" from top of shoulder to hem and can be adjusted to sit shorter

Modern Sizing Equivalent: SML-MED

Item# DD5258

Reference Photos: Fall 1987 Yves Saint Laurent.

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 dress dates to the late 1980s and is mostsimilar to the pieces we see in the 1987 collection.
• It was made under the creative direction of Yves Saint Laurent.
• Yves could really push the envelope with some of his designs and this particular dress is a nod back to some of the work that he was doing in earlier decades but in that best of the 1980s kind of way. Its easy cut and open shape through the body is a strong nod to the pieces from the 1920s.
• The dress combines a brilliant pink silk with black floral patterned lace for the sleeves.
  
• The neckline is cut slightly wide across and the shoulders are soft. The neckline is bordered with a panel of the same silk and the fabric is gathered in along the edge on the front and the back. A buttons with two buttons at the back of the neck and this sits above a small keyhole slit.
• The sleeves are spectacular. They are made out of a very pretty floral black lace. The lace is unlined so you can see a peak of skin between the lace once the dress is on. I love that for the cuffs he used the same pink silk used in the body of the dress for a little contrasting pop.
• It skims loosely over the bust and waist and eventually joins a low set seam around the hip. If you wanted to wear the dress shorter, you could add a belt for a completely different silhouette. The very bottom part of the skirt is a little soft and flirty ruffle that is just under 9" wide and made out of the same pink silk.
  
• The dress is unlined and slips over the head to wear. It closes with two buttons at the back of the neck. Each sleeve has a loop and button to close. Its loose and easy fit should allow it to work on a range of sizes. The pink is slightly lighter than how it photoed here. These are meant to fit slightly oversized.
• There is no size tag present so please go by the measurements listed below.
• Excellent condition.

Sleeves: approx 25.5" and they are full and open around the upper arm
Shoulders: no true defined seam
Bust: to 23" flat across from side seam to side seam
Waist-seam at hip: to 18" flat across from side seam to side seam
Total length: 36" from neck to hem

Modern Sizing Equivalent: SML-MED

Item# DD5260

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 a version of a series of these dresses that Yves sent down the runway for the Spring 1987 collection.
• It was made under the creative direction of Yves Saint Laurent
• I have included reference photos of similar dresses used for the ad campaign and shown on the runway so that you can get an idea of how great this dress will be on the body.
• The 1987 collection is one of my all time favourites and I am very pleased to have this wonderful example from it in the shop.
• The dress is made from a black silk base with a layer of dotted black silk netting applied over the bodice in horizontal bands. This choice in fabric gives the dress its structure and shape so that it holds the shape around you once on.
• The bodice is strapless and cut on a soft curve across the neckline. It is lightly boned on the inside to hold the dress perfectly in place. It curves in over the waist and then curves back out over the hips. From there the lower skirts flare outwards to the hem.
• The lower skirt is quite full and makes an incredible statement. It has a fishnet style lace for its top layer. Under that is a layer of dotted lace to subtly tie in the lace of the bodice. Under those layers two more layers of the fishnet lace to give it its incredible fullness.
• On the bodice the lace is separated by five wide bands made out of a black silk ribbon that give a beautiful and rich feel to the dress. I love the contrast between the texture of the silk and the dotted netting.
• Each ribbon is stacked to run from the very top of the bodice to the lowest seam above the skirt. Each ribbon is gathered into a little folded bow and has a round metal circle attached that is finished with  glossy black glass rhinestones. There are five of those big jewelled pieces in total and they add the perfect amount of glitz to the dress. The combination of the silk ribbon, the dotted lace, the jewelled circles and that stunning full lower skirt is just gorgeous to see and it is even better on the body.
• The dress fully lined in a crisp black cotton and closes with a side set zipper. The inner bodice is lightly boned and shaped. I see some minor repairs in the netting of the skirt. You only see them if you are looking for them because of the amount of fabric in the skirt and the black layers. It otherwise appears to have been worn very little if at all.
• Tagged a 40.
• Excellent condition

Bust: 15.5" flat across from side seam to side seam with an A-small C cup built into the front
Waist: to 13.25" flat across from side seam to side seam
Hips: 18" flat across from side seam to side seam
Bodice: 10" from the top of the bodice to the inner waist, 24" to the bottom of the lowest seam above the skirt
Total length: 47" from top of bodice to hem

Modern Sizing Equivalent: XXS-XS

Item# DD5242

Reference Photos: (1) Spring 1987 Yves Saint Laurent Ad Campaign  /  (2-3) Spring 1987 Yves Saint Laurent Runway.

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

• We believe the dress to be from the Spring of 1983 based on the reference photo that we found with a similar design especially given the cut of the lower skirt of that dress.
• It was made under the creative direction of Thierry Mugler 
• The fabric of the dress is a black raw silk which helps to hold the design and intended shape.
• The construction of the dress is quite brilliant. Long vertical panels of the fabric have been pieced together side-by-side from the top of the strapless bodice to the hem of the skirt. The long lines created by piecing the panels together like this become a part of the design and the entire dress has been shaped by the manipulation of the sizing and placement of the strips.
• The bodice is strapless and the tops of the ribbons are set at different heights all around the neck line. Where they rise above the top edge they are not sewn together so you get a very distinctive ribbon feel. I love the added detail this creates.
• It is meant to fit the bodice and then curves in at the waist. Inside there is for built-in corset that is lightly boned and holds the dress in place around you.
• From there it curves out and over the hips, comes in slightly just below the knee, and then flares outward again for the lower skirts.
• Just under the knee the panels open up and are no longer stitched together. This is what gives it the added volume there and creates a 'car wash' feel around you. Behind the panels are three layers of stacked black silk chiffon When you walk you get that bit of transparency between the the panels and it feel very interesting and unexpected. You get a sense of what that will be like in the runway reference photo.
• The dress is not 100% perfect but is wearable as is. Please make sure to read the condition notes below in full before purchasing.
• The inner nude silk corset acts as the lining behind the bodice. It is lightly boned and closes with its own side zipper. And attached waist hooks to close. Under that into the top of where the panels open on the skirt, it is lined in a black silk. Three layers of silk chiffon are attached behind the lower portion of the skirt as described above. The dress closes with a hidden set zipper placed over the inner corset zipper. I see fading on the fabric most notably around the the bodice and around the waist. Please see the photos after the label shot. It may be possible to dye the dress to a true black once again. It is wearable as is but the fading is present.  All of the fabric is sound.
• Tagged a vintage Mugler 42
• Excellent overall condition 

Bust: 17" 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
Bodice: 10.5" from top of inner edge of the bodice to inner waist
Total length: 53" from top of inner edge of the bodice to hem and the ribbons extend beyond the top edge of the bodice from 1.5-2.5".

Modern Sizing Equivalent: SML-MED

Item# DD5232

Reference Photos: Spring 1983 Thierry Mugler.

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.

• Several versions of this dress walked the runway for the Spring 1980 collection.
• It was made under the creative direction of Yves Saint Laurent.
• This dress and the various prints it was made in were integral to that season's collection. Once these went to the shops many were produced with the front skirt made a little longer. Variations were photoed for editorials and pieces were included in the labels ad campaign that year.
• The dress is made out of a feather light red silk organza that has a beautiful white curving print that runs over the entire dress from top to bottom. The red is a beautiful clear deep colour that flatters more skin tones.
• The neck line is set wide across so you can wear it off of the shoulder for a bare expanse of skin to show. A wide 8" ruffle follows the entire neckline and gives the prettiest flounce all the way around you.
• Under that the bodice skims down to a low dropped waist that is cut more generously through the middle. The dress comes with its matching silk tie belt that you can cinch in the waist as much as needed. The belt is tacked lightly in place and knotted at the moment but it could easily be untacked and used as a proper belt to tie all the way around you. 
• The skirt is set into a slightly angled seam around the waist that comes up slightly at one side. Tiny gathered pleats are set in all along the seam and that is what gives the skirt its incredible volume.
• The skirt falls shorter at the front and longer at the back. If you were to lay this out and open the skirt it is more than a full circle around. That volume combined with the lightness of the fabric gives you incredible movement when you move.
• This is an absolutely stunning example of his work during this time period and one of my favourite pieces I have ever had in by him.
• It is exceptionally rare to find this dress in this runway print.
• The bodice of the dress is lined in a silk chiffon. At some point someone added a second layer of silk chiffon that skims over the inner body to just past the inner hip to make it more opaque. I have left it as is because it does make the dress easier to wear but it could be removed very easily. It closes with a side set zipper and the tie belt is original to the dress.
• There is no size tag present so please go by the measurements listed below.
  
• Excellent condition

Bust: 17" flat across from side seam to side seam
Waist: 14.5" flat across from side seam to side seam
Hips: open
Total length: 45" from top of shoulder to front hem, 58" to the back

Modern Sizing Equivalent: XS-MED

Item# DD5223

Reference Photos: Spring 1980 Yves Saint Laurent Rive Gauche.

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 spectacular piece of true Haute Couture that we believe is from the early 1980s.
• It was made under the direction of Hubert de Givenchy
  
• The dress would have been completely made by hand in the Paris atelier.
• The fabric of the dress is a beautiful silk velvet that has been hand cut into an open cut out floral pattern.
• All of the edges of the flowers have been embroidered so that they are finished perfectly. There is an inner black silk fabric that lies under the top layer so that it is safe to wear with those open cut outs falling from the neck line to the hem.
• The dress is strapless and there is a inner cupped and wired boned corset that holds the dress perfectly in place around you.
• It skim over the inner corset and then is shaped to come in slightly at the waist for added shape.
• The dress comes back out over the hips and falls to the floor. At the hem there is a little bit of a flare set all the way around with extra fabric at the back.
• That extra panel at the back is set so that it falls slightly longer than the front for a very pretty line.
• All of the flowers have a little gold town metal flower set in their centres. These are scattered over the dress and add the perfect finish. It is just enough added glitz but still has that very refined feel that the best of his work had.
• The dress is fully lined in a hand set black silk. It has a built-in boned inner corset that closes with its own zipper and then the dress closes with a zipper over that. An inner waist stay that hooks to close. I see one missing gold flower near the bottom. Its proper numbered Couture tag is present.
• There is no size tag since it is a true couture piece. Please go by the measurements below.
• Excellent condition.

Bust: to 16" flat across from side seam to side seam
Under bust: to 14" flat across from side seam to side seam
Inner waist: to 12" flat across from side seam to side seam
Hips: to 17" flat across from side seam to side seam
Total length: 50" from the top of bodice to front hem, 53.5" to the back hem with 3" turned under

Modern Sizing Equivalent: XS-SML

Item# DD5220

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 amazing dress is from the Spring 1985 Haute Couture collection.
• It was made under the creative direction of Yves Saint Laurent.
• The dress would have been made completely by hand in the Paris atelier.
• On the runway the dress was shown in a brilliant pink. I am sure that this green colour was a special order by a Couture client.
• Jerry Hall was photographed in one that season and we have included other references for it as well so you can see how fabulous this sits on the body
• The dress has a very Old Hollywood / 1940s feel that I love. This is an era that Yves often touched upon in his work.
• It is made out of a pale grass green silk crepe that drapes beautifully once on.
  
• The shoulders are shaped with handmade padding inside and the sleeves are more generous through the upper part and then narrow as they reach the cuff. Each sleeve has a little handset zipper at the wrist.
• The front comes down in a V and I love how the silk has been draped and brought over from the sides to extend into ties that sit at the base of the V at the waist. This is an extremely clever way to hide all of the closures for the dress. Underneath the tie and extending down a few inches under the waist are hidden snaps and hooks that close the dress around you all while giving the illusion that you have simply tied the dress in place.
• The skirt is gathered in under that to fall to the floor. As it reaches the hem it widens out quite a bit so that when you move it has beautiful movement around you. The back also extends a little longer than the front hand for a sweep of extra movement behind you. Yves was a master at manipulating fabric to fall perfectly over the body.
• The dress is not perfect but is wearable if you do not mind that it does have some small flaws. Please make sure to read the full description below carefully. This is still an outstanding example of his work during this time period.
• The dress is fully lined in a green silk and closes with a series of snaps and hooks at the front waist. Zipper sits at each wrist. The dress has fading across the top of each shoulder and some slight fading throughout. The hem has fallen down in places and there is a touch of grubbiness and fading around the edge of the hem. There is a series of little dots near the seam at the back. The actual silk is sound and stable. The dress could potentially be dyed if you preferred not to wear it as is. Sold as found and priced accordingly.
  
• There is no size tag present since it is a Couture piece. Please check the measurements below.
  
• Great overall condition.

Sleeves: 29" and are 15" around the upper arm
Slightly extended shoulders: 16.5"
Bust: 16-19" flat across from side seam to side seam
Waist: 13-14.5" flat across from side seam to side seam
Hips: to 19.5" flat across from side seam to side seam
Bodice: approx 15" from top of shoulder to waist
Total length: 59" from top of shoulder to front hem and the back extends another 6" 

Modern Sizing Equivalent: SML-MED

Item# DD5209

Reference Photos: (1-2) Spring 1985 Yves Saint Laurent Haute Couture.  /  (3) Jerry Hall in YSL for Harper's Bazaar France, 1985.  /  (4) Jours de France Collections Haute Couture Soir S/S 1985.  /  (5) Spring 1985 Yves Saint Laurent Couture. Photo by David Seidner.

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.

• Jan Faulkner is a leather artist who began her career about 30 years ago. This is an early piece of her work from the 1980s
• It is made out of a black suede that has a leather finish to the interior side.
• The suede is almost certainly deerskin as it is extremely soft and supple.
• It slips over the head and is meant to be full and easy through the body.
• The shoulders are soft and extended to form a small cap feeling sleeve.
• The entire dress has these little slit cut outs running over its surface. Each grouping of the cut outs have been highlighted with pearls and small hand tied fringes in the same black suede. This makes the dress slightly see-through in a subtle kind of way. 
• It drapes down and narrows in at the hem. The suede is so soft that it is like a fabric over the body.
• The neckline is wide enough that you can wear it off one shoulder if you wished. 
• It is meant to be worn oversized and it is short enough to wear as a micro mini or tunic.
  
• It slips over the head to wear with no closures.
• Excellent condition.

Shoulders: the seams drop well down the top of the arm so there is no true defined seam for the shoulder
Bust: to 26" flat across from side seam to side seam
Waist: to 22" flat across from side seam to side seam
Hips: to 20" flat across from side seam to side seam
Total length: 31" from top of the shoulder to hem

Modern Sizing Equivalent: XS-LRG

Item# DD5206

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 phenomenal dress that we believe dates to the early to mid 1980s.
• It was made under the creative direction of Thierry Mugler.
• Mugler was a masterpiece of draping and cut and this is a fantastic example of that. It is cut with Mugler's masterful eye and attention to detail.
• It is made out of a black silk chiffon that sits over an inner structured and boned bodice. The dress under that is a play on transparency. The way the silk is draped in parts make some of it less transparent. The silk is gathered and placed to wrap around the body and emphasizes your curves.
• A panel of fabric extends up to create a single strap that wraps and hooks into place around the neck. A little half bow extends out to sit at the top of your back shoulder. The strap extends across the back on an angle to leave the rest of your back bare.
• The panels drapes upwards on one side and other panels extends down to wrap around the hips. Panels are caught up at the back of the waist to leave ties hanging down the side, picking up on the tie at the top of the shoulder. The body of the dress extends down to just above the knee, depending on your height. A single layer of bias cut silk chiffon is set in under that to create the lower skirt. It falls to the floor in a sweep of chiffon and adds incredible movement as you move.
• The bodice has a built in corset that closes with a series of hooks and then there is a zipper set under that. There is a layer of chiffon through the body of the dress. The neck strap snaps into place with hidden set snaps.
• There is no size tag present so please go by the measurements listed below.
• Excellent condition

Bust: 16" flat across from side seam to side seam
Waist: 13" flat across from side seam to side seam
Hips: to 18" flat across from side seam to side seam
Total length: 60" from neck to hem

Modern Sizing Equivalent: XS-SML

Item# DD5162

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

• This is an unlabelled piece that is made to a Demi-haute couture level
• The dress is made of a brilliant feather light pink silk.
• The bodice is cut with a simple feel and then the dress has a wide ruffle on each side that wraps around the shoulders and goes to the back for added drama.
• There is netting inside the ruffle that sits around the shoulders and this helps it to hold its shape and volume. You can also wear this more on the shoulder.
• It is more fitted through the body and has a ruffle that begins at the centre of the bodice extending to wrap down and around the skirt. The ruffle becomes wider as it nears the hem. The back falls longer than the front and it has a beautiful curving line around to the back. Because of the wrap over at the front. when you walk or move you get a flash of leg.
• It comes with its matching little waist band that hooks into place to add more shape to the waist
• It is fully lined in a handset silk and closes with a back zipper . There is an inner waist stay that hooks to close. The matching fabric belt hooks to close.
• There is one faint mark across the one side of the skirt at the back and some very minor fading near the top of the zipper.
• There is no size tag present so please go by the measurements listed below.
• Excellent condition with the note above.

Bust: to 18" flat across from side seam to side seam
Waist: 13.5" flat across from side seam to side seam
Hips: 19" flat across from side seam to side seam
Bodice: approx 15" from top of shoulder to waist
Total length: 29" from top of shoulder to where it splits, 60" to longest point of the back hem

Modern Sizing Equivalent: SML-MED

Item# DD5161

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 amazing dress is from the Spring 1987 Haute Couture collection.
• It was made under the creative direction of Yves Saint Laurent.
• The dress would have been made completely by hand in the Paris atelier. 
  
• The dress is made from a black French corded lace and this choice in fabric gives the dress its structure and shape. This is mixed with silk satin details across the top of the bottom, around the hip and finishing the hem.
• The bodice is strapless and is cut to curve across the front. Inside there is a full separate couture corset that is boned and shaped to hold the dress perfectly in place around you.
• It curves in to skim over the waist and curves back out for the hips. Sitting just under the hips there is an attached black silk ribbon that wraps around you and ties in a bow at the front.
• The skirt falls underneath that ribbon detailing to the floor. It widens out quite a bit around you for a lovely movement when you move. The skirt is cut longer at the back so you have extra fabric there and a bit of a sweeping feel behind you. I love how there is a matching dip at the back of the bodice so that there is an illusion of added length created.
• As with all couture pieces they only truly come to life once on the body. This dress looks so simple and easy but it is really a bit of an understated masterpiece in person.
• It is fully lined in a black silk and closes with a side set zipper. The inner corset closes with its own zipper inside that. The corset is lightly boned through the bodice and shaped. An inner waist stay hooks to close.
• There is no size tag present so please go by the measurements list listed below.
• Excellent condition

Bust: to 15-16" flat across from side seam to side seam
Inner waist: to 12" flat across from side seam to side seam
Hips: 18" flat across from side seam to side seam
Length: 50" from top of bodice to front hem, 54" to the back hem

Modern Sizing Equivalent: XS-SML

Item# DD5158

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 1989 Haute Couture Runway 
  
• It was made under the creative direction of Emanuel Ungaro
• The dress is made out of a handmade French lace in a pale silver grey with ivory cord overlay and subtle silver thread woven throughout. It is extremely beautiful.
• It would have been completely made by hand in the Paris Atelier
• It is fitted and shaped through the bodice with internal boning and structure. I love the soft curve at the top edge.
• The lace has been hand draped over the bust and it is swept up to one hip with a tiny handmade flower in a matching lace. 
  
• It curves down and over the hips to the top of the thigh and the bottom of the full bodice is set on an angle.
• The skirt is gathered in and up underneath that. It is tightly gathered all the way around the lower portion of the dress which gives it incredible movement when you move.
  
• The dress is fully lined in a silver grey silk and closes with a hidden set, zipper, offset at the back and part of the fabric from the back extends and wraps to hook under the flower at the front. An inner waist stay hooks to close.
  
• Its proper Haute Couture label present
  
• There is no size tag present so please go by the listed measurements below.
• Excellent condition and appears to have been worn very little if at all.

Bust: 17" flat across from side seam to side seam
Waist: 15" flat across from side seam to side seam
Hips: to 20" flat across from side seam to side seam
Total length: 29" from top of bodice to shortest part of hem, 31" to the longest part of hem

Modern Sizing Equivalent: SML-MED

Item# DD5154

Reference Photo: Fall 1989 Emanuel Ungaro 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.

• The twin of this dress walk the runway for the Fall 1989 collection.
• It was made under the creative direction of Patrick Kelly.
• The Philadelphia Museum of Art hosted an exhibit of the work of Patrick Kelly in 2014. The show notes state: "“I want my clothes to make you smile”—that was the goal of late African American designer Patrick Kelly in creating his bold, bright, and joyful creations. Kelly achieved this on the streets, nightclubs, and runways of New York, Paris, and beyond in the heady, inventive, and often-subversive urban milieu of the 1980s....Kelly’s work pushed racial and cultural boundaries with golliwog logos, Aunt Jemima bandana dresses, and his ubiquitous black baby-doll brooches. His playful looks were inspired by his muse, Josephine Baker, and admiration for couturiers Coco Chanel, Elsa Schiaparelli, and Yves Saint Laurent, among others."
• Supermodel Iman wore the twin of this on the runway and I love how spectacular she was in it.
• The dress is made out of a fantastic stretch velour fabric that will stretch to hug your curves and show off every bit of the body. That said the velvet keeps it flattering and easy to wear as it gives support at the same time it molds to the body.  This combined with that leopard print is just fabulous.
• The cut through the body hugs your every curve and the dress is molded to your frame all the way down to the hem. The stretch the fabric and the way to lower hem flares out is what allows you to walk. 
• The back is completely open and the front extends out too long extended ties from both side sides. These ties are what allow you to style the bodice in multiple ways. I shot a few here for you and you might find that once it is on you that you can think of more. It makes it an incredibly versatile dress.
• Whether you wear it halter style, as a one shoulder dress, or strapless, as soon as you turn around you get that bare expanse of skin which is very sexy.
• It curves over the hips, narrows back inwards slightly and then flares out beautifully for the lower skirts. The front hem of the skirt curves up a touch and then the back is cut a little longer than the front. The shape once this is on the body is fabulous and it is very easy to fit because of the stretch.
• It is a showstopper and an amazing example of his work. I love everything about this dress and that it is a true piece of fashion history that is extremely well documented.
• The dress is unlined and you just slip it on and tie the top part  as you wish to wear it. At some point the bottom hem was let down and I have left it for that extra length.
• There is no size tag present and it does have stretch. I have put the comfortable range while laying flat below. You probably still have some extra room if needed because of the stretch of the fabric.
• Excellent condition

Bust: variable because of the way it can be tied in multiple ways. It should fit just about any size chest.
Waist: 14-19" flat across from side seam to side seam
Hips: 18-22" flat across from side seam to side seam
Bodice: the full height of the bodice is 20" from its top to the waist. When you tie it, it will drain or fold and is meant to give you that versatility. For the length I folded the bodice in half so it's 10" from the top to waist.
Total length: 54" from top of the bodice, when folded as noted above, to front hem and the back extends another 8" past that.

Modern Sizing Equivalent: SML-LRG

Item# DD5153

Reference Photos/Videos: Fall 1989 Patrick Kelly.

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 spectacular and very recognizable Chanel whose twin walked the Fall 1986 runway.
• It was made under the creative direction of Karl Lagerfeld.
• Karl's first collection for Chanel was in 1983 which makes this a piece from one of his early collections. I was happy to be able to find reference photos of the twin of this dress on the runway that season.
• Bella Hadid famously wore a version of this dress in 2022.
• The dress is made out of a beautiful deep blue netting mixed with a blue silk that has a gold metallic stripe running through it. These fabric choices give the dress the structure to hold the shape but still keeps it fairly light in weight once on the body.
• The bodice is strapless and there is inner boning for support. The boning continues down the sides and to the top of the hip for a beautiful fit. The waist curves in and then the skirt is set in just at the top of the hip.
  
• The entire bodice is finished with soft horizontal gathers and I love how this contrasts with the gold stripes in the fabric.
• The skirt is very long and full. The top layer sits over an inner second layer of netting and then there is a inner silk layer under that.
• The bottom hem is finished in a 12" band of the same striped silk used for the bodice to tie things altogether and add a bit of structure. 
• The sleeves are incredible. They are separate pieces from the dress. To wear them you slip them over your arm. They have stiffened tulle inside the part that puffs out which helps to hold that shape and then there is a more fitted sleeve attached that runs down the bottom of your arm. Each sleeve ends in a point to cover the top of your hand.
• It is incredibly hard to photo this on a dress form, so please take a moment to look at the photos on the runway as it really is the twin of that.
• The bodice is lined in a deep blue silk and the skirt is lined as described above. It closes with a back set zipper underneath a row of gold medal buttons and embossed with the Chanel perfume bottle. There is an extra spare button sewn into the lining inside. The sleeves have tulle inside to help hold the shape and elastic on the upper arm and the lower cuff zips to close.
• Tagged a vintage Chanel 38.
• Excellent condition.

Sleeves: approx 30" long. The elastic at the top will stretch to fit. 
Bust: 16" flat across from side seam to side seam
Natural waist: 13" flat across from side seam to side seam
Seam at top of hips: 16.5" flat across from side seam to side seam
Hips at inner lining: to 21.5"flat across from side seam to side seam
Bodice: 13" from top of the bodice to the low seam
Total length: 52" from top of the bodice to hem with an entire second width of the lower 12" hem turned under

Modern Sizing Equivalent: XS-SML

Item# DD5133

Reference Photos: (1-2) Fall 1986 Chanel Runway.  /  (3-4) Bella Hadid in Fall 1986 Chanel, Cannes, 2022.

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

• We dated the dress to 1989 based on a very similar dress that is part of the MET Online Collection.
• Made under the creative direction of Vicky Tiel
  
• The dress has the added modern provenance of being worn by both Julianne Hough and by Liz Gillies. 
• The dress is made of a metallic gold lame fabric that is light in weight so despite the elaborate construction of the dress. It is just heavy enough to hold the intended shape fabulously.
• The bodice is strapless and the entire dress is elaborately gathered and fitted around the bust with hand placed and gathered folds.
• There is a built in internal structure with light boning. The boning extends at the sides down and around the hips to help to hold the hourglass shape around the body.
• The waist is nipped in and then it curves out and over the hips.
• Under that the skirt falls in a straight long pencil silhouette with a vent up the back to allow you to walk and move.
• The gold glimmers in the light and it is one of the best Vicky Tiel dresses that I have ever had in the shop.
• Fully lined in a black silky rayon and closes with a painted metal and nylon zipper at the back. Boning through the bodice and sides.
• Tagged a vintage Tiel 38. 
• Excellent condition

Bust: 15-16" flat across from side seam to side seam w up to a B-small C at the front
Waist: 12" flat across from side seam to side seam
Hips: to 18" flat across from side seam to side seam
Total length: 51" from top of bodice to hem with about 1.5" turned under

Modern Sizing Equivalent: XS-SML

Item# DD4868

Reference Photo: (1) 1989 Vicky Tiel dress in the MET Collection.  /  (2) Julianne Hough in this dress at the NYC Ballet Spring Gala, 2023.  /  (3) Liz Gillies in this dress, November 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.

• The twin of this dress walk the runway for the Spring 1988 show.
• Made under the creative direction of Marc Bohan for Christian Dior.
• The evening portion of the collection focused on short dresses that had a corseted waist and bust with wrapping techniques that gave the feel of a sarong. The dress is a wonderful example of that feel he was after and it is fantastic.
• We found a teeny slice of it or a very similar piece on the runway and even though the photo shows the model on an angle, it does give you an idea of how wonderful this will be on the body.
• This would have been made completely by hand in the Paris atelier.
• The fabric of this dress is fantastic. It is made out of a black silk organza that has been gathered so it has a slight 3D puffed effect. This creates an incredible texture over the dress.
• The fabric is light in weight and despite the elaborate construction of the dress is not at all heavy once it is on.
• Inside the dress has a full proper corset with boning through the bodice to give you some support and built in cups. A wide grosgrain ribbon hooks in place around the inner waist to hold everything perfectly in place.
• All of the seams are finished by hand and it is really is a nod back to the early couture days in terms of it's construction.
• The bodice is cut with a curving sweetheart neckline and it is meant to hug the body. It is elaborately gathered and fitted around the bust with all of the gathered folds coming in to the seams that run over the bodice. This is all done to emphasize your curves and it make the dress very flattering once on.
• It nips in at the waist and there is a large and elaborate bow that sets at the base of an angle seem coming from the bust. I love how this is set to curve around the hip to the back. It instantly adds to the hourglass field the dress has.
• From under the bow, the skirt curves down and over with to wrap around you and then come back in and under that panel to give it that wrapped sarong feel.
• Fully lined in a black silk and closes with a side set zipper. The interior of the bodice is boned and cupped for support. The inner corset closes with its own zipper and a wide band on the interior waist hooks to close. There is a tiny bit of lightening to some of the edges on the fabric. This is a natural aging of this type of fabric and I don't consider it to be a flaw, but it is mentioned for accuracy. It otherwise appears to have never been worn, or worn very little.
• Excellent condition

Bust: 17" flat across from side seam to side seam
Interior waist: 13" flat across from side seam to side seam
Hips: to 19" flat across from side seam to side seam
Bodice: qpprox 10" from top of bodice to waist
Total length: 29.5" from top of bodice to hem

Modern Sizing Equivalent: SML-MED

Item# DD5110

Reference Photos: Spring 1988 Christian Dior 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.

• Arnold Scassi launched  his boutique line in 1984 and it was high end ready-to-wear and very expensive.
• Arnold Scaasi 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.
• The sleeved version of this dress walk the runway for the Fall 1987 collection. It's very rare to find documentation from this time period and I love having that say that you can see how amazing it is on. I think this strapless one is even better.
• 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 which is quite amazing.
• 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.
• 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# DD5101

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.

• 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.

• Note that due to new regulations this coat can only ship to a Canadian address 
  
• This appears to be the actual Haute Couture sample coat that walked the runway for the Fall 1985 Jean Patou collection for Look 12
• Made under the creative direction of Christian Lacroix 
  
• This is an extremely rare and important piece of fashion history. Very few pieces of his work at Patou come up for sale and this is more then likely the only piece to exist.
• Made in the Paris atelier
• Made of a soft orange wool shaped in an enveloping cocoon shape highly reminiscent of a 1920s flapper coat.
• It is all cut on the bias so once it is on the body it wraps around you beautifully. It is extraordinary. 
  
• The sleeves are quite extremely wide and they have a long wide cuff that flips up and over the sleeve. The cuff is completely covered in hand dyed feathers.
• More of the same hand dyed feathers are used to create a huge shawl collar that drapes down and over the shoulders. It continues to run all the way to the hem and circles around to the back hem.
• The coat narrows in as it reaches its bottom. This is a classic cut for this style of cocoon coat
• It feels wonderfully decadent and opulent, both key design elements in Lacroix's work. It is literally like wearing a work of art.
• Partially lined in a silk through the upper body of the coat and through the sleeves. The rest is unlined.
• Has its hand written Haute Couture sample label in place and attached metal couture tag
• Excellent condition

It is very full and open and has no closures so should fit almost any size. It is approximately 52 inches from neck to hem but that will come up a bit once it is on the body.

Modern Sizing Equivalent: OSFA

Item# DD5048

Reference Photo: Fall 1985 Christian Lacroix 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.

• Made under the creative direction of Oscar de la Renta
• This can be worn as a coat or a dress
• It is made out of a stunning iridescent blue silk taffeta. The fabric choice keeps it light in weight but also holds the lines and shape.
• Big balloon sleeves with cuffs detailed with pleat work
• The body of the piece is cut loose and easy.
• It closes down the front with incredible oversized frog knots that are completely beaded. Another knot sits on the back.
• There are pockets on each side and the bottom portion of the piece is incredibly full and open.
• Fully lined in the same blue silk taffeta as the exterior
• It has a wide inner elastic waist corset that wraps around the inner waist and hooks into place
• It closes down the front with the frog knots and a series of hidden hooks and hidden silk covered snaps. 
  
• Shallow pockets along each hip and light padding in each shoulder
• Excellent condition with some teeny marks and teeny breaks along the very edge of the hem and the front. These make no impact but are mentioned for accuracy.

Sleeves: 28" and the upper arm is full and open
Shoulders: 15.5
Bust: to 21" flat across from side seam to side seam
Waist: to 17" flat across from side seam to side seam
Hips: open
Total length: 60" from neck to front hem, 62" to the back

Modern Sizing Equivalent: MED-LRG

Item# DD5041

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.

• Early 1980s dress under the creative direction of Hanae Mori
• Made of a pink striped silk chiffon that has a gold thread shot through the striped pattern. The gold picks the light up to give the dress a subtle shimmer.
• V neck and buttons down the front
• Original tie belt in a matching fabric to cinch in the waist
• The skirt is full and widen out as it needs the hem
• The front of the bodice and the skirt are lined in a nude silk chiffon, and the back and sleeves are unlined.
• It closes with the fabric covered buttons down the front and snapped at the waist. Each sleeve snapped to close. Like padding in each shoulder.
• It appears to have worn very little if at all. Excellent condition.

Sleeves: 22.5" and or 13" around the upper arm
Shoulders: 15"
Bust: to 16" flat across from side seam to side seam
Waist: 12" flat across from side seam to side seam
Hips: open
Bodice: 15" from top of shoulder to waist
Total length: 56" from top of shoulder to hem

Modern Sizing Equivalent: XS-SML

Item# DD5026

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 runway and I love that we found a reference photo so you can see just how fantastic this is once on. It is one of those dresses that looks amazing on the dress form but is even better on an actual person. 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. This dress is so unusual and I absolutely love it. It is truly one of the most spectacular of his dresses that I have had in the shop.

This dress is incredible. The fabric alone is a work of 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. The blue silk and black velvet fall from there to skim outward over the waist and hips and then narrow 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 that has the feel of a bustle. I is made out of a tremendous sweep of the same fabric. It  expands outward and then loops back in to attach just under the hips. A second black velvet bow sits at the base of where it swoops in. The sheer volume of fabric used to create this nod to a bustle is fantastic. From every angle of the dress you get these wondrous sweeping views because of this unusual detail. There is a slit under that at the back to allow you to walk. The combination of the beautiful fabric and that extra detailing is just amazing. It is one of the most beautiful dresses I have seen from him. It appears to have been worn very little if at all.. Excellent condition

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. Light boning through the bodice. Hand work throughout. 

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# DD4995

Reference Photos: (1) Fall 1987 Bill Blass Runway.  /  (2-5) Mikey Madison wearing this dress to the Oscars Nominees DInner, February 2025.

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

John Anthony's business was all done on a made-to-order basis. That means that each piece is the only one that exists, or in the very occasional circumstance that there are similar pieces, only a very limited amount of pieces were made. And to make things even a little more special.... the pieces I have in the shop come directly from John's archive. He is one of the great American couturiers and he was known for his sharp tailoring and striking evening wear. He launched his atelier in 1971 and he quickly rose to fame, winning a Coty award in 1972 and then again in 1976. This jacket is from his Fall 1980 collection and is the original sample from his archives.

This jacket is stunning to see in real life. It has a beautiful sleek cut and it is meant to be more fitted through the body. I love that it completely closes as this allows you to wear it on its own or layer it over other pieces. The shoulders have light padding for shape and the sleeves are long. The waist is brought in just a touch. It is meticulously tailored and John told me that creating jackets were one of his favourites things to do. They are infinitely challenging to have them sit perfectly on the body and his are tailored to a master level. It has no collar and the neckline is a sleek V.  It closes down the front with a series of hidden silk covered snaps and then there are three glass rhinestone buckles that close over the front. They are spectacular. The entire jacket is covered in glossy black sequins. These have all been set by hand and completely cover the silk that the jacket is made from. Each sequin is laid out so that it slightly overlaps its neighbour. To think of the man hours out into this jacket is incredible. The final finishing touch on this one are the bold motifs beaded onto the sequins on each side at the front. These have a 3D effect and sit up and off of the sequins below. The personal attention to each piece is clearly seen in the workmanship of his designs. His work is very expensive and beaded jackets like this retailed for up to $6,500 in the 80s and 90s which would be around $25k in modern dollars to recreate at this level. It appears to have been worn very little if at all. Excellent condition

Filly lined in a black silk and closes at the front with hidden set silk covered snaps. The rhinestone clasps close over that. Padding in each shoulder. Made by hand. A one of a kind.. 

Sleeves: 22" long and 13" around the upper arm
Shoulders: 16.5"
Bust: 17" flat across from side seam to side seam
Waist: 15.5" flat across from side seam to side seam
Hips: 18" flat across from side seam to side seam
Length: 24" from neck to hem

Modern Sizing Equivalent: SML-MED

Item# DD4551

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 gorgeous little dress is the ready-to-wear version of the Spring 1987 Haute Couture version. We have included the runway photos of the couture version and the editorial photos to give you an idea of the dress on. This version is simplified version but still has very similar line. It is fascinating that he did this at times with a few select pieces from his collections so that his non-couture clients had access to his couture designs. The 1987 collection is a favourite and I love having this dress in the shop for you.

This is a dress that is not being done full justice on my dress form but it is gorgeous once on the body. The dress sits off the shoulders to leave a bare expanse of skin and the sleeves are cut to just past the elbow. A pretty chiffon ruffle runs around the neckline and then another ruffle wraps around each wrist. The bodice skims over the bust and comes in at the waist for shape. Under that the skirt flares out dramatically and is quite full. The front of the skirt is cut to the knee, or just above depending on your height, and then the edges of the skirt curve down and around to be full length at the back. The fullness and the length change give it a ton of movement when you move. The fabric is so unusual. It is made from a black silk net backed by a black silk tulle. Then onto the top net layer is a design made of black raffia. This gives the dress an incredible texture. The parts of the dress that are not lined have a touch of transparency which is very sexy. This is an incredible piece of Yve's history and an absolutely gorgeous dress. Excellent condition with a minor note below 

Lined in a layer of tulle as described above and then there is a inner lining though the bodice and to just past the hips made out of a gold nude toned silk chiffon covered in a layer of black silk chiffon. It closes with a side set zipper. The raffia has small breaks in it here and there that is inherent to the material and normal wear. 

Sleeves: 18"
Bust: 18" flat across from side seam to side seam
Waist: 12-13" flat across from side seam to side seam
Hips: 20" flat across from side seam to side seam before it flares out
Length: approx 35" from natural shoulder to front hem, 52" to lowest point of the back hem

Modern Sizing Equivalent: XS-SML

Item# DD3888

Reference Photos: (1-2) S/S 1987 Yves Saint Laurent Haute Couture Runway Show.  /  (3) Brynja Sverrisdottir in S/S 1987 Yves Saint Laurent Couture. Photo by David Bailey.

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 Spring 1982 collection marked the 20th anniversary of Yves' Couture house. In the book Yves Saint Laurent: Catwalk they note that the historical importance of his collection made him feel very anxious. He was quoted as saying "I am frightened of this collection. I am far more anxious than I was for my first collection. It is a reassessment of 20 years… It is the end of adolescence, the beginning of maturity. I really feel like a beginner." But of course, it was a masterpiece of a collection and raved about.

The collection was extravagant and was heavily influenced by India and the beautiful work done by Indian artisans. There was a play on proportions with wide shoulders and a narrowing at the hips. This tunic was one of the more simple pieces in the collection but it still has the touch of an oversized shoulder and the ease and elegance of a beautiful silk in its making.

I love that you can wear this as a tunic over something else. It was shown over a skirt and a modern girl could easily wear it on its own as a dress. It was shown belted with a silk sash in the advance photos for the collection and you could easily add a belt or ribbon if you wanted to have more shape. The shoulders are padded and set a little wide. The sleeves are cut wide through the upper arm and even as they narrow to the wrist, they are still wide set by the cuff. The cuffs and collar are done in a black silk and I love the contrast to the ivory of the body. It is meant to be worn fairly loose and easy to skim over your bust, waist and hips. It falls to about the knee or just above depending on your height. A slit runs up each side and you can see that he has lined the entire inside of the piece in that same black silk as the collar and cuffs. When you walk and move the slits let you to see that flash of black which ties the whole piece together perfectly. The silk is a rich and heavy weight that drapes beautifully over the body. This is a dress that really needs to come to life with a body in it and my dress form photos are nowhere near to doing it justice. It is completely made by hand and an absolutely beautiful, refined and easy piece of true Couture. Excellent condition with a small note below.

Fully lined in a handset black silk and closes at the back with a hand set zipper. Handmade padding in each shoulder. It is completely made by hand to Couture standards. Has it proper YSL numbered Couture label. There is one small mark near the elbow of one sleeve. Please see the photo after the label shot. The easy cut should allow it to fit a range of sizes. On a smaller frame, it will just feel more oversized.

Sleeves: 22.5" and each is 20" around the upper arm
Exaggerated shoulders: 16.5"
Bust: to 19" flat across from side seam to side seam
Waist: to 19" flat across from side seam to side seam
Hips: to 20" flat across from side seam to side seam
Total length: 39" from top of shoulder to hem
Slits: 11.5" from hem up

Modern Sizing Equivalent: SML-LRG

Item# DD4913

Reference Photos: Spring 1982 Yves Saint Laurent  Couture Advance Preview. Model Kirat Young.

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 Richilene label was launched around 1970 and lasted to about 1990 or so from what I understand. It was a New York based label and was designed by Ilene Pacun and her husband Richard. The name came by combining their two first names which I only found out recently, and I thought was a cute little detail. They focused on party dresses for the most part and had a pretty wide range of options price wise. By the mid-1980s their prices ranged from about $200-$2000 and the higher and pieces were very well made. I can't help but think that this is a more attainable version of the famous 1986 Chanel with its removable sleeves. It has that same kind of vibe.

I absolutely love the cut of this dress. It is made out of a beautiful deep blue netting that has little dots worked through the tulle. The choice of this particular fabric gives it the structure to hold the shape but still keeps it fairly light in weight once on the body. The bodice is strapless and the neckline is cut fairly straight across all around you. There's inner boning for support and the boning continues down the sides on either side to help hold the dress in place. The waist curves in a bit and then the skirt is set in just at the top of the hip. I love how this gives the illusion of extra length through the body. The entire bodice has been heavily detailed with iridescent, deep blue sequence that are sat in a curving swirling pattern. They are heavily set so that they overlap each other and this allows them to catch the light in different ways to create a really pretty effect. Onto this are embroidered and beaded flowers that have petals set up and off the dress for a slight 3-D effect. These go all the way around the upper bodice. The skirt is very long and full. It flows to the floor in a cascade of that beautiful daughter in and there are five layers making up the skirt. The top two layers are the blue netting and then there is a organza layer under that that has a shimmering finish to it. Under that is a black layer of stiffen netting and then there is a final blue layer inside and under that. The very top layer has an edging of stiffen netting all the way around it, and that helps hold the shape and give it a pretty finish all of the volume you see in these photos are from the skirt and all of these built in under skirts. The final touch is of course those incredible removable half sleeves that you just slip on and wear high on the upper arm. They have stiff and tool inside, which helps to give them that puff, and then there is elastic at each end for an easy fit. I have pushed them up so they're very full, but you could also wear them a little more stretched out if you wished. The dress has a bit of a fantasy princess feel that I love. Excellent condition.

The bodice is lined in a deep blue muslin feeling fabric and the skirt is lined as described above. It closes with a back set zipper. The sleeves have a stiffen tool interior and elastic on each end so they just slip onto the arm. 

Sleeves: each sleeve is up to 14 inches long and can be worn to be up to half that size in length. The elastic at each end stretches up to approximately 20"
Bust: 17" flat across from side seam to side seam
Natural waist:12.5" flat across from side seam to side seam
Seam at bottom of bodice: 16.5" flat across from side seam to side seam
Hips at inner lining: to 24"flat across from side seam to side seam
Bodice: 12.5" from top of the bodice to the seam at the bottom of the bodice
Total length: 53" from top of the bodice to hem

Modern Sizing Equivalent: SML-MED

Item# DD4879

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

This is the actual dress that Sarah Snook wore to attend the Director Guild Awards in March 2022. This amazing sequin dress is by Bob Mackie from his boutique line and it is gorgeous. Mackie was best known for dressing Cher and for his signature glamour. He worked for both Edith Head and Jean Louis prior to entering costume design and he began by co-designing with Ray Aghayan. That led to his incredible journey in designing for stars like Cher and Diana Ross for many years before launching his own label. His work always has that touch of the best of Hollywood glamour.

This is such a gorgeous dress. Its simple cut combined with that heavy sequin coverage add up to an incredible piece. Plus it is fabulous to have the added modern provenance after having Sarah Snook wear it. The dress has an incredible pattern done in sequins that make the entire dress catch the light from every angle. The sequins are all a glossy black and they are set in vertical rows. In between vertical sections of four, and four and a half inches in width, he left long bands of the fabric without sequins and then also did that same thing cutting across the dress so that he could create a slight check pattern that runs over the dress. It is subtle but adds the perfect amount of detail. The sequins within each created rectangular 'box' have been applied to slightly overlap the next sequin in line so you get a liquid effect. The dress is strapless with a slight curve to the neckline. The front neckline is cut straight across and the bodice kept simple. It is cut to fit over the bust and the waist is cinched. Inside is a hidden cupped and boned corset to keep the dress in place. The dress skims over the hips and the fabric there has stretch so it is easy to fit. The skirt falls to the floor and widens out as it nears the hem with a little flare to the lower skirt. The back is cut longer then the front for a bit of a trained feeling behind you. It has a very classic Old Hollywood movie star feel to it. This is a dress that you just slip on and it is perfection. Excellent condition.

The bodice has a built in inner corset that is cupped and boned. The rest of the dress is unlined. It closes with a hidden set back zipper. There is a wide stay under the bust and at the inner waist that hooks to close with four hook options. Tagged a vintage Bob Mackie 6.

Bust: 17-17-5" flat across from side seam to side seam
Waist: 14-15" flat across from side seam to side seam
Hips: 18-22" flat across from side seam to side seam
Bodice: 10" from top of bodice to inner waist
Total length: 53" from top of bodice to front hem, 56" to the back hem

Modern Sizing Equivalent: SML-MED

Item# DD4876

Reference Photos/Video: Sarah Snook in this Bob Mackie at the Director Guild Awards, March 2022.

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

Each piece that John Anthony made was on a made-to-order basis, which means that each piece is the only one that exists, or in the very occasional circumstance that there are similar pieces made, only a very limited amount of pieces were done. All of the pieces I currently have in the shop come directly from John's archive. 

He is one of the great American couturiers and he was known for his sharp tailoring and striking evening wear. He launched his atelier in 1971 and he quickly rose to fame, winning a Coty award in 1972 and then again in 1976. This is the original sample of this piece from his archives. We found a series of photos of pieces with the same bead work so you can get an idea of how beautiful they are on the body.

The dress is made out of a feather light deep brown silk chiffon. Glass tube beads are set in vertical rows over both pieces and all of the beads have been applied by hand in perfect little rows onto the silk. I love how they catch the light from every angle. Both pieces have a simple and easy cut so that they are easy to wear and are very flattering on the body. The neckline is scooped and closes with a hook and eye at the back of the neck above a keyhole. The sleeves have the same bead detailing and then they fall in a straight cut to the wrist for a touch of fullness. The bodice is cut to skim loosely over you to the waist. The waist is finished with elastic which lets the silk pouf under a touch. The skirt has a banded waist and falls to the floor under that. It flares out a touch as it nears the hem. It has a high slit on one side for a flash of leg to show. They are gorgeous when worn together. The work has all been done by hand and the workmanship is fantastic. They fall like a dream once on the body. Excellent condition with a minor note below

Fully lined in a second layer of nude silk chiffon. The top closes with a hook and eye above a keyhole at the back of the neck and has elastic at the bottom seam. The skirt closes with hook and eye at the waist and a zipper under that. A tiny area of missing beads here and there but nothing major. Please see the photo after the label shot. The sample tag is stitched inside the cuff of one sleeve.

Top
Sleeves: 23"
Shoulders: 14.5"
Bust: to 20" flat across from side seam to side seam
Waist: to 21" flat across from side seam to side seam
Bottom seam: 14-20" flat across from side seam to side seam
Length: 27" from neck to hem

Skirt
Waist: 12" flat across from side seam to side seam
Hips: to 20.5" flat across from side seam to side seam
Length: 45" from waist to hem
Slit: 27" from hem up

Modern Sizing Equivalent: XS-SML

Item# DD4571

Reference Photos: Fall 1981 John Anthony Ready to Wear Advance Preview.

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.

Louis Feraud opened his first boutique in 1950 in Cannes selling sundresses to the jet set. When Brigitte Bardot was photographed in a white pique and lace number, he became the darling of the fashion world. By 1956 he had moved to Paris and opened a couture atelier and in 1960s made his first official couture presentation. Ready-to-Wear followed in 1970. He won the Golden Thimble in in 1978 and again in 1984. Women like Elizabeth Taylor and Brigitte Bardot were huge fans of the label. This is a wonderful sequin and silk chiffon dress that showcases his depth as a designer. It is just exceptional.

The dress has the bit of a high glamour vibe to it that is fabulous. The sequins make it feel so special and I love the use of the silk chiffon for the upper shoulders and sleeves. The chiffon is set wide across the neckline so you get just a hint of the tops of your inner shoulders showing. It runs down to the bodice on the front and back where the sequins start and it also extends out into those phenomenal sleeves. The body of the dress is made out of a dense application of black sequins, set on top of a chiffon, which gives it a touch of structure but still keeps the dress feather light. It is cut fairly straight over the body so that it just floats beautifully over you once on. A slit on one side that runs up from the hem allows for a bit of leg to show. Outside of the glamour of the sequins it is the sleeves that are the star of this dress. Each sleeve has three tiers of pleated silk chiffon added to it. These start just under the base of the arm and are stacked over each other to the wrist. It gives it a stacked pagoda sleeve feel that is just insanely good. The contrast between all of that detail on the sleeve, the sequins and ease through the body of the dress is the perfect mix. Excellent condition

The body is lined in a satin finish rayon and the upper bodice and sleeves are unlined. It closes with a back zipper that starts at the sequins and there is a button to close behind the neck. Tagged a Feraud 40

Sleeves: 24" and are 14" around the upper arm
Shoulders: 15"
Bust: 18" flat across from side seam to side seam
Waist: 15.5" flat across from side seam to side seam
Hips: to 19.5" flat across from side seam to side seam
Total length: 57" from neck to hem

Modern Sizing Equivalent: SML-MED

Item# DD4854

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 suit is from Christian Lacroix's Luxe label that was only produced the very first couple of seasons after launching his label. It was very high-end expensive ready-to-wear that was made to demi-couture standards and was available primarily to his couture clients and a select few beyond that. It was also the predecessor to his regular ready-to-wear collections. It is said that this label only lasted a couple of seasons because some of the couture clients complained at how close the garments were to their Haute Couture pieces. Very few pieces were made of this line so they are almost as rare as finding one of his Couture pieces.

This suit is everything you want to see in a Lacroix. The colour is that bright vibrant Lacroix pink that is now associated with his name. The colour is even better in person than how it photoed too. Both pieces are made of an almost grosgrain ribbon feeling silk that has black velvet dots fused onto the top of the fabric. The fabric choice allowed him to cut the suit to really hold the shape that he intended. The jacket has a gorgeous notched collar and big faceted black jet buttons down the front. It closes with hidden set snaps behind those buttons. I love that you can close it all the way up to the neck which means you don't have to wear anything underneath it or you can leave it partially or all the way open. The shoulders have some padding and the sleeves are set into the shoulder with a slight capped feel. Each sleeve ends with an upturned cuff. The jacket is meant to fit the body with a structured and seamed waist and then the hips have a peplum that adds to the hourglass feel that the suit has. I love the extra flap that gives the peplum a double hem. That skirt is high waisted so that your waist is very defined and then it is a poufed, almost bubble skirt under that. It goes out and around the hips and then comes in at the hem. This was a Lacroix signature shape and it is gorgeous. Everything about the suit is meant to invoke curves and I love the play on curves with the curve of the dots on the pink silk. It is gorgeous. Excellent condition with a minor note below.

All pieces are lined in a black silk. The jacket snapped to close and the skirt closes with a hidden set side zipper. There is minor wear to some of the velvet on the dots here and there. Both pieces are tagged a vintage Lacroix 38.

Jacket
Sleeves: 23.5" and are 13.5" around the upper arm
Shoulders: 14"
Bust: to 18" flat across from side seam to side seam
Waist: 12-13" flat across from side seam to side seam
Hips at the bottom seam: to 22" flat across from side seam to side seam
Bodice: 15" from neck to waist
Total length: 22" from waist to hem

Skirt
Waist: 12-13" flat across from side seam to side seam
Hips: to 22" flat across from side seam to side seam
Total length: 22" from waist to hem

Modern Sizing Equivalent: XS-SML

Item# DD4821

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 very rare piece of vintage and it is a delight to have it in the shop. It is from the 1988 Spring / Summer "Blanche Dubois" collection. The show had a total of 96 looks in it. My client purchased this right after the show and has had it since. The inspiration for this collection was Tennessee Williams 1947 heroin from the play "A Streetcar Named Desire" combined with the idea of the English country lady. An integral part of the collection were the way that he had the hems of the skirts and some sleeves done. He described then as "blown away" hems. Galliano had given his pattern cutters a book on origami and asked them to incorporate the feel of it into the clothing. He wanted the hems to look as though it had been blown up in the wind hence the name "blown away." Interior buttons and button holes along the hems were added to allow the skirts to achieve the draped bubbled effect that you see here and in the reference photos. The collection was critically acclaimed and it was his most commercially successful to date. US Vogue noted that he went from fashion cult to pacesetter with this collection. 

When we photoed the skirt we did it to show how you can change the look of the hem depending on if you choose to button the buttons up, or leave them undone. there are many configurations that you can do, including buttoning some of the button holes onto the same buttons inside or leaving them all undone and having a longer length skirt. Another key component of the show where these extremely high waists that you would then put a large belt around. My client told me that she often wore this as a strapless dress as well and if you are small enough through the bust to do so, you can have that added option. There is boning through the sides of the waist that help to hold it up and in place. The amount of fabric that the skirt has, and that unusual way the hem has been sewn combined with the buttons, really does give it the most fantastic and fascinating movement when you move. The fabric is at ultra soft white cotton or cotton mix. This piece was only ever owned by one person and it was loved and worn. It does have some faint marks on it but it doesn't take away from the importance or rarity of the piece.

This is an exceptionally rare piece to come up for sale from one of his very early collections. Excellent overall condition with a note below.

The skirt is unlined and closes with a hidden set side zipper. There are buttonholes hidden along the hem of the skirts and then button sit along the seams inside the skirt which is what allows you to change the look and length of the skirt. I see a repair along the back but because of the asymmetrical hem you would actually think that this was deliberate if you did not know better. I see another tiny area at the front where someone has put a stitch near the seam. There are some marks on the front and along one side of the hem. I did have this cleaned and they faded quite a bit but we were not overly aggressive in the cleaning. You might be able to fully get these out with more specialty cleaning. Please see the photos after the label. It is a remarkable piece of fashion history

Waist: 13.5" flat across from side seam to side seam
Hips: open
Total Length at its longest and unbuttoned it is 45" and then it can be adjusted with the buttons shorter

Modern Sizing Equivalent: SML-MED

Item# DD4785

Reference Photos: Spring 1988 John Galliano. (Third image from the book "Galliano: Spectacular Fashion" by Kerry Taylor for Bloomsbury.)

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.

Oscar was known for his beautiful and feminine designs and this dress really showcases that. With our modern day obsession with all things eighties and nineties this play on proportions and fabrics still feels extremely of this moment fashion wise. Oscar had an amazing sense of aesthetics and his genius was in making women look and feel beautiful. I love that we found an amazing backstage shot of it from the runway show that let us date it. It is very hard to date his earlier work and its also nice to be able to see it on. It is just an absolutely gorgeous example of his work from this time period. 

Three different fabrics were combined to make of this dress and each one becomes a an element of the design. The sleeves are a light weight silk taffeta and that is how they hold their fullness without being heavy. The bodice is done in a black lace for a pretty touch. The skirt is a black silk that has a very fine thin ribbing that runs through it for added texture. The neckline is scooped low and it is set wide across at the front so that it sits on the outer edge of your shoulders. At the back it is scooped so you get an expanse of bare skin. The sleeves are spectacular. They have built in panels of tulle to help hold their shape. They are cut to be every full so that they billow out to just above the elbow. They have elastic running through the edges nearest to the shoulders and this allows you to be able to wear them up and on the shoulder like I have shot them here or you could let them fall off the shoulder to get an even more bare feel. It skims over the bodice to the waist and I love the little lace peplum that sits just under the waist seam. The skirt falls from under that on a beautiful curve to the floor. There is a built-in underskirt made out of a black silk organza that has a wide ruffled bottom. This helps to hold the shape of the outer skirt. The fulness of the skirt moves beautifully when you move. Excellent condition

The bodice is lined in a black chiffon, The skirt in a black organza and the sleeves have tulle inside them to hold the shape. Built in underskirt. It closes with a back zipper. Tagged a vintage ODLR 6

Bust: to 18" flat across from side seam to side seam
Waist: 13" flat across from side seam to side seam
Hips: open
Bodice: approx 17" from natural shoulder to slightly dropped seam under natural waist
Skirt: 44" from slightly dropped seam under natural waist to hem

Modern Sizing Equivalent: SML-MED

Item# DD4444

Reference Photo: Resort 1978 Oscar de la Renta.

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In 1952, Hubert de 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 Goodmans and was eventually made available at other retailers. The line was high end and extremely well made. This part of his brand was created specifically to appeal to his non-couture clients who wanted to be able to purchase a piece of the Givenchy dream. This label continued until 1992 when it was retired and re-branded as the Givenchy Couture label. This dress is from those early days of the label and it is one of the prettiest Givenchy dresses I have seen. 

Modern Sizing Equivalent: XS-SML

Item# DD4721

Reference Photos: Spring 1982 Lanvin Couture. Model Anna Bayle.

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This dress is very special and an extremely well documented piece from Spring 1988. It has the special added provenance of being the twin of one of the four dresses portrayed in that instantly recognizable photo taken in his atelier that year. That photo is perhaps one of the most famous photos in the Lacroix history. The dress is from his Luxe label that was only produced the very first couple of seasons. It was very high end expensive ready-to-wear that was made to near couture standards and was available primarily to his couture clients and a select few beyond that. It was the predecessor to his later regular ready-to-wear collections. It is said that this label only lasted a couple of seasons because some of the couture clients complained at how close the garments were to their Haute Couture pieces. We found numerous reference photos of the dress as it appeared on the runway so you have an amazing idea of how this dress looks on the body.

The dress is gorgeous. It is made out of a textured silk organza that has a slight texture running through it. Onto that is a glorious floral pattern in pinks and yellow with pops of green. It feels so vibrant and beautiful with that gorgeous print. The sleeves are long and they are cut on a slight curve in the traditional couture manner. The shoulders are lightly shaped and the front falls into a shallow V. The dress has a little bit of gathering just at the bust area down the centre seam and then it falls smoothly  to the hem under that. It is cut to skim over you through the body with just a suggestion of shape through the waist. At the back the bottom 9 inches of the skirt has an inset bustle. The fabric there is gathered into a curving seam and there are three black organza half bows stacked one on top of the other to create a bustle feel. This is one of his most famous dresses and its amazing. It appears to have been worn very little if at all. Excellent condition

The body of the dress is fully lined in a black silk and the sleeves are lined in a white silk. The dress zips to close at the back and each cuff has a zipper to close it. Light padding in the shoulders. Tagged a vintage Lacroix 44

Sleeves: 22.5" and 13" around the upper arm
Slightly dropped shoulders: 17"
Bust: to 19.5" flat across from side seam to side seam
Waist: to 16.5" flat across from side seam to side seam
Hips: to 19.5" flat across from side seam to side seam
Total length: 35" from top of shoulder to hem with 2" turned under the hem

Modern Sizing Equivalent: MED-LRG

Item# DD4401

Reference Photos: (1-5) Spring 1988 Christian Lacroix Collection.  /  (6-7) Models in Christian Lacroix Haute Couture Atelier, Paris, 1988. Photos by Arthur Elgort.

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Sophia Loren wore a green version of this dress to Cannes in 1989. Hers had a different neckline that met at the front where this one comes out at the side ps of the bodice so you get a cleaner feel. Both are gorgeous and the photos of Sophia really give a sense of how gorgeous this is once on the body. Loris Azzaro launched his label in 1967 and quickly defined his trademark looks. Some of the most beautiful women in the world wore his clothing including Marisa Berenson, Raquel Welch, Jane Birkin, Sophia, 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 seventies and eighties he was experimenting with volume and proportions and new fabrics that at the time were all cutting edge. This is a stunning example of his work during this time period. This is a label that I really love and am always happy to find pieces of.

I absolutely love the cut of this dress. It is made out of a beautiful iridescent silk taffeta in a deep peach with coral undertones. The choice of this silk gives it enough structure to hold the shape but still keeps it fairly light in weight. That fabric choice mixed with that full on glamorous  cut that it has gives it feeling of high drama. The bodice is cut to hug the torso and the neckline is cut so that it is scooped in a sweetheart neckline at the front and then another scoop sits at the back. The sleeves are amazing. They are cut to wrap around your shoulders. Each extends out from the back and then wraps around the top of the shoulder before sweeping back in to be secured at the sides of the bust line. They are so pretty. You can adjust them a bit once on to wear more up on the shoulder or leave them draped more around the upper arm to leave a bare expanse of skin to show across the top of the shoulders. The bodice is intricately gathered and it angles down a touch where it meets the skirt. The skirt is very full. It flows to the floor in a massive cascade of the silk. There are no additional underskirts added for these shots. All of that incredible volume is built into the skirt. I love the rosettes that gather and pick up the skirt all the way around. It makes it so incredibly romantic in feel. The front is scooped up and the back is cut longer for a bit of a sweep behind you. It is gorgeous. A cluster of flowers sits at one side of the waist for the final perfect romantic touch. Excellent condition.

Fully lined in a hand set matching silk and closes with a back zipper. Inside the bust there is one of his signature strapless bras tacked into place. Hand finises. It appears to have been worn very little if at all.

Bust: 16-19" flat across from side seam to side seam
Waist: to 14.5" flat across from side seam to side seam
Hips at inner lining: open
Bodice: approx 12" from top of the bodice to shortest part of the side seam at the waist 
Total length: 33" from top of the bodice to the shortest part where it curve up at the front hem, 58" to the back hem

Modern Sizing Equivalent: SML-MED

Item# DD4644

Reference Photo: Sophia Loren in Loris Azzaro at Cannes, 1989.

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 1987 show and we have included reference photos of it from the runway for you so that you can see how fabulous it is on the body. We even found one where you can see the model walking back down the runway so you can see how gorgeous it is from the back as well. It is an easy to wear and very chic little YSL.

This is a really gorgeous dress. It is made from a lace fabric that has an unusual blue-purple colour running through it. Metallic thread runs through the lace and then over that are thousands of glossy black sequins that follow the pattern of the lace. The sequins catch the light from every angle but in a subtle way that I love. The lace has an open cut that is lined it with a deep blue silk chiffon. It has a touch of transparency to it but its wearable. This combination also keeps it light so that it feels amazing once on the body. The dress sits off the shoulder to leave a bare expanse of skin across the top. The neckline wraps around the shoulders and it is finished with a pretty black silk organza ruffle. The silk of the ruffles has just enough structure so that it holds its shape perfectly. The sleeves fall to just past the elbow and each is also finished with a ruffle. From there the dress skims over you, running over the bust and past the waist, with no seaming there to break the line. At the top of the hip there is a seam that has another ruffled detailing. The skirt falls under that and widens out as it nears the hem. A final ruffle goes all the way around the edge of the skirt. The back of the skirt is set to hang a touch longer than the front. This gives you a beautiful curve from the side  and adds a touch of pretty volume. It is a gorgeous dress and really showcases Yves' innovative eye and design genius. It appears to have been worn very little if at all. Excellent condition

Fully lined in a dark blue silk chiffon. It closes at the side with a zipper. Tagged a YSL 42.

Sleeves: approx 18" from the drop and 12" around the upper arm
Bust: to 18" flat across from side seam to side seam
Waist: to 15" flat across from side seam to side seam
Seam across the top of the hips: 19.5" flat across from side seam to side seam and open under that
Length: 30" from top of centre neckline to front hem and 36" to back hem including top and bottom ruffle

Modern Sizing Equivalent: SML-MED

Item# DD4271

Reference Photos: Fall 1987 Yves Saint Laurent Runway.

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 as Look 53vfor the Spring 1983 Haute Couture collection. It was shown under a jacket initially and then the jacket was removed. I love that this shows you how versatile these little dresses can be. We also found the fabric noted in a WWD editorial and then I looked into my folio collection book and found the model number and original sketch for you to see. I have included all these reference photos for you here and it gives you a beautiful idea of how fabulous this is once on the body. The dress is gorgeous and Yves always cut his couture pieces so perfectly. It really is a beautiful piece and owning a piece of his couture work is always one of the ultimate vintage acquisitions.

The dress is amazing and showcases how wonderful Yves Saint Laurent could cut a dress to flatter a woman's body. It is made entirely by hand and the silk has the tiniest ribbed texture running through it. The top is cut to skim over you and blouse over the waist. The shoulders have light padding just at their outer edges to slightly extend them outward. They are set into the bodice with gathers so that they slightly pouf above the shoulder line. The sleeves are slim and pouf out just slightly as they slim down to the zippered cuffs. The neckline is set wide across the collarbones and edged in a black silk band. The waist is seamed and we have added a black grosgrain ribbon there for shape. You can add a belt instead if you wanted a really cinched in look. The skirt falls under that in a simple pencil to just about the knee or above depending on your height. There are hidden set pockets along each hip. The colour of the silk is the best thing about the dress. It is a mix of a bright pink, green, blue and a deep purple set in a large floral design that runs over the entire dress. It is so pretty. Truly a brilliant dress and when you see it in person you will fall in love with how good it is in person. And it is just so good on the body. A masterpiece. Excellent condition.

Unlined through the bodice and lined in a black silk through the skirt. All the work is done by hand to Haute Couture standards. It closes with a back zipper and two buttons at the back of the neck. An inner waist stay hooks to close. Each cuff has a hand set hidden set zipper to close. Light padding in each shoulder as described above. Completely made by hand. Proper Haute Couture numbered label present. The grosgrain ribbon is not original to the dress but will be sent with it.

Sleeves: 22" and 13.75" around the upper arm
Slightly wide set shoulders: 16"
Bust: to 21" flat across from side seam to side seam
Waist: 12.5-13" flat across from side seam to side seam
Hips: to 21" flat across from side seam to side seam
Bodice: 16" from top of shoulder to waist but mean to blouse a bit
Total length: 38" from top of shoulder to hem with 2" turned under

Modern Sizing Equivalent: XS-SML

Item# DD4642

Reference Photos: (1-4) Spring 1983 Yves Saint Laurent Haute Couture Runway.  /  (5-7) Spring 1983 Yves Saint Laurent Haute Couture Advance Preview.  /  (8) Womens Wear Daily, February 1983.

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

John Anthony's business was all done on a made-to-order basis. That means that each piece is the only one that exists or in the very occasional circumstance that there are similar pieces only a very limited amount of pieces were made. And to make things even a little more special.... the pieces I have in the shop come directly from John's archive. He is one of the great American couturiers and he was known for his sharp tailoring and striking evening wear. He launched his atelier in 1971 and he quickly rose to fame, winning a Coty award in 1972 and then again in 1976. This dress is from his Fall 1988 collection and is the original sample from his archives. We found a photo of a dress on the runway from this same collection with the same cut through the top so you can get an idea of how this will sit on the body. John told me that this dress was made for the runway as well and was edited out once the final line up was done. I love this dress and am so happy to let it have its full moment now. His work is amazing on the body and transforms once it is on and moving. 

This dress is absolutely stunning and it is among my favourites from the pieces he has sent to us so far. It is very light in weight once on the body. It is made from the most beautiful feather light silk chiffon. Bias cut silk chiffon is incredibly hard to work with and for this dress he has layered it with each layer falling perfectly over each other. The dress is made of three layers of the chiffon. The two innermost layers are  unadorned and then the top layer has the black lace detailing added to it. It slips on and zips up at the front and this is all cleverly hidden with a panel that wraps and snaps into place to one side. The snaps continue down under the lace detail on the skirt. The snaps only close it part of the way and a thigh high slit is left so that when you walk you will see a mile of bare leg. The front plunges into a V and there is a caped feeling panel of hand made black French lace that drapes over the shoulders for the prettiest romantic touch. This wraps all the way around the back and I love how it drapes there. The lace at the front curves down and to the side and then trails all the way down the skirt to the hem. A wide order of it is placed all the way around the hem. I love the way the lace is all perfectly and meticulously set onto the silk with thousands of tiny precise stitched done to hold it in place and follow the pattern in the lace. This is couture level detailing. At the back, the skirt extends out a bit past the hem to sweep behind you as you walk. The silk is so light that your slightest movement causes it to float around you. It is very beautiful. Excellent condition.

Made of three layers of silk chiffon as described above and closes with a hidden set front zipper and then hidden set snaps down the side. Hand finished throughout. 

Bust: to 18" flat across from side seam to side seam
Waist: 13" flat across from side seam to side seam
Hips: open
Bodice: approx 14" from top of shoulder to waist
Total length: 64" from top of shoulder to front hem, 76" to the longest point of the back hem
Slit: 34" from front hem up

Modern Sizing Equivalent: SML-MED

Item# DD4555

Reference Photo: Fall 1988 John Anthony Runway.

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

This dress was made by hand in the atelier of Ady Couture who was based in Lausanne Switzerland. Ady herself was a couture trained seamstress and headed a team who had full permission of the Haute Couture houses she worked with to make the designs they showed in Paris for clients based in Switzerland and the surrounding areas. She would purchase the couture fabrics from the couture houses along with the patterns and then make the actual dresses in her atelier. This arrangement with the couture houses was a way to work around customs during this time period and do fittings for clients unable to travel to Paris. So far we have verified that she had this arrangement with Yves Saint Laurent, Christian Dior, Givenchy and Ungaro. There may have been others but those are the four labels we have documentation on from the runway. This dress is from the Fall 1987 Haute Couture collection. Several variations of this dress where produced and we have included reference photos where you can see the strapless version from the runway. And a shorter version of this dress was also shown on the runway and one was worn by Audrey Hepburn as well.

The dress is made from the most incredible iridescent metallic fabric. It is purple first and foremost but when the light hits here it gets a highlight of a hint of the green that is just amazing to see. The fabric has enough weight to it to hold the shape that you see. The neckline is scooped and the sleeves are set into the shoulders so that you get a bit of a peak where they are gathered into the bodice. They are cut wider near the top of your arm and then taper down to the wrist. The bodice skims over you to the slightly dropped waist seam. Around the hip area is a wide band of gathered fabric that creates that incredible volume. A black velvet bow sits the front. The skirt is cut on a sharp angle that widens out to be quite full as it nears the floor. The cut is meant to feel sculptural and contrast the volume around the hips. The back of the skirt is fuller and set a little longer then the front. One version on the runway was belted and you could easily add a belt to add shape. The interior of the dress is completely finished to couture standards with every single seam done by hand. It is beautifully made and appears to have been worn very little if at all. Excellent condition 

Fully lined in a black silk and closes with a hidden set zipper at the back and there are hidden set zippers at each wrist. Hand finished throughout. It appears to have been worn very little if at all. Made to Haute Couture standards

Sleeves: 26"
Shoulders: 16"
Bust: to 20" flat across from side seam to side seam
Waist: to 16.5" flat across from side seam to side seam
Hips: to 20" flat across from side seam to side seam
Length: 54.5" from top of shoulder to front hem, 58" to the longest part of the back hem 

Modern Sizing Equivalent: MED-LRG

Item# DD3808

Reference Photos: (1) A/W 1987 Givenchy Haute Couture Silver metallic lame brocade strapless gown dress with a black velvet chest and bow and 2-layer puffy skirt. L'Officiel No. 734, September 1987.  /  (2-4) Fall 1987 Givenchy Haute Couture Runway.  /  (5) Audrey Hepburn, in Givenchy, at the Sheraton Hotel in New York City for the 17th Annual International Emmy Awards in 1989.

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

This is an incredible Haute Couture dress that came to me from the niece of the original couture client, In our hunt for more information on it we found the runway photos from the 1982 Givenchy Haute Couture presentations and you instantly see that it is its twin in all ways. I love having the runway photos so that you can see just how amazing it is in the body. This dress was made by hand in the atelier of Ady Couture who was based in Lausanne Switzerland. Ady herself was a couture trained seamstress and headed a team who had full permission of the Haute Couture houses she worked with to make the designs they showed in Paris for clients based in Switzerland and the surrounding areas. She would purchase the couture fabrics from the couture houses along with the patterns and then make the actual dresses in her atelier. This arrangement with the couture houses was a way to work around customs during this time period and do fittings for clients unable to travel to Paris. So far we have verified that she had this arrangement with Yves Saint Laurent, Christian Dior, Givenchy and Ungaro. There may have been others but those are the four labels we have documentation on from the runway.

The dress is made from a deep copper gold silk taffeta and this fabric choice allows it to hold those stunning lines and volume that you see. It is absolutely beautiful and a testament to the level of design that you only see in couture pieces. The colour of the silk is even better in person. I have managed to almost capture it in these photos but in person it is even richer feeling then what you see here. At the front the neckline is set in a simple high scoop. The bodice is cut to skim over your curves and is simple in cut. The sleeves are incredible. Each one is set on a curve to follow the shape of the arm in the traditional manner of dressmaking. They are set into the shoulders with a beautiful series of soft pleats so that you get a bit of volume at the shoulder. They puff out slightly around the upper arm and then narrow down at their ends. The waist is seamed and the skirt is gathered all the way around the waist in a series of soft pleats. These puff out from the waist slightly and this little couture trick gives the illusion that the waist is smaller then it is. On the runway it was shown with a black velvet bow and I have added one to emulate that same look. The skirt is one of the best skirts I have seen both from a design point of view and by its level of construction. It is made into two attached sections. The top comes out from the pleats all around the waist and it poufs out around you. A seam brings the skirt in and then the lower part of the skirt falls to the floor from there. That second tier has many yards of silk in it so that it flares out as it reached the hem. Between the two sections is a wide velvet ribbon that wraps around the seam and ties into a bow at the side. Which beautifully picks up on the bow around the waist. All of the volume and shape that you see is created through the way it is cut and the fabric choice. The skirt does not have extensive underskirts to shape it. The silk of the skirts are lined in a silk organza to help give support but it is really the genius of the cut itself that creates the shape. An elaborate and intricate floral design runs across the front and back of the bodice and down each sleeve. Hand done embroidery work is combined with tiny black sequins and hand applied beads. It is some of the finest hand work I have seen. Inside the dress is completely finished to couture standards with every seam finished by hand. I have taken some detail shots for you to see the fine workmanship inside. It is an incredible piece and absolutely beautifully made. It appears to have been worn very little if at all. Excellent condition 

The bodice is fully lined in a matching gold toned silk and the skirt is fully lined with a slightly gold tinged silk organza. It closes with a hand placed back zipper and the skirt snaps into place with silk covered snaps over that. Hidden set zippers at each wrist. Hand finished throughout. The velvet ribbon out is not original to the piece but will be included. It appears to have been worn very little if at all. Made to Haute Couture standards with a tremendous amount of detail put into its construction. It is a slightly softer gold copper in person then how it photoed.

Sleeves: 26"
Slightly inset shoulders: 13.5"
Bust: to 19" flat across from side seam to side seam
Waist: 15" flat across from side seam to side seam
Hips: open
Bodice: 15.5" from shoulder to waist
Length: 42" from waist to front hem, 45" to the back hem

Modern Sizing Equivalent: SML-MED

Item# DD3685

Reference Photos: Fall 1982 Givenchy Couture Runway.

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

I love all of the pieces by Bill Tice that I bring into the shop. Most, including this one, were made in the 1980-1981 time period. His easy-to-wear and glamorous jersey pieces have been worn by countless celebrities for the red carpet and events. Every girl that has bought one of his pieces through me has absolutely loved it. This is the first time I have had one of these long open jackets in this peach the shop and I'm absolutely obsessed with it. And I just out a peach dress from the same label that would match this perfectly. You can see that here.

It is made of a soft peach jersey that is meant to mimic the feel of silk jersey. This is one of those things that is a fail-safe piece that you know is going to work every time you put it on. This fabric has the added bonus of traveling very well. It is the kind of piece you can throw into your suit case and slip on over just about anything upon arrival with either flats or heels and you are instantly ready to walk out the door. It is cut to feel long and slim with pleats running down its full length. It has gold cording that defines the collar, the bodice and back, around the arms and the cuffs. There's also a long stripe of the gold cording that follows the ties that close it at the neck. To wear it you just slip it on and tie it at the neck with those ties. The fabric is very light so when you move this has a ton of movement and will billow out around and behind you. It's fantastic. Excellent condition.

Unlined through the body and slips on to wear. The easy cut and open front should allow it to fit a range of sizes

Sleeves: 24"
Slightly inset shoulders: 14.5"
Bust: to 26" flat across from side seam to side seam
Waist-hips: 26"+ flat across from side seam to side seam
Length: 59" from neck to hem

Modern Sizing Equivalent: XS-MED

Item# DD4370

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

Loris Azzaro launched his label in 1967 and his trademark look soon developed. He became know for his extravagant use of colour, beading, sequins 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 cutting edge fabrics. This is a wonderful example of his work during this time period. We found a reference photo of an Azzaro dress with a very similar shoulder treatment and I think this one is even better.

This dress is nothing short of a bold and dramatic statement piece. The bodice is hand draped into soft rounded gathers over the bust. They continue all the way down under the bust to follow the curve of the body all the way to just below the hips. For this part of the dress he used a black stretch jersey that gives the dress it's fitted shape but also keeps it comfortable to wear. Inside the dress is one of his signature strapless underwire bras and this has been sewn into the dress for added support and shape. The top edge is shaped into a low sweetheart curve and the gathers are set to run horizontally down the body. Hand set vertical seams are tacked into place at points all the way around you to give the gathers a slight scooped feel and add length to offset the horizontal lines. It also keeps the gathers from adding bulk. Under that the skirt is set low and i is made out of a black textured silk that has a metallic finish. This is set over several layers of built in under skirting to help give and hold the volume you see in the skirt. On each outer side the panels of the skirt slightly lift up and away from the dress. To tie this into the top, the same fabric and swooping line is used to create that sweep of fabric on the one side of the bodice. I love how this flares out up and over the front portion of the shoulder. It is fabulous. Excellent condition.

Fully lined in a black 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 wire inside to hold it up. It would be easy to add additional wire or stiffening inside if you wanted it to really hold even taller then it does now. Hand finished throughout

Bust: to 16.5" flat across from side seam to side seam
Waist: 13" flat across from side seam to side seam and the inner waist stay hooks slightly smaller then that
Hips: to 17" flat across from side seam to side seam
Length: 52" from top of bodice to hem

Modern Sizing Equivalent: XS-SML

Item# DD3680

Reference Photo: Model in Loris Azzaro, L'Officiel No. 734, September 1987.

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.