I love Josefa caftans and have covered the history of the label a couple of times in my instagram (go peek one day). They are like owning a piece of wearable art. Every single one of them was entirely hand made, detailed and embroidered. They were made in Mexico in the late sixties to early seventies and were the epitome of Bohemian chic in their day. They are easy to wear pieces that can go from the beach, to exploring far off markets, to being worn as an evening piece depending on how you style them. I love this one and it is a little extra interesting as I have sold its twin in a blue version in the past.

This one is a gorgeous example of her work. The cotton is crisp and fresh feeling still and has been hand dyed to a beautiful deep brown colour with lighter natural linen colour accents. It has hand done embroidery work at the front neck and down the front. Piping in the lighter colour defines the neckline and sleeves. The sleeves are incredible. Each ends in a huge flare and those flares are actually a full circle of fabric. This gives them incredible volume and movement. The skirt also flares out and its volume is achieved through the lighter coloured inserts that are set in long inverted triangles of fabric. The lighter inserts and embroidery perfectly compliment each other. It is cut to sit slightly more fitted through the bodice and then flares out dramatically as it reaches the hem. The sleeves are cut to do the same and widen out as they near the cuffs. It is easy to wear and a great statement piece Excellent condition

Unlined and closes with a back metal zipper. The fabric has natural variations in it. It looks to have been worn very little if at all. The colour in person is slightly lighter then how it photoed in some of the shots. It's even better in person I think. The loose cut will allow it to fit a range of sizes.

Sleeves: 23"
Shoulders: 16"
Bust: 19.5" flat across from side seam to side seam
Waist: to 19" flat across from side seam to side seam
Hips: to 24" flat across from side seam to side seam
Length: 59" from neck to hem

Modern Sizing Equivalent: SML-LRGD

Item# DD3876

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 dress is from the archive of the Roman couture house Tiziani, which was founded in 1963 by American designer Evans Richards. The label quickly became a favorite among celebrities and socialites including Elizabeth Taylor, who was a regular client; Doris Duke, Gina Lollobrigida, and Principessa Borghese. The label is also famous because of the fact that as a young designer, Karl Lagerfeld accepted a job there. Lagerfeld worked at Tiziani from 1963 to 1969. This piece is unlabeled but has the provenance of being a part of a past auction that featured the sketches and a few select pieces of work from Karl Lagerfeld's time at the label, this dress being one of them.

The dress is constructed from a fine, pale yellow silk chiffon that in person is a prettier and more pale lemon colour then how it photoed. The colour is even prettier when you see it in hand. The dress is very beautiful and has a very romantic feel to it. The silk it is made out of is extremely light and airy and the skirt has used yards and yards of it in its construction so that it feels like it is floating around you when you move. The bottom of the skirt is finished with a edging technique that uses a thin strip of stiffening fabric hand rolled within its edge. This lets the silk ruffle and curve as you can see in the photos. The work on this dress is meticulously done. The bodice is equally as fabulous and it has been adorned with a dense coverage of a metal thread applied in a honey comb pattern. Over that is an intricate application of hand beading to create the little discs that you see covering the bodice at the front and the back. I love the little flowers formed in the centre of each medallion and how Lagerfeld has used the smallest hints of pink in there and along the edge to pop against the yellow. The bead work is extremely fine and mixes embroidery work, real metallic thread, seed beads, crystals and larger beads. These give the dress a touch of glitz and sparkle. It also adds a 3D feel to the piece. Note that he has curved the beadwork down but left a gap deliberately on each side. It almost feels like a suit of armour because of this and offers a touch of contrast against the soft feeling the dress has. The neckline is squared off at both the front and back. The sleeves are very full and pouf above the cuffed wrists. Each sleeve is unlined so that you get a touch of transparency there. The construction of the dress is entirely by hand and it is done to Haute Couture levels and I have included lots of interior detail shots so you can see. It is extraordinary and an amazing piece of fashion history. Excellent condition with a minor note to review below

Fully lined in a hand set yellow silk through bodice and the skirt has an inner skirt that is made of silk and then covered in silk chiffon. It closes with a hand set  back zipper. Each cuff buttons to close. The outer skirt is finished with a thin stiffened strip that is hand rolled and encased in silk that helps to give the bottom of the skirt that ruffled effect that you see. All hand work throughout and made to couture standards. There is some fraying to the inner edge of the top of the neckline (see final photo) and some of the threads on the 3D beads have loosened slightly so tend to flop over a bit. There are a couple of really faint darkened areas in the silk here and there but you really have to look for them and they get hidden in all of the yards of silk used. Perhaps a touch of grubbiness here and there to the very edges of the hem

Sleeves: 26"
Slightly dropped shoulders: 16"
Bust: 18" flat across from side seam to side seam
Waist: 15.5" flat across from side seam to side seam
Inner hips: 20" flat across from side seam to side seam
Length: 60" from shoulder to hem

Modern Sizing Equivalent: MED-LRG

Item# DD3499

Reference Photos: Cherie, Owner of Shrimpton Couture.

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

I love these velvet Pucci jackets and this one is great. It is cut with a slightly longer cut that most of the ones I have had pass through my hands and this makes it even more versatile to use as a layered jacket piece. That said it does zipper all the way up the front so you can also wear it on its own as a top so it is that much more versatile. His velvet pieces have an extra layer of richness and texture to them because of the luxurious fabric choice. Plus, nothing held his vibrant colors like his velvet pieces did. This one is a stunning and vibrant mix of a wild mix of colours that includes almost every bright colour he ever did. There are a variety of  prints too and the print is laid out in blocks that each have its own print within. This covers the entire jacket and makes it one bright wonderful piece. It has a neat collar made of attached piped pieces that curve around the neck and the cut skims the body to just past the hip. A contrasting printed border finishes the button front, cuffs and hem. It zips to close at the front and the inside has a bright vivid green lining. This color combination is just wonderful and its a real little find. Great overall condition with a note below

Fully lined in a green silk and closes with a double zipper down the front. Each cuff buttons to close with velvet covered buttons. The zipper looks like a replacement and I suspect the lining was also replaced at some point. There are some small spots that are scattered over the velvet here and there. Priced with these in mind.

Sleeves: 23"
Shoulders: 16.5"
Bust: 19.5" flat across from side seam to side seam
Waist: 17" flat across from side seam to side seam
Hips: 21" flat across from side seam to side seam
Length: 28" from neck to hem

Modern Sizing Equivalent: MED-LRG

Item# S973

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

In 1968 Ossie Clark was designing his own couture line and also designing pieces for Alice Pollock for her Quorum Boutique. The Radley company approached Alice to find out of she could convince Ossie to design a top of the market collection that they would produce and sell to various boutiques and department stores. Dresses like this were the result of that collaboration. Even with this early version of 'ready to wear' the pieces that were made were still never produced in vast quantities and certainly nowhere near whet we think of today as RTW. as gar as quantities.  This one is a very unusual Ossie twist on one of his classic designs and that makes it extra special. His designs transform once on the body and no matter how fabulous the dress looks like on the shots it is even better on an actual body.

The design of this dress reminds me of his classic 'graduation gown' in how it is loose and easy through the body but this version has a more filled in front then the plunging graduation dress design. It has that incredible flow and drape that he was known for and it is so easy to wear. His signature sexuality that he worked into his pieces is displayed in those little keyholes on either side of the front. The bodice is detailed with a deep squared off panel of ruched gathering. Then at each corner where it meets the piping that go around the neckline it is left slit open. The neckline piping extends out into ties and you tie them into place so that there is a little bare keyhole of skin showing. I think if you are not broad through the shoulders you might even be able to wear it was a off-shoulder piece. I have added a pretty grosgrain ribbon that you can wrap around you and tie to give the dress some the shape. You can also easily wear it loose and open so it has a more caftan feel through the body. I photoed it both ways for you to see. The skirt flows from the front gathers at the neckline and at the back it begins right under the shoulder yoking. It cascades to the ground and is balanced by huge sleeves that puff up above each cinched wrist. The sleeves are very long with tons of volume and I love the ruffle finish at their ends. This dress is made out of his signature black moss crepe and has a beautiful flow to it. I own similar versions of this dress myself and they will always be in my own personal collection. I can tell you from personal experience that it is a dress that you will wear over and over. It easily goes from day to night and is a dream to wear. Excellent condition.

Unlined and slips over the head to wear. The grosgrain ribbon pictured is not original to the dress but will be included. Each cuff has elastic at the wrist. The lose and open flowing silhouette will suit a variety of figures and sizes. Tagged a vintage UK 10 and has a very generous cut

Sleeves: 28" but will come up a bit when on
Shoulders: no defined seam
Bust: to 20" flat across from side seam to side seam
Waist: open and can be defined by the attached tie
Hips: open
Length: 60" from neck to hem

Modern Sizing Equivalent: SML-LRG

Item# DD3883

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

I love this dress. It's net fabric is completely covered with two sizes of sequins in two finishes with both done in a deep sea green. This makes the entire dress glimmer in the light from every angle. The use of the two sizes of sequins also gives it this incredible sense of texture. It is a really stunning detail that makes the whole dress come to life. The fabric of the dress does have weight to it but it feels balanced and comfortable when on. This makes it easy to wear despite it bold presence. The dress also has a larger cut to it which is nice to find with a vintage piece. The front is squared off around a curved and plunged sweetheart neckline. It is cut to follow your curves and then the waist is seamed to add shape. You could easily add a sash or belt to cinch the waist in even more. The skirt cascades to the floor and gently widens out as it nears the hem. There is some fullness in there and I love how it is set to fall so that you get this sense of soft rounded folds running down the length of the skirt all the way around you. The sleeves are incredible and a statement in their own right. Each is slit just below the shoulder and are open all the way down from there so you see your full arm. It is more accurate to call them a cape sleeve that a true sleeve really. They are made from the same sequin fabric as the body of the dress and then the edges are trimmed in a dyed to match feather edging. It is completely glamorous and dramatic. It is so unusual and very chic once on. This is the type of piece you will only ever find in vintage and I love it. It looks to have been worn very little if at all. Excellent condition

Fully lined in a deep green silky rayon. It closes with a back zipper and a hook at the top of the neck. It looks to have been worn very little if at all.

Sleeves: 43"
Shoulders: 17"
Bust: 20.5" flat across from side seam to side seam
Waist: 17" flat across from side seam to side seam
Hips: open
Bodice: 16" from top of shoulder to waist
Skirt: 46.5" from waist to hem

Modern Sizing Equivalent: LRG- XL

Item# E705

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

I am now on the second batch of very interesting pieces that are coming from a client whose aunt had most of her clothes made. This dress was made by Ady Couture and the story behind this label is fascinating. Ady Couture was based out of Lausanne Switzerland. She would buy couture fabrics from the couture houses along with the patterns and with permission make copies of the piece presented in the Haute Couture collections. When she was younger, and lived in Amsterdam, Ady would attend the private viewing and purchase directly from the couture houses. My client believes that her arrangement with the ateliers was a way to work around customs that prompted Ady to negotiate this arrangement with the ateliers. In my hunt for more information I have been able to verify that they made this permissible copies of the work of Yves Saint Laurent, Christian Dior, Givenchy, Lacroix and Ungaro. There may have been others but this are the houses I am confident on. This one has a decidedly YSL feel to it. This set would have been made during the time period my clients aunt lived in Switzerland, from the late 70s to 1993. The dress is completely made by hand to Haute Couture standards and it is gorgeous.

Black is sometimes so hard to photo and I really feel that this set is not being done full justice with these photos. It  is so much better in person and on an actual body. The jacket is just exceptional in real life. It is entirely made by hand and the majority of the jacket is made of a fine silk netted lace with an open weave. It is backed by a black silk organza so it has just a touch of transparency to it. Then onto that it is covered with burst of densely applied sequins that form large flowers. The shoulders are a solid fabric and this extends down into angled panels at the front and the back. Each shoulder is lightly padded for shape and then the sleeve are long and also have that hint of transparency to them. The bodice skims over you with just a suggestion of of shape through the waist. Big glassy faceted buttons close the jacket down the front. The collar is small and neat and set back from the front of the jacket. The skirt is the perfect simple contrast to that decadent jacket. It is a simple black pencil shape and it is also entirely by hand. The more simple and sleek silhouette balances the drama of the jacket. Both piece are made by hand and have all the couture details we all dream of. It is a fabulous suit that can be made to be a very glamorous evening look. I love that you can also mix and match the pieces with things from your own existing wardrobe. It appears to have been worn very little if at all. Excellent condition 

The jacket is fully lined in a black silk organza where the lace parts are and the opaque panels are lined in a fine black silk. The skirt is also lined in a black silk. The jacket buttons to close down the front and the skirt closes with a side set zipper. The interior shoulders are lightly padded. 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. 

Jacket
Sleeves: 22.5"
Shoulders: 15.5"
Bust: 19" flat across from side seam to side seam
Waist: 17" flat across from side seam to side seam
Hips: 19.5" flat across from side seam to side seam
Length: 24.5" from neck to hem

Skirt 
Waist: 14" flat across from side seam to side seam
Hips: 20" flat across from side seam to side seam
Length: 23" from waist to hem

Modern Sizing Equivalent: MED-LRG

Item# DD3800

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 red, full length, silk jersey dress is from Karl Lagerfeld's own label. He launched his self-named label in 1984 and this dress would be from the earlier period of that line. It is made from a silk jersey in a deep red and has an easy to wear cut that give you a long and lean line. The skirt falls to the floor from a slightly dropped waist. The jersey gives it a column feel when you are standing still, but once you move, you realize that there is quite a bit of fabric there. At the front the skirt curves slightly up for a pretty and feminine touch. It skims over the hips and the dropped waist is flattering as it brings the eye down rather then draw attention to the waist line. The sleeves are cut slim and long with a gathered detail at each cuff and hidden set zippers to allow them to fit close to the wrist. The bodice is cut long to past the waist. The fabric that runs along one side of the bodice is gathered in soft folds. At the back it closes with a long series of tightly spaced fabric covered buttons. It comes with a matching, wide cut jersey sash that is very long. This will allow you to use it in several ways - wrap low on the hip as shown, use it around the waist or neck, or even wear as a turban. It really showcases Karl's genius with fabric and cut and is a wonderful example of his earlier work. Excellent condition with two small notes to review below.

Unlined except for the front bodice panel which is lined in a red silk. It closes at the back with buttons as shown. The fabric does have some stretch and is cut on the bias. There is a teeny tiny repair near the top button at the back and there is one tiny spot on the front just above the seam. Tagged a vintage 40 and the fabric does have some stretch

Sleeves: 26"
Slight dropped shoulders: 16"
Bust: 17-20" flat across from side seam to side seam
Natural waist: 14-18" flat across from side seam to side seam
Seam above hips: 17.5" flat across from side seam to side seam
Hips under seam: open
Bodice: 21" from shoulder to dropped seam above hip
Skirt: 39" dropped seam above hip to the back hem and the front skirt comes up slightly at the center

Sash: 93" x 20"

Modern Sizing Equivalent: MED-LRG

Item# DD2137

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

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. He dressed Hollywood stars like Lauren Bacall, Diahann Carroll and Elizabeth Taylor. He dressed several first ladies including Mamie Eisenhower, Hillary Clinton and both the Bush first ladies. He even once bragged that he refused to give Jackie clothes for free. He was the man behind the scandalous 1969 Barbra Streisand sheer trouser outfit that she collected her Oscar in, and he was presented with the Council of Fashion Designers of America Lifetime Achievement Award in 1996. The dress is from his main label and these were made to couture standards. It is incredible to see in person and it will really come to life once on an actual body. We found a very similar dress held at the Museum of Fine Arts Boston and it lets you see just how wonderful the dress will be once on. 

The dress is a showstopper. It is made out of a deep red coloured lace that is then detailed with cording that wraps around the edges of the floral design on the lace. Then he added tiny little rhinestones that are fused to the fabric of the larger flower patterns to give the dress an subtle bit of added glitz. The bodice is cut to skim over you with an inner silk lining in the same shade of red. The sleeves and neckline at both the back and the front are not lined so you get a little glimpse of the skin underneath the lace. The waist is not seamed so there is no line to break the eye. It simply comes in to suggest shape and then flares out to the skirt underneath. The skirt skims over the hips and then widens out as it nears the floor. I love the high low effect that the skirt has. It is cut to be shorter at the front and then the hem curves back and around you where it extends out to a trained effect at the back. All of the edges are scalloped to follow the pattern and shape of the designs in the lace. The inner construction of this dress is as good as the exterior. It is fully lined in a red silk and then the back of the skirt has an added layer of stiffened net tulle to help hold the shape and volume. The inside is exquisitely constructed and it is all hand finished. This is a stunning dress. Excellent condition

Fully lined in a fine deep red silk. The skirt is finished with attached inner tulle skirting. It closes with a hand set back metal zipper. At some point a repair was done to the edge of the inner tulle of the skirt ad there is an area missing in the tulle just above the hem. This does not affect the dress in anyway. Otherwise looks to have been worn very little if at all. 

Sleeves: 24"
Shoulders: no defined seams
Bust: to 20" flat across from side seam to side seam
Waist: 16" flat across from side seam to side seam
Hips: to 23" flat across from side seam to side seam
Length: 45" from neck to front hem, 64" to back hem

Modern Sizing Equivalent: MED-LRG

Item# DD3813

Reference Photos: Fall 1986 Arnold Scaasi dress from the Museum of Fine Arts Boston collection.

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 Valentino Roma label launched in 2000 to take the place of the Miss V line. It was sold at a price point that was more accessible then their main line and was meant to be available in more shops then the main line would be. The pieces are still very well made. This one caught my eye as it would potentially make a great wedding piece. It has a small flaw but it is one that I feel could be fixed or covered and it is a stunning dress.

The dress is made out of a light stretch silk feeling fabric. The colour is a simple and chic and is done in a slightly off-white colour. It is completely cut on the bias and it is super model long. When you slip it on, it simply drapes into place and molds over your curves. The bodice dips into a low plunge that is squared off at its base. Under that is panel that is set with white sequins and beads for a subtle little detailing. It skims over the bodice and then extends up into wide straps that curve up and over the shoulders. At the back there is another dip that also is squared off at its base. It is gathered into the panel at the front and this allows the dress to simply glide over you. The gathers draw in the eye to help the waist looks smaller and make it very flattering. It skims over the hips and then falls to the floor in a cascade of fabric that is cut very long. It gently widens out as it nears the hem. You get a stunning column feel when you stand still but there is enough fabric in there that you get a touch of volume when you move or twirl. It is gorgeous. It has its original tags and appears to have never been worn. Excellent overall condition but it does have two small issues to review below

Fully lined in a white chiffon and closes with a back hidden set zipper. Tagged a size 46 and the bias cut should allow it to fit a variety of sizes. There are two small slits in the fabric on one shoulder. You could easily have these covered or embellished to hide it. There is grubbiness at the hem. It is so long this is from dragging on the floor when previously stored. Even a minor hemming would get rid of it entirely. 

Bust: to 19" flat across the front from side seam to side seam
Waist: 16" flat across from side seam to side seam
Hips: to 21" flat across from side seam to side seam
Length: 65" from top of shoulder to hem

Modern Sizing Equivalent: MED-LRG

Item# DD3912

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 Oscar de la Renta dress is incredible. It dates to the late 1970s - early 1980s and it has the bit of a bohemian vibe to it that is heavenly. The color is a soft taupe that has a gold metallic thread worked through the silk. It has this tiny and intricate pattern that is printed onto the silk and done in rows. He used this to give the bodice and skirt some contrast by setting the bodice and sleeves with the rows on the vertical and the skirt on the horizontal. The silk is feather light in weight and just floats beautifully over the body once on. It will softly move with the slightest breeze or movement on your part. The dress comes with an inner separate dress made from a nude colour silk chiffon. The outer dress just slips on over that. The outer dress is cut with extreme volume and if you choose to wear it as is it has this fabulous easy feel. It comes with its original extra long sash that you can use to cinch in the waist and dramatically change the way the dress looks and sits on you. The sash is made of the same silk chiffon and has gold fringe at each end. You could probably also wear this belt as a neck or head piece and leave everything else loose and easy. The neckline has a small neat collar and it buttons to close. The bodice of the top is cut to be very loose and full. Each sleeve is also full and billows out above a ruffled cuff. The waist is dropped and then skirt falls to the floor under that. I took a photo of the dress without the sash as well so you can see how full it can look. Wearing it that way really plays on its bohemian caftan feel. And I love that because the inner slip is separate if you needed more or less room underneath you can just sub it out for a slip that fits you. It makes the dress extremely versatile size wise and it should work on a range of sizes keeping that in mind. It a just gorgeous and even better in person as you get more of a sense of the gold that runs through the fabric. It appears to have been worn very little if at all. Excellent condition

The inner silk chiffon dress acts as the lining. The outer dress slips on to wear and has buttons partway down the front. The inner dress closes with a back zipper. The cuffs have elastic above the ruffle. I have put a range of sizing based on the fact that you could sub out the inner slip for one lager or smaller if needed but make sure the shoulders will work.

Outer Dress
Sleeves: 26"
Shoulders: 14.5"
Bust: 20" flat across from side seam to side seam
Waist: 21" flat across from side seam to side seam
Seam at hips: 23" flat across from side seam to side seam
Dropped bodice: 24" from neck to low waist seam
Skirt: 34" from low waist to hem
Total Length: 58" from neck to hem

Inner slip
Bust: 18" flat across from side seam to side seam
Waist: 18" flat across from side seam to side seam
Hips: 21" flat across from side seam to side seam
Length: 52" from shoulder to front hem, 54" to back hem

Sash: 17" wide x 110" long including fringe

Modern Sizing Equivalent: XS-LRG

Item# DD3929

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 original owner of this dress wore it to host a dinner party in 1989 but I do not know if she had purchased it that same season or from a slightly earlier season. There are hints of it from both the 1986 collection in terms of  some of the construction details and the 1988-89 collection in terms of color specifically. I have included reference photos for both those collections. Of course Haute Couture was always custom made for the client so would rarely be a specific copy anyway but it is nice to have a more narrow date range.

The dress is a stunning example of Valentino's work during this time period. It mixes a sense of restraint and elegance with the softness and sensuality that the silk gives it. You are entirely covered form neck to hem but the transparency of the silk through the billowing sleeves and upper shoulders hint at the skin underneath and keep the dress from feeling too demure. The bodice is a masterpiece in shaping and couture techniques. The silk here is entirely set and gathered by hand and immaculately stitched into place to create the soft pleats that curve over the bust and highlight your shape. Inside it is boned and shaped but not to the point where it feels constrictive, just so that it holds you in place and shapes you perfectly. The skirt flows out under that in four full layers of bias cut silk chiffon so that when you move the skirts seem to float around you. This is the type of gown that Valentino excelled at; refined elegance mixed with a luxurious fabric and finished with a master's touch of provocativeness and romance. The dress presents as excellent but does have some flaws. Please review the notes below.

The interior bodice is finished in muslin, lingerie netting, boned and molded through the bust. The sleeves and upper shoulders are unlined and the skirt is made from four full layers of silk. The interior bodice closes with series of hook and eye and the dress sips to close over that with a painted metal zipper. Each cuff buttons to close with two silk covered buttons and loops. Three buttons also sit at the top of the back neck just above the slit opening that starts just above the zipper of the corseted bodice. There are various discolored areas through the skirt that go through the layers. I have photoed the worst of them. There is so much fabric that once on these are almost invisible to the eye so it is wearable as is if you are OK with it being not 100% perfect. There are some very light faint versions of the same on the upper front above the corset and through the sleeves. I see one tiny repair near the hem at the back of the skirt. Priced well down from what it would be if perfect. Note for those that buy based on how it fits me that it was a little long through the bodice and big through the bust and waist on me.

Dress
Sleeves: approx 25"
Shoulders: 15"
Bust: 17.5" flat across from side seam to side seam
Waist: 16.5" flat across from side seam to side seam
Hips: open
Bodice: 16.5" from top of neck to interior waist stay
Skirt: 45" from interior waist stay to hem

Matching ruffle edged shawl (photoed separately)
54" x 52"

Modern Sizing Equivalent: MED-LRG

Item# DD3018

Reference Photos: (1) From the book "A Grand Italian Epic, Valentino", 1988/1989 collection  /  (2-3) The "Degradè" Dress from the Valentino Haute Couture 1986 collection. (4) Cherie, Owner of Shrimpton Couture, by Erin Leydon taken on location at JohnMel Stables 

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

I always love when I find these. I have had the twin of this piece a couple of times now in the shop and they always get snatched up immediately. This is from the Halston IV line and is a made from a gold lurex lame. The simple, classic design makes it an easy way to be instantly dressed up and still entirely comfortable. Rachel Zoe owns and wears the twin of this in the brighter gold version and she has worn and posted herself wearing hers a few times on her Instagram account. It just proves that this is an incredible and glamorous staple piece that you can wear again and again.

I also get these in the various solid coloured jerseys that they come in, but when I get the metallic ones I feel that they are just that little bit extra special. They were made in two tones, one that was a lighter gold and the other that has a gold thread on a black base. This one is the gold on black version. It is a dress that is so easy to wear. I own one myself and can attest that these can go from the beach, to entertaining at home with flats, to full on evening glamour. The caftan has a simple and easy to wear cut. There is a slit front neck and then a second slit runs up the centre seam at the front from the hem. So when you walk or sit you get a flash of leg showing. The cut is loose and easy to wear. It is meant to skim over the body. The sleeves come out directly from the body of the caftan and then narrow down towards the wrist. The skirt flows to the floor and widens out to be quite full as it reaches the hem. The waist is open and easy. If you wanted more definition you could easily add a belt or fabric sash to add shape. This is a wonderful piece with all the minimalist lines that we all love about Halston. Excellent condition

Unlined and slips on to wear. The fabric has a slight transparency to it. The loose and easy cut should allow it to fit a range of sizes. These always have a loose thread here and there but is part of the vintage charm of them. I see a very tiny pull on the side near the arm. The colour is a touch brighter gold in person then how it photoed

Sleeves: approx. 20"
Shoulders: no defined seam
Bust: to 20.5" flat across from side seam to side seam and it widens to approx 26" flat across around the hips
Length: 55" from shoulder to hem
Slit: 19" from hem up

Modern Sizing Equivalent: SML-LRG

Item# DD3903

Reference Photo: Cherie, Owner of Shrimpton Couture wearing a similar caftan

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

There is very little information of the cruise collections from the early 2000s but I do know that this came from the estate of a woman who shopped a lot at Chanel. Her things were stunning and she took immaculate care of them. The other Chanel suit I have at the moment is also from her estate (find that one here). She was not a size 0 and it is nice to find some Chanel pieces that are a slightly larger size when so many that I see are usually very very tiny.

The suit is constructed from a chic black version of the Chanel signature fabric. This one is done in a fabric that combines a fine wool with a touch of angora that is then woven on the bias in the traditional manner of their boucles. This gives the fabric movement while still holding the shape beautifully. The classic black gives it a very rich and luxurious feel. It is absolutely beautiful. I also love that the skirt is cut longer in this one so that is has a more formal feel. And of course being two pieces in a classic black means that you instantly have endless styling options to mix and match with other pieces from your wardrobe The suit is edged with a looped wool edging that gives it some added texture. This has been set to run down the front edges, curve around the back and then also circle the hem of both the jacket and the skirt. It also details each cuff and the pockets. The jacket is cut in that classic Chanel box shape. The sleeves are long and I love the pockets that sit on each side at the front with their little tufted edging. The jacket hooks to close at the top of the neck with a little glossy black camellia glower button and then it fall open under that. The skirt is cut with a slight flare as it nears the hem. It has a simple waist with no banding the upper part of the skirt is more fitted around the hips and then it opens up to create the beautiful lines that you see. The entire suit is lined in the highest black silk chiffon. I especially love the cuffs on the jacket. Each has three of the same camellia buttons as the one at the neck and the fringe edging goes up and lies beside the row of buttons. The cuffs are slightly flared and they amazing. This is classic Chanel and it is exceptional. Excellent condition.

Both pieces are fully lined in a black silk chiffon. The skirt closes with a button at the top of the neck as described above. The jacket hooks to close down the front. The pockets on the jacket have their original tacking in place. Each cuff closes with a series of hidden set snaps. Light padding in each shoulder. The skirt closes with a hidden set zipper. The texture are even better in person. Both pieces are tagged a Chanel 42. The skirt seems to have a generous cut. It is very light in weight and the fabric and silk chiffon lining give it a slightly transparent feel in string light

And just a note on their fabrics.... The Chanel boucle and tweeds are created with their proprietary method of weaving that they themselves describe as "by weaving the warp and weft, using a variety of different kinds of threads which creates a unique and somewhat irregular appearance. The warp – vertically strung – is the background of the fabric, the base that will support the assembly of materials. There can be up to 12 different threads used for a single warp. The weft – woven horizontally – gives the fabric its unique character and can have an unlimited number of threads. Tight, perforated, textured, thick, with a relief, plaited, random, twill… the potential number of effects is endless". This technique gives you that classic Chanel look.

Jacket
Sleeve: 23"
Shoulders: 16"
Bust: 20" flat across from side seam to side seam
Waist: 19.5" flat across from side seam to side seam
Hips: 20.5" flat across from side seam to side seam
Length: 23" from neck to hem

Skirt
Waist: 15.5" flat across from side seam to side seam
Hips: 20.5" flat across from side seam to side seam
Length: 32" from waist to hem

Modern Sizing Equivalent: MED-LRG

Item# DD3938

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 Chanel Cruise collections have an interesting history. Gabrielle Chanel actually sailed and her love of the sport led to her inception of a 'cruise' collection in the 1920s. She was not the first to come up with this concept but hers were among the first to show a complete collection in a fully fledged show. They eventually fell off in popularity and it was not until Karl Lagerfeld took over Chanel that the cruise collections started again. The scarf finish of the skirt on this dress gives it so much drama and movement and the fabric are the best that can be found. It is a very easy to wear dress with lots of impact, and of course, wearing Chanel is never a bad idea. 

This dress has so much movement to it once on the body and it is a joy to wear. It is actually very short under that chiffon ribbon overlay. It is cut into a simple tank style that you just slip on over the head to wear. The body of the dress is made of a fine black cashmere and silk mix that is ribbed so that it has some texture and detailing. The dress has a nod to the twenties to it in style. It is cut so that the body of the dress skims over you with no seam at the waist to break the eye. It simply falls to the top of the hips where the seam is set on a jagged angle all the way around. A series of silk chiffon panels fall from that edge in various lengths. This gives the dress tremendous movement as the chiffon will move with the slightest breeze or when you move. It also gives you coverage while still allowing the legs to flash from underneath. A very sexy detail. Under the chiffon the dress flares out to a flippy little underskirt in a solid texture cashmere. A little double C logo sits at one side of the hip. This dress is an amazing and a wonderful example of how Karl took past references and made them feel very Chanel. Excellent condition.

Unlined and slips on to wear. It is made from a cashmere silk mix. Tagged a size 42. It does have some stretch and should fit a variety of sizes. I have given the comfortable range of stretch while it is lying flat in the measurements below. You could probably go a little beyond that range listed depending on how fitted you wanted it. It looks to have been worn very little if at all

Bust: 12-18" flat across from side seam to side seam
Waist: 12-17" flat across from side seam to side seam
Hips: 14-20" flat across from side seam to side seam
Length: 31" from top of shoulder to inner dress hem, 48" to longest point of the silk chiffon ribbons

Modern Sizing Equivalent: XS-MED

Item# DD3937

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

Galanos was known as the designer that could rival the French in terms of construction and design. He launched his atelier in 1951 and although his atelier was never formally designated as Haute Couture by the French, he certainly produced clothing that met the parameters of couture and he is often referred to  as one of the great American couturiers. This set was custom made, and my client acquired it from the estate of 1950s model Betsy Pickering Kaiser. Betsy appeared on several Vogue covers in the 1950s and it was during that time period time period that she met Galanos. They were friends for over 60 years. She collected and wore Galanos pieces her entire life and was his friend and muse. He once told her husband ‘I would rather have Betsy wear my clothes than any other woman’. She was a constant presence on the International Best Dressed List and and was added to the Best Dressed Hall of Fame in the early 1970s. It is a wonderful thing to have such a beautiful piece of her history in the shop 

Betsy was a model and was tall and this set reflects that. It is cut to supermodel lengths and is beautiful. It is made of a beautifully printed, light weight silk chiffon that is combined with a metallic red lace. The entire thing weighs ounces and you will be delightfully shocked at how light it is in person. The silk has a washed water colour print with huge abstract flowers covering the entire surface of the silk. The pants are made of two layers of silk and weigh mere ounces. They are cut long and wide with an elastic waist that makes them easy to wear. Over that is a top piece that layers over the pants. The skirt part of this top piece is also made of two layers of silk chiffon. The silk falls from under the lace bodice to layer over the pants. Each side is slit open right up to the lace top. This gives it lots of movement and creates a light floating effect when you walk as the silk moves over the pants underneath. The bodice is made of two joined panels of red lace connected along each side. He placed them together in a way that leaves the sides in a low plunge to leave bare skin showing. This gives you barely there coverage and is very sexy. The lace has a metallic finish and is very fine and very light. I love how it is layered over a nude inner silk lining so that from a distance you look like you are wearing nothing underneath it. This entire top layer is suspended by four tiny silk straps that curve over the shoulders. The contrast between the silk and the metallic lace and the boldness of the colors is wonderful. Excellent condition

The pants are made of two layers of silk chiffon and close with a back painted zipper. They have elastic at the waist. The over dress is lined with a nude silk chiffon through the bodice and the skirt is constructed from two layers of the silk chiffon. The overlay closes on one side with hidden fabric covered snaps. There are a couple of very minor repairs and light snags near the hem of the overlay. This is a one-off, unlabelled custom piece made for Betsy and came from her estate. 

Over dress
Bust: to 18" flat across from side seam to side seam
Waist: to 17" flat across from side seam to side seam
Hips: open
Length: 62" from shoulder to hem

Pants
Elastic waist: 15-18" flat across from side seam to side seam
Hips: to 21" flat across from side seam to side seam
Pant: 45" from waist to hem
Inseam: 32" from inner seam to hem

Modern Sizing Equivalent: MED-LRG

Item# DD2278

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

If I am deciphering the tag on this dress correctly it is from the Fall 2016 collection. It was not a runway piece but it was not unusual for other pieces to be produced for retail by the brand. It is a gorgeous dress. From his very first collection for the Fall of 2002, Alber brought a beautiful silhouette to the house that was flattering to women but still was very easy to wear. This dress is based on just that theory and it is incredibly easy to wear. The dress is suspended from the shoulders by a thin strap that curves down to the back. It then passes through grommets and ties across the back to keep it perfectly in place The rest of the upper back is left bare above the dipped V there. The front also dips in a V and then the dress closes down the front with a series of gold edged glossy black buttons. It is cut in a loose and easy line that widen out as it nears the hem. At the waist are drawstring ties that run through a hidden tunnel running around the waist. You can use those to cinch in the waist as much as you like or leave them more open to get a more sheath dress feel. This makes it incredibly comfortable and accommodating once on the body. Pockets are hidden along each hip for a touch of ease to the design and the skirt is cut super model long. The body of the dress is a soft black lace feeling fabric with a nude silk underneath to give the illusion from afar that you are bare. It is then finished with an extra wide ruffle of the lace at the hem. It is also very versatile with the ability to go from day to night with a simple change of accessories. This one has never been worn and still has its original tags attached including an extra button. Excellent condition

The body of the dress is lined in a nude silk and the bottom ruffled part is unlined. It buttons to close with a drawstring at the waist as described above. Tagged a modern 34 but seems extremely generous in cut for that size so please check the measurements below . New with original tags

Bust: 18" flat across from side seam to side seam
Waist: 13-17" flat across from side seam to side seam
Hips: to 19" flat across from side seam to side seam
Bodice: 16" from top of shoulder to waist
Skirt: 46" from waist to hem
Front skirt opening: 29: from hem to first button

Modern Sizing Equivalent: MED-LRG

Item# DD3942

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 exceptional dress is by Marc Bohan for Christian Dior and it is a wonderful example of his work during this time period.  This dates to the early - mid 1970s when he was doing these wonderful metallic detailed dresses. It is a very easy and comfortable dress to wear and I chose it as one of the pieces when I did an editorial for 10 Magazine as I felt it perfectly represents this time period. His work was integral to the label's development over the decades he headed the atelier and this is a stunning example of his vision. Beyond that, it is just an extraordinarily beautiful dress.

This dress is incredible. It is super light and very easy to wear. The outer layer of it is a fine silk chiffon that is shot through with a gold thread pattern that covers the entire dress. The gold is woven through the silk to give the dress its metallic finish and catch the light from every angle as you move. The neckline is a scooped and there is a yoked detail that runs around the neck and top of the shoulders. The dress billows out from there with an almost caftan feel to it. If you wish you can wear it in this very loose and easy way or you can use its matching rope belt to cinch it in and add shape through the waist. The softness of the body is balanced out by fabulously full sleeves. They each billow out above their buttoned cuffs. The sleeves are not lined so you get this wonderful sense of transparency. The dress comes with a matching elastic waist inner skirt in a deep green and also has its original belt to cinch in the waist. The belt is a treasure in its own right. It is made from gold and green twisted rope cording. Five full cords have been used to make it and they are attached to each other for the part that circles you waist and then fall separately to cascade down you when it ties into place. It is very easy to wear but packs a tremendous amount of style with the gold thread an spectacular fabric and cut. It is made to demi-couture standards. Excellent condition.

The dress has an attached inner green silk lining with the sleeves left unlined. It comes with a separate elastic waist inner skirt that slips on and is made of a green silk taffeta that you can choose to wear with it or not. It slips on to wear with buttons at the back neck. Each sleeve has a three buttons at the cuff. The belt is as described above. Hand finishes.  The loose and easy cut should allow it to fit a range of sizes and you could easily change the separate half slip underneath if it did not fit perfectly

Dress
Sleeves: 25"
Shoulders: no true seams
Bust: to 24" flat across from side seam to side seam
Waist-hips: open
Length: 56" from top of shoulder to hem

Inner half slip
Elastic waist: 12.5-21" flat across from side seam to side seam
Hips: to 23" flat across from side seam to side seam
Length: 36"

Belt: 70" long from end to end and 1" wide

Modern Sizing Equivalent: XS-LRG

Item# DD3935

Reference Photos: Cherie, Owner of Shrimpton Couture, from her feature in 10 Magazine.

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 exact twin of this dress, with an optional belt at the waist, was shown on the Fall runway in 2015 for Look 51. In Vogue's review of the collection journalist Nicole Phelps noted the new guard that the brand was under that season saying; 'Tonight was the night. Peter Copping, Oscar de la Renta's handpicked successor, made his runway debut....De la Renta and Copping were to have worked side by side, but de la Renta's death, just days after Copping was appointed last October, prevented that. Copping left a type-written note on each seat: "I am immensely proud to have been chosen as the creative director of Oscar de la Renta," he began. "Unfortunately things did not go according to our plans and I never had the chance to work with Oscar, which is something I deeply regret." ... Copping had just three months to put together the collection, significantly less time than he's used to. Those challenges aside, he did a fine job honoring de la Renta and the house that he has inherited.' This is one of the final gowns of the show and is utterly beautiful. We of course know that staying at ODLR was not in the cards for Peter but it is still always a good thing to have a piece from a debut collection and a piece of a brand's history and legacy.

This Oscar de la Renta dress is stunning. It is red carpet worthy and would even make an amazing wedding piece for the bride looking for a non-traditional choice or as an alternative dress in a more extended wedding celebration. It is in fabulous condition and has never been worn. It still has its original hang tag attached even. The dress builds on Oscar's legacy and stays true to the houses aesthetic. It combines an open lace bodice that tops a silk chiffon skirt. The bodice is cut to be very fitted to the body from the top of the strapless neckline to where it ends under the hips. The bust is strapless and fitted. It is cut to dip down a touch at the back. The upper back is left bare. It tightly hugs the body, curving in at the waist, and then skims your hips. The seaming to create that beautiful shape is all hidden and this shape gives the the dress a sense of added length. It is made from a black crocheted feeling lace that is done in a floral pattern. This lies over a white silk base so that the pattern of the flowers absolutely pops. The silk under the lace has the texture of a grosgrain ribbon and this adds a touch more depth. It has a full built in boned corset inside the bodice so you don't have to worry about additional underpinnings. There are also full built in underskirts for the low set skirt that sits under the elongated bodice. The skirt flows directly out from the bottom of the bodice and has an insane amount of volume. There is a wide inner band of stiffened netting that circles the hem to help hold the skirt up and keep the shape. It is made out of silk tulle, a silk organza and then bands of a floral ribbon lace are worked in vertically. These are all pieced and sewn together in vertical rows that give it all of that volume that you see. There is a band of black velvet that details where the skirt and bodice meets and this falls in long ties at the back topped with a bow. It is just heavy enough to hold the shape and structure of the dress but even with all of that fabric it is not so heavy that it is uncomfortable to wear. The movement of the skirt when you walk is incredible and you can see in the runway video we have added for reference just how amazing it is on. For the runway they styled it with a thin pink belt for a pop of colour. You could easily emulate this at home with any colour you wish or just wear it on its own and keep it simple and easy. It is a beautiful dress. Excellent condition.

There is a full built in cupped corset that closes with its own zipper and then the dress closes over that with a back hidden set zipper. The rest of the bodice is lined in an ivory silk taffeta. Inner net and tulle skirting are finished with a wide band of stiffened netting. There is an inner silk layer with a stiffened hem and then a tulle and silk layer over that and between the outer silk. Tagged an ODLR 8. This has never been worn and still has its original hang tag.

Bust: 18" flat across from side seam to side seam
Waist: 15" flat across from side seam to side seam
Hips: 20" flat across from side seam to side seam
Bodice: 25" from the top of the bodice to the bottom of the black velvet seam
Skirt: 34" bottom of the black velvet seam to hem

Modern Sizing Equivalent: MED-LRG

Item# DD3941

Reference Photos/Video: Fall 2015 Oscar de la Renta Runway, Look 51 worn by Kadri Vahersalu.

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

This particular dress was one of the standouts of the Fall 2009 Gucci presentation collection. On the runway it was shown as a mini and in Vogue's review of the show it was mentioned specficially; 'With the slicked-back hair, crimson lips, and mirrored shades, it was hard glamour for hard times, with the occasional half glance back at Tom Ford's heyday in a blue fox chubby or a skimpy one-shoulder black jersey dress with a slice of patent in the neck.' And it is indeed a dress that you might think was a Tom Ford at first glance. The shorter version was used in the extensive ad campaign that season as well. When it was sent to the stores they produced it in this longer version as well as the short. This one has its original tags and was never altered so is in its original supermodel length. 

The dress is made out of a silk jersey that has incredible drape and movement. It is cut supermodel length and then some. Even on my tall dress form it went well past and puddled on the floor. This is a dress that is meant to come to life once on the body. You kind of have to look at the runway photos and then imagine the skirt falling all the way to the floor and what an incredible impact that would make. It is cut with a single sleeve that come out wide from the shoulder and waist and then narrows down as it reached the wrist. The neckline is then angled across the front and at the back it dips into a low angled cut that is set quite deep to the side. This leaves the majority of your back exposed and is very sexy. The dress skims over the body from there and falls to the floor. At the back there is a very high slit partially hidden by the overlapping of the fabric and this lines up right under the post of the open back. The neckline is accented by a strip of patent leather that has a holographic finish to it that subtle catches the light in a rainbow of colours. It's fantastic. Still has its original tags attached and has never been worn. Excellent condition 

There is a second layer through the body in the same stretch jersey as the outer layer. It closes with a hidden set side zipper and there is an inner waist stay that hooks to close. The sleeve is a single layer of the fabric and has a button and loop to close. The dress has its original tags and even an extra button for the cuff. Tagged a size 44. The dress has stretch so should fit a range of sizes. 

Sleeve: approx 26"
Bust: is variable as there are no true side seams with how it is cut
Inner elastic waist stay: 13-18" flat across from side seam to side seam
Hips: to 22" flat across from side seam to side seam
Length: 69.5" from top of shoulder to hem

Modern Sizing Equivalent: MED-XL

Item# DD3599

Reference Photos/Video: (1-2) Fall 2009 Gucci Runway. Look 33. Model: Freja Beha Erichsen.  /  (3-7) Fall 2009 Gucci Ad Campaign.

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

In 1952, Givenchy founded his namesake house on Rue Alfred de Vigny in Paris and quickly rose to fame as one of the grand couturiers. 16 years later for the 1968-69 season, he added a ready-to-wear line of clothing and accessories called 'Givenchy Nouvelle Boutique'. The line was initially sold in the United States exclusively through Bergdorf Goodman stores and was eventually available at other retailers as well. The line was high end and extremely well made. He launched this line to expand his customer base and it made to appeal specifically to his non-couture clients. This label continued until 1992. This particular dress has the added provenance of coming from the estate of Phyllis McGuire. She was of course the lead singer and youngest of the 'The McGuire Sisters' trio. Many of the garments she had were customs made for her or tailored for her. 

This dress is fantastic and a wonderful example of the work being done for this label during this time period. It is made from a black silk jersey that allows it to drape beautifully on the body. The dress is cut to drape and skim over the you but in a very loose and easy way. It can be worn unbelted for an almost caftan like feel through the body or belted to give it shape. I added a ribbon at the waist to show you how it can be worn belted and I will send the ribbon seen here with the dress to its new owner. The dress completely covers you but the fabric choice gives it a bit of sensuality that I love. The sleeves are cut to be very long and once on they will pouf out above the elastic cuffs. The neckline is cut wide with a ruffled detail. Under the ruffle it is gathered and ruched for subtle detailing. The dress falls from there and skims over the body in loose and easy way. It falls to the floor in a beautiful drape of inky black silk jersey. Around the bottom above the hem there is another gathered and ruched detailing that brings the lower skirt in just a touch. It is an easy dress to wear that you just throw on and go and it feels great. Plus the provenance of it adds a fun second layer of intrigue. Excellent condition

Unlined and slips on to wear. Elastic at the cuffs. It appears to have been worn very little if at all. Hand finished. The fabric does have stretch so it should fit a range of sizes. The measurements below give you the comfortable range the fabric has when lying flat.

Sleeves: approx 28" and will come up when on
Shoulders: no defined seams
Bust: 17-24" flat across from side seam to side seam
Waist- hips: 17-24" flat across from side seam to side seam
Length: 58" from shoulder to hem

Modern Sizing Equivalent: SML-LRG

Item# DD3872

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

This is the last piece from the second batch of very interesting pieces that are coming from a client whose aunt had most of her clothes made. This dress was made by Ady Couture and the story behind this label is fascinating. Ady Couture was based out of Lausanne Switzerland. She would buy couture fabrics from the couture houses along with the patterns and with permission make copies of the piece presented in the Haute Couture collections. When she was younger, and lived in Amsterdam, Ady would attend the private viewing and purchase directly from the couture houses. My client believes that her arrangement with the ateliers was a way to work around customs that prompted Ady to negotiate this arrangement with the ateliers. In my hunt for more information I have been able to verify that they made this permissible copies of the work of Yves Saint Laurent, Christian Dior, Givenchy, Lacroix and Ungaro. There may have been others but this are the houses I am confident on. The dress is completely made by hand to Haute Couture standards and it is beautiful. A truly iconic piece of couture 

The dress is made from a combination of a black velvet bodice with an attached brilliant emerald green silk skirt. Almost all the piece that were in this second box have been based on Yves Saint Laurent pieces and I would not be surprised if this one was as well. The bodice has been kept sleek and simple with the richness of the black velvet taking centre stage. The shoulders are squared off with light padding to give them shape and the sleeves are cut to be wider at the top and taper down as they reach each wrist. The bodice skims over you and drops on an angle past the waist. At that point the skirt is attached and it is cut to sit on an angle down one hip for a bit of a swag feel. A panel on the skirt wraps and snaps into place from the back, perfectly following the seam. When it reaches the hip it hooks into place under an attached large bow. This gives it the effect that you just wrapped it around yourself and tied it in place. It is quite flattering once on. My dress form definitely does not do it justice and like all couture it really needs an actual body underneath to bring it to life. Every seam is done by hand and the craft put into making this is exquisite. The green of the skirt in person is so much better then how it photoed. It is a clear crisp emerald green and the silk is rich and heavy so that it holds the drape perfectly. It appears to have been worn very little if at all. Excellent condition 

Fully lined in a black silk through the bodice and the skirt is unlined. It closes with a hidden set zipper at the back and there are hidden set zippers at each wrist. The skirt snaps into place as described above. Hand finished throughout. 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. 

Sleeves: 24"
Shoulders: 15"
Bust: 19" flat across from side seam to side seam
Waist: 17" flat across from side seam to side seam
Hips: 19" flat across from side seam to side seam
Length: 57" from shoulder to hem

Modern Sizing Equivalent: MED-LRG

Item# DD3814

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 Fall 1958 season was Yves Saint Laurent's second collection for the house of Dior. It was titled the 'Line Courbe - Silhouette en Arc' which translates to Curved Line - Arched Silhouette. In the book 'Dior Catwalk'  they have abnb excerpt from the original show notes that explain the inspiration behind the silhouettes on the show. They stated that 'The structure of this season's fashions is inspired by one of the fundamental lines of architecture, curved convex lines... the definitive curve of the well-marked rounded shoulder line, the softened curves of skirts and the semi-circle of Palladio's arcade as key characteristics.' Vogue said that the proportions 'were the newest look in Paris. This show is also spacial because it was only one of three shows in the entire Dior history (the first in 1954 under Christian Dior himself and the third decades pater for a cruise show), that after it was show in Paris it was then brought in its entirety to the Blenheim Palace. There is was presented to raise funds for the British Red Cross and the collection was presented to Princess Margaret and guests at Blenheim Palace. It was also the piece from the collection that season that was chosen for the cheeky ad campaign. In the campaign a model in the coat holds a a minature version of herself on her palm wearing the coat. The coat also appears in the book 'Dior: Yves Saint Laurent 1958-1960' which is a coffee table sized book that is part of a series on each of the designers for Dior. The book series celebrates the houses 70th anniversary. The coat is in exceptional condition and it is an extraordinarily beautiful piece of fashion history. Yves Saint Laurent was at Dior for only a short time period; creating only six couture collections while there, which makes piece from his reign especially rare and an important part of not only Dior's history but of Yves as a designer as well since this would represent some of his very earliest work.  

The coat is made from a heavy, deep blue silk with a satin finish. The coat would have be considered to have been a ‘Petite Theatre’, a more formal evening coat, during this time period. A neat rounded collar wraps in a curve around the neck and closes just off to the side. This sits above a double row of buttons. The buttons have been hand made and covered in the same silk as the coat. Each button slips into a perfectly made button hole and all the work is done by hand. Pockets are hidden along the curving seams that are inset sightly towards the front of the coat so that the vertical line stays clean and simple. The back has tremendous volume and this fullness is created by a soft inverted pleat that opens from just under the back collar and extends down to the hem. Besides the volume this creates it also directly relates to the shapes that Yves intended the pieces in this collection to have. From the side, this gives it a bit of caped back feel and would have layered perfectly over the fuller backed skirts of the dresses in this collection. The silk that has been used is of the highest possible quality and the colour is an even darker shade of blue in person then how it photoed here. It appears to have been worn very little and is in outstanding condition. The proper numbered Haute Couture label is present and the coat is made entirely by hand to the standards demanded of Haute Couture. This is an exquisite example of Yves Saint Laurent's very earliest work with as a couturier and as the head of Dior. It is an outstanding piece of Haute Couture from one of the most important houses of our modern era. Excellent condition

Fully lined in hand set blue silk. It buttons to close at the front with silk covered buttons and has two hooks inside to secure in place. Hand done buttons and proper button holes. Pockets are hidden at each hip along the seams. The coat looks to have been worn very little if it all. The coat is meant to fit slightly oversized so should fit a variety of sizes. The proper Haute Couture label is present and it is numbered. Done with Haute Couture construction techniques.

Sleeves: 16"
Slightly dropped shoulders: 16"
Bust-hips: open
Length: 38.5" from neck to hem

Modern Sizing Equivalent: SML-LRG

Item# DD3601

Reference Photos: (1) Christian Dior ad, 1958.  /  (2-3) "Dior: Yves Saint Laurent 1958-1960", pages 108-109, published by Assoulin. 

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 longer skirted version of this was presented as Look 38 of the Fall 2001 Haute Couture collection. For the runway it was shown with a full length evening skirt. My client ordered it with a more wearable pencil skirt length which gives it the added benefit of being able to be worn from day through to evening. The Fall 2001 collection was one of his final collections and to have a piece from this season is very special. Vogue noted that "Cocktail hour incorporated every possible variation on the tuxedo: There was a button-front dress, a smoking jacket that morphed into a full tulle skirt, and, naturally, an updated version of the masculine tux immortalized by Helmut Newton in the '70s." Yves play on the tuxedo and 'Le Smoking' suit is one of is most famous hallmarks  He first presented the now famous suit in 1966. His play on traditional menswear is lauded by many as 'having empowered women by giving them the option to wear clothes that were normally worn by men with influence and power'. 

I love the extra wide collar on this one. It is so bold and yet still elegant and refined in feel. There is nothing quite like slipping on a tailored piece of true haute Couture. It feels different somehow and the feeling is something you can only really experience for yourself. The construction is meticulous and it is in wonderful condition. It is sourced from the original couture client. These suits were all done in a play on a men's tux and then were shaped and tweaked by Yves to be immensely flattering on the female body. The cut is masterful and its simple appearance is produced by genius tailoring that is sharp and meticulous. The jacket is tailored with a sleek cut that follows the curves of the body. It is slightly cropped to sit just at the top of the hip. It has his signature matte satin tuxedo collar and on this one that line is exaggerated to cover almost the entire front of the bust area. Yves produced many versions of this suit over the years but what I find remarkable is that each version is distinct in how it closes at the front and the way that the collar is shaped. This one has a single faced, glossy jet button to close below that amazing collar. Two discreet pockets are top set on the hips and the shoulders are sharp and perfectly padded. The fabric that he chose is has a fine rubbing effect to it and it has enough weight that it holds the lines perfectly once it is on. The skirt is cut in a simple pencil shape. Once on, the suit transforms and you can see how beautiful the lines are from the runway photos and video that I have included here for reference. His suits change the way we approach woman's wear and any example of the Le Smoking version is particularly collectible. They are a particularly wonderful example of how strong his tailoring was and vision for a woman's place in the world. This is an important piece of fashion history from one of his final collections. Excellent condition

Both pieces are lined in a rich heavy black silk. The jacket has a single button at the front to close. The skirt has a zipper and hook & eye at the waist. Two pockets on the jacket. All hand finished to couture standards. It looks to have been worn very little if at all. All Haute Couture tags present and it was sourced from the original couture client 

Jacket
Sleeves: 23"
Shoulders: 15"
Bust: to 19" flat across from side seam to side seam
Waist: to 17" flat across from side seam to side seam
Hips: to 21" flat across from side seam to side seam
Length: 23" from neck to hem at the front, 22 at the back

Skirt
Waist: 15" flat across from side seam to side seam
Hips: 20" flat across from side seam to side seam
Length: 23.5" from waist to hem

Modern Sizing Equivalent: MED-LRG

Item# DD3559

Reference Photos: Diana Gärtner for Yves Saint Laurent Fall 2001 Haute Couture Runway Collection. Look 38.

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

This fabulous caftan would have been designed by Jules-Francois Crahay, who headed the Lanvin ateliers from 1964-1984. He has been noted as one of fashion’s 'great colorists with his colorful patterns making his 1970s Lanvin designs hugel​y ​desirable and influential.' His time at the Lanvin label is one of my personal favourite periods for the house. I especially love his work during this period. He was a genius at colour and he pushed the envelope in his work with his cuts. This caftan dress dates to the latter part of the 1970s and it is incredible. I love that it could easily worn by anyone and has a very unisex feel to it.

The caftan is cut to be big and oversized so it is exceptionally easy to wear. It generous open cut will suit a large range of body sizes and types. On a smaller frame it will have an over-sized feel and it could easily work on larger frames and even as a unisex or genderless piece. The sleeves are cut to be straight and wide to form a simple T-shape. The neckline is cut into a very low notched slit at the front and is held in place by a little attached strip of the same fabric. It falls to the floor, gently widening as it nears the hem, and there are slits up each side. It is cut to be very loose and easy through the body. The caftan is a made out of almost canvas finished cotton but is not heavy. The colour is a rusted clay that is more earth tone in feel in person then how it photograhed. I love the big pockets that sit on the outside hip on each side. They go with the oversized feel the piece has and are the perfect finishing touch. Excellent condition

Slips over the head to wear with no closures. Easy to care for and can be machine or hand washed. The cotton has a gentle patina that adds to its feeling of being authentic vinage and is from natural aging. The loose and easy cut should work on a variety of sizes.

Sleeves: approx 23"
Dropped shoulders: 18" at seams but no true shoulder
Bust: 26" flat across from side seam to side seam
Waist: 27" flat across from side seam to side seam
Hips: 28.5" flat across from side seam to side seam
Length: 56.5" from neck to hem

Modern Sizing Equivalent: SML-XL, OSFA

Item# DD3916

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 dress is not 100% perfect but it does have the significance of being from Mr. Valentino' final show before he retired. It was Look 84 and we have added a runway shot and video from the show so that you can see just how fabulously the dress moves when on the body. This one is also a larger size which is always a nice thing to find with so much of vintage being smaller. Vogue said this last collection; 'Crisply puncturing the potential for a predictable end-of-era wallow in sentiment, Valentino played it as an upbeat, fast-paced whirl of breezy, pretty, drop-dead gorgeousness that blew any lingering sense of ladylike stuffiness to the winds. If there's a problem, it's only being spoiled for choice. What to pick from the head-spinning plethora of dresses on offer?' and indeed the collection was full of stunning choices including the twin of this gorgeous piece.

The dress is an unusual but beautiful combination of a pink, purple and a yellow silk crepe. The pink is the primary color and is used for the supermodel length skirt that falls from under the strapless bodice. It falls in a cascade of fabric that widens out gently as it nears the floor. On one side the top pink layer is slit to the top of the thigh and this reveals the other colours underneath. Directly under the pink layer is a soft yellow that follows the cut of the pink fabric above it perfectly including the slit. Then under that is an inner skirt made of a purple. The inner layer is closed all around and the other two float above it so that they have the wonderful movement that you see in the video. Topping all of that is a high cut banded bodice that ends just under the bust for an empire feel. There is a large flat knot on one side above the slit skirt for the illusion that it is all wrapped in place around you. It is stunning and in its original length. It is perfectly sound and otherwise in excellent condition structurally but does have some fading so please read the condition notes below.

The dress is fully lined in a purple silk. It has an inner bandeau waist that closes separately and then it closes over that with a side hidden set zipper. Light boning through the bodice. The dress has some fading on the purple parts. Primarily on the bodice and a strip running down on side. The zipper pull is missing on the inner zipper. Otherwise completely sound. Please see the photos after the label shot. Priced based on these and sold as found and final sale. Tagged a Valentino 10

Bust: 18" flat across from side seam to side seam
Seam under the bust: 16.5" flat across from side seam to side seam
Natural waist: 18" flat across from side seam to side seam
Hips: to 22" flat across from side seam to side seam
Bodice: 5" from top of bodice to seam under the bust
Skirt: 52" from seam under the bust to front hem, 54" to the back hem

Modern Sizing Equivalent: MED-LRG

Item# DD3939

Reference Photos/Videos: Spring 2008 Valentino Runway Collection, Look 84 modeled by Anna Tokarska.

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 dress came from the house archives of the Tiziani label, which was launched in 1963 in Rome by American designer Evans Richards. The label quickly became a favorite among celebrities and socialites including Elizabeth Taylor, Doris Duke, Gina Lollobrigida, and Principessa Borghese. The label is also famous because a very young Karl Lagerfeld designed for the label. Lagerfeld worked at Tiziani from 1963 to 1969 which makes the pieces he designed while there some of the very earliest examples of his work. This piece is unlabeled but I sourced it from a person who had purchased it direct from the owner of the atelier archives through a verified auction.

The dress is made from a purple silk that is heavy enough to keep the shape that you see. It was then heavily beaded by hand in some areas to highlight the design of the dress. The bodice dips into a V neck that is detailed with a knife pleated ruffle edged with a pink silk satin trim. The ruffle is integral to the design of this dress. It is used throughout to accent the lines and design. It defines the band at the waist that gives you shape and is used on both the cuffs and hem. It is also used to define the panel of beading that sits on each sleeve. The sleeves are incredible. They are cut to be a very full pouf above the wrists. At the middle point of each sleeve is a wide panel that is completely beaded all the way around the arm. More beads sit in one shoulder and there is a heavily done design of them that runs over and down the front of the skirt. The bead work is amazing. It is a mix of hand done embroidery, real metal thread, seed beads, crystals and large oversized domed appliques. These catch the light to give the dress a touch of high glamour. The green of the beadwork pops against the purple silk and they add incredible texture. The body of the dress is fairly simple in design. The bodice is cut to skim over you and the waist is defined by that wide band at the waist. It is cut slightly more on the loose and easy side rather then cinched heavily in. The skirt falls to the floor from there and there is a substantial amount of silk in it. It is hand lined in silk. The bottom hem of the skirt is finished with knife pleating and ruffles to tie in the extravagance of the upper part of the dress. It is made entirely by hand and it is finished to a couture level. It is an amazing piece of fashion history. Excellent condition

Fully lined in a purple silk and closes with a back zipper. Each cuff buttons to close. The inner skirt is finished with a wide stiffened hem that is hidden in the silk lining. This helps to give the skirt structure and the volume that you see. Hand work throughout and made to couture standards. Light padding in each shoulder. There is the tiniest bit of fading to the edge of the purple silk lining on the inner arms. It otherwise looks ot have been worn very little if at all.

Sleeves: 23.5"
Slightly dropped shoulders: 16.5"
Bust: 19" flat across from side seam to side seam
Waist: 15" flat across from side seam to side seam
Hips: open
Bodice: 11" from neck to first seam under the bust, and 17.5" from neck to waist
Skirt: 42" from the dropped waist seam to hem

Modern Sizing Equivalent: MED-LRG

Reference Photo: Cherie, Owner of Shrimpton Couture.

Item# DD3251

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

Zandra Rhodes is one of my favourite designers and I love the pieces that she did in the 1980s. This dress is closest  to the work she did for her 'Fairy' collection that was done for the Spring 1981 season. The collection has a strong showing of these black and gold pieces that featured her amazing custom hand painted prints. 

This is a stunning dress that is done in a dramatic combination of black and gold. The skirt is hand painted and the lace on the top has been selected to match and compliment the skirt's design. The bodice is made of a black lace netting that has gold metallic thread woven through to highlight the design in the fabric. The neckline is squared off and I love how the edges of the lace follow the pattern across the neck and back to soften the straight line there. The sleeves are set into that and curve over the shoulders and then run down the arm to just past the elbow. They are unlined so you get glimpses of skin through them. The top curves down past the waist and flares out over the top of the hips. The skirt is set under that and is very full, widening out as it nears the hem. The skirt is constructed in layers. The very outer top layer is a silk organza and then there are layers of tulle with a third inner black silky rayon lining under that. These built in layers are what gives it the fullness that you see and I have not added any extra underskirts. The top layer is completely covered with one of Zandra's signature designs. The gold runs over the entire surface and it is all completely hand painted with a beautiful sun pattern. It is gorgeous and, like all of her pieces, it is very special. It appears to have been worn very little if at all. Excellent condition

Fully lined in a black silky rayon and closes with a back hidden set zipper. The skirt is made up of multiple layers of  as described above. It appears to have never been worn or worn very little. Tagged a UK 12, US 10. 

Sleeves: 16"
Shoulders: no true defined seam
Bust: 18.5" flat across from side seam to side seam
Waist: 15" flat across from side seam to side seam
Hips: open
Length: 60" from top of shoulder to hem

Modern Sizing Equivalent: MED-LRG

Item# DD3605

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