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.

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.

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.

This is a slightly more dramatic version of Yves classic tuxedo suit. For the runway it was presented with a longer skirt and that one was shown for Look 38 of the Fall 2001 Haute Couture collection. My client ordered it with the pencil skirt you see so that she could have more options to wear it. 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 that he first presented 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 have included runway photos, video and a photo of the original sketch. The sketch shot includes the fabric swatches above as per his atelier records and you can see it is the same fabric as this one. It is extraordinary set and I love it.

The extra wide collar is what sets this one apart from the many versions he did over the years. It is so bold and yet still elegant and refined in feel. There is nothing quite like the experience of slipping on a tailored to perfection piece of true Haute Couture. It somehow feels different and the feeling is something you can only really experience for yourself. The construction on both pieces is meticulous and it has been sourced from the original couture client. These tuxedo suits were all done a play on a men's tuxedo in mind and then were shaped and tweaked by Yves to be immensely flattering on the female body. It's looks simple but has master level tailoring behind it. The jacket has this sleek cut to it that follows the curves of the body. It is slightly cropped to sit just at the top of the hip. The lower part of the collar is finished in a black matte satin. It's size has been exaggerated to make it the focal point. under that is a single faceted button. Pockets are top set on each side and the shoulders are shaped. The fabric has a fine ribbing to it and it holds the lines perfectly. The skirt is cut into a simple pencil shape. I love that you separate pieces which gives you the versatility of being able to mix and match each piece with other things you already own. It is also a suit that depending on how do you style it, it can easily work for either day or as an evening suit. Yves tuxedo suits changed the way the world approached woman's wear and any example of the Le Smoking version is particularly collectible. This is a wonderful example of his couture tailoring. Itis an important piece of fashion history from one of his final collections. It appears to have been worn very little if at all. Excellent condition

Both pieces are hand lined in a black silk. The jacket closes with a button at the front and the skirt closes with a zipper and hook & eye at the waist. There are two pockets on the jacket. Both pieces are completely made by hand to couture standards. All proper Haute Couture tags present

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/Video: (1-7) Diana Gärtner for Yves Saint Laurent Fall 2001 Haute Couture Runway Collection. Look 38.  /  (8-9) Sketches for the Fall 2001 Yves Saint Laurent Couture Collection as shown in the "Yves Saint Laurent Haute Couture: The Complete Works" Book Set.

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

Haute Couture does not always have to be an elaborate, over the top piece. Sometimes the beauty of couture lies in the restraint of line and a certain chic  simplicity that hides the hours of handwork put into each piece. This dress is a numbered Haute Couture piece and would have been made by hand in the Paris atelier. The attention to detail shown in every stitch is fabulous. It is a gorgeous dress.

The dress is made from deep burgundy red silk crepe that is an exceptional high end quality and it is this choice of this very high end fabric that helps to give the dress its beautiful lines. The top is cut into a V at the front with slight gathers where it inserts into the shoulders. It is constructed to look like a separate top that floats over the skirt below but it is actually all one piece. Each sleeves is long and poufs out slightly above the fitted cuffs. I love how each cuff is pleated to pick up the pleat work on the skirt. The three silk covered buttons adorn each cuff and each one sits perfectly in the center of each of those pleats. This detail alone is fabulous. The skirt falls from under the edge of the top and it is attached to its own inner silk bodice. This is the proper way to attach a skirt in couture and this helps it to stay perfectly in place once it's on the body. The skirt is fantastic. Each individual pleat is perfectly matched to its neighbor with meticulous precision. When you stand still the dress falls straight and then when you move you get incredible movement and fullness because of the pleats. It is a brilliantly cut dress. Every stitch has been done by hand. It appears to have been worn very little if at all. Excellent condition.

Fully lined in a matching red silk and closes with an inner handset back painted metal zipper and then closes with a second zipper on the outer bodice layer over that. The cuffs snap into place under three silk covered decorative buttons. The Haute Couture label is present with couture tape under the tag numbered 157888. Hand finished to couture standards throughout. It appears to have been worn very little if at all.

Sleeves: 27"
Shoulders: no true defined seams
Bust: to 19" flat across from side seam to side seam
Waist: to 17" flat across from side seam to side seam
Hips at inner lining: to 20" flat across from side seam to side seam
Length: 55.5" from shoulder to hem

Modern Sizing Equivalent: MED-LRG

Item# DD2913

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 design from the Halston IV line is one of my favorites besides the one shoulder dresses I find for you. The design is so simple but at the same time it has so much impact with its bare and sexy feel created by the plunging front and sides. It is an incredible piece that you can wear over and over and style it in a zillion ways depending on what you pair with it. I have included some reference photos from the main Halston line that shows where the design for this dress originated. I have also included photos of Martha Hunt and Emmy Rossum who both have worn the twin of this dress from my archives. I love having these photos because it lets you see just how fabulous this dress is on.

This is a dress that is insanely sexy and bare feeling yet the ivory colour of it keeps it feeling fresh with a touch of innocence to it. It somehow manages to walk that line in that very Halston kind of way. The dress is made of a wash and wear cream coloured jersey. It has amazing drape and it feels easy-to-wear once on the body. The bodice has a halter style front that plunges right to the waist. It has an opening that you slip your head through and then a panel of the same fabric drapes over the back. Long ties extend out from each side of the panel and you use these to wrap it into place and tie it at the front. At the back this leaves a gap between the bottom of the panel and the waist for a little flash of skin. The sides are also left open and bare to the waist. Despite its bareness it is cleverly cut so that when you have it on it stays in place. The ties snatch in the waist as much as you want and the skirt falls from there. There is a lot of fabric in the skirt and this gives a tremendous movement when you move. The dress has the added bonus of traveling 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. This would make an amazing wedding dress for the bride looking for a non-traditional choice or as an alternative dress in a more extended wedding celebration. And of course it could also be worn to any event. Excellent condition with a minor note below

Unlined and slips on to wear. There is elastic through the waist and it ties into place as described above. This makes it very easy to fit and it should fit a range of sizes. If you don't like how it dips in the back and leaves that space you could easily tighten the elastic more or tie it in a way so it doesn't do that. I see perhaps the faintest a bit of darkening here and there in the skirt. This is only seen when it's laid out flat. There's so much fabric that I really just mentioning to be very picky. The easy cut and elastic waist should allow it to fit a range of sizes

Bust: no true side seems but each triangle covers up to13.5" flat across
Waist: 17-21" flat across from side seam to side seam and you use the tie to belt to cinch it in
Hips: open
Bodice: 15.5" from neck to waist
Skirt: 44" from waist to hem and the back extends down couple inches lower

Modern Sizing Equivalent: SML-LRG

Item# DD4250

Reference Photos: (1) Emmy Rossum in Halston for Harper's Bazaar US.  /  (2) Martha Hunt in Halston.  /  (3) Spring 1973 Halston Runway.  /  (4-6) Spring 1977 Halston Runway.

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

There are hints of this dress from both the 1986 collection and in the 1988 collection. The original owner did buy it in the 1980s but I do not have the exact day. I tend to lean towards the earlier date for it but I have included reference photos from both the above mentioned collections. It is a stunning example of Valentino's work during this time period.

The dress is beautiful to see in person. It flows over the body from the more fitted bodice and the lightness of the silk allows it to move and float around you when you move. The bodice is a stunning example in shaping and couture techniques. Inside it is boned and has built in cups. This interior structure holds it perfectly in place over the body once on. On the exterior the silk is hand set and gathered over the bust and all the way around you. Each individual gather is meticulously hand stitched into place. Above this more structured part of the dress is a single layer of the chiffon. At the front it scoops in a higher set neck and at the back it is set with a keyhole running down to the top of the gathered bodice. The skirt flows out under that in four layers of the silk and each layer is bias cut. This is what allows it to have such beautiful movement when you move. The final touch are those pretty sleeves that are cuffed at the wrist and pouf out around the arm above that. It also has its original very large silk shawl piece. It is beautiful. The dress does have some flaws but is structurally sound. Please review the notes below.

The interior bodice is finished is boned and corseted. The skirt has four layers of silk as described above. The interior corset closes with hook and eye and the silk layer zips to close over. Each cuff buttons with two silk covered buttons and loops. Three buttons at the top of the back neck. There are areas of fading through the skirt that go through the layers. I have photoed the worst of them. There are some faint areas of the same on the silk above the corset and on the sleeves. I see one tiny repair near the hem at the back of the skirt. It comes. I think you could potentially remove the sleeves and upper bodice and use the shawl to create a layer over the worst of the fading or just have it redyed and it would be perfect again. Sold as found and final and the price is according to the description above

Sleeves: 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
Shawl: 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.

This John Galliano dress is one of the most beautiful dresses I have ever seen. And yes - it is the dress that was worn by Ariana DeBose earlier this year to attend the West World HBO premier. I’ve included photos of her here from my various Instagram posts from that evening and you can see and read more on my Instagram. She even landed in the Vogue Best Dressed of the Summer season so far list in this one. It is spectacular. It is a stunning example of his work and is truly a beautiful piece. 

No matter how good you think that this dress looks like in photos and on Ariana, it is even better in person and moving. The silver metallic beads that creates the pattern on the silk catch the light from every angle when you move. The dress is made out of a deep red silk that has the slightest bit texture to it. The dress is cut on the bias so it just glides over the body. It doesn't even have any closures, it is made to just fall over you in a sweep of bias cut fabric. It is in its original supermodel length and has not been altered. It is cut to skim over the bust with a V neck plunge on both the back and the front. The V cut out are set just slightly off center and the back one scoops lower then the front. The dress is so well made that you could probably wear either side to the front and it works if not for the depth of the back plunge. The dress skims over the waist and hips and is cut so that the bias cut of the silk follows your curves and highlights the body underneath without it being too tight and fitted. Galliano was a genius when it came to this cut. Once past the hips the dress flares out as it nears the bottom and is incredibly long. Set in and around the full lower skirt are panels of the same silk that have been pleated. So when you walk or move these kick out and expand to add volume while still falling in a smother column when standing still. These glide and curve around you and add the illusion of even more height. That pleat work is picked up again at each shoulder where a ruffle of pleated and smooth silk wraps over and down the top of the shoulder for a pretty feminine touch. The final perfect detail is that spectacular design made out of a combination of silver tube beads and embroidery work that wraps around the waist and top of the hip. These cover each side of you and cleverly draw the eye in to add shape but without sacrificing the comfort of the bias cut. It is just wonderful. Excellent condition with a minor note below

Fully lined with an inner silk chiffon lining and slips over the head to wear. No size tag present. The measurements given below are the comfortable range when the dress is laying flat. It is in its original uncut length. Being bias cut the length may come up a bit once on the body. The dress should work on a large range of sizes given the bias cut. On smaller frames it will drape more and be more fitted on larger frames. I think the pleats may have softened a bit over time but its hard to know if this was not an international design detail to play on its decadent thirties feel. The very slightest touch of a watermark here and there near the hem. You don't see this at all unless its laid out flat and the skirt opened completely.

Bust: 18-21" flat across from side seam to side seam
Waist: 15-19" flat across from side seam to side seam
Hips: to 23" flat across from side seam to side seam
Length: 62" from top of shoulder to hem

Modern Sizing Equivalent: SML-LRG

Item# DD4029

Reference Photos: Ariana DeBose, wearing John Galliano from Shrimpton Couture, at the Season 4 Westworld Premiere, 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.

A white version of this dress walked the runway in 2003 for Look 75 and I it and was one of the best dresses of that collection. Once in production it was also made in black and it is as good or better in this colour. The dress has the added provenance of being the dress that was recently worn by nominee Paulina Alexis for this years Critic's Choice Awards. I love that I have tons of photos of her, the white runway version of the dress, and the runway video so that you can see just how fantastic this dress is on the body. It is stunningly beautiful. The show was a huge success and the Vogue loved the evening pieces especially; "For the evening review, it gets even better. Valentino's communiqués from his couture collection show up as delicate metallic-embroidered chiffons made into fragile capes, cardigans or dresses. And for the grand occasion, there's a full battalion of the designer's fabulous signature chiffon gowns." The dress moves beautifully and is elegant and chic. That stunning halter top makes it feel insanely sexy too. A beautiful example of the magic of original Valentino pieces.

I love this dress with its incredible volume and amazing use of fabric. The dress is made from yards and yards of a black bias cut silk chiffon that was pleated into sharp little knife pleats. The fabric is very light in weight and this gives you that fantastic floating sensation all around you with your slightest move. The dress is suspended from straps that come out from the center of the bust. The straps continue down and are attached over the fabric of the bodice to give the illusion of it crossing and wrapping around the body. These go all the way around to the back and then come back around again. The straps are heavily embellished with a variety of sequins and beads that catch the light beautifully. He used larger beads so it has this fantastic 3D effect. At the back the straps curve down front he shoulder on an angle to meet in the center. The top of the bust is rounded into a pretty sweetheart shape and the back is cut straight across. The silk on the bodice is gathered in tiny little pleats and set horizontally. Under that the dress cascades to the floor in many yards of feather light silk chiffon. This is where the dress gets truly magical. There are three layers of silk that make up the skirt with the very top layer completely and meticulously pleated into sharp knife plates that gradually soften slightly as they near the hem. The silk is all cut on the bias and the layers flow out in an ever widening silhouette to the ground. There are yards and yard of chiffon that make up the skirt. It is very flattering on the body and it creates a fantastically romantic and dramatic effect as the silk floats around you the slightest bit of movement. It is amazing. This is truly stunning dress. Excellent condition

Fully lined in a black silk and closes with a hidden set side zipper. A tiny bit of softening of the pleats here and there but there are so many yards of silk in the skirt that its immaterial. Tagged a vintage Valentino 12.

Waist: to 16" flat across from side seam to side seam
Hips: to 22.5" flat across from side seam to side seam
Length: 60" from neck to hem

Modern Sizing Equivalent: MED-LRG

Item# DD4239

Reference Photos: (1-3) Spring 2003 Valentino Runway, Look 75.  /  (4-5) Paulina Alexis in this dress at the 2023 Critic's Choice Awards.

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 Capriccio label was founded in 1987 and they quickly grew in popularity. During the late 1980s and early 1990s they were the brand to wear and they were known for their historically based designs with the added volume and excess of the eighties. Some of the Capriccio stores had an in-store area where you could get custom pieces in silks and based on the rest of the pieces from the estate I have been working through lately this may be one of those. It is incredible and it would make an amazing wedding dress for the bride looking for a non-traditional choice or as an alternative dress in a more extended wedding celebration. And of course it could also be worn to any event. It is just so spectacular. 

This is actually a set and I love that about it because it makes it that much more versatile. You can wear it together for the full on effect or mix and match either with simpler pieces from your wardrobe for an entirely different feel. I also think there is the possibility that the top could be worn as an ultra-mini depending on how it sits on you. Both pieces are made out of a tea stain feeling coloured silk organza. This fabric choice helps to keep the volume and shape that you see. It also keeps both pieces extremely light in weight. The top is spectacular. It is cut so that it skims down and past the hips and has a back and front draped panel at the center that extends down over the skirt. It is shaped through the waist by the way that the fabric is formed and gathered into the middle. Pin tuck detailing runs from the collar to that panel on both the front and back. Elaborate floral appliqué work adorns the entire front and details part of the back. The collar is high and the top is cut to skim over the bust. The sleeves pouf out dramatically and are caught up with a little clusters of lace appliqué and beadwork. This gives them that extreme full volume feel but they still have a sense of  shape and detail. The lower portion of the sleeves are gathered all along the lower arm to the wrist. Each is then finished with appliqué work all the way down. The skirt below that has incredible volume and fullness. It is cut to be more fitted over the top of the hips and then opens out to that incredible volume that you see. When laid out flat the lower portion under the hips is a full circle skirt. Depending on your height it will be full length or fall to just about the ankle. The amount of detailing on this piece is fantastic. This may not be a piece for everyone but on the right person this is going to be unbelievably spectacular. It appears to have been worn very little if at all. Excellent condition

The top is made from a double layer of the organza and the skirt has an inner cream silky rayon lining. The top slips over the head to wear with pearl buttons at the back of the neck and on each cuff. The skirt closes with a zipper and flat hook and eye at the waist. Rolled padding on the very edge of the inner shoulder to help support the volume. The top is tagged a size small and the skirt a medium. You could get a little more room on the neck by moving the buttons probably up to 1/2-3/4" depending on where you place them.

Top
Sleeves: 23"
Slightly extended shoulders: 16"
Bust: to 19" flat across from side seam to side seam
Waist: to 17.5" flat across from side seam to side seam
Hips: to 26" flat across from side seam to side seam
Length: 36" from neck to longest point at the front and approx 28" to the sides.
Neck: 15" around

Skirt
Waist: 14" flat across from side seam to side seam
Seam at the hips: 18" flat across from side seam to side seam
Length: 42" from waist to hem

Modern Sizing Equivalent: SML-LRG

Item# DD4198

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 amazing little dress is from the days when founder Consuelo Castiglioni was the head of the company and acting Creative Director. The brand launched in 1994 and quickly became known for their innovative prints and the way she mixed and matched colors and draped fabrics. This is classic Marni from this time period. It is a beautiful little dress

This dress is one of her very easy to wear loose and open draped pieces. It is just genius. It has sleeves that run just above the elbow and the cut through the bodice is loose and full but gathered all up and to the one side. The neckline is a simple off set scoop then at the back it scoops a bit as well. There are long attached ties on either side of the neck and I have wrapped them around like a choker. When it's on the body you can also tie them looser so you can wear this dress off the shoulder as an option. Under the V at the front the fabric has been gathered in and up. The dress falls in a loose draped shape around and below that. The waist is seamed but it's very open and the skirt has an easy cut as well. It has such a quirky shape that you can totally wear and style this a few different ways. You can also add a belt to give it more shape and an entirely different look. The fabric is a deep blue that's almost a black and is very light in weight. It is a great example of her work during this time period. Plus it has pockets. It appears to have been worn very little if at all. Excellent condition

Unlined and slips on to wear with a hidden set side zipper. Pockets hidden along the hip seams. It looks to have been worn very little if at all. Tagged a 42. The loose and easy cut should fit a range of sizes. It will drape more on a smaller frame and be more fitted on a larger

Shoulders: no defined seam
Bust: to 26" flat across from side seam to side seam
Waist: to 20" flat across from side seam to side seam
Hips: to 21" flat across from side seam to side seam
Length: 39.5" from shoulder to hem

Modern Sizing Equivalent: SML-LRG

Item# DD4208

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

This gorgeous dress is not 100% perfect but it's still very wearable and its flaws are not as noticeable once on the body. This was a piece that was produced in limited quantities for retail and was not shown on the runway. I know the date because one of my followers on instagram bought the twin of this dress in December 2012 for her own wedding. The original retail on this dress was over $20,000. The dress is completely wearable and gorgeous. This would make an amazing wedding dress for the bride or as an alternative dress in a more extended wedding celebration. And of course it could also be worn to any event.

The colour of the dress is a beautiful soft ivory. The base is a fine silk tulle netting that has panels of lace overlaid onto it and that run in horizontal rows down the length of the dress. The collar is set wide and is trimmed with two layers of silk chiffon. The upper bodice and sleeves are made from a netting that has little dots of embroidery mixed with beads. This same beaded technique is used on the double ruffled hem that circles the entire lower skirt. The other dress is meant to skim over you and widen out as it nears the ham. The back skirt falls slightly longer than the front and there's a bit of extra fabric at the back so you get the softer suggestion of a train. The body of the dress is completely covered with alternating layers of the lace mixed with tiny little rows of ivory iridescent sequins. These are all set horizontally and wrap around the entire dress. The top layer of the dress has a transparent quality to it and to make the dress wearable it is then lined in three layers of ivory silk chiffon. It is absolute beautiful. Overall excellent condition but please read the additional condition note below

It's flaw is an area of discolouration that runs down the side of the bodice on the right. If not for this discolouration the dress would have be rated as having been never worn. But I do want to be clear that it is there. I have taken both photos of it from all sides so you can see the extent of the discoloration and you can see those following the label shot. I did clean it and my cleaners said that if they were more aggressive they could probably get the discolouration out of the lace however the sequins themselves have been discolored. You could have those replaced. I think because of where it's placed you could also get clever with a sash and bow tacked into place on the side that would completely cover the discoloration. If not for this area the dress would appear to have never been worn. I have listed it for exactly what I paid for it excluding any of my cleaning costs and other costs I incur. Without the area of discolouration it would probably be double or more its price

Fully lined in three layers of silk chiffon. It has an inner corset that's zips to close and an outer hidden side zipper. Each cuff zips to close. The inner zipper is broken. It appears to have never been worn bit please read the additional description notes above. Tagged a modern Valentino 10. Sold as is and final sale.

Sleeves: approx 22"
Shoulders: no true defined seams
Bust: 18" flat across from side seam to side seam
Waist: to 16" flat across from side seam to side seam
Hips: to 20" flat across from side seam to side seam
Length: 60" from top of shoulder to front hem, 65" to the back

Modern Sizing Equivalent: MED-LRG

Item# DD4223

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 an interesting dress because a version of it was shown on the runway for Fall 1972 but this one seems to be even more elaborate than the runway one. And it is usually the opposite of that in many cases. I like to think that the woman that bought this saw the one on the runway and then worked with George to make this one even more dramatic and spectacular. George Stavropoulos was known for his evening wear. He launched his label in 1960 and soon was dressing women like Elizabeth Taylor, Jackie Kennedy, Barbra Streisand and Maria Callas. His dresses were made by hand and to couture standards. By the early 1980s a gown by him started at around $8500 and they went up in cost from there and that starting price point equals to around $26,000US in today's dollars. A vintage Stavropoulos dress is an incredible thing to own and this is one of the best ones I have ever seen.

This dress is drop dead gorgeous and I think it's even better in person. The dress is made out of a ivory coloured silk organza that is heavily embroidered with a leaf pattern. Those silk 'leafs' have been embroidered over the entire dress to highlight the cut. Part of the design are actually individual embroidered leafs that have been appliqued and embroidered into place. It is stunning to see in person. The silk is feather light and I love the airy feeling that this creates. This light feeling is highlighted even more all of those little embroidered pieces. On the skirt they are set so they are scattered lightly over the upper skirt and become denser as they reach the hem. Along the hem are these curving inset panels. They are attached to the dress but the design is finished to follow the jagged edge of the embroidered leafs. I love this double layer of texture this gives around the actual hem and then above it on parts of the dress. The skirt is very full. I have photoed it with nothing underneath but there is enough room that you could add a crinoline underneath  and get a very full look if you wanted. The lightness and fullness mean that when you move the dress will move with you and the effect is gorgeous. The neckline is beautiful. It is squared off on both sides and the applique work is set to go inwards around the neck and slightly up the sides of your neck. It also frames the opening at the front and the back. The bodice is layered over an inner dress that the skirt is attached to. This gives it the look and feel of two pieces but it is actually one dress. It also exaggerates that gradual widening that you see happening from the bust all the way down to the hem. At the same time it also allowed him to do another spectacular edging where that jagged edge is picked up and tied into how it's done at the hem. The last perfect touch are those magnificent sleeves. Each one falls from a rounded soft shoulder and is cut with tremendous volume. They have a huge and elaborate pouf to them. Each of them ends in an elaborate cuff with the same detailing applique that the other edges have. They are the perfect finish to this high fantasy gown. The workmanship is incredible and it is absolutely beautiful. This is a fabric that is notoriously difficult to work with and it shows just what a genius he was by the way that he was able to make it sit so beautifully. The majority of work is all done by hand and it would have taken many hours of work to create this dress in this way. This is a dress that must be on a body to really come to life. As good as it looks here it is nothing compared to it on and moving. This would make an extraordinary wedding gown for the bride looking for something unique. Excellent condition.

Fully lined in an ivory silk that has a stiffened inner hem to help hold the volume. It closes with a zipper on the inner dress and then the outer dress snaps into place over that with hidden set silk covered snaps. The inner seams are finished by hand to couture standards. The colour in person is softer and even prettier then how it photoed. The camera gives it more shadow than it has in person on the embroidered parts. It is a touch creamier in real life. This is cut generously underneath the top added bodice but the skimming design will work on a smaller frame as well and could easily be altered if needed

Sleeves: approx 21"
Shoulders: no defined seam
Inner bust: to 18" flat across from side seam to side seam
Inner waist: to 17" 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 inner waist
Skirt: 44" from inner waist to longest points of hem

Modern Sizing Equivalent: SML-LRG

Item# DD4200

Reference Photo: Fall 1972 Stavropoulos Runway.

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

This special red jersey dress by Yves Saint Laurent is very well documented. We always love finding pieces that have a solid history behind them. It's from the Spring 1982 collection and its twin was shown on the runway and it was also featured in ad campaigns that ran in various magazines. It's interesting that we actually found two different shots for ads that feature the same three dresses but with the models depicted in different positions. The end that year was shot by helmet Newton which as yet another layer to the history of this dress. The dress is not perfect but it's completely wearable as is and its gorgeous lines and easy to wear cut combined  with its place in fashion history easily offset any small flaws.

The dress is made from a cherry coloured red silk jersey. It is an extremely easy dress to wear. There is elastic through the waist and you just slip the dress on and tie it at the one shoulder and you are ready to go. When the dress is off the body the waist looks dropped but once it's on you realize that this is what allows the bodice to drape over the waist line like you see on the runway and in the ad photos. The silk jersey is fine and light and I love this colour of red. It has an almost pink undertone to it in person and it's very flattering on almost any skin tone. The fabric is gathered along the upper neckline and this gives it the drape and slight gathered look that you see. The upper neckline edge is finished with a piped tie and this extends out and is what is used to tie it at the shoulder. I love how the ends of the long ties just fall down your back from there. The bust is loose and easy and it drapes over that inner elastic waist line. The skirt falls from under there and widens out as it nears the hem. Is incredibly easy to wear and incredibly flattering once on the body. Excellent overall condition but please read the condition notes below.

The dress slips on to wear with elastic through the waist. It ties on the top of one shoulder. Tagged a vintage YSL 40 but the generous cut and elastic waist should allow it to fit a range of sizes. The dress has some marks on the silk jersey of the skirt. It's mostly in the lower areas of the skirt. I also see grubbiness around the hem. It has been cleaned of course and the marks may come out more with additional cleaning. The extent of fabric in the skirt hides it and the dress is perfectly wearable as is. The price is far less then what it would have been otherwise for this well documented dress. The fabric has stretch and movement. The measurements are given with a comfortable range laying flat.

Bust: 15-26" flat across from side seam to side seam
Waist: 12-23" flat across from side seam to side seam
Hips: 17-30" flat across from side seam to side seam
Bodice: 24" from top of shoulder to waist but meant to drape over
Skirt: 43" from waist to hem

Modern Sizing Equivalent: SML-LRG

Item# DD4158

Reference Photos: (1) Spring 1982 Yves Saint Laurent Runway.  /  (2-3) Spring 1982 YVes Saint Laurent Ad Campaign photographed by Helmut Newton.

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.

I am so excited to bring you the second part of our 1930s capsule. This is one of a dozen dresses from a single owner collection of beautiful 1930s dresses. Her collection was lovingly sourced over decades and she has decided that it is time let them back out into the world for others to enjoy. Outstanding designs from this era are increasingly hard to find. Her collection represents some of the best of the era that I have seen in a very long time. Most are in excellent condition and the few included in the capsule that do have some flaws are such outstanding designs that I feel there is still room for someone to love them and wear them as they are, or perhaps to put in the additional work to repair them. This is just a tiny sampling of her overall collection and I hope to have more of these capsules for you in the future.

This is a stunning inky black silk velvet dress with beautiful detailing. These are always a challenge to photo since it is entirely cut on the bias and is really only best seen once on an actual body. My dress form is not doing it anywhere near the justice it deserves. The bodice is cut to drape loose and easy over the bust with the waist brought in just a touch through angled seaming. It skims over the hips and the skirt falls to the floor under that. When you stand still the skirt falls in a smooth column but when you move you get a pretty amount of volume and movement. The dress slips over the head to wear and has an opening at the neck that does up with a series of velvet covered buttons. The collar is gathered around to the front of the neck where there are strips made out of glass rhinestones that hold the collar in place and add pretty detail. This one came with a stunning rhinestone belt that is made of four rows of rhinestones stacked to form a pyramid or triangle on each side of the buckle. The oversized emerald cut glass rhinestones catch the light incredibly. The band is a black crepe and it hooks into place at the front for instant extra glamour. The sleeves are gorgeous. They are cut extremely wide and full to a seam just under the elbow and then they narrow down sharply to the wrist. Almost like a poet's sleeve. Running down the top fuller part of the sleeve are two open slits. The band between slits lets the fabric sit on top of your arm and then you see your arm through the slits. The full part of the sleeve drapes under that. They are insanely beautiful and I love them. If you are a fan of these pieces from the late twenties / early thirties you know just how exceptional and rare it is. Excellent condition with a small note below.

Unlined and slips on to wear with buttons at the neck as described above. All the inner seams are finished by hand and or pinked. The end of the belt is a different fabric from the dress and may not be original to the dress but it's the one that came with it from my client. You could easily switched it out for a velvet if that bothered you. The buckle is just too incredible not to keep them together. For a garment almost 100 years old it is in amazing condition. The bias should allow it to fit a range of sizes.

Neck: 15 3/4"
Sleeves: approx 25.5"
Shoulders: no true seams
Bust: 18-21" flat across from side seam to side seam
Waist: 14-21" flat across from side seam to side seam
Hips: 15-21" flat across from side seam to side seam
Length: 54.5" from top of shoulder to hen

Modern Sizing Equivalent: SML-MED

Item# PC019

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