The Wolkenstricker label launched in 1979 and they have been making beautiful cardigans one piece at a time ever since. You can still buy them today and I found one site where modern versions are selling for just under $1700USD.  On their site they say (in rough translation thanks to google) that; 'We see knitting as an art and create something extraordinary with every model. We create garments that underlines the personality and attracts attention. The valuable manual work characterizes every cardigan. Creating the cut and the knitting techniques used a garment that excels in quality and execution cannot be compared with normal commerce. Most of our customers never part with their treasures and even inherit them. This is sustainability!' I have two vintage ones from the 1980s today and each is very special and unique. 

This one is a colour that reminds me of the colour of a natural linen flax. It is very pretty and easy to wear. Really the perfect neutral. The actual knit is a mix of a cotton and silk so is very hardy and yet soft and has a beautiful strength to it that helps it to retain its shape. It is edged in a baby blue and has a tie running through the neckline in that same blue. The entire neckline is finished in a wide panel of hand embroidered flowers that circle all the way around the back. Each sleeve has another spray of flowers at its cuff. I love the little 3D flowers that are scattered over the entire cardigan. This added bit of texture is fabulous. It closes at the front with little hand carved MOP buttons and I love how each one has been secured with a 'W' in a matching thread.  It is the perfect finishing touch. This one looks to have been worn very little if at all. Excellent condition 

Unlined and closes down the front with the buttons as shows. A tie at the neck that is mainly decorative. It still has an extra button sewn into an inner seam. Entirely made by hand. 

Sleeves: 24"
Shoulders: 15"
Bust: 18" flat across from side seam to side seam
Waist: 15.5" flat across from side seam to side seam
Hips: 18" flat across from side seam to side seam
Length: 21.5" from neck to hem

Modern Sizing Equivalent: XS-MED

Item# S964

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 from my same client whose aunt purchased from Ady Couture who I explained in depth in this listing while she was living in Switzerland during the eighties and into the nineties. Prior to that, during the late sixties and into the early 80s her aunt lived in both France and Brussels where she purchased pieces from Louis Mies. Mies was a small independent couturier who did custom work for his clients to couture standards. I have not been able to confirm that he had permission from the houses to replicate their Haute Couture pieces for his clients like Ady did but my client seems to think this was the case based on family records. I also have some new information that he might have sold actual couture pieces through his salon as well. So this may be an actual Yves Saint Laurent. Either way it is definitely the Fall 1973 dress that I have included several reference photos for here. It is beyond beautiful in person and one of my favourite personal pieces from her estate so far. 

The level that this dress is made to is a beautiful thing to see. All of the finishes are by hand and it has all those lovely details that you expect in a couture level garment. It is made out of a silk taffeta and then the different sections are all of different colours. Using the silk taffeta helps it to hold its intended shape and I love the fullness of the skirt. The bodice is more fitted and cut to skim over you. It crosses over itself at the front and has that lovely ruffle detailing there that swoops down on an angle to the waist. The waist is cinched in under that and I have added a velvet ribbon to emulate the bow that Yve's originally showed it with. The sleeves are beautiful. Each is made on a curve to follow the shape of the arm. They are softly set into the shoulders and then taper down to the wrist where they close with a zipper. The skirt is a work of art. It curves out from under the waist and falls to the floor where it widens out as it nears the hem. It is incredibly full but betas the fabric is so light it does not seem that way at first. It is only when you move that you realize just how full it is. The skirt is made by altering panels of the silk taffeta over each other to create the ever widening tiers that you see. This technique also helps to hold the shape of the skirt and give its its volume. Each tier is finished with a ruffle that has been gathered and set by hand. The hours of work that it would have taken to implement this detail is mind boggling. I love that the tiers are done in different colours The same red as the bodice mixed with pink and burgundy. The interior is made to couture standards with all the inner seams finished by hand. I have included some shots of the inner seams for you to see. It is extraordinary and the kind of quality and beauty that you will only find with vintage. It appears to have been worn very little if at all. Excellent condition

Unlined and closes with a hidden set zipper at the side and then a series of hand covered snaps that run along the waist. Each sleeve zips to close. The inside is all hand done and it is finished to couture standards. 

Sleeves: 24"
Shoulders: 15"
Bust: to 17" flat across from side seam to side seam
Waist: 14" flat across from side seam to side seam
Hips: open
Bodice: 15" from top of shoulder to waist
Skirt: 44" from waist to longest point of the hem

Modern Sizing Equivalent: SML-MED

Item# DD3859

Reference Photos: (1) Model in Yves Saint Laurent Couture, L'Officiel de la Mode n602, 1973.  /  (2) Model in Yves Saint Laurent Couture for Femme Chic Magazine, 1973. Photographed by Claus Ohm.  /  (3) Yves Saint Laurent Haute couture hiver 1973/74. L Officiel 1000 modèles.

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 piece is wonderful and shows the range of what Hanae Mori was capable of. It is simple and beautiful but still striking. It dates to the late 1970s, early 1980s and it is an absolute work of art. Hanae was the first woman of Japanese descent to have presented on the Paris and New York Runways and the first Asian woman to be admitted as an official Haute Couture house to La Chambre Syndicale de la Couture Parisienne. Her work is exceptional and plays a strong part of my own personal archives. I own the exact twin of this kimono and would never part with mine as it is so versatile. 

I have worn variations of this exact kimono for years now whenever I head out for the evening. It is the perfect pop of color over a dress and is light and luxurious feeling for evening. I have even in a pinch have wrapped and closed it with a large pin, or just wrapped and belted it with the matching belt, and worn it as a dress. It is absolutely stunning. This really shows her talent for taking traditional elements from her own culture and giving them a more western world twist in terms of modifying the cut. It is made of a red silk and lined in silk as well. The colour is beautiful red and that is softened with the pretty and romantic flower and butterfly print that covers its surface. The red of the silk is that perfect shade that flatters most skin tones and the print is done in a mix of pretty soft blues and greys. It has a matching sash belt that you can use to add shape and cinch in the waist. The sleeve are cut to be wide and full and the body is loose and easy. It looks to have never been worn or used and would be perfect to use as wedding kimono, to take on your honeymoon, or to top an evening ensemble. Of course it also works as a lingerie piece and a dress. It is the ultimate multi-tasker. The print that covers the kimono is hand screened and painted with hauntingly beautiful butterflies that flit across the surface of the silk. The butterfly is a Hanae Mori signature and I love that they are used with such romantic abandon on this kimono as they trail across its surface. Excellent condition

The kimono is fully lined with a pale soft purple/blue tissue silk and has no closures. This one comes with , its matching sash belt. The fabric is signed throughout. Tagged a S but the open, loose cut will allow it to fit just about any size. It looks like it has never been worn. 

Sleeves: approx 27" from the natural shoulder to the longest post they fall and are 23" around
Shoulder: no defined seam
Bust: to 22" flat across from side seam to side seam
Waist-hips: to 21" flat across the inner seam but adjustable with the sash
Length: 56" from neck to hem

Modern Sizing Equivalent: XS-LRG

Item# DD3857

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

Vogue's review of this collection was done by Hamish Bowles who said in part; "With their ironed hair, pale lips, and exaggerated doe-eye makeup, the leggy girls on Karl Lagerfeld's Chanel runway were channeling Penelope Tree, the iconic and kooky sixties model. With a major Chanel retrospective opening in May at the Metropolitan Museum of Art's Costume Institute, Lagerfeld also delved into Coco Chanel's history—specifically a 1920's liaison with the Duke of Westminster that saw her borrowing knits and tweedy pieces from his chic country wardrobe. Lagerfeld feminized his layered cardigan and plus fours with scarves twinkling with diamond camellias and topped them with adorable newsboy caps, knit cloches, or floppy berets." I love the nod to the tweed that the pieces had and the kicky skirts like this one are perfect to pair with a great boot. 

The suit is constructed from an absolutely stunning metallic tweed version of the Chanel signature fabric. The fabric combines a silk thread with mohair and a gold metal thread that he has worked through the entire suit. This gives it an exceptional but subtle sheen and a very luxurious feel. It is absolutely beautiful. To heighten that sense of luxury Karl added a rabbit fur trim to the jacket. The fur has been set to run down the front edges, curve around the back and then also circle the hem. 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. It hooks to close down the front with hidden set hook & eye so there is nothing to break the line. The skirt is cut with a slight flare as it nears the hem. It is set all the way around with series of wide flat pleats, giving that nod to the schoolgirl and the sixties the show was based on. 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 quality camellia flower embossed black silk. This is classic Chanel right down to the chain stitched by hand into the hem of the jacket. It is exceptional. Excellent condition.

Both pieces are fully lined in a black silk embossed with the Chanel camellia flower print. The interior hem of the jacket is finished with one of their signature metal chains. The skirt closes with a hidden set zipper. The jacket hooks to close down the front. Pockets on the jacket and the skirt. The colour and texture are even better in person. Both pieces are tagged a Chanel 40. There is the slightest bit of pilling to the silk on the interior of the jacket from rubbing against the skirt when it was stored. 

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: 25"
Shoulders: 15"
Bust: 19.5" flat across from side seam to side seam
Waist: 18.5" flat across from side seam to side seam
Hips: 20" flat across from side seam to side seam
Length: 20" from neck to hem

Skirt
Waist: 15" flat across from side seam to side seam
Hips: 20.5" flat across from side seam to side seam
Length: 22" from waist to hem

Modern Sizing Equivalent: SML-MED

Item# DD3854

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

I have a small collection of historically important, key designer labelled vintage furs and fur trimmed pieces stored away in my archives that I will be slowly posting on the site over the next couple of years until I have none left. I will no longer be buying furs for the shop moving forward and have not purchased anything for several years now. I feel like times have changed and while there still is a place for vintage furs for some, including collectors and historians, many modern girls are choosing other options. Many of the pieces in my collection are representative of the designer during a set time period in history that was different then our modern outlook. I have decided that the best course to handle this controversial issue is to let the pieces I have go rather then sit in a cold storage unit. Fur coats are final sale.

I am now on the final few items of very interesting pieces that are coming from a client whose aunt had most of her clothes made and shopped couture. This dress was made by Ady Couture and it is instantly recognizable as being That Iconic Yves Saint Laurent dress from the Fall 1982 collection. The story behind this label is fascinating. Ady Couture was based out of Lausanne Switzerland. She would buy the actual couture fabrics and accoutrements from the couture houses she worked with along with the patterns. She had full permission to make the pieces as they were 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 and that issue is what 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 arrangement with 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 beautifully tailored and cut. It is one of the most iconic pieces Yves ever did and this one has this added layer of fascinating history to it. 

In the book 'Yves Saint Laurent: Catwalk' the collection notes for this season are a beautiful summation of his work for this presentation: "This bright and colourful collections was full of allusions and reminiscences and details from earlier collections. It conveyed a kind of 'enchanted enchantment', as San Diego Magazine put it, adding: 'Yves Saint Laurent, who has an unbelievable gift for feeling the pulse of his times, marched into centre stage with his incredible collection. His show which is always the high point of the collections, reversed many of his previous themes and led us into a spirited, fun-filled view of today’s life. He seem to be saying, 'let’s not be earnest, life is too short, and boredom is the greatest sin of all.'….  The atmosphere generated by this collection was a kind of 'joie de vie', an antidote to stress and anxiety, both frivolous and magnificent. According to Saint Laurent, 'Haute Couture is opera. And, like opera, it has to be superb.'

This is a dress that when you see it on the hanger is really doesn't look like much but the second it hit the dress form it came to life. I am so pleased to have so many reference photos for this one so you can see just how amazing it is on an actual body. It is made out of a rich light silk that drapes and falls over the body beautifully. The bodice is cut to drape into place in a loose and easy way and then it nips in at the waist. The skirt below that hugs the hips and is crossed over itself at the front. The entire dress wraps around you to close and is held in place by nothing more then hooks at the waist and a series of snaps across the one shoulder. When you unhook it the entire dress opens. It is so simple and yet so brilliantly cut that it is genius. A long attached tie drapes over that shoulder. This extends out from the panel that crosses over your bust and hides the deep plunge underneath. The sleeves are a work of art in themselves. Each is set into the bodice with a high cap and slight pouf. They are then cut to follow the curve of the arm and narrow down to wrist. A zipper is set into each cuff so it fits perfectly. Between those exceptional sleeves and that long panel that trails down to just past the hem it is nothing short of drama and boldness while still feeling exceptionally chic. It is absolutely gorgeous and the leopard print on the silk is just spectacular. He used a few variations of leopard in this collection and this is the one that has a touch of colour worked through the print. Inside the dress is completely finished to haute couture standards with every seam hand finished. I have taken some detail shots for you to see the fine workmanship. This is a very difficult fabric to work with and it is finished to perfection. It is an incredible piece and beautifully made. It appears to have been worn very little if at all. Excellent condition 

Unlined with couture finished inner seaming. The dress wraps around you and hooks into place at the waist and then has a series of snaps on the top of the shoulder to hold the draped panel in place. Hand finished throughout. Softly padded shoulders and the padding is also hand made. 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: 23"
Shoulders: 15"
Bust: is loose and open to 23" flat across from side seam to side seam
Waist: 14" flat across from side seam to side seam
Hips: to 19.5" flat across from side seam to side seam
Length: 42" from neck to hem with 3" turned under the hem

Modern Sizing Equivalent: SML-MED

Item# DD3855

Reference Photos: (1-2) Fall 1982 Yves Saint Laurent Couture Runway.  /  (3) Model in a 1982 Yves Saint Laurent Dress.  /  (4-5) Fall 1982 Yves Saint Laurent Couture by Helmet Newton.  /  (6) A long evening dress in leopard-print satin crepe from the Fall-Winter 1982 Haute Couture collection on display in the studio of the Yves Saint Laurent Archives. Photo by Ithaka Roddam for W 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.

This is a beautiful example of Valentino's work that he was doing during the 1980s for his ready to wear boutique label. I have had the dress that matches this coat in the shop a very long time ago and was very pleased to find the coat after all these years. A couple of versions of it walked the runway that season and they were captured in runway shots where the models are decadently dragging the coats behind them in that very eighties runway kind of way. This one has hand hand written tag on it near the label so is possibly one of the actual pieces shown on the runway or was perhaps a special order. I love it.

This is that perfect over-sized, padded shoulder coat that feels suddenly so fresh again. It's overdone proportions were meant to balance out more fitted things underneath and that still holds true today. That impact of its volume mixed with that huge rose print is just fantastic. The coat is made out of a wool that has a felted feel to it. This gives it a lovely matte and soft texture that I am sure he did deliberately to mimic the velvet texture of a rose petal. It also softens the print and gives it a dreamy romantic feel. The coat is cut in that very eighties way with wide set, strongly padded shoulders. The sleeves are long and lean and the coat is a straight column from the shoulder to the hem. On the dress form it comes in a bit toward the bottom and it will do that a touch on an actual body too, but when laid out flat out it does have a very straight, long feel. Pockets sit low on each hip and a third one sits at one breast to giving it a touch of masculine suit cut. The collar is high and done in a ring of black velvet. That play between the masculine and the feminine is something that Valentino excelled at and this coat is the perfect combination of the two. It is perfectly representative of the feminine 'power dressing' look of this era. It looks to have been worn very little if at all. Excellent condition 

Fully lined in a quilted black silk satin and zippers to close at the front. Padded shoulders and all the pockets are functional. It is meant to be oversized so should fit a range of sizes.  

Sleeves: 24"
Shoulders: set over the natural shoulder due to the padding and are 17.5"
Bust: to 23" flat across from side seam to side seam
Waist-hips: 24" flat across from side seam to side seam
Length: 49.5" from neck to hem

Modern Sizing Equivalent: MED-LRG

Item# C595

Reference Photo: F/W 1985 Valentino Runway 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 Spring 1966 Dior collection was inspired by a recent trip to Mexico by the then Creative Director Marc Bohan. In the book 'Dior: Catwalk' the notes for this collection include a quote from the New York Times that said; "Fuchsia is the preferred colour and appears throughout the collection, accompanied by acid green, intense yellow, bright pink and deep purple" Besides the many caftan silhouettes in this collection - a young Barbra Streisand was photoed for Vogue in one of the evening pyjamas from this same collection that was taken immediately after the show - Bohan also did a series of chic little shift dresses and this is one of them. It is exceptional and an excellent investment piece as well. Dior prices continue to skyrocket and finding Haute Couture examples like and in this condition this are getting harder and harder to find. 

This is an amazing little dress that still feels perfectly on point for our modern girl which shows you just how well great design holds up even after 50+ years. It is cut in a sleek little shift that skims over the body to the hem with just the slightest bit of a flare as it nears the bottom. This gives it that perfect neat and chic silhouette that has an almost sculptural feel to it that was so prevalent in this era. The dress is beautifully constructed and it is cut to fit and flatter the body. The shoulders are soft and the sleeves are capped and simple. The shape through the body of the dress is a boxy silhouette with just the tiniest suggestion of shape through the waist. The inner construction is marvelous and that simple exterior has been lovingly created by carefully piecing together the various panels the dress is made out of so that it always lies perfectly on the body. I love the collar. It curves around the neckline and is set back from the front of the neck. You get into the dress by unbuttoning the panel at the front. Here sit six large very thick hand dyed to match buttons. Each is the same shade of pink raspberry fuchsia as the boucle the dress is made out of. Each button hole is precisely made by hand and perfectly finished. It is genius and meticulously tailored. The fabric deserves its own mention as it is a very high end nubby boucle. It has an almost coarse feel to it and the added texture it gives is wonderful. And of course it is in that same beautiful bright pink fuchsia that was so very relevant to this collection. In person the colour is far better and has more a pink cherry red undertone than how it photoed. Little vertical slash pockets on the front of the skirt are the perfect finish. If you are looking for a simple and chic statement dress this is it. It is simple, chis and elegant, yet extremely glamorous because of that stunning colour and nubby fabric choice. Excellent condition with a note to review below

Fully lined in a fine pink silk the same shade as the exterior. The dress buttons to close at the front. Hand dyed buttons. The colour is slightly different in person and more a true fuchsia pink then how it photoed. On the interior there is some fabric loss to the lining under each arm. On the exterior the fabric has felted a bit right near the inner seam. This would not show with normal movement. Please see the last three photos after the label shot. It otherwise is in gorgeous condition. It only opens above the waist so you need to be able to fit the waist over your shoulders to get it on. It is meant to sit slightly oversized and full through the body

Shoulders: 15"
Bust: 19" flat across from side seam to side seam
Waist: 18" flat across from side seam to side seam
Hips: 20" flat across from side seam to side seam
Length: 37" from neck to hem with 3.5" turned under the hem 

Modern Sizing Equivalent: SML-MED

Item# DD3853

Reference photos: Christian Dior 1966 / credit unknown.

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 Davidow label was a manufacturer of suits and coats and made a name for themselves in the 1960s by starting to produce copies of Chanel. Which they did pretty amazingly and at a price more suited to those who could not afford couture (this time period pre-dated Chanels foray into ready-to-wear). These were sold through better shops throughout America and were widely popular. 

This coat is a marvel. It made me gasp when I saw it. It is very well made and the fabric is extraordinary. I doubt you will see another like it again. It is made out of a soft flat pile chenille type velvet in a combination of a deep red and a black on a white base. The base fabric appears to be a heavy, almost canvas type fabric and then the black and red chenille have been applied in a pattern onto that. The pattern is so intricate and it has a wonderful 3D effect. I love the care put into matching the pattern on the sleeves to the body of the coat. The horizontal rows run over the entire coat in an incredible and intricate design. The coat has a bit of a military feel to it and I love how the pattern is laid out to highlight the high collar and sculpted lines. Flap pockets are placed high on the breast on the front of the coat. They are perfectly set to follow the pattern and each has a large decorative gold toned dome button. The same big gold dome buttons run down the front giving the coat a neat and polished feel. The shoulders are soft and the sleeves are long. A matching belt cinches in the waist and adds shape. The fairly simple design of the coat allows that beautiful fabric to take centre stage. An interesting thing about this one, it closes almost all the way to the bottom hem so could be worn as a dress as well. Excellent condition with one minor note below

Fully lined in a black silk and closes with the gold toned dome button down the front. The top flap pockets are decorative only. Hidden working pockets along the seams at the front. Hand finished throughout. It appears to have been worn very little if at all but there is evidence that it was let out on the upper bust on both sides. It is fine as is or could be taken back in if needed.  Please see the final photo after the label for a close up of the seams there

Sleeves: 23.5"
Shoulders: 15"
Bust: 18" 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: 43.5" from neck to hem

Modern Sizing Equivalent: SML-MED

Item# C596

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

Say the name Zac Posen and you immediately think red carpet and glamour. He is one of the best known modern designers and his name was already a buzz with fashion insiders before he even launched his own self named label. He held his first fashion show at the age of 20 and that same year founded his own company, Outspoke, through which he opened his signature label. 2002 saw the debut of his first ready-to-wear collection and soon Natalie Portman was a fan, Vogue's Anna Winter threw in her support and the label was on its way. The label lasted until 2019 and was a red carpet favourite for all the years in between. My client told me that she had this dress for at least ten years and never ended up wearing it so it is as if it just stepped off a rack condition wise. A similar dress with some of the same design elements walked the runway for the 2014 season so I have dated it to that year. It is a stunning example of his work.  

This dress is just remarkable. It is very sexy and provocative once on the body. It is also in its original uncut length so perfect for my taller girls should they need the length yet would be alterable if you don't. The purple of it is very unique and in person it has a softer, dustier feel to it for lack of a better descriptive word. It is really stunning. The fabric is completely cut on the bias so off the body it is one ultra long swath of fabric but once on the body it settles around your curves and highlights everything perfectly. The front and the back are cut into a low V and then the waist nips it. The shape is all created by the most clever seaming that harkens back to the type of work they were doing in the 1930s. From the waist the dress curves out over the hips and then is cut inwards a bit so it sits along the legs. At about the knee the skirt flares out dramatically. When laid out flat the amount of fabric around the lower skirting is more than a full circle. When you move it moves and the effect is amazing. My photos don't come close to doing it its full justice and when it is on the body it really comes to life. If all of that were not enough it was then highlighted with series of raw edged, exposed seams that give it an almost futuristic feel and highlight the shape and curves of the body even more. It is incredible and even better in person and on a body. Excellent condition 

Lined in a mixed silk stretch fabric and has a hidden set zipper at the back. Bias cut and was never worn. Tagged a modern US 8 and the fabric does have stretch. The range given is the comfortable stretch laid flat. The bias cut will move to accomodate the body some as well. 

Bust: 17-19" flat across from side seam to side seam
Waist: 14-15" flat across from side seam to side seam
Hips: 18-21" flat across from side seam to side seam
Length: 66" from top of bodice to front hem, 70" to the back hem

Modern Sizing Equivalent: SML-MED

Item# DD3852

Reference Photo: Spring 2014 Zac Posen Runway, Look 28.

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 woman behind the Maggy Rouff label was Maggy Besançon de Wagner and she started her label in 1928 after working at the Drecoll Haute Couture atelier. After only one season in business the Maggy Rouf label became an official member of the Chambre de commerce et d'industrie de Paris. The label continued to produce Haute Couture until 1965. Maggy developed a staunch following for her work and for her gowns in particular. One of the hallmarks of her designs was that each piece had a main focal point. Like the stunning back panel on this dress for example. Draping techniques, as we see around the hip area on this dress, where also a signature element of her work. This is a stunning dress and her Haute Couture examples are rare and becoming increasingly valuable. 

This dress has all the hallmarks of Haute Couture that you want from this era. It is entirely made by hand and the fabrics that were chosen to make it are exceptionally beautiful. Two different fabrics have been combined to make the dress that you see here. The main body of the dress is made from a rich, luxurious silk brocade made from a gold metallic thread woven through on a purple silk. This gives the dress an exotic, royal feel, and the fabric seems to glow from within as it catches the light from every angle. The thread is woven into the silk and not just applied onto it as a print. This gives it a slightly raised texture to it that is beautiful to touch and feel. Maggy chose a fine matte silk satin in a brilliant purple hue to use for the straps that curve up and over each shoulder and for that incredible inset panel at the back. The dress is cut to skim over you and curve in at the waist for shape. It is cut straight across at the neckline and has a panel in a contrasting pattern that is draped across the bust. The waist is curved in and there is a hand draped gathering that runs softly across the front at the hips. This balances out the panel at the bust and helps to highlight and show your curves in that perfect Hollywood starlet feel of this time period. The back is jaw dropping. The straps curve down to a low set back to leave lots of bare skin exposed. It is gathered in at the back waist to create shape. Inset at the low back is a sweeping train of the purple silk satin. This cascades to the floor ad opens and widens out as it nears the hem to create a trained back skirt. At the small of the back a flat bow in the same purple silk is the perfect finishing touch. Inside the dress there is a fully boned and structured bodice along with a waist stay to hold the dress perfectly in place. This dress is an incredible piece of mid-century Haute Couture. Excellent condition.

The inner bodice is boned and set into the inner purple silk lining. This inner bodice layer closes with its own series of snaps and hooks that run down and behind a painted metal zipper that closes the outermost layer of the dress. An inner waist stay hooks to close. The back train is lined in a stiffened netting to help hold the shape and the hem is finished in dressmakers tape. Inner silk lining. The dress is completely made by hand to the Haute Couture standards of the period and is done with remarkable construction technique. There is one tiny area on the inner lining's hem that has a touch of fading, that of course this is not something you would ever see when on. Perhaps the tiniest bit of grubbiness to the trains hem but I am being extremely picky.  Otherwise appears to have been worn very little if at all

Bust: 18" flat across from side seam to side seam
Waist: 13.5-14" flat across from side seam to side seam
Inner hips: 19" flat across from side seam to side seam
Length: 58" from top of shoulder to front hem, the train extends another 10" ato its longest point at the back

Modern Sizing Equivalent: SML-MED

Item# DD3851

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

Isaac Mizrahi presented his first collection at a trunk show at Bergdorf Goodman's in 1987. By 1992 Chanel had bought a stake in the company and Isaac's name was everywhere. He was doing custom work for clients and Hollywood on top of his mainline. In 1995 Isaac was the subject of the movie 'Unzipped' based on his Fall 1994 collection. He is known as much for his personality as he was for his clothing. The Council of Fashion Designers of America (CFDA) recognized him with the Perry Ellis Award (now called the Swarovski Emerging Talent Award) in 1988 and the women's wear designer of the year award in 1989. He loved to experiment and would often change his aesthetics from season to season. This is an amazing example of the custom piece that he was doing and comes directly from the client that worked with him and purchased it from him. 

My client had this dress custom made for herself and worked one on one with Issac on its design. It is a gorgeous dress and it really feels like its time period with its nod to Old Hollywood combined with a twist of modernity through the quirky placement of the bow at the back. It is made to demi-couture standards. The dress is very long and the lines have been kept simple. The bodice is molded and sculpted into a plunging V at the front and again at the back. The fabric on the bodice extends into the straps that curve up and over each shoulder. The simplicity of how it is made is what gives it is sculpted feel. The wonderful curving shape from there has all been created through long vertical seams. This means that there is no horizontal line at the waist to break the beautiful curves the dress creates. Even off of the body and on the hanger this one has curves. That is how well made and scalloped it is. The fabric that Isaac chose for the dress is a heavier silk matte satin that holds the shape he meant it to have but without being too heavy on the body. The light purple colour is beautiful. The photos have come close to capturing the colour but in person is a touch lighter and brighter and even better. It skims over the bust and waist and over the hips. Then at about the knee the lower skirt starts to begin to flare out in an angled and sculpted line. The lower skirting is set into the body of the dress on an angled seam and this clever seam placement helps to elongate the line of the dress to make you look supermodel tall. At the back of the skirt where it meets the rest of the dress there is an oversized bow that is also set on an angle that follows the seam there. I love how it makes a tremendous impact from the back as you walk away. Even from the front view you see that bow peaking out slightly on either side making you wonder what is there. The skirt is cut slightly longer at the back to create that beautiful shape that you see. All of the shaping has been creating by seaming and fabric placement and it really shows just how great Isaac could cut a dress. It is even better in person and once on an actual body it really comes to life as the skirt moves around you. Excellent condition

Fully lined in a matching purple silk and closes with a hidden set back zipper. The slightest bit of scuffing to the very back hem. Please see the last photo after the label shot. 

Bust: 17" flat across from side seam to side seam with an approx A-B cup
Waist: 15" flat across from side seam to side seam
Hips: 18" flat across from side seam to side seam
Length: 59.5" from top of shoulder to front hem, 62" to the back

Modern Sizing Equivalent: SML-MED

Item# DD3595

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

After the premature death of Jean Patou in 1936, his sister took over the house and eventually had other designers head the atelier. On the Jean Patou site the history of the houses designers is clearly laid out; 'Marc Bohan, born in 1926, made his debut with Jean Patou at the age of 18. He left the couture house to better find himself as the artistic director. He kept the legend alive from 1954 to 1957. He moved on to serve as the head of creation at the Dior house for the following thirty years. Karl Lagerfeld joined the fashion house as head designer in 1958 and left Jean Patou in 1963 to devote himself to ready-to-wear houses with whom he collaborated. Michel Goma remained at the head of the fashion house from 1963 to 1974. He developed ready-to-wear in parallel with his couture work. Jean Paul Gaultier began his career with Jean Patou during Michel Goma’s time there. He joined the studio in 1972 at the age of 20, completing his apprenticeship there. He left the house in 1974 to work at Pierre Cardin. Angelo Tarlazzi took over the reins of Jean Patou in 1974, succeeding Michel Goma. He left at the end of 1977 to start his own brand. During his time with Jean Patou in the 1980s, Christian Lacroix gave the brand a new life. Lacroix dared all the crossovers, unexpected combinations of colours, extravagant details (such as the famous tafetta hand-painted toile de jouy cocktail dress), and oriental inspirations reminiscent of those Jean Patou loved them at the time of his splendour. He received the prestigious Dé d'Or de la Couture award in 1986 for his work, before the fashion house ceased its activity in 1987 and Lacroix founded his eponymous house within the LVMH group.' After a lot of research I believe this to be an early example of the ready to wear collection debuted under Michel Goma's time there. It is a stunning coat and will forever remain a classic 

This is a lovely and classic feeling coat that is made from a slightly heavier weight black wool and this is what gives it its structure. It is cut in the manner of a longer pea coat feel with a more fitted upper body and then it flares out slightly through the lower half of the coat. Every line of this coat is fantastic. The collar is set to be oversized and sits across the front in this great curving notched affair that adds to the chic feel of this coat. A double row of buttons run down the front. The sleeves are long and each ends with the most amazing cuffs that are flipped over and notched on a curve to emulate the collar. All of the edges of the coat have been topstitched for a subtle detail that really emphasizes the lines and cut. This same stitching treatment edges the collar all the way around. Then it has a series of big thick round buttons that run down the front. It is very very well made and it is just incredible to see in person. The seams give it a wonderfully structured and sculpted feel and the dropped seam at the hip adds an interesting final detail. It is a gorgeous and chic vintage coat. It appears to have been worn very little if at all. Excellent condition 

Fully lined in a black silk and closes with the buttons at the front. Pockets hidden along the side seams. This is a medium to heavy weight coat and is beautifully made. Sizing is based on the shoulders and it is generous through the body so if you are small shouldered it may accommodate a bit larger size as well

Sleeves: 22"
Interior shoulders: 15.5"
Bust: to 20" flat across from side seam to side seam
Waist: to 21" flat across from side seam to side seam
Hips: 24" flat across from side seam to side seam
Length: 46" from neck to hem

Modern Sizing Equivalent: SML-MED

Item# C592

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 incredible and rare piece of Dior's history in the fur market. During this time period there were select furriers that had permission to make the Haute Couture pieces and the maker of this coat, Canton Furs in Lausanne was one of those. This coat was made in 1984 and this time period was known as the 'Golden Age' for the Dior fur division. Frederic Castet was appointed the head of the division after joining Dior in 1953. He single handedly restructured the fourrure department to follow the haute couture and the prêt-à-porter philosophy of the house in 1968. He was one of the first to treat fur like fabric and would dye it, trim it, pluck it and create whimsical fantasy pieces that had never been see prior. By the 1980s he was doing extravagant presentations that only showcased his furs. These were held on the second floor of the Dior mansion on Avenue Montaigne. They were as wanted a ticket as the couture shows were and they were legendary in terms of the extravagant spectacles that he would put on to showcase his work. His work was worn by all the major stars from Sophia Loren to Elizabeth Taylor.

This coat was originally purchased for the sum of CHF 120’000, on 11.10.1984. That was about $93,000 USD at the time. I have a digital copy of the original insurance value paper done for the coat that is dated to december 13th 1984 that states its insurance value at FR. 200,000. If you want to talk modern dollars that is well over an astonishing $248,000USD. The insurance papers along with the information given to me by the family also gives us an amazing amount of detail on the coat. It is the Haute Couture model nr. 3007 that was named 'Dynastie'. The sable pelts that is is made out of are some of the rarest on the planet. It is made of a Russian sable, 87 Bargouzine quality skin, ’sauvage pointée’, color grade 3 with a matching belt. We found a very similar model that was photoed for the cover of L'Officiel that year. It is of special interest that during Gianfranco Ferre's tenure at the house he used these same sleeves as inspiration for a sable piece that he post on the runway for the Fall 1994 Haute Couture presentation. I have included both these reference photos for you here. 

The coat is in exceptional condition and appears to have been worn very little if at all. The style is very much like a men’s evening smoking jacket with how it wraps to close at the front. I love that feeling of the masculine contesting with the feminine in this piece. I have done a video for this piece that you can watch to get a really great idea of its suppleness and how it moves. It also shows more of the details on the coat. The sleeves are especially of interest. They are cut exceptionally wide and full and the pelts have been set horizontally to contrast against the vertical pelts on the body of the jacket. At their cuffs they are a full 24" around. Everything about the coat is exquisite and exceptionally made to the very last detail. Even the belt has a special hook that allows you to keep it perfectly in place once it is tied at the front. And if you want to wear the jacket without the belt tied you can hook the belt at the back as I’ve shown in the video so you never have to worry about losing it. For those of you that collect and wear vintage furs this is one of the most exceptional pieces you will ever come across and and it is set at an extraordinary price given its original value. It is truly a one-of-a-kind find. Excellent condition.

Fully lined in a brown silk with a second lining floating over that. It hooks to close at the front with fur hooks and the belt has it own hook as shown in the video. Silk lined pockets on each hip. The fir is exceptionally soft and supple. Because of the the tie front it should work on a variety of sizes. 

Sleeves: approx 24"
Shoulders: soft with no defined seams
Bust: to 22-23" flat across from side seam to side seam
Waist- hips: open and adjustable when tied
Length: 44" from neck to hem

Modern Sizing Equivalent: SML-LRG

Item# C593

Reference Photos: (1) Original Purchase Insurance Papers.  /  (2) Model in Christian Dior, Officiel de la fourrure, 1984.  /  (3) Fall 1994-95 Dior Haute Couture 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.

I have a small collection of historically important, key designer labelled vintage furs and fur trimmed pieces stored away in my archives that I will be slowly posting on the site over the next couple of years until I have none left. I will no longer be buying furs for the shop moving forward and have not purchased anything for several years now. I feel like times have changed and while there still is a place for vintage furs for some, including collectors and historians, many modern girls are choosing other options. Many of the pieces in my collection are representative of the designer during a set time period in history that was different then our modern outlook. I have decided that the best course to handle this controversial issue is to let the pieces I have go rather then sit in a cold storage unit. Fur coats are final sale.

The coat is wonderful. It has those fabulous sixties lines and details that you want from this time period. This was made through the more youth oriented sub-division of the Jonathon Logan label, one of the largest ready to wear companies in the USA by the mid 1960s. They developed several brands under the Jonathan Logan umbrella and this is one you don't see very often. It is made out of a light weight ultra soft black faux fur. The pile of the fabric lays flat and close to the cloth and it has a slight textured feel to it. The fabric is very soft and supple. The coat falls beautifully once on. The coat zips up the front to a collared neck. It is more fitted through the shoulders, skims over the bodice to the waist and then falls outwards to the hem. The braiding detail is fantastic. It follows the lines of the coat and adds that little bit of extra detail that makes it fabulous. It is so very wearable and chic. Excellent condition 

Fully lined in black silky rayon It zippers to close at the front and has pockets on each side. 

Sleeves: 23"
Slightly inset shoulder: 15.5"
Bust: to 19" flat across from side seam to side seam
Waist: to 17" flat across from side seam to side seam
Hips: to 22" flat across from side seam to side seam
Length: 44" from neck to hem

Modern Sizing Equivalent: SML-MED

Item# C594

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. I have had a version of this dress in the shop before and I added the photos of that one on me here. The scarf on this one is longer as is the back train so has even more drama. It is a very easy to wear dress with lots of impact, and of course, Chanel is never a bad idea. 

This Chanel dress is from the 2002 Cruise collection and it is phenomenal. It successfully marries an unexpected stretch jersey fabric choice with insets and draped panels of silk chiffon. The cut is pure evening, while the fabric has a more relaxed feel. This makes it wonderfully easy to wear and very comfortable once on the body. The colour of the dress is a deep midnight blue that almost appears to be black in certain lights. The fabric is light in weight but with enough substance to hold the shape and give it the wonderful curving shape through torso and the skirt that you see. The bodice of the dress is suspended by straps that curve over each shoulder.  One shoulder has looping panels of silk chiffon that you just fall over your shoulder. This panel then falls down the back of the dress all the way to the floor and a little past the hem for a very dramatic feel. The bodice is more fitted and a draped silk chiffon panel curves over it on both the front and back. The skirt is cut to hug your curves over the waist and hips. It then narrows in until it flares out in a dramatic expanse of chiffon and jersey at the hem. The back flares out behind you in a bit of a train and the bottom half of the skirt has a more transparent feel with its chiffon panels that are inset in points all-around the bottom portion of the dress. The movement that all these elements of the dress has once it is on is incredible. The double C logo sits on the top of one shoulder strap for the perfect finish. The construction is immaculate and it looks to have been worn very little if at all. Excellent condition

Fully lined in a matching blue silk chiffon and it zips to close at the side with a hidden set zipper. The fabric does have some stretch. It is tagged a Chanel 40. The fabric does have stretch and give so may accommodate a frame more towards a size large as defined by my size chart below 

Bust: to 18" flat across from side seam to side seam
Waist: 14.5" flat across from side seam to side seam
Hips: 18-20" flat across from side seam to side seam
Length: 59" from top of shoulder to front hem, 69" to the longest point at the back

Modern Sizing Equivalent: SML-MED

Item# DD3850

Reference Photos: Cherie, Owner of Shrimpton Couture, by Erin Leydon. Cherie is wearing a Magnetic Midnight X Shrimpton Couture 'Star Bright' Headpiece - available on the site here >

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 Nina Ricci Haute Boutique demi-couture label from the 1980s and it has that amazing eighties aesthetic to it. The Nina Ricci brand was founded in 1932, at 20 Rue de Capucines in Paris and quickly became one of the top couture ateliers in the world. In 1964, Gérard Pipart succeeded Jules-François Crahay, Nina Ricci's former designer assistant, as head of the brand. Over the following three decades, Pipart's couture vision 'celebrated a flamboyant woman and his ready-to-wear found a loyal following among the most stylish women of the day.' This dress fits perfectly into that aesthetic and I think it is absolutely fabulous. 

I love the bold cut of the dress combined with the richness of the black velvet and the luxuriousness of the silk taffeta. Using velvet allows the black on the skirt and the sleeves to be as deep and dark as they possibly could be. Then the use of the silk taffeta through the body offers this amazing contrast to that. It allows the body of the dress to become its own element. Before I even begin to describe the dress I have to tell you that it will truly only come to life on an actual body. Its genius  lies in the movement of the skirt and the shape and volume created through the body and the sleeves. I am actually seeing a lot of similar pieces on the runways this past season or so and they are all based on work like this. The sleeves are cut long and each narrows to a zipper cuff. At the top of each arm is an explosion of volume through the shoulders that is reminiscent of the earlier mutton sleeves. These modern versions are cut on a curve and to the same high level of tailoring that the sleeves of the far past would have been. The effect this creates and the volume it gives is remarkable. The silk taffeta that makes up the body of the dress runs from the neckline to past the hips and is gathered and curved to give you an hourglass feel. The neckline is a modified sweetheart and it curves over the breasts and is gathered in the centre where it is caught up with a large silk bow. It then follows your body to run over the waist and the upper hips where another bow sits off to one side. The skirt falls from under the silk taffeta and it is cut on the bias and done in the same velvet as the sleeves. It has a lot of fabric and is set on an angle with one side falling longer then the other. On the side that curves up there is a slit that runs right up to where the silk taffeta ends. This allows almost your full leg to show when you walk or sit. Trust me - once on the body this one is incredible. The dress is very well made with a hand set inner silk lining and that black silk interior gives it a rich and sensual feel. Excellent condition

Fully lined in a hand set black silk and closes with a back zipper. Inner waist stay that hooks to close. Each cuff has zippers to close. Hand finishes. It appears to have been worn very little if at all. 

Sleeves: 24"
Bust: to 18" flat across from side seam to side seam
Waist: 14" flat across from side seam to side seam
Hips: 18" flat across from side seam to side seam
Length: 58" from neck to longest point on the hem
Slit: approx 33" from the longest point of the hem to the top of the slit 

Modern Sizing Equivalent: SML-MED

Item# DD3849

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 Nina Ricci brand was founded in 1932, at 20 Rue de Capucines in Paris and quickly became one of the top couture ateliers in the world. This dress is from the main Nina Ricci line and it is made to level that I would consider to be demi-couture. It dates to the Fall 2006 collection and its twin walked the runway on model Jeisa Chiminazzo. Designer Lars Nilsson was the head of the atelier at the time and he had been there since 2003. His take over of the label was met with rave reviews and he was asked to reinvigorate the then floundering label. He remained there until 2006 so this dates to mid-way of his tenure. In the review of the collection that season by Vogue, they were harsh of the sportswear looks presented but raved about the evening looks saying; 'What his soigné fans love him for is his easy way with a dress. Several of the versions he showed today featured an artsy, swirling print, while the others came in those multicolored layers of organza, chiffon, or silk gauze. His facility with such concoctions makes spring a natural for Nilsson.''

This was a standout piece from the show and it is gorgeous and even better in person. The dress is a fantastical confection of black netted tiers that run from the top of the dress to the hem. The upper shoulders and bodice are a single layer of the netting and this curves over the shoulders and across the upper back to give you a glimpse of the skin underneath. Over the bodice it is cut into a modified sweetheart neckline that is caught up in a long loose and easy tie at the center for added detail. Under that the dress skims over you to the floor and each layer of the netting lies over the one beneath it. These tiers expand out in width as they progress down the body gently widening out as the dress nears the hem. This cut is incredibly flattering as the netting moves with you for a sensual feel but it hides all and every flaw. To give the dress the high glamour that it has, each edge of every layer has a wide band of beadwork that circles all the way around you. These bands are collectively made up of thousands of tiny tube beads hand sewn into place and following the edges of the netting. The gloss of the black beads against the black net is gorgeous. I love that the runway shots give you a bit of an idea of just how wonderful the dress is on. It is truly magical.  Excellent condition.

Fully lined in a black silk and closes with a hidden set zipper set the side. Tagged a US6 / FR 38. It appears to have been worn very little if at all. 

Bust: 17" flat across from side seam to side seam
Waist: 15" flat across from side seam to side seam
Hips: 18" flat across from side seam to side seam
Length: 62" from shoulder to hem

Modern Sizing Equivalent: SML-MED

Item# DD3848

Reference Photos: Fall 2006 Nina Ricci Runway Collection. Look 34. Model: Jeisa Chiminazzo.

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

Jean Louis is the designer who created that dress that Marilyn Monroe was sewn into when she sang Happy Birthday to  President John F Kennedy. Louis worked in the movies heading the costume department at Columbia Pictures before starting his own label in 1961. Once he began designing under his own label he concentrated on suits and evening wear and was known for his beautiful fabric choices.

You can always see the wonderful lines and attention to detail that those years of heading a costume department added to Jean Louis' already amazing talent. He truly knew how to cut a dress. This is a wonderful and early dress from his self-named label that is made out of a stunning silk brocade. The colour is amazing and in person you get more of a sense of the depth created from the way that the silk was woven. Several shades of pink are combined with soft greens for the base of the fabric. The design there has that soft water colour feeling and suggests a floral print. Then over that there is a more matte pink thread that has been woven on top of the underlying print. This gives it a very pretty and romantic feel. The silhouette of the dress still has that wonderful influence of the 1950s that you can see in its lines. It is beautifully made. The dress is cut to fall to a midi length with a more fitted bodice and full skirt. If you are shorter it will feel a bit longer on you. The neckline is scooped and cut wide across so you see a bit of collar bone. Slim sleeves fall to the elbow with a pretty gathered detail that curves around the arm. Below the bodice the waist nips in with a piped seam. The skirt flares out to be quite full under that. All of the volume of the skirt is created by the soft pleats set into the waist that then expand out as it reached the hem. A deep pleat sits at the middle of both the front and the back for even more fullness. The fabric is extraordinary. Excellent condition overall with a note to review below

Fully lined in a cream silk crepe and it closes with a hand set back painted metal zipper. Hand finishes throughout and very well made. The silk shows the beginning of some shattering along the edge of the hem of the skirt and on the edge of one sleeve. Turning up the hem a touch more would eliminate this if it bothered you. It is still strong and stable otherwise. Please see the photos after the label shot. It is completely wearable as is if you wanted to keep it at its present length. 

Sleeves: 16.5"
Shoulders: 14.5"
Bust: 18.5" flat across from side seam to side seam
Waist: 14" flat across from side seam to side seam
Hips: open
Bodice: 14.5" from neck to waist
Skirt: 36" from waist to hem

Modern Sizing Equivalent: SML-MED

Item# DD3845

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

Kenzo Takada founded the Kenzo label in 1970 and the label is still in existense despite the loss of Takada on Oct 4, 2020. He was also the honorary president of the Asian Couture Federation. The Kenzo label was and still is a great success with a strong following. My client bought this in Paris and never ended up wearing it so it still has all of its original hang tags attached. On the runway it was shown with a longer skirt but the reference photo still gives you a great idea of how it looks like on the body.

Kenzo traveled the world and his designs often mixed in the influences from those travels. He would mix traditional Japanese cuts with Western tailoring methods and fabrics from around the world. The interior of the clothes were as important to him as to the exteriors and they are immaculately finished like this one. This suit is so pretty. The fabric is a soft flat pile velvet that holds the colour printed onto it perfectly. It looks like it should be heavy but it is actually light and easy to wear. The velvet is very fine and soft. The skirt is cut in a pencil shape until just above the knee and then it has a very full ruffled and gathered finish so that that when you move it flares out for a very pretty effect. At the very bottom of the hem under the gathered portion it is finished with a wide ruffle that adds to the pretty lines. For the skirt the lining is a gorgeous contrasting pink floral print on a white backdrop. Topping that is that darling little jacket. It is cut to be fitted to the body with long sleeves that end in a contrasting pink velvet finish at the wrist. This same pink velvet accents the lower portion of the collar. Huge colourful buttons run down the front. The waist nips in and then the hips flare out in a slight peplum. The jacket is lined a beautiful turquoise floral print so you get a lovely flash of colour if you wear it open. It was never worn and has its original hang tags. Excellent condition.

Both piece are fully lined as described above. The skirt has a zipper to close and the jacket closes with hidden set snaps under the buttons at the front. New with its original tags. Both pieces are tagged a 40 and are cut very generously in size. 

Jacket
Shoulders: 15" across
Sleeves: 21.5" long
Bust: 18" flat across the back from seam to seam
Waist: 17" flat across the back from seam to seam
Length: 18" from neck to hem

Skirt
Waist: 15.5" flat across from side to side
Hips: 19.5" flat across from side to side
Length: 30" from waist to hem

Modern Sizing Equivalent: MED-LRG

Item# DD3846

Reference Photos: Fall 2005 Kenzo Runway Collection, Look 7. Model: Lindsay Ellingson.

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 incredible set that dates to the time period when Marc Bohan was head of the Christian Dior atelier. It is a beautiful and early example of the work being produced by Christian Dior in this time period. This is from the Christian Dior-London label and it was considered to be demi-couture from this time period of Dior's history. Pieces with this label where made for the London based Dior shops and the designs were based on the Paris collections. They were produced with many of the same high standard finishes that the Haute Couture pieces incorporated. The line was overseen by John Langberg who was the Artistic Director of Christian Dior London. Langberg would tweak the Paris looks of the house to meet the needs of Dior's London clients. All under the eye and approval of Mr. Bohan. It is exceptional and an excellent investment piece as well. Dior prices continue to skyrocket and finding early and stunning examples like and in this condition is getting harder and harder to do. 

This suit still feels perfectly on point for a modern girl which shows you just how well great design holds up even after 50+ years. The skirt is exceptional. It is cut in a sleek little flare that skims over the hips and then flares out with hidden flat inverted pleats at each side. The actual width around the botton hem stops just short of a full circle skirt. This is all achieved by the cut because there is no pleat work done around the waist. This would have taken a tremendous amount of fabric to achieve and wouldn't even be done in modern production outside of Couture. Around the waist the silk lies flat and neat and is very flattering. When you stand still the skirt lays flat and smooth but when you move you get an incredible burst of movement and volume. The skirt is suspended from a sleeveless top made out of lining fabric. This is a technique that you no longer see done because of the extra fabric it used and longer zipper requirements which also added to the costs. At this point in time though it was the proper way to have a skirt hang perfectly and be the most comfortable for the wearer. Then over that goes the little top that closes at the back with a zipper. It is cut to perfectly fall just over where the skirt underneath begins. It is cut with the slightest of curving in at the waist. It is beautifully constructed and it is cut to fit and flatter the body. The shoulders are soft and the sleeves are capped and simple. I love that there is no collar. It just simply cut with a wide set high scoop at the neckline. A large bow has been set off to one side at the back and partially snaps over the zipper. At the front it is gathered in slightly towards the middle and there is a little strip of fabric there that suggests that it is being held in place by that strip. It is genius and meticulously tailored. The fabric deserves its own mention as it is a very high end silk with a twill like finish. The colour is a beautiful bright pink fuchsia combined with white and it is stunning to see in person. If you are looking for a statement set this is it. It is simple, chis and elegant, yet extremely glamorous because of that stunning colour and silk fabric choice. Excellent condition

Both pieces are fully lined in an ivory silky rayon. The top zips to close at the back and the skirt with its attached lining also zippers to close. A bow snaps into place over the zipper of the top. There is some minor shattering of the inner lining of the top under the arms but they are clean and fresh otherwise and the lining is very stable. Please see the final shot after the label 

Top
Slightly dropped shoulders: 16"
Bust: 19.5" flat across from side seam to side seam
Waist: 16" flat across from side seam to side seam
Length: 17" from neck to hem

Inner Dress/skirt
Bust: 18.5" flat across from side seam to side seam
Waist: 14" flat across from side seam to side seam
Hips: open
Bodice: 15" from shoulder to waist
Skirt: 25" from waist to hem with 4" turned under the hem

Modern Sizing Equivalent: SML-MED

Item# DD3847

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

This is one of those lovely things you only find with vintage. It is an exceptional piece that is just fantastic. It is made from a heavier weight black wool and this is what gives it its structure. It is cut in the manner of a military great coat with a more fitted upper body and then it flares out wide through the lower half of the coat. Every line of this coat is fantastic. The collar is set to be oversized and sits across the front ending in two pointed ends. A double row of buttons run down the front. The sleeves are long and each ends with the most amazing wide cuffs. All of the edges of the cuffs are finished in the most elaborate combination of bead work and black silk cording. This sits off of the fabric for a 3D feels with the gloss of the beads against the black of the fabric making the most wonderful contrast. This same treatment edges the collar all the way around. If the beadwork on the cuffs and collar weren't enough each of the eight buttons at the front are also finished with the same beads that have been hand applied over the big dome buttons. It is just incredible to see in person. The seams to bring in the waist are all set on curves and the skirt under the waist flares out to be quite full and wide. It is truly one of the best vintage coats I have seen and a definite find. It appears to have been worn very little if at all. Excellent condition 

Fully lined in a black silk and closes with hidden snaps at the front. Shallow pockets hidden along the side seams. This is a medium to heavy weight coat and is beautifully made. 

Sleeves: 22"
Shoulders: 15"
Bust: 18.5" flat across from side seam to side seam
Waist: 17" flat across from side seam to side seam
Hips: 22" flat across from side seam to side seam
Length: 48" from neck to hem

Modern Sizing Equivalent: SML-MED

Item# C591

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 exceptional full length coat from the 1920s, maybe early 1930s, that is made of a beautiful black silk velvet and is accented with ermine fur at the collar. It has its original I. Magnin label and would have been a high end piece in its day. The silk velvet that it is made out of is a dream to wear. It is a fabric that has the most beautiful drape and ease. It falls to the floor and has a loose and easy cut so can be thrown on over just about anything. The upper portion of the coat has high capped shoulders and these curve gracefully into the sleeves. Each sleeve is quite special with its full cut through the shoulders for volume and then how it is cut to follow the curve of your arm in the proper tailoring tradition. All the volume is on the upper arm and then it narrows on a graceful curve to the wrist. The bodice is fabulous with a wide soft collar that has a man's evening coat feel to it. It curves around the neck and falls very wide across the shoulders and dips down right to the waist. It is done in creamy white ermine fur backed with the black velvet. Under that the coat then falls in a long line to the floor with just a hint of suggestion of shape at the waist. It has no true closures and I added a long black grosgrain ribbon so you can see how pretty it is belted. I will send this ribbon with the coat and you could easily add your own belt too or wear it without a belt.  Excellent condition with a minor note below 

Fully lined in a black silk taffeta. No closures. The loose and open cut should fit a range of sizes. Some grubbiness on the back of the collar. Please see the last photo after the label shot. For its age I still rate this as excellent. The fur has no odor, is still supple and is stable with no signs of excessive shedding that would indicate that it is breaking down.

Sleeves: 24"
Shoulders: 15.5"
Bust: 17" flat across from inner side seam to side seam
Waist: to 18"
Hips: open
Length: 60" from neck to longest point of the back hem, the collar is 7" at its widest point

Modern Sizing Equivalent: XS-MED

Item# C590

I have a small collection of historically important, key designer labelled vintage furs, fur trimmed & feather pieces stored away in my archives that I will be slowly posting on the site over the next couple of years until I have none left. I will no longer be buying furs for the shop moving forward and have not purchased anything for several years now. I feel like times have changed and while there still is a place for vintage furs for some, including collectors and historians, many modern girls are choosing other options. Many of the pieces in my collection are representative of the designer during a set time period in history that was different then our modern outlook. I have decided that the best course to handle this controversial issue is to let the pieces I have go rather then sit in a cold storage unit. All fur coats, fur trimmed & feather pieces are final sale

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 construction on this coat is wonderful. The Marty Modell label was out of Switzerland and they produced well made higher end pieces that were sold in select salons around the world. They are very well made pieces and this one is a greta example of their work

The choice of the black silk jacquard fabric that the coat is made out of makes it very easy to wear for multiple occasions. It would have been considered a formal evening piece during its time period but now a modern girl could wear almost anything with it. It is made from a high end black silk brocade that has some weight and structure to it. This allows it to keep that wonderful shape that you see. The cut of the coat is very simple and elegant. The collar is high and neat and cut more on the wide side. This frames the face perfectly and gives it a bit of that Balenciaga funnel neck feel. Where it closes at the neck there is a small and neat flat bow for detailing and then there are two large fabric covered buttons under that. The sleeves are straight and end at the elbow for that perfect feel of this time period. Under the buttons the coat swings open and is quite wide and full by the time it reaches the hem. The photos don't quite convey the volume it has and the generous cut through the body. It will fall much much better on an actual person. It is very beautiful. Excellent condition

Fully lined in a fine black silk and closes with the two buttons at the front and two hidden snaps under the bow at the neck. It is a light-medium weight. Hand finished. It appears to have been worn very little if at all. The loose and easy cut should allow it to fit a range of sizes

Sleeves: 179"
Slightly dropped shoulders: 16"
Bust: to 22" flat across the back from side seam to side seam
Waist-hips: open
Length: 44" from neck to hem

Modern Sizing equivalent: SML-LRG

Item# C589

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 spectacular piece is by Pauline Trigere and is one of her best documented pieces even if you did not immediately recognize it. It's twin was featured in one of the most iconic editorials ever for the December 1966 issue of Vogue that was lensed by Henry Clark. The entire editorial was shot on location in Turkey. The fashion details in that issue described this piece as a: "High waisted drift of sun printed chiffon with a toga-scarf. By Trigere of Staron silk". This is an exceptional example of her work and I love that you can play with the attached scarf to create a number of ways to wear it. You are only limited by your own imagination.

When you look at the photos from Vogue, or the photos here, especially the published one, you think this is a dress. However it is actually a jumpsuit with extremely wide cut legs. Inside there is a built in body suit in a nude crepe lingerie fabric that keeps the semi-transparent fabric of the legs from being too scandalous. This inner suit is cut long and seems to extend down past where the leg meets your torso. I think this would give you the option of wearing the pant higher up if you were small enough. The silk used is almost weightless and the colours in it combine pink with a pale mint, shades of coral and a tangerine colour, to give it the feel of a sunset. Which was the exact mood it was shot for in Vogue. The pants flow to the floor and are cut to be extremely wide and full. A long panel of fabric is attached at the front under the waist band and gathered. This can be worn several ways. I have shown it swooped up and over one shoulder like they did for the Vogue shoot and I also curved it up one side around the neck and then tucked  it under itself to create a halter that leaves the back completely bare. You could even add a belt to really secure it in place. That front panel actually extends down past the hem in length so there is a lot of fabric to play with for styling. In the photos the model wore a body suit under it and you could do the same or even just wear a bandeau or a skimpy halter to allow more skin to show. It is a very unusual design and I love it. I purchased this years ago I and was told it came from a models closet so there is the possibility that it actually is the actual piece used in this shoot. It is very beautiful. Excellent condition with a note below.

The pants and front panel are unlined. There an attached nude crepe half bodysuit inside the pants. This inner piece zips up the back with a painted metal zipper. The silk of the pants then snaps in place over the bodysuit to fully hide it. Hand finishes. Has a hand numbered tag inside #159. I see wear and repairs to the fabric on the inside band of the waist where it hooks to close. Please see the photos after the label shot

Top band of waist/Underbust: to 14" flat across from side seam to side seam
Hips of inner body suit: 19.5" flat across from side seam to side seam
Length of inner suit: 23.5" from top of band to inner seams
Pant length: 45" from top of band to hem with a 4.5" turned up interior hem
The front attached fabric panel is 56" long from where it is inset to the hem

Modern Sizing Equivalent: XS-MED depending on how how you wear it

Item# DD2996

(1) Editha Dussler in Pauline Trigere, from the editorial Eastward to Eden, Vogue, December 1966. Shot by Henry Clarke. (2) Outtake from that same shoot.

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

Holly Harp opened a shop LA in the late 1960s and created custom clothing under the Holly's Harp label. She tended to create her clothing out of a hodge-podge of new and old materials. In the beginning she favored things like feathers and fringe but her aesthetic became more 'grown up' and glamorous as her career progressed and she started to focus more on jerseys and draping. She was an avid thrifter and you can often see the influence of earlier decades in her work like with the kimono-esque hand painting and embroidered work on this piece. 

This is an amazing dress that is so unusual and avant garde. It was very difficult to photo as it really need a moving body underneath it to really bring it to life. You can wear it in so many ways and I think once on the body you will quickly figure out the best way to wear it on yourself. It is one of the most interesting design pieces I have ever had in the shop. It is made from a beautiful fluid silk done in a rich ombre toned yellow that has a hand painted design on parts of it done in a brilliant purple. Black stripes are worked into the design as well and these highlight the line and cut. The silk also has dots that are woven directly into the fabric and these are finished with a different sheen so that they catch the light. To wear it you wrap the inner skirt part around you and secure it with a button at the side. The waist of this inner skirt has elastic so it will accommodate a range of sizes. From the skirt that entire upper body of the dress extends out as one extremely long panel. The motion of twisting it over and around the front of you is what keeps the side opening of the skirt covered and secure. Part of the way along that panel is the opening for the neck and it is at this point that it gets fun. You can literally wear it in as many ways as you can think of and I did all these options just by changing the way it drapes. Add a belt to help hold configurations in place and you would have a whole new slew of styling options. By changing the way you wear the upper draped part of the dress you get a whole different feel of the outfit. On the one long panel there is a crane applied onto the silk and there are also little squares of metallic gold thread that have been used to give just a little extra glint of high glamour. This subtle pop of gold is wonderful. The entire thing is meant to be worn loose and easy but you could also add any kind of belt for some added shape and it would look equally as incredible. It also comes with a little cream coloured stretch body suit that you can wear underneath. This is a set that really transforms on an actual body and is even better when on and moving. It is truly an incredible once in a lifetime vintage find. Excellent condition

Both pieces are unlined. The skirt slips on with elastic at the waist and then buttons to close at the side. The top portion is attached and as described above. The body suit does not have her tag in it but did come with it so will be sent with the dress. The loose and easy cut should work on a full range of sizes. Larger sizes might not be able to use this bodysuit but you could easily substitute a larger modern one in its place. The size range is based on the dress. 

Body suit
Bust: 13-17" flat across from side seam to side seam
Waist: 11-14" flat across from side seam to side seam
Hips: 13-17" flat across from side seam to side seam
Length: will stretch to approx 32" from top of shoulder to inner seam

Skirt
Waist: 13-18" flat across from side seam to side seam
Hips: open
Inner skirt length: 38" from waist-hem
The attached panels are several yards long

Modern Sizing Equivalent: SML-LRG

Item# DD3843

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 always thrilled to find a really great Emilio Pucci piece. The truly great ones are getting very hard to find and this one is exceptional. By the 1960s, the time period that this dress is from, Pucci was a world-wide phenomenon. Hollywood stars like Marilyn Monroe, Sophia Loren and even Jackie Kennedy were huge fans. For all of the many attempts since to catapult the label back to the height of its glory, the days when Emilio himself oversaw the label and designed the prints will always be the most special to me. This dress is gorgeous. 

This is one of the prettiest Pucci dresses I have ever had in the shop. It is very unusual to find one that sits off the shoulders like this one does and I love it. It is done in a gorgeous combination of a pink and yellow print that is worked onto a soft pastel peach backdrop. In person the overall effect is a little softer and more pastel feeling then how it photoed. These colors are combined into a soft and romantic floral design that sweeps over the entire dress. As is typical in a Pucci dress, he has used bands of a different printed silk to define each section of the dress. On this dress these borders are pretty little curving flourishes rather than the typical geometric print that his borders are usually finished with. This adds to the soft and feminine feel it has. The cut is very flattering. It sits off the shoulders so that your shoulders are left bare. A band of the border runs all the way around and the back dips into a very subtle V. Under the neckline border is a ruffle that falls over your arms and across the back and bust. I love this because when you move it has a gentle movement that just is beautiful. It is cut to skim over the body and with just a suggestion of a waist. From there the skirt flares out to the floor gradually widening out quite a bit as it nears the hem. There are yards and yards of silk in it. I love how it is all cut on the bias so the dress has the most incredible movement and fullness as it swirls around you. It is very feminine but sexy at the same time. I absolutely love it. Excellent condition with one small note below

Fully lined in a white silk chiffon and closes at the side with a painted metal zipper. I one dot of a mark near the side at the front. It is very tiny and nothing you would notice when on. Please see the photo after the label shot

Shoulder opening: to 19" across
Bust: 18.5" flat across from side seam to side seam
Waist: 15.5" flat across from side seam to side seam
Hips: to 20" flat across from side seam to side seam
Length: approx 56" from top of the off shoulders to the hem

Modern Sizing Equivalent: SML-MED

Item# DD3844

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

This is one of three tops that my client had made about 15 years ago using a combination of new with antique / vintage fabrics and detailing from various 1920s pieces that were beyond repair or found as fragments. Each is a one off and the only one like it ever made. This one uses a pale lavender silk chiffon fabric for the body of the top and it comes with a matching silk tank that you wear underneath for coverage since the top layer has a touch of transparency to it. The colour in person is far better then how it photoed and has a more soft true purple feel. The top is cut into an easy to wear classic T shape that you just slip over the head to wear and that layers over the inner tank. Hand applied to the front is a fantastic found hand beaded floral piece from the twenties. This is set to run across the front of the top and adds such beauty to the piece. I love that the edges of the net that surround the beadwork was left for a bit of a deconstructed feel. Her tailor was couture trained and all three of these tops are beautifully made. Excellent condition 

The exterior too is unlined and that goes over the inner silk tank. It slips on to wear. It appears to have never been worn or worn very little. The loose and easy cut should allow it to ft a range of sizes. 

Inner tank bust-hips: 20" flat across from side seam to side seam
Length: 21" from top of shoulder to hem

Modern Sizing Equivalent: SML-MED

Item# S960

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

This is one of three tops that my client had made about 15 years ago using a combination of new with antique / vintage fabrics and detailing from various 1920s pieces that were beyond repair or found as fragments. Each is a one off and the only one like it ever made. This one uses a black silk chiffon fabric for the body of the top. The top is cut into an easy to wear sleeveless tank that you just slip over the head to wear. The back falls in a sleek and easy line and then the front has an extra panel that loops back up to gather in and under that huge flower that sits at the front. Hand applied to the front is a fantastic found hand beaded flower from the twenties. This is set to anchor the low neckline and the gathered panel is set underneath it. I love the leaves that trail out behind it and how they used small metal thread pieces to scatter over the front. Her tailor was couture trained and all three of these tops are beautifully made. Excellent condition 

Unlined but made from a double later of silk chiffon. It slips on to wear. It appears to have never been worn or worn very little. The loose and easy cut should allow it to fit a range of sizes. 

Bust-hips: 19" flat across from side seam to side seam to 20" at the hem
Length: 24" from top of shoulder to hem

Modern Sizing Equivalent: SML-MED

Item# S959

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

This is one of three tops that my client had made about 15 years ago using a combination of new with antique / vintage fabrics and detailing from various 1920s pieces that were beyond repair or found as fragments. Each is a one off and the only one like int ever made. This one uses a vintage silk kimono fabric for the body of the top that is a bright coral orange colour and is just fantastic. The top is cut into an easy to wear sleeveless tank that you just slip over the head to wear. The main part of the top is made from the kimono fabric and then there is a solid coloured matching silk stripe that runs down each side. The upper shoulders are made from a pretty pastel turquoise silk chiffon. I love the colour combination and contrast that the two colours create. Hand applied to the front is a fantastic found hand beaded piece and embroidered fragment from the twenties. This is set to follow the scoop of the neck and trail down the front. Her tailor was couture trained and all three of these tops are beautifully made. Excellent condition 

Unlined and slips on to wear with a hook and eye at the back of the neck. It appears to have never been worn or worn very little. The loose and easy cut should allow it to fit a range of sizes. 

Bust-hips: 19" flat across from side seam to side seam
Length: 23" from top of shoulder to hem

Modern Sizing Equivalent: SML-MED

Item# S958

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 incredible cropped fur jacket and the workmanship is of the best possible quality. The design is typical of the furs being produced during this time period and this one is exceptional. It would definitely been a high end piece and the quality it was made with still shows even after some 65 odd years later. It is made from a dark natural mink. The pelts are still very soft and supple and have a bit of a reddish undertone to them in certain lights. It is cut with rounded shoulder and an almost cape like feel through the body. Each sleeve is wide and full. It has been constructed from rows of the fur that are interspersed with rows of a black braided silk cording. The cording has its own incredible pattern worked through it and the final effect is beautiful. The collar is set high and wider across the neck. It is a beauty and a stunning vintage fur. Excellent condition

Fully lined in a deep brown silk and closes at the front with covered fur hooks. Hidden pocket along one inner seams edge and has the original owns name subtly embroidered on the interior lining. It appears to have been worn very little if at all. The easy cut should fit a range of sizes

Sleeves: approx 20"
Shoulders: no defined seam
Bust: to 20" flat across from side seam to side seamed widening out 22" at the bottom hem
Length: 22" from neck to hem

Modern Sizing Equivalent: XS-MED

Item# C588

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

I have a small collection of historically important, key designer labelled vintage furs and fur trimmed pieces stored away in my archives that I will be slowly posting on the site over the next couple of years until I have none left. I will no longer be buying furs for the shop moving forward and have not purchased anything for several years now. I feel like times have changed and while there still is a place for vintage furs for some, including collectors and historians, many modern girls are choosing other options. Many of the pieces in my collection are representative of the designer during a set time period in history that was different then our modern outlook. I have decided that the best course to handle this controversial issue is to let the pieces I have go rather then sit in a cold storage unit. Fur coats are final sale.

Turnbull & Asser was founded in 1885 by Messrs Regan Turnbull who was a hosier and Ernest Asser whose background was in sales. The original London shop focused on men's hosiery. They soon expanded to meet the needs of their wealthy clients and offered a bespoke service for the making of gentlemen’s  clothes. In 1895 they changed their name to “Turnbull & Asser”. They have a long and lustrous history and still operate to this day. This is a men's piece but is slim cut and works for any gender. In the 1950s The Gentleman’s Magazine described the smoking jacket as: “A kind of short robe de chambre, of velvet, cashmere, plush, merino or printed flannel, lined with bright colours, ornamented with brandenbourgs, olives or large buttons.” This one is in immaculate conditon. The company still makes versions of these today with new one's being several thousand dollars. It is very difficult to date this since they have made versions of them since the 1920s and this one is so perfect. It does feels older though and is in perfect condition

The jacket is made from a black velvet that is as deep a black as you can get. It has a slim cut and the shoulders are sharp and tailored. Each sleeve is cut on a slight curve to follow the shape of the arm in the proper tailoring manner. It flares out slightly as it nears the hem and the interior is lined with a crisp white silk satin that is hand set. Pockets sit on each hip and I love the piping detailing on the flap of each. The collar runs down to the waist and is set with a contrasting and more matted ribbed silk. Braiding edges the collar and extends down the front edges. The jacket closes with huge front frog knots made of the same black braided cording. I love that you can literally close the knots to either side depending on which is more comfortable. I assume this was done originally to accommodate both left and right handed gentleman. It is fabulous and a great find. Excellent condition 

Fully lined in a white silk satin and closes with the fron braided loops and knots. Light padding in each shoulder and pockets on each hip. It looks to have never been worn or worn very little. 

Sleeves: 22"
Shoulders: 15"
Bust: 18" 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: 30" from neck to hem

Modern Sizing Equivalent: SML-MED

Item# C587

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 jacket is from the Yves Saint Laurent variation line which was an experimental lower priced lined that last for a short time period during the 80s. Most of the pieces you see from it are not what I look for from his work on a day to day basis but this jacket had such great lines I could not resist picking it up. There was just something so young and fresh about it and it is really in par with the regular label snd what he did in the couture line for this type of look that I decided to make an exception. It is quite fabulous actually. 

The cut of the jacket is magnificent and it has all the fullness and impact of its more couture counterparts. The cut through the body is very full and meant to b oversized. Each sleeve is also cut to be incredibly full and then narrows down a bit as it reaches the cuff. The body of the coat is made from a deep copper coloured nylon that has a bit of a metallic finish to it. This is then lightly padded inside and cross quilted so you get a bit of a puff jacket feel. The neck line is high and it has no closures down the front. It simply settles into place after slipping it on. There are pockets on each hip. To give it more of a wow factor it has been edged in a deep dark shaved fur that I believe is shaved fox. This runs round the neck and then down the front to curve all the way around the hem. Each sleeve ends in a ring of the same fur. The fur has an added bit of texture created by cleverly shaving it into the pattern that you see. Inside it is fully lined in the fur as well except for the sleeves that have an inner quilted lining. I love the contrast between the metallic colour and the statement the fullness of the jacket makes. Excellent condition.

Fully lined in the same fur as the exterior detailing with the sleeves finished in a quilted lining. It has no closures at the front and just slips on to wear. Pockets on each side. Padding in the shoulders. It appears to have been worn very little, if at all. It is meant to be worn oversized

Sleeves: 23"
Shoulders: have padding and extend beyond the natural shoulder so will work on a range 
Bust: to 24" flat across from side seam to side seam
Waist-hips: 26" flat across from side seam to side seam
Length: 29" from neck to hem

Modern Sizing Equivalent:SML-LRG

Item# C586

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

I have a small collection of historically important, key designer labelled vintage furs and fur trimmed pieces stored away in my archives that I will be slowly posting on the site over the next couple of years until I have none left. I will no longer be buying furs for the shop moving forward and have not purchased anything for several years now. I feel like times have changed and while there still is a place for vintage furs for some, including collectors and historians, many modern girls are choosing other options. Many of the pieces in my collection are representative of the designer during a set time period in history that was different then our modern outlook. I have decided that the best course to handle this controversial issue is to let the pieces I have go rather then sit in a cold storage unit. Fur coats are final sale.

Pauline Trigere launched her label in 1942. She had moved to the US from Paris in 1937 and her designs always have that bit of a French feel to them. By 1949 she had been awarded a Coty and won one again in both 1951 and 1959. The 1959 win coincided with being inducted into the Coty Fashion Hall of Fame. She as a pioneer in the use of cottons and wool for evening, In 1961 she made headlines for being the first major fashion house to use an African American model. This is a stunning example of her work. 

This dress is just so pretty. I love the lines of it and the lightness of the fabric. It is made out of fine black silk chiffon that has an amazing pattern that has been created by fusing both silver and black glitter directly to the silk. This gives the dress its sparkle and glitz and allows it to catch the light from every angle. I love the curving vine and flower design that the glitter creates. The design has been laid out over the dress in a beautiful and intricate pattern. The workmanship to attach the glitter to the silk chiffon cannot be underplayed as this would have taken hours of meticulous hand work to accomplish. The designs runs all around the lower part of the dress and also curved around each sleeve. The cut of the dress is equally fabulous. The front and the back are squared off and the sleeves extend out from the top of the shoulder. Each sleeve is made from a single layer of the silk chiffon. The glitter then runs down the lengths of each and they widen out to be a full 23" around by the time they reach their ends. They are stunning. The bodice is cut to skim over you and it then widens out gradually as it falls to the hem. The body of the dress is made from a double attached layer of the silk chiffon on top and then there is another layer of silk chiffon under that. This makes the dress just opaque enough to wear but with a subtle touch of transparency. It is beautifully made. It looks like it has been worn very little if at all. Excellent condition

Fully lined in a fine black silk chiffon and closes at the back with a series of tiny snaps. It looks like it has been worn very little if at all. Hand finishes throughout. The easy cut should allow it to fit a range of sizes. 

Sleeves: 26"
Shoulders: no defined shoulders
Bust: to 20" flat across from side seam to side seam
Waist: to 19" flat across from side seam to side seam
Hips: to 22" flat across from side seam to side seam
Length: 46" from shoulder to hem

Modern Sizing Equivalent: MED-LRG

Item# DD3840

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 silk taffeta dress is by Marc Bohan for Christian Dior. It is from the Fall 1985 collection. In the 'Dior Catwalk' book, they include a write up from WWD that said the collection felt; 'young at heart, naughty and smart-chic'. They went on to note that many of the pieces on the collection were designed so that the 'hips are wrapped for attention and the knees are revealed'. The dress is a wonderful example of that young feel he was after and it is certainly a dress that is a reflection of its era. It is also a stunning example of his work during this time period. The dress is made even more special since we found a runway shot of the twin of the dress. For the runway it was styled with a lace mask and a pin nestled in the ruffled shoulder. It is an exceptional dress. 

The fabric of this dress is fantastic and no matter how great it looks in the photos you will love it even more in person. It is made out of a black silk taffeta whose underside in a silver pewter that has a bit of a metallic feel to it. This creates an incredible effect with the ruffles that cover the dress. As they move and flip over themselves you see the silver grey colour and the effect is fabulous. The fabric is light in weight and despite the elaborate construction of the dress is not at all heavy once it is on. Inside the dress has light boning through the bodice to give you some support. The bodice is cut with a modified sweetheart neckline and it is meant to hug the body. It is elaborately gathered and fitted around the bust with all of the gathered folds coming in to the seams that run over the bodice at the front, back and sides. These emphasize your curves and it make the dress very flattering once on. There is a huge and elaborate ruffle that curves around and under the arm and covers the one shoulder while the other is left bare. This gives the dress this fabulous shot gf glamour. More ruffles completely cover the skirt. These ruffles are set all the way around the skirt in a series of vertically placed silk panels. Each panel has been individually set onto the skirt to create the exaggerated ruffled effect that you see. The way they are set onto the skirt allows each piece to sit off of the skirt to create that fabulous volume. I really fluffed them up for the photos and the silk taffeta choice helps to hold the shape that you place it into while still being soft and not stiff. It is gorgeous and I love that we found the reference photo so you can see just how fabulous it is one. The dress appears to have been worn very little if at all. Excellent condition.

Fully lined in a black silk and closes with a side set zipper. The interior of the bodice is boned for support. It appears to have never been worn, or worn very little.

Bust: 17.5" flat across from side seam to side seam
Natural waist: 14" flat across from side seam to side seam
Hips: to 21.5" flat across from side seam to side seam
Bodice: 17" from top of bodice to waist
Skirt: 21.5" from waist to hem

Modern Sizing Equivalent: SML-MED

Item# DD3841

Reference Photo: Fall/Winter 1985-86 Christian Dior 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.