• The twin of this dress walked the runway for the Fall 1979 Givenchy show.
• It was made under the creative direction of Hubert de Givenchy.
• On the runway they showed it belted with a wide wrap belt. From what I understand that was sold separately. We have added a thin black ribbon for ours and I prefer it with a more narrow belt as it really allows the beautiful softness of the bodice to show better. I love that you can choose to wear it either way, or with no belt.
• The dress is two separate pieces. It has an inner black silk chiffon slip and then the outer silk chiffon layer pops over that. I love the large silk velvet dots fused onto the silk chiffon of the outer layer and that the chiffon of the outer layer has a slight texture. There is a fantastic play on transparency that this creates between the two layers.
• The inner slip is suspended from ivory mesh straps and is made out of a black silk chiffon. The front is scooped and the upper back is bare. It skims over the body and then widens out to the hem.
• Over that is the phenomenal outer dress. It falls from top gathered shoulders and is cut wide and easy so that it softly blouses to the waist. Each side is open from shoulder to waist for your arms to slip through. From the side you see the inner chiffon piece for coverage. It hooks to close at the back of the neck and then there is an open slit there that runs all the way to the waist.
• We cinched in the waist with a ribbon, that will be sent with the dress, and it looks equally good with a more structured belt or worn without any.
• From the waist the dress falls to the floor in a long sweep of silk. The silk is gathered into the waist and the fabric is set so that it extends past the waist on both sides with a little opening at the top as a fabric folds from the front to the back. Once this is on, that extra fabric drapes down and over each hip. This is a ingenious way to add subtle shape that still feels soft and feminine. It also picks up on the way that the sides of the bodice falls.
• The silk of the skirt is all cut on the bias and when you are standing still it falls in a beautiful column to the floor but there is an incredible amount of fabric in the skirt. The bottom flares out a touch and it has incredible movement when you move.
• The silk slip acts as a lining. It closes with a back zipper. The outer dress closes with a hook at the back of the neck and then it snaps to close at the waist. Snapped continue slightly under the waist as well. An inner waist stay hooks to close.
• Tagged a vintage Givenchy 40
• Excellent condition

Inner Slip
Bust: 16.5" flat across from side seam to side seam
Waist: 14" flat across from side seam to side seam
Hips: 18.5" flat across from side seam to side seam
Total length: 58" from top of the shoulder to him

Outer dress
Bust: open with no true side seams
Waist: to 13" flat across from side seam to side seam
Hips: open
Bodice: approx 15" from top of shoulder to waist
Total length: 65" from top of shoulder to hem

Modern Sizing Equivalent: XS-MED

Item# DD5163

Reference Photo: Fall 1979 Givenchy.

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

• This dress was one that was produced for the shops
• Made under the creative direction of Clare Wright Keller
• Easy to wear while still being incredibly sexy. It is made out of a thicker jersey that is cut on the bias and this lets it drape beautifully over you and still be completely opaque.
• The plunge at the front gives it a very edgy and sexy feel while the jersey keeps it feeling comfortable to wear.
• The dress is made to be one long tube with a seam at the waist on the front of the dress only.
• The dress has no collar and plunges down at the front to the waist. Two long ties extend out from the base of the front plunge. You can loop or knot them and then they fall almost to the floor at the front.
• The sleeves are long and simple and the shoulders are soft.
• The skirt flares out at it reaches the floor with a high slit runs up the front so you get a flash of leg when you move
• The dress is in its original uncut supermodel length and it closes with a back hidden set zipper.
• Tagged a modern Givenchy 36
• Excellent condition with some minor grubbiness around the hem
  

Sleeves: 25" and are 10-12.5" around the upper arms
Shoulders: 15"
Bust: 16-18" flat across from side seam to side seam
Waist: 12-14" flat across from side seam to side seam
Hips: 16-18" flat across from side seam to side seam
Bodice: 16" from neck to waist
Total length: 62" from neck to hem
Slit: 32"

Modern Sizing Equivalent: XS-SML

Item# DD5102

Reference Photos: (1) Melanie Hamrick at the American Ballet Theater Spring Gala, 2018.

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

• From the Fall 1985 Givenchy Haute Couture collection and we have included some photos showing the extensive use of this particular fabric for pieces shown on the runway.
  
• Under the creative direction of Hubert de Givenchy
  
• Completely made by hand in the Paris atelier to Haute Couture standards.
• This gorgeous dress is made out of a black silk velvet with a leopard print done in a different finish of velvet within the fabric. This pattern gives the velvet an extra depth and richness, and also catches the light as you move. It is stunning.
• It drapes absolutely beautifully over the body. It is really an outstanding fabric. The bodice is set into a V that crosses over itself where it is set into the waist. The bodice drapes more loosely over you at the front. 
• The waist is seamed and cut slightly on the more generous side. I have added a ribbon and if you wanted more shape, you could have it cinched and even more with a belt or it also works perfectly well without.
• The sleeves narrow down to a hand set zippered cuff.
• The skirt falls to the floor in a pretty sweep of fabric that is at the front. This lets the front hem curve up slightly.
• It is a gorgeous dress and a wonderful piece of his fashion history.
• Fully lined in a black silk. There's a inner built-in half skirt. It closes with an inner side set zipper and the outside snapped into place with a series of hidden set, snapped around the waist. And inner waist state hooks to close. Each cuff has a hidden set zipper. It appears to have been worn very little if at all. 
  
• There is no size tag present so please check the listed measurements below
• Excellent condition

Sleeves: 23.5"
Shoulders: 15"
Bust: 16-19" flat across from side seam to side seam
Waist: 13.5" flat across from side seam to side seam
Inner hips: to 22" flat across from side seam to side seam
Bodice: 17" from top of shoulder to slightly dropped waist
Total length: 55" from top of shoulder to hem

Modern Sizing Equivalent: SML-MED

Item# DD5100

Reference Photos: Fall 1985 Givenchy Haute Couture.

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

• The twin of this dress was presented as Look 5 for the Resort Givenchy collection.
• Made under the creative direction of Ricardo Tisci
  
• This was his fifth year at the label and in the Vogue review of the show they noted that Tisci told them that the colour palette of black, red and white mixed with the occasional leopard was inspired by Frida Kahlo and her animal-filled paintings.
• The dress was shown over a hot pant two-piece inner set but was shipped to the stores with the black half slip you see here. If you prefer the runway version you could of course easily re-create a more bare feel.
• The dress is made out of a black net with little silk insects, emphasizing the darts. It is set in with a seam under the bust that is angled upwards to the centre. It is suspended from two tiny straps that curve up and over the shoulder. The very upper edge of the bodice is finished with leather piping.
• It skims over the waist and then the skirt cascades outward from there to the floor.
• Red lace and red netting have been applied over the dress to create the striking pattern that you see. This pop of red against the transparent black net is even more striking once on the body and you see the transparency through it that contrast against the red lace and netting.
• It widen out quite a bit by the hem and the width of the lower skirt allows the dress to move beautifully around you as you move.
• The inner black silk chiffon slip acts as the lining and it slips on to wear for an easy fit.
• The net dress slips on over that with no closures.
• Tagged a Givenchy 40
• I see a couple of tiny repairs in the net near the raw edge finish of the skirt. Very minor but mention for accuracy.
• Excellent condition

Dress
Bust: 16-17" flat across from side seam to side seam
Seam under the bust: 15-16" flat across from side seam to side seam 
Waist: 14.5-15.5" flat across from side seam to side seam
Hips: to 24" flat across from side seam to side seam
Bodice: 14" from top of shoulder to lowest part of the seam under the bust at the sides
Total length: 67" from top of shoulder to hem

Inner slip
Bust: 15.5-17" flat across from side seam to side seam
Waist: 15.5" flat across from side seam to side seam
Hips: to 18" flat across from side seam to side seam
Total length: 36" from top of shoulder to hem

Modern Sizing Equivalent: XS-SML

Item# DD5087

Reference Photo: (1) Resort 2011 Givenchy, Look 5. Model Daphne Groeneveld.  /  (2) Ciara in Givenchy by Cameron Smith for Wonderland Magazine, Nov 2010.

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

Hubert de Givenchy moved to Paris in 1942 where he worked for Jacques Fath, then Elsa Schiaparelli, and eventually Cristobal Balenciaga. Givenchy often attributed much of his later success to the years with to Mr Balenciaga and what he learned while there. In 1952, Givenchy founded his namesake house in Paris and quickly rose to fame as one of the great couturiers of our time. I am always pleased to find any of his Haute Couture work as it is so rare. This particular dress is exceptional with every detail on it finished to Haute Couture standards.

This is an amazing true Haute Couture Givenchy dress that is a very rare and special find. Two things of immediate note for this dress. First is the absolutely beautiful fabric combination. The bodice and sleeves are an inky black silk velvet and then the ruffles on the neckline, end of each sleeve, and the entire top layer of the skirt is a starched cotton and silk mix netting that has beautiful little gold metal thread flowers hand embroidered over the netting. I took closeups of both the front of these flowers and also their backs so that you can see the beautiful workmanship put into each individual flower. I also included close ups of the hand finished seams on the interior of the dress. The time and technique to complete this dress would have been astounding and I cannot even imagine how many hours this would have taken. The second thing of note is that stunning cut through the neckline. It is tremendously flattering to have that bare expanse of skin across the top of the shoulder like that. It feels a little bit sexy with the way the top sits off the shoulder to leave that expanse of bare skin. You could also wear it on the shoulder but I chose to show it off. I love that you have the versatility of the two different ways to wear it. A ruffle goes all the way around the neckline and around the end of each sleeve. It is shaped to come in at the waist and then curves out over the hips. The skirt is set into a seam that sits at the top of the hips and the netting is softly gathered into that seam so you get a touch of fullness. As the skirt flows down to the hem it expands outwards to give you pretty movement as you walk. There is a full black silk organza inner skirt under the top layer of the skirt so that it is opaque enough to wear. It is spectacular. This is a very beautiful example of Givenchy from this time period and an amazing example of the technical skills that can be achieved in Haute Couture. It is easy to see why his work is the subject of so many books and retrospective shows at museums worldwide. Excellent condition

The dress is fully lined in a matching hand set black silk. It zips to close and an inner waist stay hooks to close. Completely made by hand throughout to Haute Couture standards. It appears to have been worn very little if at all. Proper couture tag and numbered tape present. 

Sleeves: 26" and are 11.5" around the upper arm
The opening across the neckline is 18" flat across from side to side
Bust: 16" flat across from side seam to side seam
Waist: 12.5" flat across from side seam to side seam
Seam at top of hip: 16.5" flat across from side to side
Hips: open
Bodice: 19" from top of natural shoulder to seam at the top of the hip
Total length: 61.5" from top of natural shoulder to hem

Modern Sizing Equivalent: XS-SML

Item# DD4975

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

• This is dated to 1971 by the reference photo that we have here.
• It was made under the creative direction of Pierre Cardin
• I had the twin of this many years ago and that one sold to a museum. It is a brilliantly important and beautiful dress and an amazing example of his work during this time period that perfectly illustrates how much of a range he had.
• The entire dress is made out of a printed silk organza. The colours are mixed together like a painting and are done in the prettiest jewel tones. 
• The neckline is scooped and edged with a handset piping in the same fabric. The bodice skims over you to the waist where it curves in slightly for shape and then curves back out over the top of the hips.
• The technical construction of the bodice and upper portion of the sleeve is an absolute master class. The silk has been flat pleated in vertical rows set side-by-side. They are each perfectly spaced apart and then manipulated to form the shape and structure of the dress. Given the fabric that the dress is made out of and the difficulty in working with this fabric the skill required to have this fall over the body so perfectly is not to be underestimated.
• The shoulders are soft and the flat seam work runs down the arm to just about the elbow. Each little pleat opens out and the silk is allowed to expand outwards to create the huge bell sleeve that you see. The immense volume of the fabric that the lower portion of the sleeve has is all from the opening up of those hand sewn flat pleats which gives you an idea of how much fabric was actually used to create this dress.
• The skirt is constructed in the same manner as the bell sleeves but on a larger scale. Its volume is all achieved by the opening out of the vertical pleats that extending down the length of the bodice. I have taken a close-ups of how they open out for you to see. The skirt falls to the floor from there and mimics the shape of the sleeve as it curves outwards to the hem.
• In the reference photo you can see that a solid colour sash was tied around the waist and if you wanted to add more shape you could easily re-create that feel.
• The silk organza for the fabric choice keeps the dress feather light and it is an amazing thing to see in person. It is well deserving of its museum status.
• The dress is fully lined in pale green silk and the bell of the sleeves is a double layer of the organza. It closes with a back zipper. Hand work throughout.
• There is no size tag present so please go by the listed measurements below
• Excellent condition

Sleeves: 22" and are just under 12" around the upper arm
Shoulders: 15"
Bust: to 19" flat across from side seam to side seam
Waist: 15.5" flat across from side seam to side seam
Hips: open
Total length: 55" from top of shoulder to hem with 4" turned under the hem

Modern Sizing Equivalent: SML-MED

Item# DD5215

Reference Photo: Jeanne Moreau and Pierre Cardin, June 1971.

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

• This great little print Leonard dress dates to the 1970s.
• The Leonard Paris label began as a textile firm in 1954 and for the first four years of its existence it only produced fabric. In 1958 they started making garments but it was not until about 1970 when they started using a printed silk jersey for the majority of their collections that the label really took off. They are often compared to Pucci and during the seventies the two labels battled it out to be the label of choice for the jet set.
• This is a very easy-to-wear and travel with kind of dress. It is made out of one of their signature silk jersey fabrics. This silk jersey fabric choice is what gives these dresses their perfect drape and ease.
• Each of their dresses were made of a custom designed print. On this one a washed over-sized floral print runs over the entire dress. The colours are a beautiful rainbow mix of pastels. The flower print is large and very pretty. Contrasting stripes with the same floral print inside the striping edges the neckline cuffs and hem.
• The entire neckline is finished with elastic so you can wear the dress completely off the shoulder. If you wanted to you could also wear it up on top of the shoulder.
• The bodice is cut extremely loose and easy over the body and drapes over an elastic waist. This makes the dress very easy to fit and it will work on a variety of sizes.
• Each sleeve has that same ease to them that the dress has and are very full. They end just above the elbow and have elastic around their ends so again it is an easy fit. Once on they puff up a bit and are very pretty.
• Under that the skirt skims over the hips and flares out slightly as it nears the hem. With all of the silk jersey that is gathered in and around the waist there is quite a bit of fabric in the skirt so it has great movement when you move.
• The dress is unlined and slips over the head to wear. The waist, around the neckline and cuffs are finished with elastic. It is an easy dress to wear and fit and will just drape more on a smaller frame. The printed part of the fabric is signed throughout. 
• There is no size tag present and I have put the comfortable range of measurements when laying flat below. Between the stretch of the fabric and the elastic that should fit a range of sizes. It will just drape more on a smaller size.
• Excellent condition.

Sleeves: approx 13.5" and are open and full around the upper arm
Bust: approx 16-24" flat across from side seam to side seam
Waist: 11-20" flat across from side seam to side seam
Hips: to 25" flat across from side seam to side seam
Bodice: approx 16" from top of natural shoulder to waist
Total length: approx 58.5" from top of natural shoulder to hem

Modern Sizing Equivalent: XS-MED

Item# DD5214

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

• This dress dates to either the 1971/1972 spring season.
• It was made under the creative direction of Jules-Francois Crahay
• Jules-Francois headed the Lanvin ateliers from 1964-1984. He has been noted as one of fashion’s 'great colorists with his colorful patterns making his 1970s Lanvin designs hugely desirable and influential.' His time at the Lanvin label is one of my personal favourites for the house.
• He mainly used this particular type of fabric for his 1971-1972 collections and in the book on his work 'Jules Francois Crahay" by Lanvin there is a detail photo of a couture fabric noted as been most likely from the fall 1971 Couture collection and you can see it has the same weave as the fabric used for this dress.
• The dress has a gorgeous bright colour and print combination. The cotton pique it is made of is light in weight and holds colour exceptionally well so the colours are still crisp and true. A texture runs through the fabric that adds visual interest and structure to the fabric.
• The front halter is created by two triangles that curve up and behind the neck. Each side is set into the top of a wide 5.5" band that defines the waist. This leaves the back completely bare and exposed.
• From there the skirt falls to the floor and it widens as it nears the hem.
• I love how the pattern is laid out onto the dress to emphasize the different parts of it. The halter has a smaller floral pattern and then the waist has horizontal stripes. You see the same smaller floral pattern around the hips and the stripes repeat. Below that is a larger version of the flowers with a double stripe anchoring the dress around the hem to tie everything together.
• The colour is a coral-red with pops of yellow, green and soft orange in the print.
• The perfect finish is the top set pockets that sit on each hip.
• The dress is fully lined through the band of the waist and the skirt is lined in an orange silk. The halter top is unlined. It closes with a low set back zipper. 
• Excellent condition

Bust: each halter covers approx 7" flat across from side to side
Seam at the top of the band: 16" flat across from side seam to side seam
Waist seam at the bottom of the band: 13.75" flat across from side seam to side seam
Hips: to 10" flat across from side seam to side seam
Bodice: approx 13" from neck to top of the band at the waist
Total length: 59" from neck to hem

Modern Sizing Equivalent: SML-MED

Item# DD5211

Reference Photo: From the book "Jules Francois Crahay" by Lannoo.

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

• The dress is from 1977 and was most likely a made to order custom or bridal piece.
• It was made under the creative direction of Roy Halston
  
• When researching we found the examples shared here that are almost identical to this dress but without the extra added panels that create the spiralling ruffles.
• This is a beautiful ivory dress that showcases the minimal seaming that Halston was so famous for.
• The dress is made of a heavier weighted silk charmeuse that is cut like the reference photos show through the body but with added panels and seams that go around and cascade down the lower skirting.
• It is completely cut on the bias so it drapes phenomenally over the body. You simply slip it over your head and it drapes over you to accommodate the body underneath. This makes it easy to fit and very easy to wear.
• The sleeves are long and extend out directly from the body of the dress with no seaming around the arm. Each narrows to its cuff where there is a handmade silk covered button and loop.
• The neckline is cut wide across the neckline and has a subtle draping at the centre of the neck at both the front and back of the dress. It is a very pretty detail.
• It glides over the body skimming over the bust, waist and hips to the floor. The vertical ruffles are set on an angle so that they cascade down to the hem. When you move these swirl around the lower part of the dress and create gorgeous movement around you.
• Working with this fabric is incredibly difficult and it is a testament to his skill to create such a seemingly simple but complex pattern.
• The dress is fully lined in a second layer of the same fabric which adds to the technically difficultly of the pattern and rich feel of the silk. It has no closures and slips on to wear. Each cuff has a silk covered button and loop to close.
• There is no size tag and the bias cut will allow it to have it some give. Please go by the range of measurements listed below. The colour is slightly more ivory in person. I see some minor marks and scuffing here and there on the silk of the bottom ruffles. I shot one so that you can see. It is very minor but mentioned for accuracy. The length may come up once on because of the bias cut.
• Excellent condition.

Sleeves: approx 23.5" and are 16" around the upper arm
Shoulders: no defined seam
Bust: 18-22" flat across from side seam to side seam
Waist: 15-21" flat across from side seam to side seam
Hips: 19-25" flat across from side seam to side seam
Total length: approx 62" from top of shoulder to hem. 

Modern Sizing Equivalent: MED-LRG

Item# DD5201

Reference Photos: (1) Spring 1977 Halston.  /  (2) Fall 1977 Halston.  /  (3) From the book "Halston: An American Original"

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

• Note that due to new customs regulations this piece can only ship to a Canadian address.
• This unlabelled piece is one of those things that you will only ever find in vintage. It is very well-made and has the feel of a designer piece but there is no label present.
• The dress is made out of a lightweight silk that has tiny little dots that combine a ultra soft chenille with a gold and silver eyelash fringe. These are scattered over the entire dress. They sit slightly off the surface of the silk to create a beautiful added texture and pattern.
• The silk is ultra light and it is a piece that you just slip over whatever you wish underneath to make it as opaque or transparent as you dare.
• The collar is high and detailed with an elaborate feather collar. I love that the feathers have been hand dyed to be little stripes of blue and white. It perfectly picks up on the pattern in the silk.
• The sleeves are long and easy and each one ends in another elaborate feather cuff.
• The shoulders are soft and the dress drapes over you with an almost caftan feel to it through the body. It skims loosely over the bust and then widen out quite a bit over the waist and hips, continuing to widen out to the hem.
• The pattern on the silk combines stylized little flowers on a feather print feeling background.
• The dress is unlined and has a touch of transparency. It slips on and hooks above a keyhole at the neck. The dress is so well made that I think you could wear the keyhole to the front or the back. The silk is completely cut on the bias and it simply drapes over the body and falls into place.
• There is no size tag present so please go by the measurements listed below. It has an easy and generous cut that should allow it to fit a range of sizes. The length may come up a touch once on the body because of the bias cut.
• Excellent condition

Sleeves: 22" and the feathers extend another 7" past that. They are 14" around the upper arm.
Shoulders: to 16"
Bust-waist: to 22" flat across from side seam to side seam
Hips: to 27" flat across from side seam to side seam
Total length: 60" from neck to hem

Modern Sizing Equivalent: XS-LRG

Item# DD5191

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