• The twin of this dress in a brown walked the runway for the Fall 1989 collection.
• It was made under the creative direction of Patrick Kelly.
• We have included other reference photos of various styles of the dress in the same colour. It could very well be that the actual twin of the dress also walked the runway, but there is not always full coverage of his shows to be found.
• The Philadelphia Museum of Art hosted an exhibit of the work of Patrick Kelly in 2014. The show notes state: "“I want my clothes to make you smile”—that was the goal of late African American designer Patrick Kelly in creating his bold, bright, and joyful creations. Kelly achieved this on the streets, nightclubs, and runways of New York, Paris, and beyond in the heady, inventive, and often-subversive urban milieu of the 1980s....Kelly’s work pushed racial and cultural boundaries with golliwog logos, Aunt Jemima bandana dresses, and his ubiquitous black baby-doll brooches. His playful looks were inspired by his muse, Josephine Baker, and admiration for couturiers Coco Chanel, Elsa Schiaparelli, and Yves Saint Laurent, among others."
• The dress is made out of a fantastic stretch velour fabric that will stretch to hug your curves and show off every bit of the body. That said the velvet keeps it flattering and easy to wear as it gives support at the same time it hugs the body. This combined with that leopard print in the more unusual silver tone is fantastic.
• Kelly cut this one so that is can be worn on or off the shoulder while keeping the sleeves long and lean. On the runway it was shown off the shoulder and that is how I prefer it too. That bare expanse of skin is the perfect contrast to the coverage of the dress.
• The cut through the body hugs your every curve and the dress is meant to hug your frame all the way down.
• It curves over the bust, waist and hips and the very lower hem has a slight flare outwards. The stretch that the fabric has is what allows you to walk as there are no slits or vents in the skirt. 
• The shape once this is on the body is fabulous and it is very easy to fit because of the stretch.
  
• It is a showstopper and an amazing example of his work. I love everything about this dress and that it is a true piece of fashion history that is extremely well documented.
  
• Unlined and slips on to wear with no closures. The printed velour finish velvet has stretch. Elastic through the neckline. At some point the bottom hem was let down and I have left it for that extra length. The fabric does have stretch. I have put the comfortable range while laying flat below. You probably still have some extra room beyond the listed range if needed.
  
• Tagged a vintage Kelly FR38,US6, GB10. 
• Excellent condition.

Sleeves: 21" but sits off the shoulder so will sit longer on the arm. They are approximately 12-16" around the upper arm.
Bust: 17-23" flat across from side seam to side seam
Waist:14-" flat across from side seam to side seam
Hips: 18-25" flat across from side seam to side seam
Length: 63" from top of the neckline to hem

Modern Sizing Equivalent: XS-LRG

Item# DD5298

Reference Photos/Video: (1-4) F/W 1989 Patrick Kelly Runway Collection.  /  (5) Iman in Patrick Kelly, 1989.  /  (6) Model in Patrick Kelly. Photographed by Rico Puhlmann for Harper’s Bazaar, August 1989.  /  (7) Fall 1989 Patrick Kelly Ad Campaign.

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

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

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

Modern Sizing Equivalent: XS-SML

Item# DD5299

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 the dress walk the runway for the Fall 1986 collection.
• It was made under the creative direction of Yves Saint Laurent
  
• On the runway it was shown in both this colour and also in a red. 
• The dress is constructed in a way that creates its unusual gathered velvet technique. It is also what gives it an amazing tactile feel when its touched.
• The colour of the velvet is a beautiful deep purple that in certain lights has a touch of a blue undertone. I love that.
• The dress is strapless with inner built in structure to help hold it in place once one the body. The back part of the bodice has a built-in elastic so the dress is easy to fit. It curves down and past the waist with no seam to break the eye. From there it curves back out and over the hips in a sleek pencil silhouette.
• The dress closes with a zipper that is set off to the side to follow a seam at the back. The inner bodice area is lined in a blue silk and the rest of the dress is unlined. An inner waist stay that hooks to close. You can clearly see the hand stitching on the back of the fabric done to create the pattern on the velvet.
• Tagged a vintage YSL 40
• Excellent condition

Bust: 15-17" flat across from side seam to side seam
Waist: 12-13" flat across from side seam to side seam
Hips: 17-20" flat across from side seam to side seam
Total length: 32" from top of bodice to hem with 2.5" turned under the hem

Modern Sizing Equivalent: XS-MED

Item# DD5295

Reference Photos: Fall 1986 Yves Saint Laurent.

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

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

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

Modern Sizing Equivalent: SML-MED

Item# DD5280

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

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

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

Modern Sizing Equivalent: XS-MED

Item# DD5273

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

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