chanel
Stupendous c. Fall 1991 Chanel by Karl Lagerfeld Strapless Mini Dress w Full Net Skirt
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Well sourcing the collection for this dress we found an example in 1988 that felt close but I think it is most likely from the Fall of 1991. He showed several of these dresses with jackets over them at the end of that show and this feels more similar to those. You can also see the similarity in the one that we had that was worn by that Olivia Culpo. This feels like it's younger sassier sister. We have included reference photos from both collections here and either way, it is an absolutely fabulous little black dress. It is incredible and very sexy.
The dress is strapless with a pretty bodice that curves up at the front and down slightly at the back. It is boned and shaped to curve around the bust at the front and then hug the body to the waist. The exterior is made of a black silk and it has a little lace ribbon all around the upper edge for a little romantic touch. The skirt is made from two layers of a fine black netting that has a very smooth to the touch feel. The layers give you touch of transparency and you can see this in the 1991 show that this was deliberate. He meant it to be worn over an undergarment and tights that gives you some coverage and just have the transparency that shows your entire leg. If that does not work for you, you could easily add something underneath to lessen the transparency that the skirt has. It zips to close at the back and I love how you can see that the zipper has been hand set. The inner lining is also handset and it is just a beautiful example of how well these little dresses are made from Chanel. Especially in these early years of the Karl era. Excellent condition.
Lined in a handset silk through the bodice and closes with a back, hand set zipper. There are little loops inside the dress that suggests that it had a inner elastic stay through the bodice at one time but that is now gone. I have left them because it would be very easy to add one in if you feel that would make it more secure on you. There is a stay in place around the waist that hooks to close. Tagged a vintage Chanel 38.
Bust: 15.5-16" flat across from side seam to side seam
Waist: 12.5" flat across from side seam to side seam
Hips: open
Bodice: 10" from top of bodice at the front to waist
Total length: 32.5" from top of bodice to hem
Modern Sizing Equivalent: XS-SML
Item# DD4837
Reference Photos/Video: (1) Spring 1988 Chanel. / (2-3) Fall 1991 Chanel, Look 98. Model Emma Sjoberg. / (4) Olivia Culpo in Fall 1991 Chanel from Shrimpton 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.
christian dior
Prettiest 2010s Christian Dior Strapless Dress w Embroidered Flowers & Ribbon
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This is just the prettiest Dior. I believe it is a production piece made for the shops perhaps from the 2010s. At some point we will find more and verify the date and update the info here, or send along to the new owner. The dress is made from a black silk net that has an intricate pattern laid over it that combines black silk ribbon, black cording and embroidery work. The bodice is strapless and has inner boning so that it hugs the body and stays in place. Ribbon and cording wrap horizontally around the top of the bodice and then under that are panels of lattice mixed with cross thatched netting and swirling bands of cording applied to it. All of the ribbon has been applied by hand and you can see all of the tiny stitches that have been done. The waist nips in and there is another silk and cord band to add definition. The skirt flares out from under that. The skirt is a little masterpiece in itself. It is very full and short and the netting gives it a touch of transparency over the inner silk chiffon lining. Long vertical bands of silk are combined the same lattice pattern from the bodice and then there is additional embroidery work over top of that. Embroidered flowers are places all around the bottom of the skirt for the perfect extra touch. We shot it without any extra underskirts but there is enough fabric that you could probably add a light crinoline if you really wanted more fullness. There is already an extra layer of tulle over the silk chiffon inner skirt that helps hold the volume that you see. These multiple layers give the dress structure so that it holds the shape around you once on. It is beautiful and feels like it is a little piece of art. It appears to have been worn very little if at all. Excellent condition
Fully lined in a combination of black silk and silk net. It closes with a hidden back side zipper. Lightly boned through the bodice with two inner stays under the bust and another at the waist that all hook to close. Handwork. It appears to have been worn very little if at all. Tagged a modern Dior FR36, GB8, IT40, US4.
Bust: 15-16" flat across from side seam to side seam
Waist: 12.5" flat across from side seam to side seam
Hips: open
Bodice: 8.5" from top of bodice to waist
Total length: 28" from top of bodice to hem
Modern Sizing Equivalent: XS-SML
Item# DD4835
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.
yves saint laurent
Amazing Fall 1992 Yves Saint Laurent Gold Leopard Print Extra Wide Pant & Jacket Suit Set
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Yves loved a good leopard print but he did it in his own way and for the Fall 1992 presentation he did it in an amazing gold toned version. This is a stunning example of just how edgy he could be for this time period. This set is from the Rive Gauche collection and these were pieces that were sold separately. My client told me that she hunted to put the pieces together as they were sold out everywhere at the time. Several variations and pieces were shown on the runway in this print and we have included some of those examples here for you.
This two piece set combines a beautifully cut jacket with pants that have an extremely wide leg so that they look like you are wearing a full length skirt. Yves did variations of his iconic suits every season for both his Couture and Rive Gauche presentations with skirts and pants of varying lengths and cuts. They were shaped and tweaked by Yves to be immensely flattering on the female body. I love this pair of pants and how they give the feeling of a more formal full length skirt. It is also fabulous that you can mix and match the pieces with pieces you already own. The incredible gold fabric and leopard print make the suit feel so luxe and yet still elegant and refined in feel. The jacket is tailored with a sleek cut that follows the curves of the body. It has a notched collar and the sleeves are set into the jacket so that they are wide at the top and narrow to big flipped over cuffs. Large domed gold toned metal buttons are set on a slight angle to close the jacket. It comes in at the waist and then flares over the hips. The gold on the fabric feels like it was painted directly onto the fabric and it catches the light as you move. The pants are cut in the same amazing leopard print as the jacket. They fall to the floor and are incredibly wide by the time they reach their hem. Each leg is a full 62" around by the hem. This makes them look like a fuller skirt when you are standing still but gives you the ease of wearing pants when you move. And they have pockets. His suits changed the way we approach womanswear and this one is especially fabulous. It is a wonderful example of how strong his tailoring was and it is an important piece of fashion history. Excellent condition
The jacket is lined in a brown silk and buttons to close at the front. The pants are unlined and close with a side zipper and button at the waist. Pockets on each hip. Padding in each shoulder of the jacket. I see a little bit of fading to the fabric under the arms of the jackets' lining. The jacket is tagged a 40 and the pants have no size tag present.
Jacket
Sleeves: 25"
Shoulders: 15"
Bust: to 19.5" flat across from side seam to side seam
Waist: to 15.5" flat across from side seam to side seam
Bottom seam: to 23.5" flat across from side seam to side seam
Length: 26" from neck to hem at the longest point at the front, 22" at the back
Pants
Waist: 14.5" flat across from side seam to side seam
Hips: to 22" flat across from side seam to side seam
Length: 44.5" from waist to hem with just under 2" turned under the hem
Inseam: 30.5" and the gusset is 21" from back of waist to inner leg seam
Modern Sizing Equivalent: SML-MED
Item# DD4833
Reference Photos: Fall 1992 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.
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The wrap dresses and jumpsuits by Diane Von Furstenberg have become an iconic staple and this is one of the originals. Diane moved to New York with her husband, Prince Eduard Egon Von Furstenberg in 1969. She had design aspirations and in 1970 showed her first collection. It was in 1972 that she first debuted her now-iconic 'wrap dress' for the working woman, revolutionizing American women's apparel. By 1976, she had sold 5 million wrap dresses, landed covers of Newsweek and The Wall Street Journal and was a regular within the pages of Vogue. This is an early and rare jumpsuit from the Fall of 1975. The runway pics we found allowed us to identify the print and it shows you similar pieces on the body. We also added some reference photos from 1976 of similar pieces so you can see how her jumpsuits fit. Plus Farrah!
Girls bought these jumpsuits in droves and wore them to travel, dance in, and pretty much everything else. You do see Diane's dress versions of these pieces from this time period pop up more often then the jumpsuits do but I am always on the lookout for her jumpsuits. They are harder to find but worth the hunt. This one, with its graphic print in soft taupes and ivory wonderful. The print is screened onto a soft stretch jersey that has the feel of a modern super soft T-short but thicker. The design covers the jumpsuit from head to toe. It has long, lean lines and makes you look and feel supermodel tall in it. The colour is high, but the front is a zip so you can wear it zipped all the way up or as low as you dare. Each sleeve is long and has a buttoned cuff at its end. I love the two flap and buttoned tops at pockets that sit on each side of the bodice. The waist is seemed and you can wear it as is so it has a bit more of a loose and easy feel or add a belt if you want it to be really cinched in. From there the legs are cut straight and long with the slightest bit of flair by the time they reached hem. The final result is one long, lean, supermodel silhouette. Excellent condition.
The jumpsuit is unlined, slips on and then has a front zipper to close. The fabric is a soft jersey that has an almost heavy T-shirt feeling finish to it. The fabric does have some stretch and the measurements below are the comfortable stretch when laying flat. It appears to have been worn very little if at all.
Sleeve: 24"
Shoulder: 15"
Bust: to approx 18" flat across from side seam to side seam and can be adjusted
Waist: 12-14.5" flat across from side seam to side seam
Hips: to approx 20" flat across from side seam to side seam
Torso: 31" from top of shoulder to top of inseam
Length: 63" from shoulder to hem
Inseam: 35.5"
Modern Sizing Equivalent: XS-SML
Item# DD4834
Reference Photos: (1-3) Fall 1975 Diane Von Furstenberg. / (4) Diane Von Furstenberg Ad in Vogue US, April 1976. / (5) Farrah Fawcett in DVF, 1976.
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.
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Ages ago we had a dress in the shop that was similar to this one in many ways and we have included the reference photo from that one that is of a Halston dress shot for Vogue in 1974. On the dress we had, the ruffles were set more towards the back of the neck and on this one they come all the way around, but I believe that this one is from about the same time period, if not the same collection.
Halston was a master at combining function and ease but without sacrificing glamour. His bias cut pieces, like this one, sometimes feel somewhat shapeless on the hanger or on a dress form and it is only when they are on a body that they drape and settle into place the way they were intended. They seem so very simple but they are not. The dress is entirely cut on the bias with that minimal seaming signature that he was famous for. The colour is a beautiful deep blood red that is flattering on most skin tones. It is feather light and it weighs ounces once it is on. it comes with its original slip under dress and I love that because it is like you are getting two dresses in one. The under dress is backed in its own layers of a nude silk chiffon and you could wear the dress on its own as a slip dress. Popping the outer dress over it gives you the full on look and then you could also wear the outer dress over a different coloured slip to get a different feel. It is one of those dresses that gives you lots of styling options. The cut through the body of the outer dress is extremely loose and easy. There is an elastic at the waist and it allows you to wear the dress longer with the elastic more to the top of the hips, or you can pull it up to shorten the length and make it more of a day piece. The neckline is ruffled and it has a silk chiffon pipe length running through it that ties at the front. This lets you wear it more wide and off of the shoulders or you can wear it more closed and around the neck. Each sleeve is soft and full and end with a ruffle finish. The skirt is full and open. The matching inner silk dress is cut on the bias and it slips over the head and is suspended from nude silk chiffon straps. If worn more down, the dress will land between full length and ankle length, depending on your height. If pulled up at the waist, the length pulls up more to land between knee and calf. It is gorgeous and so versatile. Excellent condition
The outer dress is a single layer of silk chiffon and the separate inner slip dress has two layers of bias cut nude silk chiffon under the top red layer. Both pieces slip over the head to wear. The outer dress ties at the neck and has elastic at the waist. Each cuff is finished with elastic above the ruffled ends. Hand finishes.
Outer dress
Sleeves: approx 29"
Shoulders: no defined seams
Bust: to 18-24" flat across from side seam to side seam
Waist: to 10-19" flat across from side seam to side seam
Hips: open
Bodice: to 17" from top of shoulder to waist
Total length: 57" from top of shoulder to hem
Inner slip dress
Bust: 13-17" flat across from side seam to side seam
Waist-hips: open
Total length: 57" from top of shoulder to hem
Modern Sizing Equivalent: XS-MED
Item# DD4831
Reference Photo: Model wearing Halston. Photo by Richard Avedon. Vogue US, December 1974.
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.
oscar de la renta
Dreamy Fall 1989 Oscar de la Renta Strapless Cashmere & Silk Dress w Matching Tassel Shawl
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This incredible dress is not only a dress that we found runway documentation for, but its twin on the runway was worn by none other than the great Linda Evangelista. There is even a photo of her standing just behind Oscar on the runway that we especially love. This was one of the stand-out pieces from that collection and I am very pleased to have this for you in the shop today. It is gorgeous.
This is a stunning dress. I love how he combined two distinct fabrics to make it. The bodice and matching shawl feel to me to be a cashmere and it is as soft as soft can be. The skirt is made from a rich deep jewel toned silk. The bodice is strapless and is cut to be fitted to the body and hug you right down to the waist. I love the way the fabric has been hand draped into tiny soft pleats that curve all the way around you and cross over itself at the front. This helps to add shape and interest to the bodice and shows the remarkable amount of workmanship that went into dresses from this time period. Under the waist the skirt cascades down and out to the floor. There are yards and yards of silk that have gone into the construction of that skirt. It is gathered in and around the waist in a series of tiny soft gathers and then these open out to create that billowing skirt that you see. The outer skirt is lined in a black silk organza and then inside there is a built-in silk taffeta underskirt. The underskirt is finished with a wide band of the same coloured silk as the exterior layer so when you move that is still the only colour that you see. There is a band of stiffened netting hidden inside the hem of the underskirt to help hold the shape. Another hidden band of netting wraps around the inner hip area to help hold the.volume there as well. The way that it has been cut, combined with the inner support that it has, creates this stunning billowing effect when you move and walk. The dress comes with its original matching shawl that you can see Linda wear on the runway. It is meant to drape over your shoulders with phenomenal 12" fringed tassels gathering the fabric up at each end. It is that perfect mix of elegance, femininity, romance and fantasy that Oscar excelled at. Excellent condition with a minor note below.
The bodice is fully lined in a burgundy silk. There is built in boning and shaping through the bodice. There is a hooked waist stay inside and then the outer dress zips to close over that. Part of the wrapped cording is missing on one tassel and I see a couple of tiny repairs on the shawl. The dress looks to have been worn very little if at all.
Bust:to 17-18" flat across from side seam to side seam with a B-small C cup
Waist: to 14" flat across from side seam to side seam
Hips: open
Bodice: 9" from top of bodice to waist seam
Total length: 53.5" from top of bodice to hem with about 2" turned under
Shawl: 120" end to end
Modern Sizing Equivalent: SML-MED
Item# DD4830
Reference Photos: Linda Evangelista for Fall 1989 Oscar de la Renta.
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.
bill blass
Incredible Fall 1979 Bill Blass Couture Red Silk Chiffon Dress w Gold Sequins & Mink Cuffs
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I have had the twin of this dress in the shop a few years ago and I was very pleased to find another. Since we have had that original dress we happened to find the runway photo of the dress firmly dating it to Fall 1979. A similar version of this dress was worn by Slim Keith to attend the Met Museum Gala that year. We have also included a couple of shots of me in the one we had previously to give you an idea of how it is on. And a note to those who prefer not to wear fur; you could always un-tack and remove the sleeves and replace them with a faux version, feathers or anything you could imagine, or leave them without as Slim did and just store the cuffs for archival purposes.
This dress is one of the best that he ever made. The dress has elements of his work that he would touch on continuously over the coming decades. It is also a wonderful example of just how sophisticated and glamorous he could be. The silk chiffon used for the base is feather light and it has a fine gold, metallic lurex thread that is woven through the silk to create vertical stripes. Hand applied gold sequins were then added to follow those gold threads. The sequins catch the light beautifully and add another dimension and texture to the dress. There is a subtle leaf print that runs through the silk and this adds a beautiful and subtle extra feel. The upper part of the skirt is the same deep red as the bodice of the dress and then that leaf print gradually becomes more dense until it forms a solid soft brown around the lower hem. There is a slit up the front to let you walk. The dress has a nod to the 1930s in its cut but he has exaggerated some of the elements to keep it modern. The bodice crosses over itself and there is a built in brown silk under piece so that you can wear the dress and not have it completely transparent. On the bodice there are no sequins and this is deliberate to keep it lighter in feel. The sleeves extend directly out from the bodice and they narrow down as they reach the cuff. The cuffs are both finished with a 7" band of fur that is either a mink or a sable. It is gorgeous. Excellent condition.
The dress has an attached inner brown silk chiffon slip that snaps to close at the back and then the dress zips to close over that. An inner waist stay inside hooks to close. Hand finished and hand set sequins. All hand finished to demi-couture standards. The cuffs have perhaps the very slightest of wear to the edges and are soft and supple.
Sleeves: 24" approx.
Shoulders: no defined seam
Inner bust: to 18" flat across from side seam to side seam
Waist: to 14" flat across from side seam to side seam
Inner hips: to 20" flat across from side seam to side seam
Bodice: approx 17" from the top of the shoulder to waist but will come up a bit once on
Total length: 60" from the top of the shoulder to hem
Modern Sizing Equivalent: SML-MED
Item# DD4829
Reference Photos: (1) Fall 1979 Bill Blass. / (2-3) Cherie, Owner of Shrimpton Couture, by Erin Leydon. / (4) Socialite Slim Keith in Bill Blass (left) at the Metropolitan Museum of Art Gala in New York City, 1979.
This garment has been professionally cleaned, pressed and is odor free. Thoroughly checked over before shipping, it will be ready to wear upon arrival.
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This dress dates from the mid-later 1980s based on the styles and similarities to other dresses I have previously had in the shop from that period. It is definitely Karl's work and it is a gorgeous example of his ability to cut the perfect LBD. It is a very easy to wear dress and it is just a spectacular dress to own.
This is one of those dresses that in person you do bit of a gasp when you see it because it is the perfect little dress. The dress is made out of a black cotton that has just enough weight for it to hold the shape that he intended. There is a slight ribbed texture to the fabric. It is so simple in its cut but is so chic and elegant once it is on the body. It feels very much that perfect French original little black dress. Two wide straps curve over the shoulders to meet behind the neck and the front neckline is done in a V. At the back it scoops down for an expanse of bare skin to show. The front is shaped in a bit of a triangle feeling halter and there is a little two top set pocket on each breast. Each pocket has a gold Camellia flower button on it. The front crosses over itself and is held in place with another pretty gold flower button. The waist nips in and there is a pretty little bow at the centre with the final gold button. The skirt is set into the waist with a series of perfect little pleats that open up to for a fuller skirt. The skirt falls to the knee depending on your height. Under the bow at the front the fabric overlaps over itself a bit and this helps it to achieve the volume you see. At the back there is an inverted pleat down the centre that also helps achieve the volume of the skirt. A shallow little pocket sits on each hip for the perfect finish of this gorgeous little dress. Once on this fits and hugs your curves in the best possible way. It is a beauty. Excellent condition
Unlined and closes at the front with the buttons you see. Tagged a vintage Chanel 44.
Bust: each front triangle is approximately 10" across across from side to side
Waist: to 13.5" flat across from side seam to side seam
Hips: open
Bodice: 15" from neck to waist
Total length: 39" from neck to hem
Modern Sizing Equivalent: SML-MED
Item# DD4828
Reference Photo/Video: Fall 1991 Chanel.
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.
yves saint laurent
1994 Yves Saint Laurent Black Strapless Gold & Black Cord Dress w Side Bows
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This incredible dress is the Rive Gauche shorter version of the Fall 1994 famous Couture side bow dress. It is incredibly sexy and it feels very French. This one has the added modern provenance of being the actual dress worn Adria Arjona for the 2018 Gold Globes season. We have included a shot of her in the dress so you can see how it looks on the body along with the Couture dress that was the inspiration for this dress.
The dress is gorgeous and the fabric itself is part of what makes it so fabulous. The top layer of fabric is a black lace that has a silk cord applied on top of it to follow the pattern of the lace underneath. This sits over an inner lace that has metallic gold metal thread woven over its surface. The effect of the gold peeking out from underneath is gorgeous and I love the depth and interest that this creates. The dress is strapless and meant to hug and fit over the body. Inside there is a built in corset with boning that holds the dress in place around you. It hugs the bust and is shaped so that it curves in at the waist. There is no waist seaming, it just curves in for shape and then it skims over the hips and has a more pencil shape that will sit above the knee. How short it sits depends on your height. The dress has three pretty bows down one side. The top lace and cord layer is attached and it closes over the inner gold layer to the third bow. From the third bow to the hem that top layer is open so that when you walk and move you get a stronger feel of the gold underneath. It is absolutely fantastic and an instantly recognizable piece of YSL. Excellent condition
Fully lined in a black silk and closes with a hidden set side set zipper and the top layer of lace hooks in place over the zipper. The inner bust is boned. Tagged a vintage YSL 38
Bust: 16" flat across from side seam to side seam
Waist: 12.5" flat across from side seam to side seam
Hips: to 17" flat across from side seam to side seam
Total length: 29" from top of bodice to hem
Modern Sizing Equivalent: XS-SML
Item# DD4827
Reference Photos: (1-2) Adria Arjona, wearing this dress, at the Vanity Fair x Instagram Golden Globes Party, January 2018. / (3) Fall 1994 Yves Saint Laurent Couture. / (4) Fall 1994 Yves Saint Laurent Haute Couture n° 67976 from Gros & Delettrez.
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.
chanel
Spring 2006 Chanel by Karl Lagerfeld "Coco Meets James Dean" Look 50 Silk Pouf Dress w Lace
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This dress is from the Spring 2006 collection and it is a beauty. The collection was called "Coco meats, James Dean" and the idea was that Lagerfeld organized this imaginary meeting between the two. In real life they had never met but in his eyes he saw them as being rebellious figures and wanted to explore the meeting of the two stylistically. The twin of this dress walked the runway for Look 50. I love it.
This dress is gorgeous and everything you want in a Chanel. The dress is made out of a black silk taffeta with a fine black lace edging. The bodice has an almost scarf feeling front panel that goes up and behind the neck to tie and then it narrows down to the centre of the waist. It is completely edged in the black lace. This sits over an inner bodice at the front and then at the back the upper back is left bare except for two straps that angle down to meet the piece that curves around from the front. The dress skims over your bodice to a wide band of silk around the waist. Again we see the lace edging he has added for a pretty and feminine touch. The skirt is incredible. It has been pleated into tiny but soft pleats and the first tier of it is a more bubble shape. It is brought in under itself to a piece of inner elastic that holds it around your legs but still allows you to move. The silk extends out from that and you have all the volume of the gathered fabric to create a pretty ruffle underneath. There is a little bow that sits in the centre front of this final tier. The bottom of the ruffle is also finished in a pretty edging of black lace to perfectly tie it in with the bodice. It is so pretty and unusual and I love the flash of skin when you turn around. That unexpected touch of sexiness is fantastic. This is one of those dresses that only truly come to life when on. It is an amazing piece of Chanel and shows just how creative Karl was. It looks to have been worn very little if at all. Excellent condition.
The bodice is unlined and the skirt has an inner lining of the same taffeta that the dress is made out of. The dress zips to close at the back and then it has hidden hook and eye at the waist band and a decorative jet black Camellia flower button over those. Two more black Camellia flower buttons close the dress above that. The halter ties to close. It appears to have been worn very little if at all. Tagged a Chanel 38.
Bust: to 17.5" flat across from side seam to side seam
Waist: to 14" flat across from side seam to side seam
Inner hips: to 16" flat across from side seam to side seam
Bodice: approx 15" from top of bodice to top of band at the waist
Total length: approx 40" from top of the shoulder to hem and can be adjusted a bit by how you tie it around the neck
Modern Sizing Equivalent: SML-MED
Item# DD4826
Reference Photos/Video: Spring 2006 Chanel Runway, Look 50. Model Heidi Mount.
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.
roberto cavalli
Dreamy 2004 Roberto Cavalli Pale Pink & Copper / Gold Wire Embellished Dress
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This Roberto Cavalli dress is from 2004 and it is gorgeous. A close version to it was worn by Jaime Tisch that year and we have included a photo so that you can get an idea of how spectacular the dress will be once on the body as it is so similar. The dress I have in the shop today was worn and loved and it is not 100% perfect but it is still wearable if you don't mind wearing something that has a bit of a distressed feel to it.
No matter how good you think that this dress looks like in photos it is even better in person and moving. The heavy copper / gold coloured metal wire and rhinestones that were used to create the pattern on the silk catch the light from every angle when you move. The dress is made out of the palest ballet pink silk. The dress is cut on the bias so it just glides over the body. It buttons down the back in a row of tightly spaced silk covered buttons and it is cut to just fall over you in a sweep of bias cut silk. The dress is suspended from the shoulders by two tiny silk straps and the front falls over the bust with a V neck plunge at the front and the back. The dress skims over the waist and hips with seams that are reminiscent of the couture dresses of the thirties. All are done so that the bias cut of the silk follows your curves and highlights the body underneath without it being too tight and fitted. Once past the hips the dress flares out as it nears the bottom and it is incredibly full. A wide panel circles all the way around the lower skirt and there is stiffened netting placed behind it so that it holds the fullness around you. When you walk or move the skirt kicks out to add beautiful movement and volume. The final perfect detail is that spectacular design made out of a combination of metal wire in a deep copper gold tone. This is set so that it curves up and off the silk for a 3D effect. Prong set rhinestones are scattered in and among the designs on the bust and around the hips. These catch the light beautifully as you move. It is just wonderful. Over all great condition with a note below
Fully lined with a pale pink silk chiffon and closes with the buttons down the back. The measurements given below are the comfortable range when the dress is laying flat. The bias cut of the dress should work on a range of sizes. On smaller frames it will drape more and be more fitted on larger frames. The very slightest yellowing to the silk here and there and around the waist area in particular. You can see it in the photos presented and I would say the photos make it look worse than it is in real life. Tagged a Cavalli XS
Bust: 14-17.5" flat across from side seam to side seam
Waist: to 16" flat across from side seam to side seam
Hips: to 21" flat across from side seam to side seam
Length: 64" from top of shoulder to front hem, 70" to the back hem
Modern Sizing Equivalent: XS-MED
Item# DD4825
Reference Photo: Jaime Tisch attends a preview gala dinner for the Metropolitan Museum's "Wild: Fashion Untamed" exhibition, hosted by fashion designer Robert Cavalli, on December 6, 2004.
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alexander mcqueen
Incredible Spring 2012 Alexander McQueen by Sarah Burton Gold Lace Dress w Full Lower Skirting
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Lace was one of the primary fabrics that Sarah Burton used for the Spring 2012 collection and Vogue reported that "She based her collection on the three Gs: Grès for the pleating and draping, Gaudí for the architecture, and Gaia for the sense of all-encompassing oceanic life that infused the clothes, like the outfits composed of coral or shells." They went on to remark on the beautiful pastels and golds used saying "this collection proved how hot-wired into the core of McQueen Burton truly is. The colour palette—as translucent as the inside of a shell—had the kind of unambiguous prettiness that McQueen himself might have felt inclined to disrupt in some way". The twin of this stunning dress in black was featured in the Spring 2012 collection Lookbook sent out to select retailers. Pink wore one in black for an editorial shoot and Du Juan wore one on the red carpet. I love it in the gold. It is so striking.
The dress is stunning and it might even make for a spectacular bridal dress or to be worn for the events surrounding a wedding weekend or as a gala / event piece. It is made out of a muted gold lace that tops a pale nude silk underneath. The dress is cut to follow the curves of the body from the top of the neckline to below the hips but in a way that doesn't feel overly tight or confining. It just curves over the body in the best possible way. The neckline is a scooped and the bodice is shaped to flow over your curves. The waist is a touch on the more easy side and you could easily add a wide corset belt to get the effect you see in the reference photos and really cinch it in. It curves over the hips to about the knee and then the lower skirts explode out from there. Insets of the same lace with masses of a silk organza underskirt are set all the way around the skirt. If you lay the lower skirt out flat it has more volume than a full circle. This is what creates those incredible rounded effect and the volume that you see in the photos. We did not add any additional underskirts on this dress. All of that sweeping volume is all built in. It also creates beautiful movement as you move. You can see in the photos that the back is cut slightly longer then the front so you get this beautiful sweeping effect behind you as you walk. It is so special and absolutely stunning. This is Sarah at her best. Excellent condition.
Fully lined in a pale nude silk for the body of the dress and then silk organza through the lower skirts. It closes with a hidden set back zipper. It appears to have been worn very little if at all. Tagged McQueen 42.
Bust: to 18" flat across from side seam to side seam
Waist: 15" flat across from side seam to side seam
Hips: to 18" flat across from side seam to side seam
Total length: 63" from top of bodice to front hem, 66" to the longest point of the back hem
Modern Sizing Equivalent: SML-MED
Item# DD4824
Reference Photos: (1) Spring 2012 Alexander McQueen Lookbook. / (2-3) Pink, in McQueen, photographed by Andrew MacPherson, Feb 2012. / (4) Du Juan in McQueen at the Deja Vu Screening, June 2012.
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SixThis is an incredible and very rare set by Rifat Ozbek. The original Ozbek label was only produced from 1984 to 1991 and pieces are very hard to find, never mind finding a full three piece set like this. Versions of this set were seen on the runway and for US Vogue that season. It is incredible.
The suit is three pieces; a cropped jacket, a skirt and a bra top. The jacket is a burgundy and cropped to above the natural waist. It has no closures and a neat collar. The shoulders have a tiny bit of shape but are cut to slope down to the sleeve. The sleeves are kept simple. The skirt is very high-waisted so that it comes up to meet the jacket. It curves out and over the hips and then flares out at the hem. The front of the skirt is cut several inches shorter than the back so that you get this gorgeous little kick when you walk. Yellow embroidery runs down either side of the hip on both the front and the back. The final piece is that phenomenal bra top. Its base is the same burgundy as the other two pieces and then the cups of the bra have been covered in a thick gold cording. Two tones of gold cording have been used. One is a more black based gold and the other is brighter. The darker cord covers the majority of each cup and then the brighter is set at the upper edge of each cup and in a row across them. The straps are a leopard print and then gold toned coins on a little chains are set all along the bottom of the bra. These gold coins became one of his signatures. It is just a phenomenal and rare piece of vintage. Excellent condition with a minor note below.
All three pieces are lined in a burgundy lining. The jacket has no closures and just slips on to wear. I see a small amount of very minor changing colour / grubbiness on the top of the shoulders. The skirt closes with a side zipper and the bra closes with a hook clasp at the back. It has under-wiring and slight padding on the cups. The jacket and bra are tagged an IT40, FR36, GB8, US6 and the skirt is tagged in IT42,FR38, GB10, US8.
Jacket
Sleeves: 20.5" and 13" around the upper arm
Dropped shoulders: 17.5"
Bust: approx to 17.5" flat across from side seam to side seam
Waist: approx to 15" flat across from side seam to side seam
Total length: 15.5" from waist to hem
Skirt
Waist: 12" flat across from side seam to side seam
Hips: 17.5" flat across from side seam to side seam
Total length: 28" from waist to front hem, 36.5" to the longest point of the back hem
Bra Top
Bust: 26-29" from end to end with some stretch near the closure
Cups: Appox A-B
Height: approx 11.5" from top of the strap to bottom edge
Modern Sizing Equivalent: XS-SML
Item# DD4822
Reference Photos: (1-2) Fall 1989 Rifat Ozbek Runway. / (3) Kara Young in Rifat Ozbek. Photographed by Patrick Demarchelier for USVogue, October 1989.
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.
christian lacroix
Rare 1988 Christian Lacroix Demi-Couture Luxe Pink & Black Dot Silk Suit
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This suit is from Christian Lacroix's Luxe label that was only produced the very first couple of seasons after launching his label. It was very high-end expensive ready-to-wear that was made to demi-couture standards and was available primarily to his couture clients and a select few beyond that. It was also the predecessor to his regular ready-to-wear collections. It is said that this label only lasted a couple of seasons because some of the couture clients complained at how close the garments were to their Haute Couture pieces. Very few pieces were made of this line so they are almost as rare as finding one of his Couture pieces.
This suit is everything you want to see in a Lacroix. The colour is that bright vibrant Lacroix pink that is now associated with his name. The colour is even better in person than how it photoed too. Both pieces are made of an almost grosgrain ribbon feeling silk that has black velvet dots fused onto the top of the fabric. The fabric choice allowed him to cut the suit to really hold the shape that he intended. The jacket has a gorgeous notched collar and big faceted black jet buttons down the front. It closes with hidden set snaps behind those buttons. I love that you can close it all the way up to the neck which means you don't have to wear anything underneath it or you can leave it partially or all the way open. The shoulders have some padding and the sleeves are set into the shoulder with a slight capped feel. Each sleeve ends with an upturned cuff. The jacket is meant to fit the body with a structured and seamed waist and then the hips have a peplum that adds to the hourglass feel that the suit has. I love the extra flap that gives the peplum a double hem. That skirt is high waisted so that your waist is very defined and then it is a poufed, almost bubble skirt under that. It goes out and around the hips and then comes in at the hem. This was a Lacroix signature shape and it is gorgeous. Everything about the suit is meant to invoke curves and I love the play on curves with the curve of the dots on the pink silk. It is gorgeous. Excellent condition with a minor note below.
All pieces are lined in a black silk. The jacket snapped to close and the skirt closes with a hidden set side zipper. There is minor wear to some of the velvet on the dots here and there. Both pieces are tagged a vintage Lacroix 38.
Jacket
Sleeves: 23.5" and are 13.5" around the upper arm
Shoulders: 14"
Bust: to 18" flat across from side seam to side seam
Waist: 12-13" flat across from side seam to side seam
Hips at the bottom seam: to 22" flat across from side seam to side seam
Bodice: 15" from neck to waist
Total length: 22" from waist to hem
Skirt
Waist: 12-13" flat across from side seam to side seam
Hips: to 22" flat across from side seam to side seam
Total length: 22" from waist to hem
Modern Sizing Equivalent: XS-SML
Item# DD4821
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This is an incredible dress that dates to the 1998-2002 era based on similar cuts that I have had in the shop and what was on the runways. The dress is easy to wear and very flattering once on the body.
This is a gorgeous dress. I love the open back and the scooped neckline at the front. It has the perfect amount of sexiness but still manages to feel elegant. Classic Valentino. It is a dress that really comes alive once on the body. It is very light and easy to wear. It is completely cut on the bias and this lets it skim over your body and highlight every curve, but not in a tight, constricting kind of way. It is made from a double layer of a feather light bias cut black silk chiffon that has ribbon and lace detailing. The dress falls from ribbon straps that are also used over the bodice to create that criss cross diamond shape. The ribbons add both a touch of structure and visual detail. At the back the straps cross over and the back dips into a low curve across the small of your back. This leaves the back almost completely bare. As the dress falls over you it widens out to be loose and easy over the hips and then falls to the floor. There is a ton of fabric in the skirt which creates beautiful movement as you move. The entire hem is finished with a wide 4.5" band of black lace that goes all the way around for the perfect final feminine detail. It is a beautiful example of Mr Valentino's work. Excellent condition
Fully lined in a black silk chiffon and closes with a back hidden zipper at the base of the scoop at the back.
Bust: the front covers to 15" flat across with no true side seams
Waist: 12-13.5" flat across from side seam to side seam
Hips: to 19" flat across from side seam to side seam
Length: 62" from top of shoulder to hem
Modern Sizing Equivalent: XS-SML
Item# DD4817
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.
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The intro write up on Vogue said of this collection “She is a woman of the night and ready to have fun…she’s a little bit, how would I say, mysterious, and, um…." This was a long ummm... What was Alessandra Rich working up to? “She’s ready to party, that’s for sure.” Rich says in her clothes what she cannot quite bring herself to say in person. Her women are lionesses dressed as lambs. They look demure and think impure." The dress was shown in white for Look 22 on the runway. Caroline Vreeland wore that version for her wedding reception and between seeing that and the look on the runway and in the presentation you really can see how fabulous this dress is once on the body.
This is a dress for someone that wants to make an entrance. It is about as showstopping a dress as you can possibly get. It is strapless across the bodice and has an inner boned and wire cupped bodice to help keep it in place once it is on the body. The main portion of the dress skims over the waist to just past the hips. This part of the dress is made from a black silk that has a bit of weight to it so that you are held in place and it is very flattering. Warapping round the shoulders is the first explosion of black tulle that gives this dress all its drama. Multiple layers of tulle circle all the way around you and cover the entire upper bodice. The lower skirts pick up on that with a second huge pouf of tulle that begins at about the knee and then continues all the way to the floor. The lower skirt is done in two distinct tiers and the amount of fabric that keeps all that volume in place is incredible. I loved this dress when I saw it on the runway and I love it even more in this black more versatile version. The dress still has its original hang tag and was never worn. Excellent condition
There is a built in wired and boned corset that is lined in a black silk. The dress closes with a hidden set side zipper. The tulle that goes around the shoulders is attached to a strap that has elastic in it. Original hang tag attached. Tagged a modern 40
Straps: they go around the upper arm and will stretch from 11" to 14" around
Bust: to 16" flat across from side seam to side seam
Waist: 13" flat across from side seam to side seam
Hips: 17-19" flat across from side seam to side seam
Total length: 52" from top of bodice to hem
Modern Sizing Equivalent:
Item# DD4818
Reference Photos: (1-2) Fall 2020 Alessandra Rich, Look 42. / (3) Carolina Vreeland in Alessandra Rich from Vogue.
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.
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This is a gorgeous dress by Karl Lagerfeld for Chanel and its twin walked the runway for the Fall 1998 season. In the book 'Chanel Catwalk' the notes for the show say tell us that it "was meant to evoke the style and atmosphere of Coco Chanel's Deauville and Biarritz days in the late 1910 and early 1920s." A photo of the dress is included in that book and I also have runway photos so that you can see how fantastic this dress is on the body.
Everything about this dress has that chic Chanel feel that makes many of Karl's designs classics forever. Even without the fact that the Chanel logo literally covers every inch of the dress it still feels very Chanel. It is beautiful in person and the simple lines and cut make it the kind of dress that you can wear multiple times with the styling and accessories you add making it feel different each time. It is made of very light black cotton mix netting that has the Chanel letters done in denser threads so that they stand out. These are scattered over the entire dress. Around the neckline, circling the arms, the waist, hips and around the bottom hem, there is a second net ribbon that has the Chanel name and double C logo. The dress is light in weight and it simply drapes over the body perfectly once you have it on. The front and back necklines are scooped and at the back it is scooped lower so that you get a bit of bare skin showing. The waist is loose and easy and then the dress starts to widen as it skims out over the hips. The skirt falls under that to the floor gently widening out as it nears the hem. It is that perfect easy dress but will the added impact of obviously being a Chanel. It is just stunning. Excellent condition
Fully lined in a soft brown crepe and it closes with a hidden set back zipper. Tagged a Chanel 36. The easy cut and slight stretch of the dress should allow it to fit on a variety of sizes.
Bust: 16-18" flat across from side seam to side seam
Natural waist: to 15.5" flat across from side seam to side seam
Hips: 19" flat across from side seam to side seam
Bodice: 17.5" from top of shoulder to top of band at the slightly dropped waist
Total length: 57.5" from top of shoulder to hem
Modern Sizing Equivalent: XS-MED
Item# DD4819
Reference Photos: (1-2) Fall 1998 Chanel Runway. / (3) From the book "Chanel: Catwalk".
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.
john galliano
Spectacular Spring 2000 John Galliano Deep Pewter Coloured Bias Cut Silk Dress w Matching Fringed Shawl
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John Galliano began his own label in 1984 and he was instantly a bit of a 'boy wonder' in fashion. He was British Fashion Council Designer of the Year in 1987, 1994 and 1995. In 1991 he made his Paris catwalk debut. In 1995 he was asked to head Givenchy and then went to Dior in October of 1996. Unlike many designers he kept his own label going as well throughout the years at both those houses. His work, especially the bias cut pieces that he did, have a feeling of the decadence and abandonment of the twenties and they are beautifully cut. They marry Old Hollywood with the minimalist spirit of the nineties and early 2000s and the results are stunning. This is an amazing example of his work from the Spring 2000 season and it is gorgeous. This dress was a piece made for production for retail but it has all the things we love about his work presented in a beautifully chic and minimalist package.
The dress is gorgeous. It definitely takes inspiration from the bias cut couture pieces of the 20s and 30s. The seam work and simplicity of this dress is stunning to see and it is even better on an actual body. It is made from a beautiful silk that has a matte satin finish. The colour is like a deep pewter silver with a touch of a taupe brown undertone to it. It has that same light in weight feel that the best of the 1930s pieces did that were made from similar fabrics. Like those liquid dresses of the thirties this is also completely cut on the bias. It is cut to flow over the body and skim its way over the bust, waist and hips as it falls to the floor. The dress falls from straps that curve up and over each shoulder. The straps have their own detail that I love. Each one is a double strap that is stitched together at the top of the shoulder, crosses over themselves, and then are attached to the dress with a round disk made out of the same fabric that has been piped and stitched into a circle. He has added this detail to the front and to the back of each strap. The neckline comes down into a V and it does the same thing at the back for a pretty exposure of skin. I love how the V of the neckline picks up with the V shapes created within each strap. It skims over the bodice with no seam at the waist on the front of the dress. At the back there is a low set angled seam that gives a bit of shape through the lower back. The skirt flows down to the floor, skimming over the hips and then flaring out as it reaches the hem. The flaring shape is achieved by the bias cut of the fabric rather then extensive seaming. This gives you some pretty movement around the lower skirt when you walk or move. It also adds to the hourglass shape the dress has. It is all done so that it sits in a certain way on your hips and then that in turn affects how the entire dress sits on your body. The dress comes with its matching shawl piece that is equally incredible. It is 26" at its widest point and just over 8 feet long. At each end, the fabric is gathered into one of those circular piped discs that you see on the base of the shoulder straps, and then they are finished with a beautiful 7 1/2" tasselled fringe. You can simply drape this over your shoulders and it adds that perfect touch for when you make your entrance in the dress. It becomes an integral design detail in itself. It is these subtle little details that Galliano put into his dresses that make them heads above other pieces. The dress is spectacular. Excellent condition.
Unlined and slips over the head to wear with no true closures. Tagged a Galliano FR42, GB14, US8. The bias cut fabric does have some stretch. The measurements below give you the comfortable range the fabric has when lying flat. The bias cut should allow it to fit a range of sizes
Bust: 17-21" flat across from side seam to side seam
Dropped waist: 14-17.5" flat across from side seam to side seam
Hips: 18-21" flat across from side seam to side seam
Total length: 60" from the top of the shoulder to hem
Shawl 26"w x 100" long end to end and including the tassels
Modern Sizing Equivalent: XS-MED
Item# DD4814
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christian dior
Important Spring 1998 Christian Dior by John Galliano "In a Boudoir Mood" Full Runway Jacket, Skirt & Camisole Set
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This is a very rare and important full set from the Spring 1988 "In a Boudoir Mood" Christian Dior by John Galliano collection. It was Galliano's second ready-to-wear collection for the house. John Galliano said of this collection "I feel that we are entering a period of our own Belle Epoque as we approach the end of the millennium with a return to romanticism and elegance". The stage of the show was done to re-create the look of a turn of the century mansion with piano and pool tables with separate 'salons' through which the models walked and posed. For the suits like this one, the jackets were cut long and done in a basket weave wool. They were meant to be a nod to the famous Bar suit but shown with a floor length biased cut skirts rather than the fuller poufed look of the original version. The collection was all about fantasy and romance and had very few true day pieces. Besides the runway reference photos, I have also added one from the Dior catwalk book. On the runway, the jacket was shown in an ivory and then in the stores you had the option to get it in this pale blue, of which there were limited numbers available.
The collections notes for this show read "the collection was imagined for a woman who rediscovered her naturally liked and graceful body in a subtle, looking silhouette and loves living in the softest lingerie she has decided to show off even for the day". The Times said that it was Galiano "most wearable yet". This is from the original client who bought all three pieces together and it is an extraordinary and rare opportunity to have a piece from this early and important collection.
All three pieces of this set are exceptional. This is the kind of once upon a time piece that brings great joy to see in person and to have in the shop. The jacket is a staggeringly beautiful example of the work John Galliano was doing during this time. The body the jacket is made of a basket weave wool in a pale dusty blue. The front is dropped into a low V and there is a single button at the waist to hold it in place. The button deserves its own mention as it is a beautiful little antique feeling cameo whose backdrop perfectly matches the blue of the wool. The cut of the jacket is done so that it highlights the curve of the the body. It curves in at the waist and over the hips. At the front the hem curves up towards the button and then the back curves down and around to the top of the thighs. This creates this magnificent hourglass silhouette. Pockets sit on each hip and they are long curved flaps cut to to match the shape of the jacket. It is a masterpiece of tailoring and cut. The sleeves are long and each ends with a metallic ribbon detail that picks up on the silver of the skirt. Lace has been applied to the very edge of the cuffs for a bit of flounce and then you see another bit of applied lace that circles the inside of the collar. The inside of the jacket is lined in a beautiful floral embossed ivory silk. The lace of the collar is then picked up by the lace on the bodice of the camisole that goes underneath the jacket. The inner top is its own little work of art. It is made out of an ivory silk cut on the bias. There are little silver metallic medallion so and scattered over it. The top is suspended from two little straps the curve around your shoulder and the bodice is finished with more of that gorgeous lace. This piece is meant to be more loose and easy on the body. Last we have the skirt which is phenomenal in its own right. It is made out of a silver metallic fabric that has actual metal woven through to create the floral design that you see. It is completely cut on the bias and it is meant to sit a little low on the waist. The skirt flows down to the floor, curving over the hips and then flaring out as it reaches the hem. The flaring shape is achieved by the bias cut of the fabric rather then extensive seaming. This gives you some pretty movement around the lower skirt when you walk or move. It also adds to the hourglass shape the set has. It is all done so that it sits in a certain way on your hips and then that in turn affects how the skirt sits on your body. Once all the pieces are put together, the bits of metallic on the camisole and on the cuffs of the jacket all tie in so perfectly with the skirt. This is a once in a lifetime, very special opportunity, to get such a rare and amazing complete set. Excellent condition with a small note below.
The jacket is fully lined in an ivory silk and closes with the single button at the front. Light rounded padding in each shoulder. I see some marks under the arms on the lining of the jacket that do not go through. The jacket is tagged FR40, GB12, US8. The camisole slips over the head to wear. I see a very faint spot on the front. It is tagged a FR42, GB14, US10. Please see the photos after the label shot for both of those. The skirt is fully lined in a black silk and closes with a hidden set side zipper and it is tagged a FR38, GB10, US6
Jacket
Sleeves: approx 23" and are 12" around the upper arm
Shoulders: no true defined seam 5019
Bust: 17.5" flat across from side seam to side seam
Waist: 15" flat across from side seam to side seam
Hips: 19.5" flat across from side seam to side seam
Total length: 26" from neck to longest point of the back hem
Camisole
Bust: 16-17.5" flat across from side seam to side seam
Waist: to 15" flat across from side seam to side seam
Hips: to 19" flat across from side seam to side seam
Total length: 22.5" from top of shoulder to hem
Skirt
Waist: 13" flat across from side seam to side seam
Hips: 17.5-20" flat across from side seam to side seam
Total length: 50.5" from waist to hem with approx 1.5" turned under the hem
Modern Sizing Equivalent: SML-MED
Item# DD4815
Reference Photos/Video: Spring 1998 Christian Dior. Model: Esther de Jong. / Last photo from the book "Dior: Catwalk" by Thames & Hudson.
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.
alexander mcqueen
Gorgeous Fall 2004 Alexander McQueen 'Pantheon Ad Lecum' Runway Off Shoulder Knit Dress
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This is a spectacular and rare dress from the Fall 2004 McQueen show and its twin walked the runway that season. On the runway it was shown with a sash wrapped around the hips and you could easily replicate this if you wished. It is equally as good on its own. The runway pieces were not produced in significant numbers and were often only found at the flagship stores in very limited quantities. For this collection McQueen was quoted as saying that he wanted to 'strip away all theatrics and focus purely on design'. The colours in the show focused on a nude palette and these taupe pieces were a predominant element in the collection. He also kept the embellishments to the bare minimum throughout the collection and this dress showcases that nod towards simplicity.
The dress is made from a very fine knit jersey that has a slight sheen to it. The seams are then either surged and top stitched, or have been covered and highlighted with a silk cording. This use of the seams as a way to create design details within the dress is a very McQueen feeling signature and it really highlights the cut of the piece. The neckline on the dress is a wide ribbed panel that has a lot of stretch available to it. You could wear it up and off the shoulders but it is best worn as shown on the runway, stretched and pulled down to leave the shoulders bare and exposed. The bodice is cut to skim over you and the sleeves are long. Each sleeve has some fullness above its 4" cuff. On the runway, they pulled the cuff up and inside so you just saw the part that blouses over and not the cuffs itself. A very clever styling trick. From there it continues past the hips to the floor. If you thought the way the seams have been detailed on the bodice is pretty, the skirt is magical. There are stacked side by side peaked panels whose tops sit at different heights around the entire skirt. Each has a touch of open cut work around their seams which gives the dress more depth and detail. This piecing of the side by side panels also allows the skirt to have more of a flare at its bottom. You can see how beautifully it moves in the runway video here. It is my understanding from my client that only a limited amount of these were produced. This is an iconic piece of McQueen's history. Excellent condition with a minor note below
Fully lined in an ivory stretch lingerie type fabric and slips over the head to wear. The knit jersey has stretch and the measurements below are the comfortable range when the dress is laying flat. I see a tiny area on the knit where it misses a stitch. Please see the photo after the label shot. Tagged a McQueen 38. Any change in colour you see is just the lighting. The stretch fabric should allow it to accommodate a variety of sizes.
Sleeves: 25"
Shoulders: variable
Bust: 17-21" flat across from side seam to side seam
Waist: 11.5-15" flat across from side seam to side seam
Hips: 17-22" flat across from side seam to side seam
Total length: approx 60" from the top of the natural shoulder to hem
Modern Sizing Equivalent: XS-MED
Item# DD4816
Reference Photos/Video: Fall 2004 Alexander McQueen.
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.
stavropoulos
Exceptional 1970s George Stavropoulos Pale Yellow Bias Cut Silk Chiffon Caftan Dress w Attached Panel
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George Stavropoulos was known for his evening wear and his signature looks often involved draping and the use of multiple layers of silk done on a bias cut. He focused on cut and fabric to convey the beauty of each piece. It was said that his gowns 'seemed to float on air'. He launched his label in 1960 and soon was dressing women like Elizabeth Taylor, Jackie Kennedy, Barbra Streisand and Maria Callas. The majority of his gowns are almost entirely made by hand and to couture standards. By the early 1980s one of his evening dresses started at a cost of around $8500USD and they went up in cost from there. To put that in modern terms, that would be about thirty thousand dollars. It was an incredible amount of money at the time and yet women couldn't get enough of them. This one is especially beautiful.
This dress is drop dead gorgeous with its yards and yards of silk chiffon and draping. It is a little extra interesting because of the the attached top panels that allow you to wear the dress in multiple ways. If you look closely at the photos I have here you will see that I have styled it differently by wrapping the panels around the body in different ways to give the dress several looks. I think that you could probably come up with even more variations once it is on. The dress is made of an incredible six feather light layers of that beautiful bias cut silk chiffon. The inner five layers are stacked on top of each other and then the very top is a panel that wraps around on one side and has been caught up in a draping effect. To make sure that the drape that he wished to have is perfect, there is a little weight hidden inside the drape so that it hangs perfectly. I took a photo of it for you to see. Then on the other side it is open from under the arm down and that is the layer that you can tie and wrap in different ways. It is stunning to see in person. The effect of layering the chiffon gives it so much more movement and drape and it creates this beautiful movement when you move. The layers have just enough weight to stay in place when you are standing still and then when you move they move with you and the effect is gorgeous. The slightest bit of movement on your part or bit of air around you will cause it to move. This is a fabric that is notoriously difficult to work with and it shows just what a genius he was by the way that he was able to make it flow and sit so beautifully. The majority of work is all done by hand and it would have taken many, many hours of work to create this dress. The neckline is just slightly scooped and the sleeves are very full above their buttoned cuffs. The top overlay of the dress is attached around the neckline and runs under and around the sleeve on one side. On the other is opens and has a long tie extending out the front on that side. At the back it is connected across the top of the shoulder and then the entire panel is left free so that you can use it to wrap or drape it over your shoulder around your waist to cross your bodice. Inside the dress is a loose and easy cut that skims over you. The dress falls from the neckline, skims over the bust and waist and then the hips are open and easy. As it nears the hem it widens out considerably. This is a dress that must be on a body to really come to life. As good as it looks here it is nothing compared to it on and moving. It is also a technical masterpiece with all those layers of silk and the way he constructed it. Excellent condition with a minor note below
Made from several layers of silk chiffon as noted above. It zips to close at the back with a weight onside the drape. The top panels can then be tied or draped in a variety of ways as described above. Hand finishes. I see the tiniest bit of wear to the silk near the top of the shoulders. Please see the photo after the label shot. The bias cut should allow it to fit a range of sizes upwards and drapes more on a smaller size.
Sleeves: 28" and it is approx 20" around the upper arm
Shoulders: no true defined seam
Bust: to 20" flat across from side seam to side seam
Waist: to 18" flat across from side seam to side seam
Hips: to 24" flat across from side seam to side seam
Length: 65" from top of shoulder to hem and depending on how you style it, some of the overlay panel made drape beyond that
Modern Sizing Equivalent: XS-MED
Item# DD4813
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.
roberto cavalli
Incredible Spring 2003 Roberto Cavalli Light as Air Printed Silk & Silk Chiffon Maxi Skirt, Top & Corset Set
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Here we have one of the most wanted pieces of vintage that you can find - one of Roberto Cavalli's iconic corsets along with its matching skirt and top from Spring 2003. I have included runway photos that show the twin of the corset being worn with various pieces. My client waitlisted to get this entire set and I love that I have all three matching pieces for you. Bella Hadid was recently spotted wearing a different variation of this set and versions were shown for a special runway presentation in Cannes that season. It is one of those iconic vintage sets that you rarely see come to market as a full set with all of its pieces together and in the same size.
I love how the print adds a fantastic pop of colour to these pieces and that by adding the corset it makes it that much more spectacular on the body. As good as it looks in the still shot, it is even better in real life because it is really when you are moving that these pieces live up to their full potential. An incredible amount of feather light silk chiffon has gone into the making of the skirt and top. The bodice of the top falls in wide panels with a plunge at the front that goes right to the waist. The openings for the arms also plunge to the stitching at the waist. The top of the shoulders are gathered with ties in a matching silk and this gives you a bit of softness over the bodice. Each of the ties is long and finished with charms that add a pretty and feminine touch. The waist is top stitched for detail and then the top buttons from there to the hem. I have taken a photo of the top on its own so you can see how pretty the curve of the hem is. This piece is cut to be more on the loose and easy side. It is pretty on its own but when you pop the corset over top of it you see why it is cut the way it is. The corset sits just under that plunge and it holds everything in place perfectly. The corset has inner metal stays at the front where it hooks to close, down the sides and more on either side of the laces. These are encased in the same silk as the rest of the corset and I love how he set the pattern in a different direction where it goes over top of the inner boning. It gives it the perfect amount of emphasis to where the stays are placed. To wear the corset, you hook it at the front and then you can adjust the laces at the back for the perfect fit. It is cut on a curve on both the top and the bottom so that it fits perfectly over you and creates that sexy hourglass shape. The final piece of the set is the skirt and it is as equally remarkable as the other two pieces. The skirt is made out of layer of the same printed silk chiffon as the other two pieces with a wide silk band that wraps around your waist. Onto the band there is a piping of the same fabric that lets you cinch it in and tie it. This piping also has charms at the end of the ties. There are yards of silk in the skirt and it is constructed to have this incredible fullness and movement. The fabric is so light and fine that when you stand still it falls in a pretty column around you without adding bulk. You still get a hint of the fullness that it has but then when you move the many yards of fabric that are actually there allows the skirt to billow out around you. The fabric is so light and airy that when you walk it creates this incredible floating sensation. No matter how good it looks in the photos the sensation and lightness of the fabric mixed with the restraint of the corset around you that gives you curves for days is just phenomenal. Excellent condition with a minor note below
All of the pieces are unlined. The top buttons to close and I see a tiny repair near three of the button holes. The skirt closes with hooks and snaps at the waist. The corset closes with the five metal hooks at the front and then you adjust the fit with the laces at the back. The corset is currently tied with a black silk satin ribbon and I also have the original more shoelace type ribbon that you could switch out for if you wished. Both will be sent. All three pieces are marked a vintage Cavalli Small
Note that I have measured the corset laying open from end with the laces fully tightened. You could open the laces as much as you needed from there.
Top
Bust: to 19" flat across the back from side seam to side seam but has no true side seams
Waist: to 15.5" flat across from side seam to side seam
Hips: to 19" flat across from side seam to side seam
Length: 25" from the top of the shoulder to the hem
Corset
Top seam: 25" flat across from end to end with the laces tightened to wear their it shown on the dress form. You can adjust upwards from there by loosening the laces as needed.
Waist: 23" flat across from end to end with the laces tightened to wear their it shown on the dress form. You can adjust upwards from there by loosening the laces as needed.
Bottom seam: 26.5" flat across from end to end with the laces tightened to wear their it shown on the dress form. You can adjust upwards from there by loosening the laces as needed.
Height: 10" at the laces, 10.25" at the hooks
Skirt
Waist: 15.5" flat across from side seam to side seam
Hips: open
Length: 44" from waist to hem
Modern Sizing Equivalent: SML-MED
Item# DD4812
Reference Photos: (1-4) Spring 2003 Roberto Cavalli, Look 13 & 16. / (5) Roberto Cavalli fashion show during the 2003 Cannes Film Festival. / (6) Bella Hadid in Roberto Cavalli at her Orabella launch, May 2024.
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.
gucci
Prettiest Pre-Fall 2020 Gucci by Alessandro Michele Yellow Silk Dress Caftan w Jewel Collar & Front
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The twin of the dress was shown for the Pre-Fall 2020 Gucci presentation for Look 51. Its twin was worn on the red carpet by Rachel and one was also photoed for Grazia Italie. This has always been one of my favourites from his work for the label and I am very pleased to have it in the shop. It is so pretty and the bright colour of it is gorgeous.
If you love an amazing caftan feeling moment then this is the dress for you. It is made out of a bright yellow silk and silk chiffon combination with a beautifully and densely covered jewelled front and collar. The neckline is high and finished with the most amazing yellow prong set glass crystal rhinestones and beads. These circle the neck in a wide 2” band and then more of them run down the sides of the front keyhole. The shoulders are soft and the sleeves are very full above their cuffs. I love that the sleeves are left unlined so you almost don't notice that it has sleeves. The inner dress is cut into a simple sheath that skims past your bust, waist and hips to the floor. Panels of silk chiffon have been attached into the collar and around the openings for the sleeves. These fall over you to create the beautifully illusion of fullness that you see in these photos. The panels are split at the front and then cut to just about the top of the hips and then curved down to the floor. They do the same thing at the back and there is a layer of the same silk over the innermost silk sheath patt of the dress. When you move the silk chiffon catches the air and billows out around you for the most beautiful and dramatic effect. This is a dress that you just throw on and it instantly drapes and falls into place perfectly each time. It is very pretty and very easy to wear. It has its original tags attached and comes with its original dust bag and Gucci hanger. Excellent condition
The innermost silk layer of the dress acts as the lining. The dress closes with a hidden set back zipper and each cuff has two silk covered buttons. Original hangtag is attached with extra beads/ rhinestones included. It will ship with its original hanger and garment bag. Tagged a modern Gucci 42. The easy cut should allow it to fit a range of sizes.
Neck: 15" around
Sleeves: approx 25" and 18" around the upper arm
Shoulders: no true defined seam
Bust-hips: to 20" flat across from side seam to side seam
Total length: 57" from the neck to the hem and then some of the top panels extend past that a few inches
Modern Sizing Equivalent: XS-MED
Item# DD4811
Reference Photos: (1) Pre-Fall 2020 Gucci, Look 51. Model Bethann Hardison. / (2-3) Rachel Zoe in Gucci for the 'House of Gucci' Los Angeles Premiere, November 2021. / (4) Coco Rebecca Edogamhe in Gucci for Grazia Italia. Photo by Federico Barbieri.
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.
yves saint laurent
Dreamy Spring 1977 Yves Saint Laurent "Spanish" Collaction Full Length Black Silk Ruffled Maxi Skirt
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This is the Ready-to-Wear version of what was shown on the runway for the Spring 1977 Haute Couture collection. In the book on Yves Saint Laurent's work "Catwalk" the note for the collection state that "for evening Yves Saint Laurent designed taffeta skirts puffed out by full petticoats paired with delicate blouses." American Vogue wrote "Saint Laurent, the totally romantic view of woman and clothes" while French Vogue raved about the multicultural inspiration of the collection saying "you can no longer go out in the evening without coming across a taffeta flounce". The most prominent references were to Spain and these tiered skirts were integral to the collection. We have added several photos of the various variations of this skirt from that show and along with a shot of what looks like it's twin from The Met Museum's exhibit book published to accompany their 1984 exhibit on his work to that date.
This is the YSL skirt of dreams. In an amazing testament to construction and pure joy of form, this phenomenal full length maxi skirt by Yves Saint Laurent is perfection. The skirt is made of a black silk taffeta that was one of his favourite fabrics to use when he did this type of full voluminous look. The fabric holds the shape well but without getting so cumbersome that they are uncomfortable to wear. This one is made of three tiers of the silk. The waist is banded and then the first tier is very full around the hips. This meets the second panel of silk and I love how he attached that panel with an overlapping ruffle that goes all the way around you. At the hem a dramatic flounce of ruffle is made from the same fabric to create the third tier and here he again has attached it into the body of the skirt so there is a ruffle above the seam. The skirt has yards and yards of fabric in it so that it is very very full and you gets lots of lovely volume when you move. Underneath where each band is attached there is an added wide band of stiffened netting encased in black silk that is set on the inside of the skirt. This helps the skirt hold its shape and adds inner structure. It is just incredible. At one point, I had a similar skirt to this in the shop that was from roughly the same time period and that one had its original price tag still. It was originally over $6k even then (roughly 22K in modern dollars). This type of full skirt was a key look from his work that you saw him repeat and build on throughout all of the decades of his creative life. I love it. Excellent condition
Unlined with inner stiffened netting as described above. It closes with a flat hook and eye above a keyhole at the side of the waist. I see a well-done older feeling repair beneath the opening of that keyhole. Tagged a vintage YSL 38.
Waist: 14" flat across from side seam to side seam
Hips: open
Length: 44" from waist to hem
Modern Sizing Equivalent: SML-MED
Item# DD4808
Reference Photos: Looks from Spring 1977 Yves Saint Laurent collection, from the exhibit book "Yves Saint Laurent" published by the Metropolitan Museum.
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.
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This is an exquisite 1960s dress this is covered with an intricate hand applied design made out of beads and sequins in various sized and shapes. The base is made of two layers of a slightly stiffer pale green tinted netting that gives it enough weight to hold the shape of the dress and to support the weight of the added embellishments. You would rarely see this level of handwork on a piece today and if you did the cost to produce it would catapult it onto the world of couture. The design that covers the dress has been meticulously done by hand using the combination of sequins and beads. They are placed heavier around the neckline and edges of the sleeves and then are done in a heavier row down the front. Around the hem there are three dense rows stacked on top of each other. Everywhere else they are scattered to give the design a floral feel and cover the entire dress. It all has a raised 3D effect off of the netting and it is incredible. I took several detail shots so you can get an idea of the workmanship and also included a shot of the back of the fabric so that you can see the handwork through the netting. My client was sure it was a designer piece but women removed the labels during this time period so its no longer known who it is from. It is a remarkable example of the fine work being done during this time period regardless and is quite beautiful. I also love that you can change the look depending on the hue you wear under the netting. Excellent condition.
Made of two layers of the netting but is still slightly transparent. It closes with a series of buttons down the back. All of the work appears to be hand done.
Sleeves: 7" and are 12.5" around the upper arm
Shoulders: 14.5"
Bust: 19" flat across from side seam to side seam
Waist: 17" flat across from side seam to side seam
Hips: 19" flat across from side seam to side seam
Length: 38" from top of the shoulder to hem
Modern Sizing Equivalent: SML-MED
Item# DD4805
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.
Beautiful 1910 Unlabeled Heirloom Ivory Net Wedding Dress w Elaborate Sequin & Bead Work
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This is an extraordinary little dress and I'm very pleased to have the exact date of it because my clients grandmother wore it to her wedding on October 15, 1910. By all accounts it was a long and happy marriage and my client hopes that this dress will pass on that love to its next owner.
This extraordinary dress was completely made by hand and is very feminine and beautiful. It is a wonderful example of the level of craftsmanship being utilized during this time period. It has survived the passing of time exceedingly well and was carefully stored all of these many decades. The base of the dress is made from a fine and light netting and it is this fabric choice that has allowed it to remain strong and sturdy over the years. The colour is a beautiful ivory that was almost impossible to capture and in real life it has a slightly more pastel feel to it that I think is just lovely. Onto this is an intricate design made of glass tube beads and little iridescent sequins that highlight the design and lines of the dress. The front neckline is in a soft scoop, and the back angles into a bit of a V above a row of snaps that close the dress. The sleeves extend out and are gathered along the top of the shoulders for a pretty little detail. They're open on their underside and the sequins and beads follow the pattern to circle the neckline and edge the sleeves. A wide band of sequins and beads detail the waist, and then the dress falls in a pretty cascade of the netting to just past the knee or a bit below depending on your height. A floral pattern is worked throughout the dress, and the workmanship is exquisite. Hangs lower than the front so you have a bit of a swooping feeling. There's a touch of light boning around the inner waist to hold the dress perfectly in place while it's on you. The placement of each and every embellishment is by hand and it is amazing to think of the time it would have taken to create this extensive design. The combination of the soft and romantic ivory net and the beautiful floral patterns that runs over it is absolutely fantastic. This would be an amazing dress for a collector or a bride who wants to incorporate a bit of the past into part of her celebration. Excellent condition
The dress is unlined with snaps at the back to close. Some of the snaps appear newer than others. The fabric appears to be strong and is wearable with the care. Perhaps the tiniest mark here and there and tiny break in the net but for something over 100 years old I would rate it as being in excellent antique condition.
Bust: 16-18" flat across from side seam to side seam
Waist: 12-12.5" flat across from side seam to side seam
Hips: to 23" flat across from side seam to side seam
Bodice: 13" from the top of the shoulder to the top of the 3" band at the waist
Total length: 46" from the top of the shoulder to the shortest part of the front hem, 51" to the back hem
Modern Sizing Equivalent: XS-SML
Item# DD4804
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.
christian dior
Prettiest Pre-Fall 2017 Christian Dior by Maria Grazia Chiuri Look 21 White Floral Applique Dress
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The twin of this dress was shown for Look 21 with boots and under a cape for the Pre-Fall 2017 Christian Dior presentation. 2017 marked the 70th anniversary of the label and for this presentation, Maria wanted to design a wardrobe that promoted individuality. Vogie said that during the photoing of the presentation Maria "noted how long embroidered coats went over tiered, sheer dresses; vests with velvet incrustations of hearts and diamonds; and Japanese denim with neo-folkloric metallic embroidery all contributed to an eclectic interpretation of Miss Dior. A steady push-pull of respect and disruption produced several catchy pieces." This was one of those little sheer dresses that were used to create that just position, and when you see it on his own, you realize just how lovely This was one of those little sheer dresses that were used to create that just position, and when you see it on his own, you realize just how lovely of a piece it truly is.
The dress is gorgeous and I love that it can easily have a more elegant evening feel by styling it with heels and some statement jewels rather then the cape and boots it was shown on the runway with. The fabric is a just lightly off white cotton voile that has a touch of transparency to it. It was then lined in a silk that has a bit of texture so it gives some coverage and depth. Then onto that are individually placed cut out flowers that are embroidered all around their edges. These have been individually placed on top of little sprays of embroidered leaves. They cover the dress from shoulder to hem and this added texture gives the dress the most beautiful visual interest. It is quite stunning. The lines of the dress are simple so that the woman wearing it will take centre stage. The neckline is cut across the bodice so that it can worn to the outer edge of your shoulder or completely off of the shoulder to leave your shoulders bare and free depending on the width of your shoulder. The bodice skims over you and the waist nips in. You could add a belt to accent the waist more if you wished. The skirt falls from there and hearkens back to the era of Mr. Dior with a pretty fullness. It falls outwards to the hem on a soft line that is quite beautiful. There are no added crinolines underneath and all of the fullness and volume that you see is achieved by the way the skirt is inset around the waist. There are yards of silk in the skirt so you could add your own crinoline under it and wear it very full if you wished. Pretty little sleeves fall to just about the elbow for the perfect finish. Excellent condition
The bodice and skirt are lined in a matching white silk and the sleeves are unlined. It closes at the back with a hidden set zipper. Tagged a modern Dior FR36, GB8, IT40, US4
Sleeves: 17" and they are 12" around the upper arm
Shoulder: no defined seam
Bust: to 16.5" flat across from side seam to side seam
Waist: to 12.5" flat across from side seam to side seam
Hips: open
Bodice: approx 15" from top of natural shoulder to waist
Total length: 52.5" from top of natural shoulder to hem
Modern Sizing Equivalent: XS-SML
Item# DD4803
Reference Photo: Pre-Fall 2017 Christian Dior, Look 21.
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.
john galliano
Rare Fall 1995 John Galliano 'Dolores' Collection Sharply Tailored Inner Corset Black Strapless Dress
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On the runway the closest to this dress seems to be Look 3 which was shown underneath a jacket and was cut to a longer length. This one with it's just past the knee, feels more versatile and wearable. The collection was called 'Dolores' and the muse was Dolores Del Rio the famous Hollywood star of the 1920s. The show told the tale of the love affair between her and James Martinz Del Rio. Besides the longer black version of this dress there was also a white strapless skirt and bodice that had a similar silhouette. This one with it's perfectly simple minimalist silhouette is an amazing way to wear a historically important and early piece of Galliono's work, while still having a dress that you can wear on many different occasions on its own or layered under other garments.
The dress is made from a lightweight black wool that has a slight texture to it. This choice of fabric lets it hold the shape that you see without making it heavy to wear. It is strapless and cut to skim perfectly over the body once on. There is a built-in boned inner corset that closes with its own row of lingerie hooks under the zipper at the back. This holds the dress in place on you and it also flattens and pushes the breasts up. The outer dress skims over that and then is shape so that it curves in at the waist for shapes. It curves back out over the hips and then the the skirt is cut in a sleek pencil that narrows down just a touch at the hem for the perfect hourglass shape. The seaming is all meticulously and purposefully done to shape the dress around you. A closed event at the back of the skirt allows you to walk and gives a little kick as you move. It is very chic and minimalist. Excellent condition with one small note below.
Fully built-in corset inside that closes with its own series of lingerie hooks and then the dress closes over that with a hidden set zipper. The dress is also lined in a black silk. I see one tiny nick in the fabric near the neckline at the front. Please see the photo after the label shot. Tagged a vintage Galliano 40/8
Bust: 15-15.5" flat across from side seam to side seam
Waist: 13.5-14" flat across from side seam to side seam
Hips: 18" flat across from side seam to side seam
Total length: 35.5" from top of the bodice to hem
Modern Sizing Equivalent: XXS-SML
Item# DD4799
Reference Photo: Fall 1995 John Galliano, Look 3. Model Michele Hicks.
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.