• This gorgeous dress is one that was made for the shops and I believe is from the early 2010s.
• It was made under the creative direction of both Maria Grazia Chiuri and Pierpaolo Piccioli. 
• Even with only the dress form shot it is so gorgeous. It is not hard to imagine just how beautifully this one will be on the body and how it moves. 
  
• The base of the dress is made from stocking layers of silk chiffon and silk done in a deep pewter-silver colour. It is then heavily embellished from top to toe. The embellishments give it some weight but the silk layers underneath keep it from being too heavy once on the body. 
• The dress is suspended by two straps that curve up and over the shoulders. The front neckline is scooped. At the back we see another scoop and there it is softened by a draping layer of embellished silk chiffon that falls softly over the scoop. 
• Vertical lines of clear beads with silver applied to their centres are applied over the bodice. The beading is done in different sizes and mixed in with tiny silver sequins. These stop at the seam under the bust. At the back the bead work is applied more on an angle all the way up to the edge of the silk chiffon draped panel there.
• A heavy band of glass crystal rhinestones sit just under the seam where the bust ends. These top a 3.5" expense of a double layer of netting that is embellished with a diamond pattern done and silver metal thread. Little clear beads top where each intersection happens within the pattern. This panel is transparent so you get a glimpse of skin underneath. Where the panel ends there is a second wide band of the glass crystal rhinestones. All of the rhinestones are prom set, and this would all had to have been applied by hand.
  
• The skirt falls from under there, curving over the hips and widening out to a pretty fullness by the time it reaches the hem. The skirt has three full layers of silk in its construction, and I love that the back is cut longer than the front. This gives you a beautiful slight sweeping feel, and picks up on that pretty drape at the back. It is fantastic.
• The dress is fully lined in a marching silk behind the bodice. The panel at the waist is transparent. The skirt is made of three layers of silk and silk chiffon. The dress closes with a hidden set side zipper. There is perhaps the tiniest bit of grubbiness along the very edge of the arms. It is extremely minor but mentioned for accuracy.
• There is no size tag present so please go by the measurements listed below
• Excellent condition

Bust: 16-16.5" flat across from side seam to side seam
Waist: 12.5" flat across from side seam to side seam
Hips: to 17.5" flat across from side seam to side seam
Bodice: 11" to the seam under the bust and 15" from the top of the shoulder to the bottom seam of the waist.
Total length: 58" from top of shoulder to front hem and the back extends another 6.5" past that

Modern Sizing Equivalent: XS-SML

Item# DD5248

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

• The near twin of this dress walked the runway for the Fall 2005 show for Look 82 and was worn by Erin Wasson. 
• It was made under the creative direction of the original Mr. Valentino.
• Vogue said of the collection that "Valentino's couture touch brought exquisite workmanship to filmy lace blouses and brocade jackets as well as evening gowns that captured the seasons passion for Victorian and Edwardian effects." They went on to mention the feel of this gown specifically saying "courtly evening gowns had trains, composed of tiers of ruffles."
• On the runway they showed the dress with the ruffles backed in a silk taffeta in what looks to be a more coral red. When the dress was produced for shops this version has a pink behind the bows and it is lined in pink for just a hint of colour. The silk ruffles cascading down dress have no lining in a different colour. I think the dress is more striking this way. It is not so busy as how it looks and was presented on the runway.
• The dress is absolutely spectacular and showcases what made these original Valentino pieces so special under Mr. Valentino's direction.
• The dress is strapless and curves across you at the front and is fitted around the bust. Inside there is a built-in corset that is lightly boned to keep the dress perfectly in place.
• From there it is shaped so that comes in at the waist without any seams to break the eye. It curves back out to glide over the hips.
• The skirt widens out to be very full by the time it reaches the hem. The back of the skirt is cut longer than the front so that you get a beautiful sweeping feel behind you.
• Beginning just under the bust is the first ruffle. It is 7.5" wide and is set to curve down and around you before dipping lower at the back for a very pretty line. And its long longest point in the back it extends to 12". A bow in a matching silk sits at the top centre of the front and this is backed in a pink silk for a tiny touch of colour.
• The second ruffle begins just under the waist and this one follows that same beautiful curve around you. It dips lower and longer at the back to a full 21" at its longest point. This ruffle is also topped by a pretty black and pink silk bow at the front.
• Each of the tiers is gathered in lightly along where they are set into the dress so that they have lots of volume and movement. Under the last ruffle the entire lower skirt at the back widens out substantially and trails behind you in a swooping train. Under the skirt is a pink silk organza lining that is finished with a pink edging made of the same pink silk that the bows are backed with. When you move and your legs kick the dress outward you get a little hint of the pink and it all perfectly ties in with the pink of the bows.
• This is a truly spectacular dress and one that you will not see come around very often if ever again. 
• The dress has a built-in black silk corset that is lightly boned and zips with its own zipper. The dress closes with a hidden set zipper over that. Where the ruffle goes over the zipper, there is a series of hidden snaps to fully close the ruffle over the zipper so that it is all hidden. The skirt is lined in pink organza as described a book. The dress appears to have been worn very little if at all.
• There is no size tag present so please go by the measurements listed below
• Excellent condition

Bust: to 16" flat across from side seam to side seam
Inner waist: 12" flat across from side seam to side seam
Hips: 17.5" flat across from side seam to side seam
Total length: 56.5" from top of the bodice to the front hem and the back extends another 9" past that.

Modern Sizing Equivalent: XS-SML

Item# DD5240

Reference Photos: Fall 2005 Valentino, Look 82. Model Erin Wasson.

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

• The twin of this dress walked the runway in a deep burgundy brown colour for the Fall 2002 collection as Look 65.
• It was made under the creative direction of the original Mr. Valentino.
• The dress is made from layers of a feather light black silk chiffon that is cut on the bias. It is an extremely easy dress to wear and fit because it has a definite caftan feel to it.
• It is cut to sits either just at the edges of the shoulders as I have shot it here or can be worn off the shoulders like how you see it was worn in the runway photos. I love how that bare expanse of skin offsets the fullness of the dress underneath. 
• The sleeves are phenomenal. Each is cut so that it is very full and wide. They cascade down the arm in a double layer of silk and they are split along the upper edge. Each sleeve is cut so that it falls on an angle so that the innermost portion of the sleeve falls much longer than where the outer edge lies creating a cascade of silk down your arm. The lightness of the silk chiffon gives them a ton of movement around the arm when you move.
• The top of each shoulder is gathered into a series of rounded pleats and more of the same rounded pleats sits on the side of each hip. Long panels of silk chiffon fall from under the pleats set on the outside of each hip. These are cut much like the sleeves with a double layer of silk chiffon stacked on top of each other and ending in different lengths. This adds a tremendous amount of movement to the skirt when you move. I love how they tie in the sleeves and skirt together.
• The dress skims over the body and widens out quite a bit as it nears the hem. This is what gives the dress its caftan feel. The back hem is cut longer than the front so you get a sweeping feel behind you. 
• The body of the dress is made from three layers of silk chiffon and these act as the lining. The sleeves are made of two layers of the silk as described above. The dress closes with a hidden set back zipper. It appears to have been worn very little if at all. Be easy cut should allow it to fit a range of sizes. On a smaller frame it will just drape more.
• Tagged a vintage Valentino 12
• Excellent condition

Sleeves: to 33" at their longest points and are full and open around the upper arm.
Bust: 18-19" flat across from side seam to side seam
Waist: to 16.5" flat across from side seam to side seam
Hips: to 24" flat across from side seam to side seam
Total length: 61" from top of shoulder to the front hem and the back extends another 10" past that.

Modern Sizing Equivalent: MED-LRG

Reference Photos/Video: Fall 2002 Valentino, Look 65.

Item# DD5227

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

• The twin of this gorgeous dress walked the runway for the Spring 2011 collection in a taupe colour and was Look 41 in the show.
• It was made under the creative direction of both Maria Grazia Chiuri and Pierpaolo Piccioli. 
• Even in the different colour between the runway shot and the runway video you can see just how beautifully this one is on the body and how it moves. 
• Vogue said of this collection that the pieces "displayed incredible Couture like workmanship" and gushed over the exuberant use of ruffles and lace throughout the collection.
• The dress is made out of a pinky-coral silk that is cut on the bias and flows over the body beautifully. The fabric choice keeps the dress very light in weight and gives it beautiful movement. I love it far more in this pretty colour than the pale taupe that it was shown on the runway in. 
• The entire top portion of the dress is finished in stacked ruffles made from silk organza that overlap the one underneath. On the bodice, there are also ruffles made of the same silk as the body of the dress interspersed between the organza ruffles. These swoop over you to curve up and over the single shoulder. All of the ruffles that cover the bodice have been set  on an angle to follow the same curve of the neckline and the ruffles continue all the way around you to the back. I especially love the little twirl created at the top of the shoulder that adds just a little bit of extra detail there.
• It comes in at the waist and then the top of the hips at the sides are subtly gathered for shape. It is all very pretty and feminine.
• The skirt falls from under there and widens out to a pretty fullness by the time it reaches the hem. The skirt has three full layers of silk and the draped to side curves upwards with an overlapped slit. So when you move a certain way you see a bit of a flash of bare leg. I love how the hem is curved to pick up on the angle of the bodice.
  
• The dress is fully lined in a marching coral silk chiffon through the bodice. The skirt is made of three layers of silk and these act as the lining. The dress closes with a hidden set side zipper.
• Tagged a Valentino 6
• Excellent condition

Bust: 16-17.5" flat across from side seam to side seam
Waist: 14-15" flat across from side seam to side seam
Hips: to 20" flat across from side seam to side seam
Bodice: approx 12.5" on the top of the shoulder to the inner seam under the bust
Total length: 63" from top of shoulder to front hem and the back extends another 4" past that

Modern Sizing Equivalent: SML-MED

Item# DD5210

Reference Photos: Spring 2011 Valentino. Look 41.

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

• The twin of this dress walk the runway for the Fall 2005 show for Look 67 and was worn by supermodel Carmen Kass. 
• It was made under the creative direction of the original Mr. Valentino.
• Vogue said of the collection that "Valentino's couture touch brought exquisite workmanship to filmy lace blouses and brocade jackets as well as evening gowns that captured the seasons passion for Victorian and Edwardian effects." They went on to mention the feel of this gown specifically saying "courtly evening gowns had Tissot trains, composed of tiers of ruffles."
• On the runway they showed the dress with a silk sash around the waist in an olive green. Apparently this was a styling decision only and the dress was not sold with it once it became available.
• The dress is absolutely spectacular and showcases what made these original Valentino pieces so special under Mr. Valentino's direction.
• Tiny net straps in the same colour curve up and over each shoulder. Each one has been heavily detailed with hand set beads and sequins in a matching deep blood red burgundy. It is a subtle bit of added glitz that works perfectly with the dress.
• The dress curves across you at the front and is fitted around the bust. Tiny little gathers are done along the inset seam along each side of the bodice At the back it is scooped so your upper back is left bare and exposed.
• From there it comes in at the waist and then curves back out to glide over the hips. At the front it falls in a more smooth column and then widens out quite a bit for the lower skirt. A wide 10" ruffle  finishes the front hem. Inside of that ruffle, you can feel that there are layers of netting that help hold its volume in shape to create the width you see from the front of the lower skirts.
• At the back is where all of the full on drama of the dress begins. Four very full ruffled panels are set stacked horizontally, one on top of each other, with each one below the one above becoming wider and fuller. Each of the tiers of silk have more netting inside so they hold their shape and volume fantastically. You can see how the entire lower skirt at the back widens out substantially and trails behind you in a swooping train. It is absolutely phenomenal.
• The choice of the silk that he's used as some structure and helps to hold all the shape that you see. The colour is a deep ox blood burgundy that is just phenomenal.
• This is a truly spectacular dress and one that you will not see come around very often if ever again. These would have been special ordered by clients through the boutiques.
• The dress is fully lined in a matching silk and closes with a back hidden set zipper. The ruffles around the lower skirts all have stiffened netting hidden inside them to help hold the shape and volume that you see. More stiffened netting around the inner hem and beautifully made. It appears to have been worn very little if at all.
• Tagged a vintage Valentino 6
• Excellent condition

Bust: 16" flat across from side seam to side seam
Waist: 13.5" flat across from side seam to side seam
Hips: 18" flat across from side seam to side seam
Total length: 62" from top of the shoulder to the front hem and the back extends another 9" past that.

Modern Sizing Equivalent: XS-SML

Item# DD5193

Photos/Video: Fall 2005 Valentino, Look 67. Model Carmen Kass.

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

• The dress is from the Fall 2000 Richard Tyler Couture collection.
• It was made under the creative direction of Richard Tyler.
• Faith Hill wore its twin to the 2000 Grammy awards. I love that we have this reference photo so that you can see how the dress is once on the body.
• Richard Tyler was the designer to wear in the 1990s and early 2000s. He won the Council of Fashion Designers of America New Talent award in 1993. In 1994 and 1995 he won the Council's Womenswear Designer of the Year award. Julia Roberts, Janet Jackson, and Sigourney Weaver were just a few of the stars who loved his work and his dresses made regular appearances on the red carpet.
• Tyler was known for his impeccable tailoring and finishes and at the time employed some of the best tailors and seamstresses in the business.
• The dress is made from an ultra soft and supple black leather that has been treated like a fabric for the construction of this dress.
• Beaded straps curve up and over each shoulder and then extend down to meet the dress at each side. There are also beaded straps that extend out from each side of the under-bust seam and are attached in at the sides. At the front they run through a little slit on the seams to pass across the plunge. A final beaded strap hooks into place across the low back and gives the illusion of being a part of the strap that wraps around the front. I love these little added beaded details that up the glamour on the dress that little bit more.
• The straps connect to triangles of leather that curve on an inward curve into a front plunge. The beaded strap that runs across the front helps to hold the dress in place and add a little extra detail. I love the how the seams under the bust turn into a dart to add shape. Just having those extra seams also add subtle detail.
• At the back it curves down into a low V at the small of your back, leaving your entire back bare and exposed. It is very sexy.
• It is shaped to come in at the waist and then curve back and over the hips. There is a horizontal seam placed at the bottom of the hips and then the lower panels of leather fall in a pretty column to the floor to give you one long lean line.
• At the back of the skirt there is an extremely high slit that goes all the way up to meet the seam that wraps around the bottom of the hips. These high back slits were a Tyler signature and allows for a flash of bare leg as you walk away.
• The leather is extremely soft and supple. It is not stiff in any way at all. It is so soft that it does act and drape like a fabric. It is incredible.
  
• The dress is lined with a black silk through the upper bodice and then the lower skirt is unlined. Closes with a hidden set side zipper. It appears to have been worn very little if at all.
• Tagged a vintage Tyler 8
• Excellent condition

Bust: each triangle covers to 8" flat across from side to side
Seam under the bust: 15-16" flat across from side seam to side seam
Natural waist: 14" flat across from side seam to side seam
Hips: 18.5" flat across from side seam to side seam
Bodice: 11.75" from top of shoulder to seam under the bust
Total length: 63" from top of shoulder to hem and the slit is 30.35" from the hem up

Modern Sizing Equivalent: SML-MED

Item# DD5290

Reference Photos: Faith Hill, in Richard Tyler, at the 2000 Grammys.

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

• This dress is from the Spring 2005 Cavalli collection
• It was made under the creative direction of Roberto Cavalli
• For that season Cavalli based everything shown on the 'Fashion Traveller' Theme and Vogue proclaimed that to mean "an eclectic throwing-together of hippie-ish trailing print skirts, ruffled cavalier shirts (worn belted at the hip as tantalizing dresses), and nineteenth century Sgt. Pepper-ish frogged military jackets."
• The dress is made of a black bias cut silk that is covered with a gold tone print. The print depicts golden feathers that curve heavily down and over the bodice and then gradually just become the gold parts that trail down and over the skirt.
• The feather print is very detailed and quite beautiful. I love how the pattern is set to accentuate the curves of the body underneath the dress and build on the cut of the dress itself.
• The dress is suspended from two tiny straps in the same silk that curved up and over the shoulders. At the back they cross over each other. The entire upper back is left bare and exposed behind the crossing of the straps and the front comes down in a wide V.
• The dress curves in at the waist with long curving vertical seams and then curves back out over the hips. Everything is cut on the bias and there are no horizontal seems to break the print or lines of the dress.
• The lower skirt flares out with quite a bit of fabric used for its construction. There are extra triangular panels built-in around the sides and back. These are what give the fullness to the lower skirt that you see and create its sweep. The back skirt is cut a little longer than the front so that you have a beautiful bit of fabric behind you as you move. The extra fabric also gives you wonderful movement as you walk. 
• The dress is unlined and closes with a hidden set back zipper. It appears to have been worn very little if at all.
• Tagged a modern Cavalli 38
• Excellent condition 

Bust: to 16.5" flat across from side seam to side seam
Waist: 12-14" flat across from side seam to side seam
Hips: 18-20" flat across from side seam to side seam
Total length: 63" from top of shoulder to the shortest part of the front hem, 71" to the longest part on the back hem

Modern Sizing Equivalent: XS-SML

Item# DD5289

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

• This is the all black version of the Spring 2006 pink floral dress from the same collection that we currently have in the shop.
• It was made under the creative direction of Roberto Cavalli
• The twin of the pink version of this dress was worn by Noemie Lenoir in 2006 and we have included those reference photos in this listing because even though it is a different colour it still shows you just how phenomenal this is once on the body.
• The dress is made from a black silk feeling jersey that is draped over an inner black body suit that gives you the perfect amount of inner structure and holds the dress perfectly in place.
• That inner corset is lightly boned through the front and the bust area is shaped with inner padding and wire. The jersey on the exterior is draped into place over that and gathered over towards one side. At the base of where it gathers there is a decorative panel that has a tie running through it and little gold metal loops. You could use the ties to wrap around the waist or just let it hang down over the hip as I have done for these photos. 
  
• A single layer of the jersey drapes down from there to form the skirt. The skirt is incredible. It falls to extend down long and dramatically on one side so you get a sweeping feel around you as you move. On the other side there is an inset triangle made out of a black chiffon that gives you the very slightest bit of transparency on that side. 
• If you loved the dress in the flower print but are not a flower kind of girl. This is the version for you.
• The inner black bodysuit is shaped and made of a stretched lingerie netting to give you support and shape. It zippers to close at its side and then hooks to close at the bottom. The dress closes over that at the side with a hidden set zipper. It appears to have been worn very little if at all.
• There is no size tag present so please go by the measurements listed below.
• Excellent condition

Bust: 16-18" flat across from side seam to side seam
Inner waist: 12-14" flat across from side seam to side seam
Inner Hips: to 20" flat across from side seam to side seam
Bodice:  approx 15" from top of shoulder to waist
Total length: 62" from top of shoulder to the shortest part of the hem at one side and the back extends another 17" past that.

Modern Sizing Equivalent: XS-MED

Item# DD5288

Reference Photos: Noemie Lenoir attends the 'Quand J'Etais Chanteur' premiere during the Cannes Film Festival, 2006.

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

• This dress is from the Spring 2006 Cavalli collection and from what we understand it is a special edition piece that was released on a very limited basis.
• It was made under the creative direction of Roberto Cavalli.
• Its twin was worn by Christina Aguilera to the 2006 Grammys and I love that this lets you see how beautiful it is once it is on the body.
• The dress made of a beautiful bias cut ivory silk that has the feel and look of the very best of pieces from the 1930s in 1940s.
• Two wide straps curved down from the shoulder and create a deep front plunge. At the base of the plunge the fabric is twisted and brought down and under the bust. The panels over the bodice have a halter top feel to them that again picks up on the pieces from the 30s and 40s. It skims over the waist and then curves back out over the hips.
• As the skirt falls to the floor, long vertical seaming curves it back in under the hips and then it flares out beautifully all the way around the hem. The extra amount of silk used for the lower skirts gives it beautiful movement as you walk.
• The back is spectacular. Almost the entire back is left bare and exposed. The front panels extend into straps that run down each side of the back and connect into a panel that comes across the mid-back. From the top of the shoulder down to where it connects, the straps have been heavily detailed and covered  with crystal rhinestones and beads. It hooks across the middle of your back and this creates a round circle that is completely bare. The entire circle and the panels above have more hand applied glass crystal rhinestones and silver tube beads. I have shown the back hooked in place for all of the shots, however if you needed a bit of extra room, or wanted to be more daring, you can also wear the back unhooked and then it just falls with a more open back edged with all the crystals and beads following the curved line that it creates.
• The dress is unlined and hooks to close at the back. It very much has the feel of a lingerie piece. I see some small, very minor scuffs on the silk here and there, and there are perhaps a couple of beads missing here and there. Very minor but mentioned for accuracy. Please see the photos after the label shot.
• There is no size tag present so please go by the measurements listed below.
• Excellent overall condition

Bust: each triangle covers 6-8" flat across from side to side
Waist if worn unhooked: 11-14" flat across from side seam to side seam
Waist if worn hooked: 11-12.5" flat across from side seam to side seam
Hips: to 17.5" flat across from side seam to side seam
Total length: 59" from top of the shoulder to hem

Modern Sizing Equivalent: XXS-XS

Item# DD5286

Reference Photo: Christina Aguilera in Roberto Cavalli at the Grammys, 2006.

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

• This dress is a production piece for the shops from the Spring 2008 collection.
• It was made under the creative direction of Alexander McQueen.
• The dress is made from a purple bias cut silk and you can see the inspiration that the cut and fabric draws from the thirties and forties in its cut. 
  
• Wide straps curve over the shoulders and extend down into a front plunge. The silk is gathered into a centre knot at the base of the plunge. It appears that at some point in the history of this dress, someone has lightly tacked shut about 2" of the plunge so that combined with the way the dress is cut makes it feels very safe to wear and the plunge stays in place.
• Cascading down from the knot is a panel of the same silk. It runs down the centre of the dress all the way to the hem. It creates that beautiful draping you see and also gives the skirt incredible movement. 
  
• Shallow pockets are created along the curve of the front fabric.
• The dress is fully lined in purple silk and closes with a hidden set side zipper. The front has been light tacked shut partway as noted above and could be un-tacked if you wanted a deeper front plunge. It is in its original uncut length. The bias cut should allow it to work on a range of sizes. I have put the comfortable range of measurements below when laying flat.
• Tagged a McQueen 40
• Excellent condition 

Bust: 17-18" flat across from side seam to side seam
Waist: 12-13" flat across from side seam to side seam
Hips: to 21" flat across from side seam to side seam
Total length: 61" from top of shoulder to hem

Modern Sizing Equivalent: XS-MED

Item# DD5270

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.