ossie clark
Iconic 1972 Ossie Clark Couture 'Cuddly' Black Moss Crepe Open Back Wrap Dress w Huge Sleeves
I Have a Question
- This is one of his most iconic and collectible designs that dates to 1972.
- The dress made under the creative direction of Ossie Clark
- Ossie named all of his couture dress and this one is known as the Cuddly.
- To wear the dress you simply slip it on and wrap it at the waist where it ties into place.
- The dress is made out of his signature moss crepe in black.
- The wrap creates a V at the front and then the back has a large open cut out that leaves your back bare and exposed.
- It is very sexy and instantly recognizable as being an Ossie Clark piece.
- The sleeves are phenomenal. Each is a huge very full balloon bishop cut sleeve that are puffed and full above their cuffs.
- Once the dress is wrapped around you the skirt curves over your hips and then falls to the floor, widening out as it nears the hem. The dress is in its original length.
- The wrap leaves a long overlap at the front side of the skirt. When you stand still it falls over itself but when you move or sit you do a flash of leg. Depending on how tight you tie out around the waist you can show the entire leg.
- The dress is unlined and made out of a black moss crepe. One tie is a little shorter then the other but does not appear to have been altered. I see very minor bits of lighter areas on the moss crepe here and there. This is a natural patina on this type of fabric as in ages. I see a small break on the fabric along the front and a small repair near the hem. Minor but mentioned for accuracy
- The wrap style should allow it to fit a variety of sizes.
-
Tagged a vintage Ossie Clark UK10
- Excellent condition
Sleeves: approx 29" and will cuff at the wrist once on
Bust: adjustable 15-18" flat across from side seam to side seam
Waist: adjustable 12-13" flat across from side seam to side seam
Hips: open
Bodice: 16" from neck to top of band at the waist
Total length: 60" from neck to hem
Modern Sizing Equivalent: XS-MED
Item# DD5354
Reference Photo: (1) June Ritchie, in an Ossie Clark Cuddly dress, at a photo call for Gone With The Wind at the Theatre Royal Drury Lane, 1972. / (2) Madeleine Hinde, in Ossie Clark, at the premiere of British horror film 'The Fiend' in London, April 7 1972. Photo by M. McCarthy. / (3-4) Suzanna Leigh, in Ossie Clark, by Allan Warren, 1973. / (5-6) Pink in Ossie Clark, from Shrimpton Couture, for her 'Walk Me Home' music video, 2019. See below for video.
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.
bob mackie
Incredible & Rare 1980s Bob Mackie Well Documented Ivory Sequin & Nude Stretch Net High Slit Dress
I Have a Question
- This dress is instantly recognizable as having been designed by Bob Mackie.
- Mackie was best known for dressing Cher and for his undying love of opulence and bead work, both of which he incorporates heavily into the best of his designs.
- He worked for both Edith Head and Jean Louis prior to working as a costume designer and co-designing with Ray Aghayan. That led to his incredible journey in designing for stars like Cher and Diana Ross for many years.
- Tracee Ellis Ross wore its twin along with several others we have included here. It is one of his pieces that have become iconic in modern culture.
- This is an amazing dress that is heavily sequinned and extremely sexy and flattering once on. The base of the dress is made of a nude stretch silk netting that has a pattern made up of beautiful curving bands that feel like they are wrapped around you like flames.
- Mixed into this is an elaborated detailing made of faux pearls that curve down the front of the dress and highlight that very high set slit at the front. The pearl embellishments travels upwards right to the neckline and run down each sleeve.
- The designs that you see are made up of ivory coloured sequins hand set in curving bands. White and silver tube beads are set vertically to create an edge around each of those curving bands. Additional silver sequins and rhinestones are scattered in between.
- The combination of the glass tube beads and sequins give the dress an extra layer of texture and glamour as every inch of it catches the light and sparkles.
- The dress has a decent weight to it when it is off of the body because of that extensive bead-work but once on the body it lies and drapes in a way that it is balanced and easy to wear.
- The bodice is cut to skim over the chest with a high, slightly angled neckline. The sleeves are cut straight and lined with a layer of nude silk to really show off the design that trails down and around each sleeve.
- The waist is brought in just slightly so that there is a bit of shape created but there is no horizontal seam to break the lines of the design.
- The skirt is cut on a curve so the back is longer then the front and it wraps around you to that high, wide slit at the front. The effect of this is far more dramatic and fabulous on a real body and it really shows off the legs.
- These were produced with a nude silk chiffon lining. If you preferred the true nude, semi-see through dress that Mackie is so well known for, you could easily have it removed.
- The dress is fully lined in a nude silk through the body and the sleeves have a more transparent nude chiffon lining. It closes with a painted metal and nylon back zipper. Hand finished throughout. Slight padding at the edge of each shoulder and zippers on each cuff. In person it is a touch more of a cream. Perhaps the occasional loose thread. It is extremely well made. It does have some stretch and the measurements below are the comfortable range laying flat.
- Tagged a vintage Bob Mackie 10
- Excellent condition
Sleeves: 24" and are 12" around the upper arm. The neck opening is 14" around.
Shoulders: 15.5"
Bust: 17-18.5" flat across from side seam to side seam
Waist: 14-15.5" flat across from side seam to side seam
Hips: 18-20" flat across from side seam to side seam
Length: 57" from neck to longest point of back hem
Slit: approx 26" from hem up
Modern Sizing Equivalent: SML-MED
Item# DD5353
Reference Photos/Video: (1) From the @bobmackie Instagram. "Throwback to this 2022 shoot in LA with @sabinegetty and @zizidonohoe wearing archival Bob Mackie Couture." / (2-4) Tracee Ellis Ross in Bob Mackie for Blackish. / (5) credit unknown.
This garment has been professionally cleaned, pressed and is odor free. Thoroughly checked over before shipping, it will be ready to wear upon arrival.
oscar de la renta
Gorgeous Spring 1992 Oscar de la Renta Runway Black Silk Organza Net Ruffled Off Shoulder Dress
I Have a Question
- The twin of this dress walk the runway for the Spring 1992 ODLR collection.
- It was made under the creative direction of Oscar de la Renta.
- This was an incredible collection filled with beautiful things and I am very pleased to have a second dress from it in the shop at the moment after just listing that full length lace dress recently.
- The dress is made out of a black silk organza that has a woven effect so that it has a slight transparency and almost the feel of a netting.
- The neckline is set wide across so that it sits off of the shoulders it's a bit of a elastic around the part that goes around your arm for comfort. You can also choose to wear it more up and on the shoulder. A wide 5" ruffle follows the entire neckline and gives it the prettiest flounce all the way around you.
- Under that the bodice skims down, curves in a touch at the natural waist, and then curves back down to a seam that sits at the top of the hip. If you wanted to add more shape, it would be easy to add a belt.
- The skirt is created by stocking ruffles that overlap each other all the way down to the hem. They get progressively wider as they go down the length of the skirt and this is what gives the skirt its incredible volume.
- The skirt falls shorter at the front and then the back is quite a bit longer. I love how this adds to the volume and detail of the skirt and still allows for a flash of leg to show. At the front there are six layers of ruffles and at the back there are ten. That, combined with the lightness of the fabric, gives you fantastic movement when you move. You can see this in the reference runway video.
- This is an absolutely stunning dress and this particular cut of dress is one of my favourites. .
- The dress is fully lined in a black silk with a built-in inner bodice that is lightly boned for support. The inner bodice closes with its own zipper. A waist stay hooks to close. Over that the dress closes with a hidden set back zipper. It appears to have been worn very little if at all.
- Tagged a vintage ODLR 8
- Excellent condition
Bust: to 18" flat across from side seam to side seam
Natural waist: to 14" flat across from side seam to side seam
Seam at top of hips: to 17.5" flat across from side seam to side seam and the skirt is open under that
Bodice: 19.5" from top of the natural shoulder to the dropped seam at top of hips.
Total length: 35" from top of the natural shoulder to front hem and the back extends another 17"
Modern Sizing Equivalent: SML-MED
Item# DD5350
Reference Photo/Video: Spring 1992 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.
christian dior
Spring 2024 Christian Dior by Maria Grazia Chiuri Runway Look 75 Purple Silk Chiffon Dress w Huge Balloon Sleeves
I Have a Question
- The twin of this dress in black walked the runway for the Spring 2024 Dior show as Look 75.
- It was made under the creative direction of Maria Grazia Chiuri.
- Maria was quoted as saying "But really, I want to break this thing that collections have to be about one reference. I think that in fashion, we also we have this risk, that we give references that people think they can't attain personally. So I really want to create a wardrobe, where there is a little bit of evidence that you can personalize your style."
- This dress is made from a soft interesting shade of purple that has a touch of a fuchsia pink undertone done in a feather light silk chiffon that has been softly pleated.
- The shoulders are soft and the front and the back of the top have a wide scoop that goes right to the edges of the shoulder. I think that if you are not very broad through the shoulders that you could probably wear this fully off of the shoulder if you wished.
- The sleeves are incredible. Each is exceptionally wide by the time it reaches it's cuffs. Each sleeve is attached around the top of the inside shoulder and are draped over a small shoulder strap that is hidden underneath. From there they fall in a beautiful and extremely full balloon cut. On the underside of each sleeve there is an opening that adds to their fullness. Once they are buttoned around the wrist they puff out above your hands in the most beautiful way. They have a suggestion of the same pleat work that runs over the rest of the dress but it is very soft and left to feel more open and full.
- The bodice skims over the bust to a seamed waist for shape. We have not added a belt and it was not shown with one but if you wanted more shape it would be easy to add one.The fabric on the bodice is finished in overlapping knife pleats.
- The pleats continue under the seam at the waist and then they open up to create the volume of the skirt as it falls to the floor. There is an immense amount of silk chiffon used in the skirt. When you move it moves beautifully around you.
- The dress is fully lined in a purple silk and the sleeves are unlined. It closes with a hidden set side zipper. An interior waist stay hooks to close and each wrist buttons. It appears to have been worn very little if at all
- Tagged a modern Dior FR38, GB10, IT42, US6
- Excellent condition
Sleeves: 25" and are open around the upper arm
Bust: 16-18" flat across from side seam to side seam
Waist: 12.5" flat across from side seam to side seam
Hips: open
Bodice: 14.5" from top of shoulder to waist
Total length: 58.5" from top of shoulder to hem
Modern Sizing Equivalent: XS-SML
Item# DD5347
Reference Photo/Video: Spring 2024 Dior, Look 75.
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.
emanuel ungaro
Beautiful mid-1980s Emanuel Ungaro Haute Couture Black Silk Chiffon & Handmade Lace Wrap Top
I Have a Question
- This easy to wear wrap top most likely dates from the 1984-1985 season.
- It was made under the creative direction of Emanuel Ungaro.
- It would have been made completely by hand in the Paris Atelier
- These are more pieces from the same small collection of Ungaro pieces that have all been dated within a couple of years to each other.
- This is the perfect simple and beautiful top that is easy to wear and feels like a dream once on the body.
- The top is made out of an almost weightless black silk chiffon that is edged in a handmade black lace. The lace continues all the way around the neckline and down both sides of the front. More lace highlights the openings for the arm.
- The silk chiffon that is used for the body of the top is extremely high-quality. It has a touch of transparency to it and feels almost weightless once on the body.
- The lace would have all been handmade and it is all meticulously applied by hand. All of the interior seams are also done by hand.
- To wear it, you simply slip it on wrap, snap and hook the front into place. An interior grosgrain waist stay holds everything perfectly in place around you.
- Do not let its simplicity fool you. It is an absolute work of art.
- The camisole closes with a hidden set snap and interior metal hook that holds the interior waist stay in place. Unlabelled. It appears to have been worn very little if at all.
- There is no size tag present because it is true Haute Couture
- Excellent condition
Bust: to 18.5" flat across from side seam to side seam
Waist: to 16" flat across from side seam to side seam
Total length: 21" from neck to hem
Modern Sizing Equivalent: SML-MED
Item# DD5344
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.
emanuel ungaro
Prettiest Spring 1984 Emanuel Ungaro Haute Couture Black Silk & Handmade Lace Camisole
I Have a Question
- This gorgeous little easy to wear camisole dated the Spring 1984 collection.
- It was made under the creative direction of Emanuel Ungaro.
- It would have been made completely by hand in the Paris Atelier.
- These are more pieces from the same small collection of Ungaro pieces that have all been dated within a couple of years to each other.
- This is the perfect simple camisole that can be worn by itself or layered under other pieces.
- Thin straps curve around the shoulders and I love the detailed ladder stitch that holds the silk ribbon in place and gives the straps extra detail.
- The front is edged in handmade lace that runs down the centre of the camisole. The lace continues all the way around to the back and the upper back is left bare and exposed. More lace finishes the entire bottom hem.
- The silk that is used for the body of the top is extremely high-quality and is light in weight so that it feels like magic once on the body.
- The lace would have all been handmade and it is all meticulously applied by hand. All of the interior seams are also done by hand.
- Do not let its simplicity fool you. It is an absolute work of art.
- The camisole has no closures and slips over the head to wear. It appears to have been worn very little if at all.
- There is no size tag present because it is true Haute Couture
- Excellent condition
Bust-waist: to 16" flat across from side seam to side seam
Hips: to 17" flat across from side seam to side seam
Total length: 25" from top of shoulder to hem
Modern Sizing Equivalent: XS-SML
Item# DD5343
Reference Photo: Spring 1984 Emanuel Ungaro Haute Couture.
All items are thoroughly checked over before shipping. Unless noted everything in our shop has been professionally cleaned. All sales are final. Overseas clients will be emailed to obtain agreement to our final sales policy before the order is shipped as per our return policy.
emanuel ungaro
Chic Little mid-1980s Emanuel Ungaro Haute Couture Handmade Black Silk & Lace Camisole Top
I Have a Question
- This gorgeous little easy to wear camisole most likely dates from the 1984-1985 season.
- It was made under the creative direction of Emanuel Ungaro.
- It would have been made completely by hand in the Paris Atelier
- These are more pieces from the same small collection of Ungaro pieces that have all been dated within a couple of years to each other.
- This is the perfect simple camisole that can be worn by itself or layered under other pieces.
- Wide straps curve around the shoulders and the front is scooped down and edged in handmade lace. It scoops a bit higher at the back and the lace continues all the way around the neckline. More lace highlights the openings for the arm and a wide band finishes the bottom hem.
- The silk that is used for the body of the top is extremely high-quality and has a beautiful smooth interior finish so it feels like magic once on the body.
- The lace would have all been handmade and it is all meticulously applied by hand. All of the interior seams are also done by hand.
- Do not let its simplicity fool you. It is an absolute work of art.
- The camisole closes with a back hidden set zipper and appears to have been worn very little if at all.
- There is no size tag present because it is true Haute Couture
- Excellent condition
Bust: to 20" flat across from side seam to side seam
Waist: to 18.5" flat across from side seam to side seam
Hips: to 21.5" flat across from side seam to side seam
Total length: 24.5" from top of shoulder to hem
Modern Sizing Equivalent: MED-LRG
Item# DD5342
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.
I Have a Question
The Shrimpton Couture Archives
- The twin of this piece was part of the ensemble for the opening look of the Fall 1981 Haute Couture collection.
- It was made under the creative direction of Marc Bohan.
- This would have been completely made by hand in the Paris ateliers.
- I love that we have runway reference photos so you can see how gorgeous this can be once paired with an amazing outfit.
- It is meant to be worn and draped over the shoulder(s) and can be worn over both or just one. Belting it in part could completely changes the look as well.
- It is made out of a soft and fine black wool that has a beautiful texture to it. That is very thick and soft feeling. It is not super heavy, and almost has the feel of a felted wool.
- It is shaped in a giant triangle and that is what it allows it to fall in the two points at the front and then one long point at the back.
- Set in about an inch from the edge is a line done in a hand embroidered red thread that follows the edge of the entire shawl.
- Suede pieces have been added on each side of the front and then a larger pattern of suede velvet and top stitched embroidery sits across the back.
- I love how the various sweet pieces have an embossed pattern set into them to add a little extra visual detail.
- This is a fantastic piece of true Haute Couture and a very rare item.
- It has its proper numbered Couture tag and appropriate typed tape ribbon underneath that tag. The piece has no closures and is meant to sit over the shoulder(s) to wear. The outer portion is a felted wool and then that is backed with a more standard wall on the inside. I see two very tiny nicks on the wool backing side.
- Excellent condition
Total width when laid flat end to end is 79" and from the neck to the longest point of the back it is 49"
Modern Sizing Equivalent: OSFA
Reference Photos: Fall 1981 Christian Dior Haute Couture.
All items are thoroughly checked over before shipping. Unless noted everything in our shop has been professionally cleaned. All sales are final. Overseas clients will be emailed to obtain agreement to our final sales policy before the order is shipped as per our return policy.
I Have a Question
- The twin of the suit along with several variations of it, walked the runway for the Spring 1994 Chanel show.
- It was made under the creative direction of Karl Lagerfeld.
- The show opened with an entire series of these suits done in a rainbow of pastel colours and shown on some of the top supermodels of the day. The twin of the suit appears in the runway reference video and we have added some still shots of it and the video here for you to see. We have also added some reference shots of some of the other suits just to give you a better idea of how this will sit once on the body.
- Vogue featured the collection that year and in 2014 Rihanna wore a version.
- These mini skirted versions of the classic Chanel suit, using unusual elements like this one has, are one of the keystone moments that made Chanel under Karl the global powerhouse that it is today.
- Both pieces are made out of a classic Chanel pink tweed with a nubby finish. The colour is slightly more pastel in person than how it photographed here.
- The jacket is extraordinary. It zips to close up the back so there is no closure at the front to break the eye. The shoulders are shaped with very light padding and the sleeves are long. It is cut with a slight nod to the box shape through the body but curves in for shape around the waist.
- What really makes these suits extraordinary is the way that he finished all of the edges. They are done in pastel blue, yellow, and pink vinyl cording that has the feel of a skinnier version of an old telephone cord but without the twist. These have been hand stitched into place to create the gorgeous pattern that you see. The bows are backed in a pink grograin ribbon to give them shape and structure. Where they are placed directly on the Chanel boucle there is no backing so that the fabric acts as the pink seen in between the cord.
- The cording pattern circles around the collar and runs down the centre to a flat bow with the ends of the vinyl tied and knotted so that you have a dangling fringe under each end of the bow. More cording circles around the cuff and you see another flat bow placed on the outside portion of each cuff.
- The skirt is cut short in a mini. The upper part of the skirt is slightly padded inside and is made out of a pastel pink silk. It s the same silk that he used for the lining of the jacket. Both the lining in the jacket and this top portion of the skirt have tiny little double Cs embroidered into the silk. Under that the skirt flares out slightly to the hem.
- Around the entire bottom edge of the skirt is another banding of that same telephone cord piping. This perfectly ties the top and skirt together.
- It is this use of unusual finishes that really showcase Karl's genius and while at the same time helped to modernize the house and appeal to a younger audience.
- This is an extremely rare Chanel set and I am very pleased to have it in the shop.
- Both pieces are lined in a double C embossed pink silk. The jacket closes at the back with a zipper and a loop & button at the top of the back neck. The skirt closes with a hidden set back zipper & hook an eye at the waist. There is some discoloration underneath the inner arms of the lining of this jacket but it does not go through to the front. It is in stunning condition otherwise.
- Both pieces are tagged a vintage Chanel 40
- Excellent condition with one note above
Jacket
Sleeves: 23" and are 13" around the upper arm
Shoulders: 15"
Bust: 17.5" flat across from side seam to side seam
Waist: 15" flat across from side seam to side seam
Hips: 18" flat across from side seam to side seam
Total length: 22" from neck to hem
Skirt
Waist: 13.5" flat across from side seam to side seam
Hips: 19" flat across from side seam to side seam
Total length: 17" from top of shoulder to hem
Modern Sizing Equivalent: SML-MED
Item# DD5341
Reference Photos/Video: (1-4) Spring 1994 Chanel Runway. / (5-6) Photographed by Steven Meisel for Vogue, March 1994. / (7) Rihanna in Vintage Chanel for Good Morning America, 2014.
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
Spectacular Spring 1992 Oscar de la Renta Extremely Fine Black Lace Dress w Tiered Ruffled Full Skirt
I Have a Question
- This is an absolutely incredible piece that dates to the Spring 1992 collection.
- It was made under the creative direction of Oscar de la Renta.
- We have not yet found a photo from the collection of this exact dress but we did find a shorter version that has the exact same top.
- This might be one of my favourite dresses I have had in the shop. The photos do not do it full justice and it is only when you see it in person that you realize just how beautiful it is.
- The dress is made out of a fine black lace. The lace completely covers the dress and there are many, many yards of lace that have gone into making this dress.
- There a built-in inner fitted bodice that is strapless and is meant to be seen through the outer layer of lace. This inner layer is lined in a black tissue silk and is lightly boned for support. Lace covers this inner bodice and extends out to form the little cap sleeves.
- At the back the inner corset scoops down into a low V with a single layer of lace over the upper back. This makes it feel very elegant but still very sexy.
- I love the play on transparency that the upper portion of the dress has.
- The waist nips in and then the dress glides over the hips to fall to the floor in a wide expanse of silk and lace. The fullness of the skirt is absolutely incredible and again there is a strong play on transparency with all of the layers that make up the skirt.
- Under the top lace layer of the skirt are three layers of silk organza. Two black silk layers sit directly under the top lace and then the final innermost layer is a silk chiffon. The two innermost layers both have wide bands of stiffening around the hem and the layer that sits directly under the lace has three stacked stiffened bands going up the skirt. This is what helps to hold the incredible shape and volume that you see.
- The skirt is extremely full and has many yards of lace in its construction. The volume that you see was all created by the sheer amount of fabric, the cut and the seven lace tiers that run over the entire lower portion of the skirt.
- I love the tiers of lace that cover the lower part of the skirt. Each is set to slightly overlap the next one down. No expense was spared on the lace in the dress. Even the area between the tiers have been finished with lace despite that fact that you cannot see them. Each tier has lace that is set so that the edges are scalloped to follow the pattern in the lace. I took a photo where I hold the skirt up on one side and this will give you an idea of the amount of yardage the skirt has. It is incredible.
- The inner construction of this dress is as good as the exterior and it is made to a demi-couture level with hand finishes throughout.
- The dress closes with a back zipper where the inner corset starts. The neck hooks to close and there is a keyhole between the top of the neck and the zipper. It is lightly boned through the bodice. An inner waist stay hooks to close. It appears to have been worn very little if at all.
- There is no there is no size tag present so please go by the measurements listed below.
- Excellent condition
Sleeves: are 10" around the opening for the arm
Shoulders: no true seams
Inner bust: to 16" flat across from side seam to side seam
Waist: 12" flat across from side seam to side seam
Inner hips: to 21" flat across from side seam to side seam
Bodice: 15.5" from top of shoulder to waist
Total length: 64" from top of shoulder to hem
Modern Sizing Equivalent: XS-SML
Item# DD5337
Reference Video: Spring 1992 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.
bob mackie
Fantastic 1980s Bob Mackie Strapless Glossy Black Sequin Stretch Dress w Back Kick Skirt
I Have a Question
- This amazing sequin dress is from Mackie's 1980s boutique label.
- It was made under the creative direction of Bob Mackey.
- This is the actual dress that Sarah Snook wore to attend the Director Guild Awards in March 2022.
- Mackie was best known for dressing Cher and for his signature glamour. He worked for both Edith Head and Jean Louis prior to entering costume design and he began by co-designing with Ray Aghayan. That led to his incredible journey in designing for stars like Cher and Diana Ross for many years before launching his own label.
- His work always has that touch of the best of Hollywood glamour.
- The dress has an incredible pattern done in sequins that allows the entire dress to catch the light from every angle.
- The sequins are a glossy black and are set in vertical rows set into rectangular sections over the dress. In between the sections he left bands of the fabric with no sequins to create horizontal and vertical lines.
- The sequins are set so that they slightly overlap the next sequin in line. There are thousands of sequins on this dress.
- The dress is strapless and it is cut to hug the body through the bodice. Inside the waist is cinched and the sequins curve over that inner structure. The inner corset is cupped and boned to hold the dress in place and add shape.
- The dress skims over the hips and falls to the floor, widening out as it nears the hem with a little flare. At the back it is cut longer with extra fabric there to create a little flare. So when you walk you get a little kick of fabric behind you.
- The fabric has a slight stretch to it so it is very easy to fit and comfortable to wear.
- It has a very classic Old Hollywood movie star feel to it. This is a dress that you just slip on and go.
- The bodice has a built in inner corset that is cupped and boned. The rest of the dress is unlined. It closes with a hidden set back zipper. When it was borrowed by Sarah's styling team they added a wide stay under the bust and another around the inner waist. Both hook to close and I have left them in place because it gives extra support. They also temporarily turned the hem up to accommodate her height and it has been let back down to be its full original length. There is one tiny area along the very top edge of the neckline near the zipper that has a couple missing sequins and perhaps a missing sequin here and there. Please see the photo after the label shot.
- Tagged a vintage Bob Mackie 6.
- Excellent condition.
Bust: to 17.5" flat across from side seam to side seam
Inner waist: 14.5" flat across from side seam to side seam
Hips: 18-23" flat across from side seam to side seam
Bodice: 9" from top of bodice to inner waist
Total length: 52" from top of bodice to front hem and the back extends another 6" past that.
Modern Sizing Equivalent: SML-MED
Item# DD5336
Reference Photos/Video: Sarah Snook in this Bob Mackie at the Director Guild Awards, March 2022.
This garment has been professionally cleaned, pressed and is odor free. Thoroughly checked over before shipping, it will be ready to wear upon arrival.
valentino
Prettiest Spring 2000 Original Valentino Runway Look 84 Embroidered Camisole, Jacket & Silk Skirt Set
I Have a Question
- The near twin of this set walked the runway for the Spring 2000 Valentino show.
- It was made under the creative direction of the original Mr. Valentino.
- On the runway the skirt shown was a longer bias cut skirt. The skirt and cardigans were sold separately in the shops and my client purchased this version, which is slightly more elaborate.
- I love that since it is a set instead of a dress, you can mix and match it with things that you already own. The versatility of having three pieces is always an extra bonus.
- Vogue said of the collection "Elegant, glamorous and gracefully cut are keywords when speaking of Valentino's work. This season the emphasis was on prints—floral appliqués, ivory polka dots on red crepe and lily of the valley embroideries."
- The skirt is made out of a heavy ivory silk that has beautiful drape. To wear it you wrap it around you and it snaps into place inside the waistband. The waistband then folds inward towards you and it creates a beautiful drape that gives it an almost sarong feel.
- I have taken a close-up of how it is gathered at the side where it folds over itself. It is all swept upwards into the waist and then the hem is rounded on that same side with a pretty upward curve.
- The top and camisole are extraordinary. Both are made out of a ivory netting that has the most elaborate embroidery covering the surface of both pieces.
- The inner top is a little tank top with straps extending out from the main body of the top to curve up and around each shoulder. The neckline is scooped at the front and the back. I love how all of the edges are rounded and edged with a pretty scalloping shape created out of corded ribbon.
- The cardigan that slips over that is easy fitting with an open front, no collar and long simple sleeves. It is cut more boxy through the body for an easy to fit feel.
- Both the camisole and cardigan are covered in elaborate 3D embroidery that creates flowers in an array of soft colours. Little red sequins and beads are also scattered throughout the pattern.
- I find it so interesting that the front of both pieces mix soft pastels and then the back of both pieces are done with the primary colour being red. This gives the two sides a distinct contrast.
- I do think that the top is so well-made that you could wear it either way around and decide what colour you want to have at the front so it can match the front of the cardigan or contrast it.
- The embroidery is made out of thread, cording and silk ribbon and it really is extraordinary. This would have all been done by hand. I have taken many close-ups for you to see how elaborate it is.
- The camisole and cardigan are unlined and have a slight transparency. The camisole closes with a hidden set side zipper and the cardigan has no closures. The skirt is lined in a ivory silk chiffon and snaps into place along the waist as described above. I see one tiny reddish mark on the back near the waist. Please see the photo after the label shot. If you wear the cardigan and top with it and over top of the skirt band you do not see it.
- The skirt is tagged a vintage Valentino 12 and neither the top or cardigan has a size tag
- Excellent condition with one flaw noted above
Cardigan
Sleeves: 19" and are 10.5" around the upper arm
Shoulders: 15"
Bust: to 17.5" flat across from side seam to side seam
Waist: 15" flat across from side seam to side seam
Total length: 19" from top of bodice to waist
Camisole
Bust: 16" flat across from side seam to side seam
Waist: 15" flat across from side seam to side seam
Total length: 18" from top of bodice to waist
Skirt
Waist: 15.5" flat across from side seam to side seam
Hips: 19.5" flat across from side seam to side seam
Total length: 38" from waist to hem
Modern Sizing Equivalent: XS-SML
Item# DD5333
Reference Photos/Video: Spring 2000 Valentino, Look 84.
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.
valentino
Dreamiest 2010s Valentino Off White Silk Wedding Dress w Tiered Ivory Lace & Ruffle Skirt
I Have a Question
- This stunning Valentino wedding dress is new with tags and was never worn. It is beautifully made.
- The wedding collections are not as well documented as the regular collections so dating them is a little trickier but this is most likely from the late 2010s.
- It is a beyond gorgeous for the bride looking to make a chic and elegant statement.
- This is a stunning dress. Tiny matching silk straps curved up and over each shoulder. It is cut fairly straight across the neck line and skims over the bust to the waist in a simple silhouette that has the perfect classic feel to it.
- Centred and tacked into place at the front of the bodice is a large flat bow that is made out of the same silk. I love the nod to the 1950s that this gives the dress while still staying thoroughly modern in feel.
- From there the skirt falls to the floor and widens out dramatically as it nears the hem. For the majority of these photos I have added a light crinoline underneath so that you could see how full the skirt is. We also shot it with no crinoline underneath so you can see how it naturally falls. I think that if you wanted it to be even fuller you could easily achieve that by adding a very full underskirt.
- The skirt is a work of art. It is done in an incredible 23 layers of ruffled bands of the same silk alternated with a lace in a matching colour. I love that this gives it an almost petticoat feel that is purposefully meant to be seen.
- Each stacked band of either the silk or lace gradually gets fuller around as they near the floor and this is what creates the volume of the skirt that you see.
- All of that volume gives you incredible movement while still maintaining structure so the general shape and fullness of the skirt is not lost when you move. The way this moves around you is magical.
- The dress is fully lined in a matching silk and closes with a hidden set side zipper. It has its original hang tag attached.
- Tagged a Valentino 44
- Excellent condition
Bust: to 17" flat across from side seam to side seam
Waist: 14.25" flat across from side seam to side seam
Hips:to 23" flat across from side seam to side seam
Bodice: 15.5" from top of the bodice to the seam of the inner waist
Total length: 61" from the top of the shoulder to the hem
Modern Sizing Equivalent: SML-MED
Item# DD5334
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.
chloe
Incredibly Rare Fall 1979 Chloe by Karl Lagerfeld Couture Runway Ivory Chiffon & Lace Dress w pearl Details
I Have a Question
- The twin of this dress walked the runway for the Fall 1979 Chloe collection.
- It was made under the creative direction of Karl Lagerfeld.
- This is an incredibly rare and very well documented dress from one of the most creative and forward thinking collections that Karl did for the label.
- In the book 'Chloe Catwalk', Vogue was quoted as saying "The clothes that Karl Lagerfeld designs for Chloe are the natural results of the world he creates, and if they sometimes seem to be from other times, it is because those other times have as much reality for him as rain and taxes have for the rest of us. You can love Karl Lagerfeld's clothes, you can hate them. See them once, and you can't forget them." The Japan Times called it "A trend setting collection". The Glasgow Herald said "Karl... takes the Edwardian Gibson Grill as his inspiration; hour glass shapes - curved bosom, tiny waists, swelling hips".
- US vogue also commented that "Women collect Lagerfeld by the piece, not by the wardrobe"
- It is incredibly well documented and an extremely rare piece of Chloe, from an outstanding collection, and exemplary example of the history of the brand under Karl.
- The dress is made from a feather light silk chiffon in a deep ivory. In person, the ivory is a touch deeper than how it photoed here. Onto this are hand applied rows of lace and strings of faux pearls.
- The sleeves are long and they have added fabric built inside the shoulder area to help hold some volume ad the slight cap around the upper arm. They are full all the way down to the wrist where they explode outward with a cuff made out of four layers of the angle edged lace. Circling each wrist, and circling where the sleeve is set into the bodice, are a string of larger size pearls. Smaller size strings of pearls follow the lace that runs down and wraps around the full length of each sleeve.
- The neckline is high and like the cuffs, it is made out of multiple layers of the lace that are stacked on top of each other to create that dramatic ruff around the neck. It wraps over itself at the front and sweeps out to meet one shoulder.
- The bodice is cut to skim over the bust to the dropped waist. Multiple panels that mix the lace and strings of pearls are set diagonally over the bodice and around the back, highlighting the sweep of the collar above.
- The waist is dropped and seamed with a slightly more generous cut. It was not shown with a belt on the runway, but if you wanted to add shape, you certainly could belt it at the natural waist for a more defined silhouette.
- The skirt curves over the hips and it is a gathered all the way around the waist in a series of tiny pleats. These allow the skirt to open up underneath beautifully to help create that hourglass feel that was so prominent in this collection. Four more rows of the lace are set in the same angle all the way down the skirt but without the pearls. It is the perfect added detail and ties the whimsical feel of the entire dress together. A final layer of lace circles the bottom hem.
- At the back, the dress buttons to close with a series of large pearl buttons. These buttons are the largest pearls that we see on the dress and I love that he has used three sizes of pearls for this piece. These are the perfect finishing touch.
- The dress is fully lined in an ivory silk. It closes with the buttons at the back. Hand finishes throughout with most of the inner seams finished completely by hand to couture standards. The lining through the upper body is starting to split in places. I see a couple of minor marks on the outer dress and some of the lace around the upper shoulders and neck line have darkened slightly. There are added panels around part of the inner lining where part of the inner lining was reinforced. Please see the photos after the label shot. These are all mentioned for accuracy but most of the flaws are inside the dress. Given the rarity and importance of this dress it is still considered to be in excellent overall condition.
- There is no size tag present so please go by the measurements below
- Excellent condition with the note above.
Sleeves: 24" to the ends of the lace at the cuffs and are 16" around the upper arm
Shoulders: 15"
Bust: to 17" flat across from side seam to side seam
Natural waist: 14" flat across from side seam to side seam
Seam at dropped waist: 14.5" flat across from side seam to side seam
Hips: to 26" flat across from side seam to side seam
Bodice: 18" from neck to dropped waist
Total length: 58" from neck to hem
Modern Sizing Equivalent: SML-MED
Item# DD5335
Reference Photos: (1-4) Fall 1979 Chloe Preview. / (5) Fall 1979 Chloe Runway. / (6) From the book "Chloe: CATWALK". / (7) Vogue Paris August 1979.
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
Gorgeous Pre-Fall 2012 Oscar de la Renta Runway Look 53 Soft Pink Silk Dress w Trained Skirt
I Have a Question
- The twin of this dress walked the runway as Look 53 for the Pre-Fall 2012 show.
- It was made under the creative direction of Oscar de la Renta
- Vogue said of the collection that "For Spring, Oscar de la Renta gave us a refresher course on all the reasons we love him. The taffeta ball skirts! Those handkerchief lace dresses! The embellished gowns! ...Chief among them were a series of dresses, both to the knee and floor-length, cut from crinkled and pleated silk. Whisper-thin and nearly weightless, they're the kind of frock you'll turn to again and again when the weather warms: fabulous, but also easy."
- The twin of the dress was also the choice of the night for Sarah Jessica Parker, who wore one to the amfAR gala that season.
- The dress is made from a lightweight romantic and feminine shade of pink silk. The silk has a slight crinkled texture running through it that has visual interest. The skirt has also been soft pleated so that you see the suggestion of a pleat but it was never intended to be a sharp defined pleat.
- The bodice is simple and easy to wear. The neckline is cut into a rounded curve and there are no sleeves. It has been lately top stitched all the way around in vertical lines, and the slight crinkle texture has been set on an angle. The neckline is made out of the same fabric that has been rolled and twisted into a piping detail.
- It skims over the bodice in an easy fashion and then it is cinched in around the waist by a wide band in the same pink silk. The band is stitched into place and fully built in to add shape and a touch of structure to the soft silhouette.
- The skirt cascades to the floor from there and is cut at different lengths all around you. It comes up at the front, angles down to be longer on each side of the front and then scoops back up at at the sides. The back is then cut in the perfect soft train so that you get a tremendous sweeping feel as you walk away.
- The silk of the skirt is stocked over a second layer of a pale pink, almost weightless silk, and this lets the skirt float over and around the body to give it the feel of airiness and lightness. The lightness of the silk gives it a gorgeous movement when you move and walk. You can easily see this in the runway reference video.
- The dress is fully lined in a matching pink silk and it closes with a back set zipper. The pink is slightly more pastel in person. It appears to have been worn very little if at all.
- Tagged a modern ODLR 8
- Excellent condition
Bust: 17-18" flat across from side seam to side seam
Waist: 14" flat across from side seam to side seam
Hips: open
Bodice: 12" from top of shoulder to the top seam of the 4" band at the waist
Total length: 51" from top of shoulder to the very shortest part of the hem at the front and then the longest parts of the skirt extend another 26" past that.
Modern Sizing Equivalent: SML-MED
Item# DD5332
Reference Photos/Video: (1-3) Pre-Fall 2012 Oscar de la Renta, Look 53. Model Kate King. / (4-5) Sarah Jessica Parker at the amfAR Gala, 2012.
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.
I Have a Question
The Shrimpton Couture Archives
- The twin of this jacket walked the runway for Look 10 in the Fall 2009 Armani Prive Hauet Couture collection.
- It was made under the creative direction of Giorgio Armani.
- This is an extremely rare opportunity to own a piece of Armani Couture. Couture pieces rarely come to market from his Prive label and we are excited to have this in the shop.
- This would have been made entirely by hand in his Italian atelier.
- Vogue said of the collection that "His show, cast in monochrome with glinting highlights of silver, focused on jackets with rounded pagoda shoulders over softly pleated pants with an easy elegance about them. Armani said he'd been influenced by black-and-white movie heroines and set the show to forties movie soundtracks, but the feel wasn't overtly retro."
- The jacket does have a nod to the lines of the 1940s with its slightly capped shoulder and strong lines.
- It is infinitely easy to wear and simply slips on with no closures to break the line of the incredible fringes that cover the entire jacket.
- The sleeves are long and appear even longer because of the fringes. The cut through the body is a more box cut that has been cropped to just below the waist making it very easy to fit and wear.
- The exterior fabric appears to be a silk / wool boucle mix that has a diagonal stripe running through. All of the fringes extend and come out of these stripes. When you look closer it is absolutely incredible to see that it appears to be all one piece. So the fringes would have been condensed and woven into the black fabric parts and then allowed to open to create the fringes. The technical aspect and difficulty of this is mind-boggling.
- The fringes combine little black stacked rectangles with silvery white boxes and each fringe is finished along the vertical with a stitched edging. The movement these create when this is on and you move is absolutely incredible.
- The closer you look at the jacket and realize the level of the construction put into it the better it gets.
- The lining is a phenomenal slightly metallic deep pewter and silver silk brocade with a curving abstract pattern. The contrast between the rounded organic shapes in the lining combined with the very geometric pattern of the fringes is just fantastic.
- The jacket is fully lined and slips on with no closures. There are built in light shaping and padding through the shoulders. It appears to have been worn very little if at all.
- There is no size tag present since it is Couture, so please go by the measurements listed below. Because there are no closures at the front that should have a bit more range in sizing.
- Excellent condition
Sleeves: 21.5" and the fringes extend another 10" beyond that. Each sleeve is 12" around the upper arm.
Slightly extended shoulders: 16.5"
Bust: 17" flat across from side seam to side seam
Waist-bottom seam: 16.5" flat across from side seam to side seam but there are no closures so there is room beyond this.
Total length: 18" from neck to hem and the fringes extend another 10" beyond that.
Modern Sizing Equivalent: XS-MED
Reference Photos/Video: Fall 2009 Armani Prive Couture, Look 10. Model Veronika Pospisilova.
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
Pre-Fall 2018 Chanel by Karl Lagerfeld Grey Runway Look 13 Grey Pin Striped Pant & Jacket Pant Suit
I Have a Question
I have a small grouping of Chanel pieces that will be listing over the next week or so and they all come from an avid Couture and Chanel collector. Many of these pieces were extremely difficult to source when they were released and were only made in very limited quantities. They are in amazing condition and all but one have their original shop packet that has the extra fabric and style information. These are exceptional pieces for the collector and each is extremely special.
This is a suit pieced together from the actual Chanel sample jacket for this look and then the pants were purchased at retail by my client. It is incredibly rare to find a sample piece so that is a little extra special. The twin of the suit was worn for Look 13 for the Chanel Métiers d’Art show. The show was set in the Hamburg concert hall and that setting held an extra special place for Karl since it was his hometown. The concert hall had just been opened and for this show Karl mixed the modernity of the new space with his memories of Hamburg as a child “I’ve never left; this is part of me,” he reflected after the show. “I like Hamburg as an idea; something in the back of my mind.” Vogue noted 'You saw what that was, the essence of his inspiration, in a flash: Sailors in peaked caps on leave, girls in thigh-high boots and leather, the people who mill around docks and nightclubs. The clothes evoked ’60s beatniks, countercultural girls in sweaterdresses, smartly dressed officers in uniform, and naval ratings in sailor pants—looks that ran up and down the register of the cool, the hip, and the immaculately classic. It was an obvious, simple idea, really, but one marinated in a mind that has the sophistication to align the results with Coco Chanel’s heritage, and with what any girl would absolutely kill to wear right now.'
The lines of this suit are crisp and sharp and the tailoring is immaculate. Both pieces are made out of a pinstriped virgin wool that allows them to retain the exact lines that Lagerfeld intended while still staying light in weight. The jacket is cut so that it is fitted across the shoulders and then falls in a more box shape to the top of the hips. The collar is neat and small and I love how there is an inset of a white waffle weave cotton for a crisp little pop. That same little pop of cotton is set within each cuff so that it feels perfectly tied together. It buttons to close up one side and the buttons themselves are incredible. I took a detail shot so you can see that they are especially done with both Paris and Hamburg noted on them. The bottom hem is banded and there is a little top set pocket on one side. Each sleeve is long and straight and they end in a notched slit held by a button rather than a traditional cuff which falls in line with the sleek minimalist feel of the rest of the suit. Beside the little pop of white at the end there is also a little 'hidden' surprise of another functional pocket that sits at the end of the one sleeve nearest the pocket on the front. I am obsessed with this little detail. The pants are sleek and simple in their cut. They are flat fronted with a slanted slip pocket on each hip under the waist band. Two more pockets are at the back and each is still tacked shut. The legs fall wide to the ankle with just the tiniest bit of a flare at the ends. Each leg is finished with a precise wide cuff. The inside of the suit is as immaculate as the outside and it is lined in a deep grey silk embossed with the Chanel logo. A signature Chanel chain runs along the inner hem of the jacket. Every stitch is perfection. Excellent condition with a minor note below.
The jacket is lined in a grey Chanel embossed silk and closes with the buttons along the front panel as seen. It has a Chanel sample label and is tagged a modern Chanel 38. A pocket on the front and on each cuff. Metal embossed buttons and the signature Chanel chain around the inner hem. There is slight yellowing and grubbiness on the inner collar of the Chanel and the Chanel label on the pants has been partially slit. The pants zip to close at the front and have hidden hook & eye at the bands. Slip pockets on each hip and two tacked shut pockets at the back The pants have their original Chanel packet and are tagged a modern Chanel 40
Jacket
Sleeves: 21"
Shoulders: 15"
Bust: to 17.5" flat across from side seam to side seam
Waist: to 17" flat across from side seam to side seam
Hips: to 18" flat across from side seam to side seam
Length: 22" from neck to head
Pant
Waist: 14" flat across from side seam to side seam
Hips: 19" flat across from side seam to side seam
Length: 40.5" from top of bodice to waist
Inseam: 29" from inner seam to hem
Gusset: 17" from waist to inner seam
Modern Sizing Equivalent: SML-MED
Item# DD4540
Reference Photo/Video: Pre-Fall 2018 Chanel, Look 13.
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 Resort 2017 Christian Dior Runway Look 23 Brocade, Silk & Velver Sequin & Beaded Dress
I Have a Question
- The twin of the dress walked the runway for the Resort 2017 Christian Dior show.
- The show was made under the house designers and at this time the next creative director had not yet been announced.
- This was Look 23 in the show and I think one of the better cocktail pieces presented.
- The dress combines three fabrics. A beautiful antique feeling brocade for the bodice. A printed more open with fabric through the centre that acts as a hip hip and then a beautiful cut velvet on a silk chiffon base for the skirt.
- Tiny straps in the same blue and gold brocade curve up and over each shoulder. The bodice dipped into a V at the front and at the back as well. It's skims down to the waist for a touch of shape.
- The second fabric is actually a gathered panel that sits independently over top of the skirt. It has a slightly 1940s feel to it and create shape through the hip area with a gathered front and back to create a pretty curve.
- Under that is the skirt which is made out of an extremely beautiful coral and brown cut velvet on a printed self on backdrop. As it nears the hem it flares out slightly, and one side is rounded with a slight slit for an extra bit of leg to show as you walk.
- Onto the skirt is an intricate pattern made of sequins and gold beads. These are heavily applied so they have a slight 3-D fill. I've taken numerous close-up so you can see how gorgeous this is.
- It is a very pretty dress that mixes the three patterns effortlessly.
- The dress is fully lined in a black silk chiffon through the skirt and a second wear of the same fabric through the bodice. The skirt has its own zipper, and then the top two fabric zipper to close over that it appears to have been worn very little if at all.
- Tagged a modern Dior FR36, GB8, IT40, US4
- Excellent condition
Bust: to 17" flat across from side seam to side seam
Waist: 13.5" flat across from side seam to side seam
Hips: to 19" flat across from side seam to side seam
Bodice: 15.5" from top of shoulder to waist
Total length: 39.5" from top of shoulder to hem
Modern Sizing Equivalent: SML-MED
Item# DD5328
Reference Photo/Video: Resort 2017 Christian Dior, Look 23. Model Ella Wennstrom.
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.
giorgio armani
Prettiest Spring 2006 Giorgio Armani Silk Top w Spring 2001 Chiffon & Net Skirt Set w Beaded Butterflies
I Have a Question
- A version of the top of this set walked the runway for the Spring 2006 Giorgio Armani, collection for Look 54 and the skirt is from Spring 2001 where it was shown in an ivory on the runway.
- It was made under the creative direction of Giorgio Armani.
- This is from his main label and Vogue said of the dresses "Finely layered chiffon and tulle, picked out with minute embroideries of bugle beads and sequins, qualified each one as a singular piece of signature Armani... With this collection, the designer said that he had resolved to focus on what women really wear today."
- This is a set made up of two pieces which I love because this gives you the ability to mix and match them with other things from your wardrobe.
- The top combines two layers of silk chiffon with an attached layer of netting that floats over both of those layers. It is suspended from the shoulders by two straps that have been finished with tiny silver tube beads stacked in rows. These circle the neckline and then the entire top is finished with a combination of silver sequins and beads across the front. I absolutely love the flower and butterfly pattern. With the net floating over top the sequins and beads have a slightly diffused feel and it is so pretty.
- I have taken close-ups of the extraordinary amount of bead and sequin work that has been done to make the design. It is really exquisite hand workmanship.
- The front neck line is scooped into a V and the back is finished in a wide shallow scoop. I love how this leaves a bare expanse of skin around the upper shoulders.
- It skims over the bust and is cut generously around the waist for an easy fit. The hem is cut on an angle that dips down on one side and this mimics the way that the skirt and ruffles are cut underneath.
- The waist of the skirt is finished with a small black piping and then it curves out and over the hips all the way to the hem. The hem is so interesting because it is cut on a sharp angle that falls shorter on one side and then is substantially longer to fall to the floor on the other.
- The inner layer of a skirt is a silvery grey colour and then black chiffon is set in ruffles over that. The ruffles that are stacked on top of each other and set to follow the same sharp angle of the hem. It has amazing movement once on. As good as the photos are I think it is even better in person.
- The top has a lining of black silk chiffon and the skirt is lined in a grey chiffon netting. Both the skirt and top close with hidden set side zippers. Both pieces appears to have been worn very little at all.
- The skirt is tagged a vintage Armani 40 and the top has no size tag
- Excellent condition
Top
Bust: 16.5-18.5" flat across from side seam to side seam
Waist: 15-16" flat across from side seam to side seam
Total length: 19.5" from top of shoulder to the shortest part at the side, 24.5" to the longest
Skirt
Waist: 13" flat across from side seam to side seam
Hips: open
Total length: approximately 25" from waist to shortest part of the hem at the side, 47" to the longest part
Modern Sizing Equivalent: SML-MED
Item# DD5325
Reference Photos/Video: (1-3) Spring 2006 Giorgio Armani, Look 54. / (4-5) Fall 2001 Giorgio Armani.
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.
giorgio armani
Phenomenal Fall 2005 Giorgio Armani Runway Look 88 Black Velvet Bead & Sequin Dress
I Have a Question
- The twin of this dress walked the runway for the Fall 2005 Gorgio Armani collection for the Look 88.
- It was made under the creative direction of Giorgio Armani.
- This is from his main label and its twin was also a part of the ad campaign that year.
- Armani showed no full length dresses for this collection. The twin of this dress was part of the final leg of the show where he sent down a series of crystal and sequin embellished dresses done in this shorter length for evening.
- The base fabric of the dress is an inky black velvet which gives the beading and sequins added on top of it a luxurious background.
- It is suspended from the shoulder by tiny black silk piping for straps and this is also used to finish the edge of the upper bodice.
- The front neck line is scooped and the back scoops into a wide cut shallow V. I love how this leaves a bare expanse of skin around the upper shoulders.
- It skims over the bust and is cut generously around the waist for a easy to fit feel.
- From under the waist it curves out over the hips all the way to the hem. The hem is so interesting because the velvet has been pulled under and attached to the inner lining to create an almost a bubble feel. Where the two fabrics meet there is hidden elastic so that you can walk. You get a better sense of this in the runway photos and video. It is not a true bubble hem but it is a very subtle sleek version of one.
- Applied onto the dress is an intricate pattern done to suggest a flowers covering the entire dress. Each flower is made from a series of multiple size tube beads that have sequins stacked within the pattern these form. The sequins are set on their sides and stacked tightly together to have a very 3D feel. Scattered between the flowers are little lines of gold and silver tube beads that create a sense of movement over the dress.
- I have taken close-ups of the extraordinary amount of bead-work that has been done to make these. It is really exquisite hand workmanship.
- The dress is fully lined in fine black silk crepe and it closes with a hidden side side zipper. It appears to have been worn very little at all.
- Tagged a vintage Armani 42
- Excellent condition
Bust: 17.5" flat across from side seam to side seam
Waist: 15.25" flat across from side seam to side seam
Hips: to 20" flat across from side seam to side seam
Total length: 42" from top of shoulder to hem
Modern Sizing Equivalent: SML-MED
Item# DD5322
Reference Photos/Video: (1-4) Fall 2005 Giorgio Armani, Look 88. / (5) Erin Wasson for the Fall 2005 Giorgio Armani Ad Campaign photographed by Craig McDean.
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.
etro
Spring 2020 Etro by Veronica Etro Runway Look 29 Printed Silk Chiffon Dress w Beaded & Embroidered Bodice
I Have a Question
- The twin of this dress was Look 29 for the Spring 2020 Etro show.
- It was made under the creative direction of Veronica Etro.
- The cornerstone of Veronica's Etro is "old world, Bohemian feminism" as stated by Vogue. The collection was devoted to "festival girls - groupies actually - but only the great ones - (Birkin, Pallenberg, Rampling, Bissett) those leggy British beauties who were in the 1960s floated effortlessly between Pune, Tangier, Formentera and Montery."
- This particular dress is extremely well documented and was photoed for several editorials that we have included here. I love having these reference photos so you can see how fantastic it sits on the body.
- The dress is made out of a combination of a bias cut silk chiffon that is virtually weightless and a more structured cotton for the bodice that has been covered with embroidery and we work.
- The silk parts are covered in a beautiful paisley print that covers the entire dress while the bodice has a more geometric, antique feel to it.
- The shoulders are soft and the front comes down in a V. The neckline is detailed with a band of embroidery and beads. The entire bodice has an intricate and heavy covering of beads and embroideries, along with cording details.
- The sleeves are incredible. Each is wide and cut on an angle with the inner part of the sleeve flowing long and past the hands. The opening of the sleeve is cut wide and it is finished with a pretty ruffle in the same silk. This adds incredible movement when you move your arms.
- It skims over the bust to a seam at the waist that is cut on the more generous side. There is an added panel that runs all the way around the waist made of a deep burnt red cotton that is embroidered and whose edges are left and twisted tassels all the way around you.
- From there it curves over the hips and there is a large amount of fabric in the skirt. It is gathered into the centre of the front and the back. The hem curves down and around the back to hang slightly longer then the front so that it sweeps behind you. It is in its original uncut length and when you move it moves beautifully around you.
- The dress is fully lined in a red silk chiffon except for sleeves which are unlined. It closes with a hidden set side zipper. It appears to have been worn very little if at all.
- Tagged an Etro size 42
- Excellent condition
Sleeves: 38" to their longest point and 17" to the shortest. They are 20" around the upper arm.
Shoulders: 15"
Bust: to 18" flat across from side seam to side seam
Waist: 14" flat across from side seam to side seam
Hips: open
Bodice: 16" from neck to bottom seam of the waistband
Total length: 60" from top of shoulder to front hem, 62" to the back hem
Modern Sizing Equivalent: SML-MED
Item# DD5317
Reference Photos/Video: (1-4) Spring 2020 Etro, Look 29. / (5) Christina Hendricks for Reveal Magazine, 2022. / (6) Julia Stegner in Etro for Elle Italy, 2020. / (7) Madame Figaro Japan, May 2020.
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.
chloe
Spring 2022 Chloe by Gabriela Hearst Deep Burnt Orange Silk Caftan Dress w Hand Braided & Shell Detailing
I Have a Question
- The twin of this caftan walked the runway for the Spring 2022 Chloe collection for Look 21.
- It was made under the creative direction of Gabriela Hearst.
- The show was all about summer holidays and joy. Gabriella said “As cheesy as it sounds, this collection is about love. It is really about the love of so many things: the love of craft, the love of friendship, the love of fellow humans".
- The other thing to note about this collection is that she dramatically reduced the number of items in the show down to only 31 when the norm was usually over 50. This was in an effort to make the brand more sustainable and use better sourced fabrics and more transparent supply chains.
- On this caftan for example, the silk is handwoven and came with its own instructions about the fabric and the way it will wear. I have included a shot of those so you know what to expect of the fabric. The band around the neck is handwoven and braided. A seashell used as a centrepiece was hand cut. This is all done under a new division she created called Chloe Craft.
- The neckline dips into a V at the front with a stitch to keep it from being a full plunge. Instead you see a little open keyhole underneath that stitch.
- There is a braided strap in a matching deep burnt orange that buttons to close behind the neck and this is attached to a shell that is enclosed in more braiding and then stitched on either side of the neck line.
- The top layer of the dress has vertical seaming that begins around the waist area to bring it in and gives the dress some added shape. Under that it falls to the floor and the hem opens outwards. The closed seams end just past the hip and the sides of the caftan are left open underneath. Because of the immense amount of fabric on either side you don't immediately see that it is open but when you move a certain way or sit you do get a flash of bare leg.
- Once it is on, you have a more fitted shape through the body at the centre, and then at the sides are full and open like a true caftan.
- The movement and drama this creates is extraordinary. When you walk and move the dress billows out and floats around you.
- The dress is unlined and slips over the head to wear with no closures. As noted on the label, the fabric can lightly pill and this will go away in time. It does not distract, but I want to note it for accuracy. I see a tiny bit of darkening on the top of one shoulder. There is the slightest bit of stress on a seam at the back. Please see the photos attached. The original tags are still in place and it was never worn.
- Tagged a modern Chloe 44
- Excellent condition
Bust: No true side seams
Waist: to 17" flat across from side seam to side seam
Hips: to 27.5" flat across from side seam to side seam
Total length: 58" from top of shoulder to centre hem, 60" to the longest points of the side once on.
Modern Sizing Equivalent: SML-LRG
Item# DD5316
Reference Photos/Video: Spring 2022 Chloe, Look 21. Model Sokhna Niane.
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.
valentino
Spring 2016 Valentino by Pierpaolo Piccioli & Maria Grazia Chiuri Runway Look 50 Giraffe Printed Cotton Dress
I Have a Question
- The twin of this dress walked the runway for Look 50 in the Spring 2016 runway.
- It was made under the creative direction of both Maria Grazia Chiuri and Pierpaolo Piccioli.
- The show was based on Africa as its inspiration and at this period of time the world was watching refugees attempting the journey to Italy. In the Vogue review for this collection Maria and Pierpaulo were quoted as saying; 'We probably feel that the greatest privilege in doing our work is that fashion can give a message,” said Chiuri. “We think every person coming here is an individual, and we can show that we can improve ourselves by understanding other cultures.'... 'The message,' added Piccioli, 'is tolerance. And the beauty that comes out of cross-cultural expression.'
- The dress is made from an extremely light in weight cotton with an inner nude cotton layer underneath and then that is entirely covered in a stunning giraffe and fauna print done in a deep orange and navy.
- Many of the pieces fused both Italian and African traditions , 'They met in the textiles' and the prints in the collection was described as "African-inspired prints with wax block detailed their Spring 2016 collection. The collection was praised for a respectful rather than literal interpretation of African cultural influences."
- The lines of this dress are wonderfully simple and yet it still feels glamorous with the head-to-toe print.
- The neckline is high and the shoulders soft. It skims over your bust to a slight more generously cut waist. The sleeves are long and narrow in slightly at the wrists.
- From there it curves over the hips and begins to widen out to the floor. There is a surprising amount of fabric in the skirt, but because of the lightness of the fabric, it falls in a more column silhouette until you begin to move.
- The print that covers the dress is stunning. It is set to highlight the lines of the dress and is specifically placed to accomplish that goal.
- The dress has an attached inner slip dress made of nude cotton. It closes with a hidden set back zipper. It appears to have never been worn and still has its original hang tags.
- Tagged a modern 42
- Excellent condition
Sleeves: 24" and are 10" around the upper arm
Shoulders: 15"
Bust: 17-18" flat across from side seam to side seam
Waist: 15" flat across from side seam to side seam
Hips: open
Bodice: 12" from neck top of of the 2" band around the waist
Total length: 59" from neck to hem
Modern Sizing Equivalent: SML-MED
Item# DD5315
Reference Photo/Video: Spring 2016 Valentino, Look 50. Model Kadri Vahersalu.
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.
nina ricci
Ethereal Spring 2011 Nina Ricci by Peter Copping Black Silk Chiffon & Ivory Lace Plunge Dress
I Have a Question
- This dress is a longer version similar to the dresses that walked the runway for the Spring 2011 Nina Ricci show for Looks 2 and 5.
- It was made under the creative direction of Peter Copping.
- Vogue declared that the chiffon dresses were some of the best of the show and we think that this longer version of the pieces show is even better than it's shorter counterparts.
- This dress feels magical. This is in part because of the mixing of a black silk chiffon that has a slight texture to it, with that beautiful ivory & black lace, but it is also because the dress weighs so little and feels so ethereal once on.
- One side of the bodice has more coverage and drapes softly from the shoulders across the neckline. On the other side, the fabric crosses over itself to create a deep plunge. The dress is so well-made that we think you could wear it either way around. It has been photoed both ways so that you can see how different it feels depending on if you wear the plunge to the back or front.
- The silk is gathered up in a raw feeling seam across the top of each shoulder. The chiffon has been softly pleated and set to run on a diagonal across before meeting the first panel of inset lace at the waist. The lace splits with a bit of chiffon in between on one side and a more slightly curving slope on the other. Another panel of angled chiffon sits below that and then a wider panel of the ivory lace wraps around you.
- Under that the skirt is set in vertical soft pleats with two wide panels of black lace stacked above each other all the way around the hem.
- This play between the colours of lace, the textures and transparency is just phenomenal.
- All of the seaming on this dress is set on angles and curves so that it feels very reminiscent of the old Hollywood days of the 1920s and 1930s.
- There are many yards of silk and lace netting through the lower portion of the skirt that cascade down to the hem. The extreme lightness of the silk and lace lets it move beautifully around you and it feels like wearing nothing.
- The body of the dress is lined in a second layer of black silk chiffon and the lower skirt is unlined. It closes with a side set zipper with a ribbon pull. It appears to have been worn very little if at all. The silk is biased cut so there is a touch of range with the measurements.
- 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
Waist: 11-13" flat across from side seam to side seam
Hips: 16-18" flat across from side seam to side seam
Bodice: approx 13.5" from top of shoulder to highest point of side waist
Total length: 62" from top of shoulder to hem
Modern Sizing Equivalent: XS-SML
Item# DD5313
Reference Photos: Spring 2011 Nina Ricci. Look 2 (Model Anais Pouliot) & Look 5 (Model Joan Smalls).
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.
valentino
Prettiest Spring 2003 Original Valentino Runway Look 64 Red Silk Dress w Silk Chiffon Ties
I Have a Question
- The twin of this dress walked the runway in the Spring 2003 show for Look 64
- It was made under the creative direction of the original Mr. Valentino
- It was the only dress shown in this entire collection that season that was done in his signature Valentino red. So when you look through the collection photos it really stands out.
- The show was a huge success and Vogue especially loved the evening pieces; "For the evening review, it gets even better. Valentino's communiqués from his couture collection show up as delicate metallic-embroidered chiffons made into fragile capes, cardigans or dresses. And for the grand occasion, there's a full battalion of the designer's fabulous signature chiffon gowns."
- The dress is suspended from the shoulders by two tiny straps in the same red silk. The bodice is seamed just under the breasts and have minimal darting.
- It skims over the waist and hips and then from there it falls to the floor in a beautiful column of the red silk crepe that flares out slightly as it nears the hem.
- The back of the dress is cut slightly longer so you have a beautiful bit of a sweep behind you as you walk.
- Two panels of silk chiffon wrap around the waist area to add detail and shape to the dress. The panels are attached all the way around and then loop through openings at the front of the dress. The ties are cut extra long and fall to just above the hem at the front of the dress. These not only add beautiful detailing to the dress but also create amazing movement as you move.
- The top panel of the bodice is lined in a red silk and the rest of the dress is unlined. It closes with a hidden set side zipper. I see a touch of grubbiness here and there around the hem but it is very minor
- Tagged a vintage Valentino 10.
- Excellent condition
Bust: 17-17.5" flat across from side seam to side seam with a A-B cup
Seam under the bust: to 17" flat across from side seam to side seam
Waist: 14-16" flat across from side seam to side seam
Hips: to 20" flat across from side seam to side seam
Bodice: just under 4" from top of bodice to seam under the bust at the middle and it is 10" from the top of the strap to the seam under the bust
Total length: 61" from top of shoulders to front hem, 63" to the back hem.
Modern Sizing Equivalent: SML-MED
Item# DD5306
Reference Photos/Video: Spring 2003 Valentino, Look 64.
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.
giorgio armani
Stunning Fall 1998-99 Giorgio Armani Red Beaded & Sequin Long Skirt & Wrap Top Dress Set
I Have a Question
- The twin of this set is from the 1998-1999 season.
- It was made under the creative direction of Giorgio Armani.
- We have included several photos from both the Fall 1998 and Fall 1999 collections. In both these collections Armani used similar bead work that you see on this set. The runway examples are shown displaying this similarity.
- Early Armani at this level has become extremely collectible and this is a beautiful and versatile two piece set from those early days.
- The extensively beaded pieces that Armani was producing during this time period were on par with demi-couture with prices to match even then.
- This is actually a set combining a skirt with its beaded & sequinned wrap top. I love the versatility that having two pieces gives you. It can be worn together or mixed and matched with existing pieces in your wardrobe.
- The top is beautiful and easy to wear. It has no collar and the shoulders are soft. Each sleeve is cut slightly wider where it inserts into the bodice and then narrows slightly down to the ends.
- At the front it wraps over itself with a hidden set snap to hold the V in place. Long ties extend out from either side of the base of the wrap. These cross over each other, wrap around you and then you tie the tie in place to hold it.
- I love how the bottom hem is slightly gathered to give a bit of a blousing over effect. This is a signature look from his work that I love.
- Onto the exterior of the top is a heavy covering of tiny red iridescent sequins and each sequin is held in place by the topping of a single little red bead. The workmanship on it is phenomenal and I love how this lets the top catch the light from every angle.
- In contrast to drama of the top, the skirt is kept simple. It is made out of a beautiful red silk. The waist is banded and then it skims over the hips and flares out quite a bit as it near the hem. A high seam follows an inset vertical slit so you get a flash of bare leg as you walk.
- This is a phenomenal set and the craftsmanship on it is just outstanding.
- The top is hand lined in a red silk chiffon with a hidden set snap in the V and attached ties at the waist. The skirt closes with a hidden set side zipper and is lined in a red silk. About 5" of the very top of the slit on the skirt have been hand tacked closed. If you wanted that extra opening of the slit it would be easy to un-tack it.
- The skirt is tagged a vintage Armani 42 and the top a 40
- Excellent condition
Top
Sleeves: 23" and are 15" around the upper arm
Shoulders: 15"
Bust: to 19" flat across from side seam to side seam
Waist: to 15" flat across from side seam to side seam and can be adjusted up or down by the ties.
Total length: 17.5" from neck to hem
Skirt
Waist: 14" flat across from side seam to side seam
Hips: to 21" flat across from side seam to side seam
Total length: 41.5" from waist to hem
Slit: 24" from hem up with an additional 5" tacked shut at the top that could be opened.
Modern Sizing Equivalent: SML-MED
Item# DD5307
Reference Photos: (1-2) Fall 1998 Giorgio Armani. / (3-4) Fall 1999 Giorgio Armani. / (5) Fall 1999 Giorgio Armani Ad Campaign. / (6) From the exhibit "Giorgio Armani: A Retrospective" at the Royal Academy of Arts, London, 2003.
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.
valentino
Modern Valentino by Pierpaolo Piccioli Homage to the Fall 2004 Runway Look 53 Strapless Red Silk Dress
I Have a Question
- This is a modern Valentino was made in homage to the very famous Valentino dress that walked the runway for Fall 2004.
- This version was made under the creative direction of Pierpaolo Piccioli and the original 2004 version under Mr. Valentino
- The dress is strapless and made out of a red silk in the signature Valentino red.
- The dress is made out of long set vertical panels that run from the top of the bodice all the way to the hem. At the front the silk is gathered into both sides of the middle panel. The dress is shaped around the body by manipulating the width of the panels.
- One of the key signatures of this dress are the two large silk flowers in a marching red silk that sit on either side of the hip. On the original dress these top pockets are very shallow. The ones on this dress are slightly deeper so that you can slip your hands into.
- As the dress near the lower skirt the panels widen quite a bit to create that gorgeous flare that you see. Triangle shaped silk panels have been added on each side and all the way around the back of the skirt. This is what allows the skirt to flare out and sit in those exaggerated folds so beautifully that you see in the photos. They also allow a really beautiful and dramatic movement when you walk.
- The dress is fully lined in a red silk with an inner built-in lightly boned corset piece that zips on its own. The dress zips to close over that with a hidden set zipper that follows one of the back side seams. There is a teeny bit of stress along a back seam and a pinhead hole at the front. Please see the photos after the label shot.
- Tagged a modern Valentino 4
- Excellent condition
Bust: 15.5" flat across from side seam to side seam
Waist: 12.5" flat across from side seam to side seam
Hips: 19.5" flat across from side seam to side seam
Total length: 49.5" from top of bodice to front hem, 53" to the longest point of the back hem
Modern Sizing Equivalent: XXS-XS
Item# DD5308
Reference Photos/Video: (1-4) Fall 2004 Valentino, Look 53. Model Caroline Trentini. / (5-6) Penelope Cruz in Valentino at the 2004 David Di Donatello Movie Awards. / (7-8) Sofia Harmanda in archival Valentino at the 2025 Vanity Fair Oscars Party.
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.
valentino
Prettiest Spring 2022 Valentino by Pierpaolo Piccioli Runway Look 88 Recreation of 1971 Dress in Floral Silk Chiffon
I Have a Question
- The twin of this dress walked the runway as Look 88 for the Spring 2022 collection.
- It was made under the creative direction of Pierpaolo Piccioli
- The dress was a recreation of an iconic piece from the 1971 collection that was immortalized in Italian Vogue. This and the other dress in that same photo were recreated as a nod to the original Mr. Valentino.
- One was worn by Lady Gaga that year. I love this lets you see how extraordinary this piece is on the body.
- In Vogue's review they said that is was "a proposition of a beautiful, casualized couture wardrobe designed to float between genders: lightweight taffeta tailoring in vivid colours, plethoras of dresses from minuscule and cutaway to sweeping, embroidered caftans. The mini-maxi proportion play—like billowy volumes teamed with micro-shorts—provided a translated house glamour..."
- The dress is made out of a feather light printed silk chiffon screened to re-create the floral print on the original 1971 version. This fabric choice holds the colours beautifully.
- The neckline is set wide across so that it sits at the edges of the shoulders. If you are not very broad across the shoulders you may be able to wear it fully off the shoulder but for most I think it will sit at the edges of the shoulder like you see on the dress form here. A wide 11" ruffle follows the entire neckline and gives it the prettiest flounce all the way around you.
- Under that the bodice skims down to the seamed waist. The dress comes with an extra long matching tie belt in the same fabric that you can use to cinch in the waist as much as needed.
- The skirt is set into the waist t in a series of tiny gathers that expand outward and this is what gives the skirt its incredible volume.
- The skirt falls shorter with a bit of a peak coming up on one side. I love how this adds to the volume and detail of the skirt. As it circles around the back it gets longer. If you were to lay this out and open the skirt it is more than a full circle around. That incredible volume combined with the lightness of the fabric gives you fantastic movement when you move. There are yards of silk chiffon in its construction.
- Both the edges of the caped ruffle that circles around the shoulders and the entire hem are finished with a red silk ribbon. This adds the perfect and unexpected pop of colour.
- This is an absolutely stunning dress and this particular cut of dress is one of my favourites. I love that it perfectly showcases the original Valentino version.
- The dress is fully lined in a black silk and closes with a hidden set back zipper. The tie belt is original to the dress. It appears to have been worn very little if at all.
- Tagged a modern Valentino 38
- Excellent condition
Bust: 16.5" flat across from side seam to side seam
Waist: 12-12.5" flat across from side seam to side seam
Hips: open
Bodice: 15.5" from the top of the shoulder to waist
Total length: 55" from top of shoulder to the longest point of the back hem, 38" to the shortest point at the front.
Modern Sizing Equivalent: XS-SML
Item# DD5305
Reference Photos/Video: (1-3) Spring 2022 Valentino, Look 88. Model Naima Djoudi. / (4) Jeanette Christiansen & Isa Stoppi in Valentino for Vogue Italia, photographed by Chris Von Wangheim 1971. / (5) Lady Gaga at the House of Gucci Press Conference in Milan, November 2021.
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.
halston
Original 1978 Halston Couture Main Label Black Jersey One Shoulder Draped Full Length Maxi Dress
I Have a Question
- This is an ultra rare original Halston from his main label. While this dress was eventually the inspiration behind the pieces that were recreated in a less expensive jersey for his Halston IV line, this is an original as seen on the runway. It is one of the pieces that would have inspired all of the other ones created in the diffusion lines.
- It was made under the creative direction of Roy Halston.
- In 2016 the twin of this dress entered modern day fashion history when Kate Moss wore its twin on the red carpet at the 2016 Cannes Film Festival.
- We have had Martha Hunt wear a white one version that she sourced from us to Cannes. She landed on several Best Dressed lists as a result.
- Ones from the main label like this would have been a custom order by a Client during this time period.
- I am always on the look out for this style of dress by Halston. It is perhaps the most iconic of all of the Halston silhouettes.
- There is a certain sexiness caused by the illusion of having the entire dress suspended by one shoulder. It gives the sense that the entire dress could drop in a puddle around you.
- It is constructed from two separate layers. This is also where this one differs from the more common diffusion line. Pieces from the Halston IV line have one panel of fabric that wrap around and extends out to create the draping. On this one there is a separate draping panel that is attached all the way around the neckline and then falls over the inner part.
- The inner dress is cut to skim over the body in a long sheath that widens out as it nears the hem. Here again we see a slight difference in the design. On this dress there is no slit running up the side seam. You can see in the runway photo that ones were created with a slit and from what I understand it was the choice of the client to have that added or not.
- A draped panel of the same fabric is attached all the way around the neckline and then is gathered up in a series of folds at the top of the shoulder. This allows for an incredible amount of fabric to fall from that shoulder and from around the neck. The jersey drapes down over the front and the back of the dress with one side of the draping completely opened down the length of the dress. The gathering on the shoulder causes that side to curve up a touch from the hem while the rest of the jersey cascades loosely down and over the body.
- I love that the edges were finished by machine but then they have been turned under and tacked into place by hand all the way around the top draping so that it lies perfectly. This would have added countless hours to the construction of the dress and shows the level of detail that lies within his pieces. The simplicity of his work hides and extreme attention to every single stitch in line.
- This is an iconic and rare original dress by Halston.
- The dress slips on to wear with no closures. It should fit a variety of sizes since it is not cut to be super fitted and the jersey does have some stretch. It looks 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: 17-20" flat across from side seam to side seam
Waist: 16-18" flat across from side seam to side seam
Hip: to 22" flat across from side seam to side seam
Total length: 57" from top of shoulder to longest point of hem
Modern Sizing Equivalent: SML-LRG
Item# DD5297
Reference Photo: (1) Summer 1977 Halston. / (2-3) Kate Moss in Vintage Halston at the 2016 Cannes Film Festival. / (4) Karen Bjornsen, Alva Chinn, Connie Cook and Pat Cleveland in Halston Dresses, photographed by by Harry Benson, 1978. / (5) Martha Hunt wearing a white version from us in Cannes, 2019. / (6) Martha Hunt on Harper's Bazaar Australia Best Dressed List. / (7) Halston Form Fit Ad, Vogue, October 1980.
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.
patrick kelly
Iconic Fall 1989 Patrick Kelly Off Shoulder Silver Leopard Print Dress in a Soft Stretch Velour
I Have a Question
- The twin of this dress in a brown walked the runway for the Fall 1989 collection.
- It was made under the creative direction of Patrick Kelly.
- We have included other reference photos of various styles of the dress in the same colour. It could very well be that the actual twin of the dress also walked the runway, but there is not always full coverage of his shows to be found.
- The Philadelphia Museum of Art hosted an exhibit of the work of Patrick Kelly in 2014. The show notes state: "“I want my clothes to make you smile”—that was the goal of late African American designer Patrick Kelly in creating his bold, bright, and joyful creations. Kelly achieved this on the streets, nightclubs, and runways of New York, Paris, and beyond in the heady, inventive, and often-subversive urban milieu of the 1980s....Kelly’s work pushed racial and cultural boundaries with golliwog logos, Aunt Jemima bandana dresses, and his ubiquitous black baby-doll brooches. His playful looks were inspired by his muse, Josephine Baker, and admiration for couturiers Coco Chanel, Elsa Schiaparelli, and Yves Saint Laurent, among others."
- The dress is made out of a fantastic stretch velour fabric that will stretch to hug your curves and show off every bit of the body. That said the velvet keeps it flattering and easy to wear as it gives support at the same time it hugs the body. This combined with that leopard print in the more unusual silver tone is fantastic.
- Kelly cut this one so that is can be worn on or off the shoulder while keeping the sleeves long and lean. On the runway it was shown off the shoulder and that is how I prefer it too. That bare expanse of skin is the perfect contrast to the coverage of the dress.
- The cut through the body hugs your every curve and the dress is meant to hug your frame all the way down.
- It curves over the bust, waist and hips and the very lower hem has a slight flare outwards. The stretch that the fabric has is what allows you to walk as there are no slits or vents in the skirt.
- The shape once this is on the body is fabulous and it is very easy to fit because of the stretch.
- It is a showstopper and an amazing example of his work. I love everything about this dress and that it is a true piece of fashion history that is extremely well documented.
- Unlined and slips on to wear with no closures. The printed velour finish velvet has stretch. Elastic through the neckline. At some point the bottom hem was let down and I have left it for that extra length. The fabric does have stretch. I have put the comfortable range while laying flat below. You probably still have some extra room beyond the listed range if needed.
- Tagged a vintage Kelly FR38,US6, GB10.
- Excellent condition.
Sleeves: 21" but sits off the shoulder so will sit longer on the arm. They are approximately 12-16" around the upper arm.
Bust: 17-23" flat across from side seam to side seam
Waist:14-" flat across from side seam to side seam
Hips: 18-25" flat across from side seam to side seam
Length: 63" from top of the neckline to hem
Modern Sizing Equivalent: XS-LRG
Item# DD5298
Reference Photos/Video: (1-4) F/W 1989 Patrick Kelly Runway Collection. / (5) Iman in Patrick Kelly, 1989. / (6) Model in Patrick Kelly. Photographed by Rico Puhlmann for Harper’s Bazaar, August 1989. / (7) Fall 1989 Patrick Kelly Ad Campaign.
This garment has been professionally cleaned, pressed and is odor free. Thoroughly checked over before shipping, it will be ready to wear upon arrival.
- The of this set is incredibly beautiful and its twin walked the runway for the Spring 2000 Haute Couture collection.
- It was made under the creative direction of Karl Lagerfeld.
- We have included the runway photos here along with some video so that you can see just how beautifully it moves.
- True Haute Couture pieces by Chanel are an extraordinary find as they are so very rare to come by. It is an incredibly beautiful example and historically important piece of work that the Karl and the Chanel ateliers were doing during this time period. It is absolutely gorgeous to see in person
- There is a tiny area of marks on the top. on one side. Please see the photos.
- Included deep blue skirt, top and inner camisole.
Reference Photos/Video: Spring 2001 Chanel Couture Runway, Look 42. Model Madelaine Hjört.
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
Incredible Fall 1990 Christian Lacroix Haute Couture Silk Runway Backless Dress w Two Elaborate Original Brooches
I Have a Question
- The twin of this dress in a different colour walked the Fall 1990 runway.
- It was made under the creative direction of Christian Lacroix.
- We have included the runway reference photos so that you can see just how fabulous this one is on the body.
- This dress is extra special as it includes the incredible brooches on both the front and back of the dress just like the runway piece.
- It is unlabeled but was sourced directly from the original couture client. She was fitted by Christian himself and Christian Lacroix told me through Instagram that he remembers fitting her.
- The dress is made out of an iridescent silk and I love how the colour changes depending on how the light hits it. It can go from a deep bronze to a more iridescent blue / purple tone.
- The sleeves are long and there is a row of five silk covered buttons at each wrist.
- It is gathered at one side at the front with the first of two incredible jewelled brooches the dress came with. The brooch is hand made from a gold toned metal with large golden topaz glass crystals mixed with brilliant blue crystals.
- The neckline angles down and across your shoulder to leave one shoulder bare and exposed. At the back, the neckline dips dramatically down into a deep open V that leaves your skin bare and exposed. The second huge jewelled brooch sits at the base of that.
- A panel of silk flares out to one side to create a half bow, half bustle feel. The interior of that panel has extra structure so that it stays perfectly in place.
- The skirt falls below that and depending in your height will sit at about the knee or just above.
- The dress is fully lined in a black silk organza and closes with an elaborate mix of a zipper, snaps and hooks at the back with one panel looping through the other over the inner closures. There is a fused strip of rubber ribbon along the inner neckline to help hold it in place and this has degraded a touch here and there. One stone is missing at the bottom of the front brooch. The brooches are tacked into place at present but are removable. You can see little marks on the fabric under them where the pin has been pushed through in different places. There are a couple teeny pinhead snags on the fabric where the brooches have caught on the silk near the brooches. These are all very minor and mentioned for accuracy.
- Excellent condition
Sleeves: 19.5"
Bust: to 18" flat across from side seam to side seam
Waist: to 13.5" flat across from side seam to side seam
Hips: to 18" flat across from side seam to side seam
Length: 36" from top of shoulder to hem
Modern Sizing Equivalent: SML-MED
Item# DD5294
Reference Photos: Fall/Winter 1990 Christian Lacroix Haute Couture Runway.
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.
loris azzaro
Stunning Spring 1971 Loris Azzaro Deep Turquoise Silk Jersey Dress w Densely Beaded Plunging Front Detail
I Have a Question
- This dress is from the Spring 1971 collection and we found a reference photo from the 1971 collection that utilized the same type of beading
- It was made under the creative direction of Loris Azzaro.
- Azzaro launched his label in 1967 and quickly defined his trademark looks by using ornate beading, sequins, daring cut-outs and avant garde ways of defining the body. Some of the most beautiful women in the world wore his clothing including Marisa Berenson, Raquel Welch, Jane Birkin, Sophia Loren, Brigitte Bardot and Tina Turner. It was a label that defined sexiness and had a certain French flare that women world-wide loved.
- By the seventies and eighties he was experimenting with volume and proportions and new fabrics that at the time were all cutting edge. This is a stunning example of his work during this period.
- The dress is made out of a deep turquoise silk jersey that glides over your curves and is very flattering.
- The neckline plunges in a V at the front and then it has elaborate border with a thick application of beads, sequins and paillettes. These start at the back of the neck and wrap around to follow the plunge at the front. From there it expands into a wide panel that ends in a almost medallion feeling embellishment that sits at the waist. The beads are densely applied to sit up and off the dress and it is quite incredible to see.
- The sleeves are long and each one expands on a curve to pouf out just above the cuff. Each cuff has the same incredible beaded detailing that you see at the front.
- The deep turquoise silk jersey glides over the bust and comes in at the waist for shape.
- The skirt falls under that, skimming over the hips and then widening out to fall beautifully to the floor.
- It is the perfect combination of feeling covered yet sexy and the dress is incredibly easy and comfortable to wear.
- Unlined and the dress closes with a hand set back set zipper. Each cuff snaps to close. I see a light bit of colour change to the fabric here and there. It is something that you noticed only when looking really close at the dress and it presents perfectly once on the body. It is there however, and it is priced accordingly. Please see the photos after the label shot for examples. The jersey does have some stretch and the measurements below are the comfortable range when laying flat. The colour is a touch brighter turquoise then how it photoed. Hand finishes throughout.
- There is no size tag present, so please go by the measurements below
- Excellent condition
Sleeves: 26" and are 10-11" around the upper arm with some stretch
Shoulders: approx 14-15"
Bust: 16-18" flat across from side seam to side seam
Waist: 12-15" flat across from side seam to side seam
Hips: to 22" flat across from side seam to side seam
Total length: 60" from top of the shoulder to hem with 1.5" turned under
Modern Sizing Equivalent: XS-MED
Item# DD5291
Reference Photo: Michèle Morgan in Azzaro at his workshop, April 1971.
All items are thoroughly checked over before shipping. Unless noted everything in our shop has been professionally cleaned. All sales are final. Overseas clients will be emailed to obtain agreement to our final sales policy before the order is shipped as per our return policy.
richard tyler
Exceptional Fall 2000 Richard Tyler Couture Plunging Front & Open Back Sculpted Black Ultrasoft Leather Dress
I Have a Question
- 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: (1-3) Fall 2000 Richard Tyler Couture. / (4-6) 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.
Naeem Khan
Beautiful Spring 2022 Naeem Khan Bridal Collection 'Salinas' Ivory Net Dress w Sequin Pattern & Trained Skirt
I Have a Question
- This dress is from the Spring 2022 bridal collection and was named the "Salinas" dress in the collection.
- It was made under the creative direction of Naeem Khan
- I love that we have a reference photo of both the back and front of the dress so you can see how beautiful it is once on the body.
- The base of the dress is an ivory net that keeps the dress light in weight despite its extensive added detailing. Onto the net the dress has been heavily sequinned and beaded by hand. The dress was then lined in an ivory silk chiffon with a nude silk chiffon under that to make it just opaque enough to wear.
- The design that covers the entire dress is utterly gorgeous. It is a series of abstract, soft curving shapes that run over the entire dress. I love how the shapes change form and direction to highlight the curves of the body underneath and the cut of the dress.
- The shoulders are soft and slightly sloped and the sleeves are cut long to the wrist if not slightly past.
- It skims over the bust and then curves back in slightly at the waist for shape. This is all done with vertical seaming so there is no line across the midsection of the dress to break the eye. From there it curves back out and over the hips. The bias cut lets it highlight your shape but without being tight or confining once on the body.
- It comes back in slightly under the hip and then the lower portion of the skirt widens out substantially around you. There are yards of extra fabric worked all around the sides and back of the skirt. As it curves around you it extends and becomes even more full to create a classic train that sweeps out behind you. This creates phenomenal movement and a beautiful silhouette around you.
- The dress is beautifully made and there is a high attention paid to every last detail.
- The dress closes at the back with a hidden set zipper and each sleeve hooks to close at the cuff. The bias cut of the fabric gives it some light movement and I have put the comfortable range of measurements below. 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.
Sleeves: 27.5" and are 10" around the upper arm
Shoulders: 15"
Bust: 16-17" 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: 68" from top of bodice front hem and the train extends another 28" past that
Modern Sizing Equivalent: SML-MED
Item# DD5287
Reference Photos: Spring 2022 Naeem Khan Bridal.
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
Iconic Spring 2006 Roberto Cavalli Front Plung & Open Back Heavily Detailed w Rhinestone Bias Cut Ivory Silk Dress
I Have a Question
- 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.
stella mccartney
Spectacular 2014 Stella McCartney 'Renee' Red Carpert Documented White Lace Dress w Low Open Cut Out Back
I Have a Question
- This dress is from the From the Stella McCartney bridal collection for 2014
- It was made under the creative direction of Stella McCartney
- An all silk version of this dress was worn by Nicola Peltz, and Beyonce also wore an all silk version to the Vanity Fair Oscar party in 2015. I love that this lets you see how fantastic this is going to be once on the body.
- This version was made with more of a wedding/bridal point of view and it is made out of a beautiful white lace.
- The neckline is slightly scooped and set higher up. The shoulders are soft and the sleeves are long to the wrist.
- It closes at the back of the neck and then the fabric curves down and over the back of your shoulder from there to leave an open cut out. The cut out starts at the nape of your neck and curves over to each side. It is fully open right to the low back where the top of the skirt is set on a pretty curve. This gives you a beautiful silhouette from the back.
- It skims over the upper bodice with darts for shape. There is a seam set under the bust that tops a panel of the same lace. This wraps around to each side at the front only down to a second seam at the proper waist. That second seam is what curves all the way around to the back to sit under the open cut out.
- It skims over the hips and widens out as it nears the floor. The bottom of the skirt flares out quite a bit so you have a beautiful movement as you move.
- The back sweeps out behind you in a classic rounded train. It is absolutely gorgeous.
- The dress is fully lined in a matching silk chiffon and has very light padding in each shoulder that acts more as a support to the lace than to add shape. There is a slight touch of transparency. It closes with a back hidden set zipper and each sleeve has a hidden set zipper at its end. The dress is new with its original tag and is in its original uncut length
- Tagged a modern 42
- Excellent condition
Sleeves: 24"
Shoulder: 16"
Bust: 17.5" flat across from side seam to side seam
Waist: no true side seams
Hips: 18" flat across from side seam to side seam
Bodice: approx 16.6" from top of shoulder to waist
Total length: 66" from top of the shoulder to front hem, 84" to the back hem
Modern Sizing Equivalent: SML-MED
Item# DD5285
Reference Photos: (1-2) Nicola Peltz in Stella McCartney at the Transformers Berlin Premiere, 2014. / (3-5) Beyonce in Stella McCartney at the Vanity Fair Oscar Party, 2015.
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.
prada
Exceptional Spring 2011 Prada by Miucci Prada Runway Look 27 & Ad Campaign Embroidered & Beaded White Dress
I Have a Question
- The twin of this dress was Look 27 on the Spring 2011 Prada runway.
- It was made under the creative direction of Miuccia Prada
- On the runway was the first of three variations of dresses that featured extensive and whimsical embroidery over them along with the beadwork around the hem.
- The dress was an instant hit. You saw it in editorials, on celebrities and it was used in the ad campaign that season. It is also featured in the book Prada:Catwalk. This dress is noted in particular in that book where it says "a beachy feel came through in those prints again, and in Mexican embroideries across the front of a white sundress. There were shades of Josephine Baker also here, emphasize by the model slick pin curled hair – just the lightest touch of history in case anyone might forget where they were and the deep understanding of culture that entailed. Bar the furs and jangling plastic beads at hems, the clothes in this collection were entirely made from a cotton – sensible, hearty, humble. The collection was extraordinarily bold: an immaculately executed fashion statement that couldn't have been more confident, clear or right for its time." Miuccia herself called it "minimal baroque".
- This is a fantastically rare dress and it is exceptional and important part of Prada's history.
- The dress is made of a crisp white cotton. Onto that is a heavy finish of embroidery to create that print that you see going across the dress is all the way around the dress.
- It is suspended from the shoulders by straps made of the same white fabric and the dress itself is the simplest of cuts. The front has darts to create a bit of shape around the breast and then it has a touch of a barrel shape through the body. The waist and hips curve outwards and then the hem comes in slightly.
- The back dips down for an expanse of bare skin to show.
- A dancer is in full stride with a huge headdress and skirt are a nod to the great Josephine Baker.
- Bright bold colours swirl across you and around to the back of the dress and the embroidery work is fantastic to see. It has a slight 3D texture as it sits slightly up and off the dress.
- The hem of the dress is equally as fantastic and has a finish of braided silk cord and large beads that dangle and jangle all the way around the hem.
- The dress is fully lined in a white silk and has an offset hidden zipper at the back. It appears to have been worn very little if at all. The open cut should allow it to fit a range of sizes. It will just fit more over-sized on a smaller frame.
- Tagged a modern Prada 38
- Excellent condition
Bust: to 16.5" flat across from side seam to side seam
Waist: to 16" flat across from side seam to side seam
Hips: to 17.5" flat across from side seam to side seam
Total length: 38" from top of shoulders to actual hem and the beads extend another 3" past that
Modern Sizing Equivalent: XS-MED
Item# DD5282
Reference Photos/Videos: (1-5) Spring 2011 Prada, Look 27. Model Daphne Groeneveld. / (6) Spring 2011 Prada Ad Campaign. / (7-8) Bruno Mars and Joan Smalls Photographed by Peter Lindbergh for Vogue, June 2011. / (9) Miroslava Duma in Prada, 2011. / (10) From the book "Prada Catwalk: The Complete Collections" by Susannah Frankel.
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.
I Have a Question
The Shrimpton Couture Archives
- The twin of this playsuit walked the runway for the Spring 2014 collection as Look 62.
- It was made under the creative direction of Pierpaolo Piccioli & Maria Grazia
- The show was inspired by the opera and specifically, Maria Callas' Madea. Vogue referred to the woman who would wear the clothes as a "mythical sorceress"
- It is incredibly beautiful and it might even make an amazing wedding piece for part of a weekend wedding celebration. And of course it could also be worn to any event.
- The original retail on this was just over $15k USD because of the extensive beading that covers the entire playsuit.
- Both the outer and inner layer are the same deep bronze/taupe coloured netting. The parts that only have netting for the bodice and sleeves are more transparent and then for the shorts portion there is a built-in inner nude silk chiffon lining that allows it to be opaque enough to be worn. Even with the bottom portion being lined, it still creates the illusion of nudity between the extensive bead-work when you see it from a distance.
- Onto the top layer of the netting is an elaborate and extensive design created by thousands of tiny bronze seed beads applied over its surface.
- The neckline is scooped and the shoulders are soft and sloped. They drop into a short sleeve that is cut slightly wider and is also elaborately finished with beads.
- The bodice is cut in a more shift shape over the body with a slightly more generous feeling waist that has horizontal bands of bead-work to define and highlight the waist. The lower shorts flare out below the waist and are cleverly hidden by wide pleated panels that go all the way around. The pleats make it look like the shorts are actually an ultra mini but you still have the safety and comfort of having shorts underneath.
- The design that covers the entire playsuit is made out of the tiniest beads. I have taken close-up shots for you to see how beautiful the design and workmanship is. Wide bands circle the neckline and a double band wraps horizontally around the waist. In between that on the bodice are large round medallions with elaborate patterns worked within the circles. The sleeves and the skirt have more of the same but edged with smaller borders to highlight each pleat. It is incredible.
- Because so much of the playsuit has those beads applied onto it, it subtly catches the light perfectly from every angle, and every angle that you view the jumpsuit from is absolutely stunning.
- My dress form is a touch short through the body so it does not sit perfectly on it. Please make sure to review the runway pieces to see how it will sit properly once on.
- The playsuit is fully lined from the waist down in a nude silk chiffon. It closes at the back with a hidden set zipper. It appears to have been worn very little if at all.
- Tagged a modern Valentino 42
- Excellent condition
Sleeves: 5.5" from the drop shoulder and are 11" around their ends
Dropped shoulders: approx 22"
Bust: 18-19" flat across from side seam to side seam
Waist: 16.5" flat across from side seam to side seam
Hips: approx 24" flat across from side seam to side seam
Bodice: 15" from top of shoulder to waist
Total length: 32.5" from top of shoulder to hem
Inseam: 3"
Modern Sizing Equivalent:SML-MED
Reference Photos/Video: Spring 2014 Valentino, Look 62. Model Harleth Kuusik.
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
Gorgeous Spring 1990 Yves Saint Laurent Runway Red Silk Crepe Wrap Dress w Balloon Sleeves & Front Plunge
I Have a Question
- The twin of this dress walked the runway for the Spring 1990 collection.
- It was made under the creative direction of Yves Saint Laurent
- I love that the reference photos shows how amazing it is once on an actual body. The dress has a very Old Hollywood / 1940s feel that I also love. This was a look that he touched upon often in his work and this is classic and beautiful Yves.
- The dress is made out of a red silk crepe that drapes beautifully once on.
- The sleeves are fantastic. Each is a big balloon sleeves that puffs out dramatically over the cuffs. They are gathered into where they attach into the shoulder and then they drop and expand out to phenomenal volume above their cuffs.
- The front crosses over itself in a plunge and hear as well we see gathering start from the shoulders. It wraps and snaps into place around the waist on both the inside and outside with all of the closures hidden from view. A hidden snap that lets you close the V more or you can leave it open for a more full deep plunge.
- The skirt is gathered in under the waist seam with the majority of it, pulled over to the one side. This causes a dripping all the way down to the hem on that side. The skirt itself falls to the floor and gently widens out as it near the hem. This gives it beautiful movement as you move. Everything about the dress is about movement around the body. He was a master at creating shapes that accentuated the body, but without ever having to be very tight and fitted.
- The dress is fully lined in a red silk and closes with a series of hidden set snaps around the waist and behind the opening hidden by the knot of fabric at the side. A hidden set snap at the front where it crosses over into the plunge. Each cuff has a slight elastic in it. There is also elastic around the back of the waist that make the dress very easy to fit. I see one darkened mark near the hem at the front and two little nicks out of the fabric in that same area. These are extremely minor and mentioned for accuracy.
- Tagged a vintage YSL 42
- Excellent condition.
Sleeves: 25.5" and are very full through the upper arm
Shoulders: 15"
Bust: 17-22" flat across from side seam to side seam
Elastic waist: 13-17" flat across from side seam to side seam
Hips: to 21" flat across from side seam to side seam
Bodice: approx 17" from top of shoulder to waist and meant to drape over a bit
Total length: 62" from top of shoulder to hem
Modern Sizing Equivalent: SML-MED
Item# DD5281
Reference Photo: Spring 1990 Yves Saint Laurent Runway.
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.
emilio pucci
Spectacular Spring 2012 Emilio Pucci by Peter Dundas Runway Look 14 Pink Print Dress w Multi Layered Skirt
I Have a Question
- The twin of this dress was presented for Look 14 for the Spring 2012 Pucci collection
- It was made under the creative direction of Peter Dundas.
- Is twin was worn by Anja Rubik that season and was one of the dresses featured in the opening of the New York boutique launch within Saks Fifth Avenue.
- I love that the photos and videos give you an idea of how gorgeous this is on the body.
- The fabric is an ultra light silk mixed fabric. This gives it an almost transparent feel and even though there is a lot of fabric in the dress it still stays pretty light in weight. It has been completely covered in a classic Pucci print and I love how the underskirt have another classic print in a deeper pink and coral for added contrast. I have taken close-ups so that you can see how beautiful the print is and I love that Peter Dundas did such a strong nod to the house legacy.
- Two tiny straps curved up and over the shoulders and the bust curves around at the front. It dips into a shallow V at the back to leave your upper back bare.
- The body skims over the bust and is cut generously around the waist to the dropped seam that circles from the top of the hip and slightly lower on the other side. There is a contrasting border around the neckline and another to follow that angled seam that goes around the hip.
- The skirt is set into the bodice on a slant at the front and on a dipped angle towards one side at the back.
- It widens out from there and the more generous feel through the waist and hips have all been done deliberately to support the multilayered tiered skirt underneath.
- The skirt is made up of multiple tiers of wide panels of printed silk stacked on top of each other. All of the panels are set on angles so that they overlap the panels below. Everything is offset to wrap around you in layers. This leaves the front at one side slightly shorter so you have a bit of leg showing when you walk and an uneven deliberate handkerchief hem all the way around you. It curves up at the front and then falls longer at the back. There is a tremendous amount of fabric in the skirt and between the ruffles and the lightness of the silk and cotton fabric it has phenomenal movement around you as you move.
- I love how the very innermost layers are a more a coral, pink and red instead of the light pink and ivory. This anchors the dress and gives a shot of unexpected colour when you move.
- The dress is one of my favourites of all the modern pieces of Pucci that I have seen and the era that Peter Dundas was the creative director at Pucci is 100% my favourite of the modern predecessors to Emilio.
- The bodice is lined in a pale pink silk chiffon and the layers through the skirt act as the line in there. It closes with hidden set side zipper. It appears to have been worn very little if at all.
- Tagged a modern Pucci IT 38, FR34, UK6, US4
- Excellent condition
Bust: 16" flat across from side seam to side seam
Waist: 16" flat across from side seam to side seam
Hips: open
Bodice: 21" from top of shoulder to dropped waist
Total length: 70" from top of shoulder to the longest point of the hem, 34" to the shortest at the front
Modern Sizing Equivalent: XS-SML
Item# DD5278
Reference Photos/Video: (1-6) Spring 2012 Emilio Pucci, Look 14. Model Natasha Poly. / (7-8) Designs by Emilio Pucci during the celebration of Emilio Pucci New Boutique launch at Saks Fifth Avenue on November 1, 2011 in New York City. / (9) Anja Rubik in Pucci photographed by Scott Trindle for Vogue, March 2012.
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.
givenchy
Gorgeous & Chic Fall 1984 Givenchy by Hubery de Givenchy Haute Couture Strapless Pink Silk & Black Velvet Dress
I Have a Question
- This is a spectacular piece of true Haute Couture the dates to the Fall 1984 Givenchy collection.
- It was made under the creative direction of Hubert de Givenchy
- While we have not yet found the exact dress on the runway we have included photos of ones that were very similar. The farther back you go with this label date wise, the more difficult it is to find the full set of runway photos but you can clearly see the similarities.
- The dress would have been completely made by hand in the Paris atelier.
- The fabrics used for the dress combine a beautiful black silk velvet with a very high quality, soft pink silk for the bodice and matching detachable bow.
- The dress is strapless and there is an attached inner corset that is boned and structured to hold the dress perfectly in place around you.
- The outer bodice skims over the inner corset and then is shaped to come in at the waist.
- The dress curves back out over the hips and falls to the floor. It is in its original length. At the back there is a double ruffle set on either side of the zipper that runs down the back of the skirt starting from the waist. The panels get narrower as they cascade down the length of the skirt to create a beautiful ruffled feel. They end at the slit that runs from the hem up.
- You can wear the dress on its own like this or add the extravagant bow that is made from the same pink silk as the bodice. It wraps around you to hook and snap into place. I love that you can place the bow towards the back and have sit around the ruffles there or wear it towards the front. It could also be worn to either side (not pictured). This gives you incredible versatility and lets you play with how it looks best on you.
- The bow has just enough added glamour and drama but still has that very refined feel that the best of his work had.
- I would like to note that there is a faded area on the bodice. When the bow is on and place to the front it perfectly matches the outline of the area affected. It almost certainly was stored or displayed this way and the light hit it on that side to cause the slight difference in colour. When you wear the bow in any other way, you will see the slight change in colour. I have been meticulous in photoing it from several angles, including laying flat. Again, when the bow is worn to the front, it completely matches the edge of the bow and disappears from sight.
- The dress is fully lined in a hand set black silk through the skirt and the bodice is lined in a combination of pink silk and pink silk chiffon as well as as inner structure on the inner corset. It has a built-in boned inner corset. There are three zippers to close the dress. The inner corset has its own zipper. The pink bodice has its own zipper over that and then the skirt zips over both zippers to the waist. An inner waist stay hooks to close. Completely made by hand to Couture standards. Its proper numbered Couture tag is present.
- There is no size tag since it is a true couture piece. Please go by the measurements below.
- Excellent condition with the note to be read about the bodice above.
Bust: 16-17" flat across from side seam to side seam
Waist: 12.5" flat across from side seam to side seam
Hips: to 18" flat across from side seam to side seam
Bodice: 9.5" from top of bodice to waist
Total length: 56" from top of bodice to hem and the back slit is 22" from the hem up
Modern Sizing Equivalent: XS-SML
Item# DD5277
Reference Photos: Fall 1984 Givenchy Haute Couture.
All items are thoroughly checked over before shipping. Unless noted everything in our shop has been professionally cleaned. All sales are final. Overseas clients will be emailed to obtain agreement to our final sales policy before the order is shipped as per our return policy.
Rodarte
Prettiest Spring 2021 Rodarte Runway Look 20 Bias Cut Silk Pink Print Flower & Hearts Dress w Removable Flower
I Have a Question
- The twin of the dress was presented as Look 20 in the Spring 2021 Rodarte collection.
- It was made under the creative direction of Kate and Laura Mulleavy.
- “Everything we do is about fantasy and dreams, but we are located in a moment, and we are a part of what is happening now,” said Kate. A fanciful gown, both designers agree, has little place in today’s world, so instead they channeled their efforts into clothing they would want to wear now “without distilling the ideas".... Vogue continued their review by noting that the floral story continues in the 1940s dresses they played with last season, now relaxed in shape with prints that radiate from the navel or appear in handkerchief-like grids.
- Its twin was worn by Anya Taylor Joy to the Venice Film Festival that year and Liz Gillies also wore one while in character for Dynasty.
- The dress is absolutely exquisite and really showcases the charm that the Rodarte collections have and why people love collecting them.
- With its pretty combination of white, pink and red this might also make a fantastic dress for a bride for one of her events around her ceremony.
- The dress is made out of the perfect white and pink bias cut silk that is a beautifully light in weight. It is very soft and supple and the bias cut lets it glide over your curves once it is on.
- Onto the white and pink base is a gorgeous print that features tiny pink flowers ad black bows nestled among green leaves and dots. These are set in large medallions that cover the entire dress.
- Tiny black silk straps curve up and over the shoulders. The front dips into a shallow V and the back also dips into a V that is set lower for a bare expanse of skin to show above.
- The bias cut lets the dress skim over your bust, waist and hips to fall to the floor. It flares out prettily at the hem and this give it beautiful movement when you walk.
- A little silk flower in a pretty pink sits at the base of the V of the front. The flower is detachable so you can move it to where it sits on you best.
- The dress is unlined and slips on to wear with no closures. The flower pins into place and is also labelled at the back. The dress is in its original uncut length. I see a tiny bit of grubbiness near the hem in a tiny hole near the seam at the back of the hem. It doesn't look like the dress was ever worn otherwise so this is probably from improper storage. Please see the photo after the label shot. The bias cut allows for some give so I have put the comfortable range while lying flat below. The length may come up a bit because of the bias cut once it is on the body.
- Tagged a modern Rodarte
- Excellent condition
Bust: 14-17" flat across from side seam to side seam
Waist: 13-16" flat across from side seam to side seam
Hips: 17-21.5" flat across from side seam to side seam
Total length: 66" from top of the shoulder strap to hem
Modern Sizing Equivalent: XS-SML
Item# DD5276
Reference Photos: (1) Spring 2021 Rodarte, Look 24. / (2-4) Anya Taylor Joy at the Venice Film Festival, September 2021. / (5) Elizabeth Gillies in the show Dynasty, 2021. / (6) Model in Rodarte photographed by Kourtney Kyung Smith.
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
Outstanding Cruise 2011 Chanel by Karl Lagerfeld Runway Look 36 Gold Ribbon & Metallic Gold Cord Knit Dress
I Have a Question
- The twin of this dress walked runway for the Cruise 2011 Chanel collection for Look 36.
- It was made under the creative direction of Karl Lagerfeld
- I have had a version of this dress in the shop that had a more tank bodice to it but this is the first time I have had the actual twin of the runway look and I think I love it even more with its one shoulder silhouette.
- The Chanel Cruise collections have an interesting history. Gabrielle Chanel actually sailed and her love of the sport led to her inception of a 'cruise' collection in the 1920s. She was not the first to come up with this concept but hers were among the first to show a complete collection in a fully fledged show. They eventually fell off in popularity within the brand and it was not until Karl Lagerfeld took over Chanel that the Cruise collections started again.
- This was a very successful collection and was lauded by critics. Vogue said that 'It was like something out of a quintessential Riviera movie.... And like the carefree starlets and jet-setters they were channeling, the models traipsed down the street-cum-runway often barefoot, wearing seventies-ish diaphanous caftans, long crocheted dresses, ruffle-lapelled silk jersey trouser suits, and patchwork denim skirts.' They noted that 'Key, of course, is that lightness of touch, the sense of enjoyment and ease. And with fashion once again experiencing a 1970's revival, the show also ended up feeling—as Lagerfeld's Chanel outings often do—very much of the moment.' And the location choice? Karl said the location was a personal choice "I spent many years of my life here," he said. "I know Saint-Tropez like I know Paris. The collection is very casual, very down-to-earth."
- Of course only Karl and Chanel would think a gold knit ribbon dress is casual, to the rest of us this is an incredibly glamorous dress.
- The dress is beautiful. For all the talk of the seventies influence on this collection this one definitely has a nod to the twenties, a decade that Karl often touched upon.
- The base of the dress is made out of a knit that combines a natural deep linen silk cord that has a gold metallic thread woven through it. Gold grosgrain ribbon is braided through the knit and then additional strands of ribbon and silk cords are set vertically over the different parts of the dress to create the final effect that you see.
- The knit that edges the neckline has a chunkier feel to it than the knit that runs through the body. The ribbon on those two parts of the dress is also set into the knit differently.
- For the area around the waist and the seam above the final part of the skirt, Karl treated the knit and ribbon differently again. It is quite interesting to see how he used the change of direction of the knit and different finishes of both the knit and the ribbon to separate and highlight the different parts of the design on the dress.
- Through the body the weave of the knit is all set vertically with gold ribbon braided vertically. Long vertical expanses of ribbon are set over the underlying knit layer along with strands of metallic finished cords that are very fine and delicate. These attached into the seam above and below and because of how they are attached and set they sit off of the dress underneath and create its unusual texture and 3D feel. This is an absolute testament to the genius of Karl and his constant pushing forward of the technical aspect of fabrics.
- At the very bottom portion of the skirt, the final 10" of the ribbon and cord are allowed to fall like a long fringe. When you move these create incredible movement as they swish and swoop around you. You also see your leg through the fringes as you walk. It is incredible.
- Once on the body it simply falls over you and is super easy to wear and just a really interesting and unique dress.
- The gold gives it that added glam factor and you could easily wear this for day with sandals and then go all out for an evening look. It would even make a great bridal piece for the bride not looking for something traditional or as a dress for an event surrounding the ceremony.
- The dress is fully lined through the middle portion in a stretch lingerie feel silk jersey that makes it very comfortable to wear. The bodice is unlined. It has no closures and slips on to wear. It does have some stretch and I have given the comfortable range of measurements below. It appears to have never been worn very little if at all.
Tagged a vintage Chanel 38 - Excellent condition
Bust: 15-20" flat across from side seam to side seam
Waist: 12-15" flat across from side seam to side seam
Hips: 14-20" flat across from side seam to side seam
Bodice: 14" from the top of the shoulder to the bottom of the 2" band at the waist
Total length: 49" from top of shoulder to hem
Modern Sizing Equivalent: XS-MED
Item# DD5275
Reference Photo/Video: Chanel 2011 Chanel Runway Collection, Look 36. Model: Sara Blomqvist.
This garment has been professionally cleaned, pressed and is odor free. Thoroughly checked over before shipping, it will be ready to wear upon arrival.
oscar de la renta
Dreamy Spring 2019 Oscar de la Renta by Laura Kim & Fernando Garcia Runway Look 57 Gold Silver Bead Caftan Dress
I Have a Question
- The twin of the dress walked the runway for Look 57 of the Spring 2019 Oscar de la Renta collection.
- It was made under the creative direction of Laura Kim and Fernando Garcia.
- This was a piece that had absolutely beautiful movement on the runway and while it is stunning it is also easy to wear. It is a definite show stopper and I love it.
- The dress is amazing. It is made out of a light weight metallic silk mix lame that is exceptionally light in weight. The colour is hard to define in person because it has both gold and silver ultra fine threads woven horizontally to make up the fabric. This lets it look more gold in some lights and more silver in others.
- I love that since it is in such a light and beautiful metallic colour that this is a piece that might play double duty and also work for a bride or for an extended wedding weekend.
- The dress is cut in a long minimalist sheath that widens out softly as it nears the hem. It is meant to skim over you from bust to hips before it starts to do that soft flare out on the lower skirt.
- The neckline is scooped and the entire upper bodice and upper shoulders are made out of a nude mesh so that from a distance it appears that the dress is just suspended magically around you.
- The mesh above the edge of the neckline and sleeves have a scattering of tiny gold sequins that also scatter down and around the top of the metallic fabric. Set all the way around the entire neckline and around the top of the sleeves are long strand of metallic silver tube beads mixed with fine little gold linked chains. Is create a long and fabulous fringe effect. It is a stunning detail that adds beautiful impact to the dress and also creates fantastic movement as you move. You can see that in the runway video.
- The sleeves are the absolute star of the show beyond the elaborate embellishment added to the top of the dress. A caped sleeve starts with the nude mesh at the top and then changes to the same metallic fabric as the dress. These fall over the top of your arm and then widen out to cascade all the way to the hem. They are open underneath so that they can catch the slightest bit of air and billow out around and behind you when you move. It is the perfect touch of drama added to an already outstanding dress.
- The dress is fully lined in a nude silk chiffon and slips on to wear with a button closure above a back keyhole. The loose and easy cut should fit a range of sizes. It appears to have been worn very little if at all.
- Tagged a modern ODLR large
- Excellent condition
Shoulders: 16"
Bust: to 20.5" flat across from side seam to side seam
Waist-hips: to 23" flat across from side seam to side seam
Total length: 58" from neck to hem
Modern Sizing Equivalent: MED-LRG
Item# DD5274
Reference Photos/Video: Spring 2019 Oscar de la Renta, Look 57.
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.
giorgio armani
Prettiest Spring 2009 Emporio Armani Runway Finale Look 91 Purple Dress w Elaborately Beaded Butterfly Appliques
I Have a Question
- The twin of this dress walked the runway for the Spring 2009 Emporio collection for the Look 91 which was the final look of the show.
- It was made under the creative direction of Giorgio Armani.
- Armani had launched this new addition to his brand lineup just two seasons before this collection and had gotten Beyoncé to be in the first commercial that launched the fragrance that went along with it.
- Models walked out barefoot to show the final collection of the full length evening pieces and the twin of this dress was the final look in the show.
- The dress is made out of a synthetic fabric that has a touch of a metal worked into it. This has allowed him to make the fabric have an almost crumpled, lightly crinkled feel to it that adds an amazing texture over the entire dress.
- It combines three shades of purple. A light, more lavender colour or the bodice, the metal is a dusty deeper purple, and the bottom portion of the dress is a very pale purple. All three panels have a slight iridescent finish to them so as the light and shadows catch the texture in the pattern, the colour changes in deep and slightly in the shadows.
- The front neck line is scooped and the fabric is gathered into it with top stitched please that are left deliberately uneven at the top around the neckline. Straps curve over your shoulder from there to meet and button behind the neck so that they are angled around the back of your arm and up to the neck. The back scoops down lower. and I love how this leaves a bare expanse of skin from mid-back to the neck.
- It skims over the bust and widens out around the waist for a easy to fit feel.
- From under the waist it continues to widen out over the hips all the way to the hem. This makes it very easy to fit and is very flattering once on.
- Applied onto the dress are eight beautifully beaded and sequin butterflies. Three larger ones have been placed around the bodice and then the rest are scattered down the dress from there, circling around you.
- I have taken close-ups of the extraordinary amount of bead-work that has been done to make up these butterflies. Their little rounded bodies and heads come fully off the fabric and I especially love that that their little antennas are also done in a way so that they sit up and off the fabric and then are tacked back down at the end of their antennas.. The largest butterfly at the very top near the strap has the antennas fully off the fabric.
- The dress is fully lined in pale purple silky feeling fabric and it closes with a hidden side side zipper. It appears to have been worn very little at all.
- Tagged a vintage Armani 38
- Excellent condition
Bust: 16" flat across from side seam to side seam
Waist: 17" flat across from side seam to side seam
Hips: 18.5" flat across from side seam to side seam
Total length: 56" from top of shoulder to hem
Modern Sizing Equivalent: XS-SML
Item# DD5271
Reference Photo/Video: Spring 2009 Emporio Armani, Look 91 Finale.
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.
I Have a Question
The Shrimpton Couture Archives
- The twin of this dress walked the runway for the Spring 2001 JPG collection.
- It was made under the creative direction of Jean Paul Gaultier.
- Vogues review said that "Gaultier's collection delivered two key trends for spring: short, playful yet hard-edged dresses and skirts, and biker-inspired leathers."
- A similar dress in a different colourway was recently worn by TikTok influencer Meredith Duxbury. She styled and tied her differently than the runway and I love that this let you see how fabulous it can look once on and how you can change its look up.
- The dress used a black bandeau feeling top for the bodice. Under that is a large open cut mesh. A band of white circles around the hips and then a face printed jersey is used for the skirt.
- The dress is strapless and the very top portion has extra long ties set in along each side seam. These length of the ties make then very versatile. For these photos we wrapped them with a more pronounced bow at the back. On the runway they seem to have tucked them into themselves to make a more fully seamless feel and you can see on the photos of Meredith that she wore hers tied and left to trail down at one side. And these are just a few of the options.
- The mesh also gives you versatility. You can hike it up so the mesh is more compacted and has a darker impact to give more coverage, or you can have it sit so it is as low on the hip as you wish it to go. It is all completely open through the criss crossing of the strands so you get a glimpse of bare skin behind it.
- A white band circles around the hips and there are two long ties set in along the seams of that band as well. The length of the ties is very long here as well so that it gives you the same versatility that you have on the top. It let's you style this set of ties in an equal number of ways as the top.
- The skirt below that is incredible. It is made out of a white jersey stretch fabric that has incredible drape. Onto that is one of his iconic prints that features a huge blown up view of a face. As you look closer you can see that it is made from interconnecting small black lines. The use of the connecting black lines in the print is also a clever way to give a nod to the mesh used around the midriff. The design wraps all the way around the skirt and its black and white pattern is the perfect compliment to the white and black above.
- Because of the ties and stretch of the mesh you can wear this in several lengths by pulling the dress up or down and using the ties to secure it in place around you. It has been photoed at its full length but can easily be made to sit shorter by having the white band sit more around the top of the hip. I think you could even pull it right up under the bodice and almost eliminate the mesh portion by tucking that in.
- The bodice and hip parts are fully lined in the same fabric they are made out of. The mesh and skirt are unlined. There's a zip at the side of the bodice. Both bands have some stretch to them. I have put the comfortable range of stretch below. The white band and its ties have a slight aged field to them. It is a slight bit of a grubbiness feel to the fabric overall. This is a natural part of aging but described for accuracy.
- Tagged a vintage JPG IT44, FR40, GB12, US10
- Excellent condition
Bust: 16-18.5" flat across from side seam to side seam
Under bust: 13.5-16" flat across from side seam to side seam
Top of band at hips: 15-17.5" flat across from side seam to side seam
Bottom of band at hips: 16.5-19" flat across from side seam to side seam
Both bands are 6" wide
Total length when laid flat and at its full length: 56" from top of the band to hem
Modern Sizing Equivalent: XS-MED
Reference Photos/Video: (1-3) Spring 2001 Jean Paul Gaultier. / (4-5) @meredithduxbury on Instagram.
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.
lanvin
Dreamy Spring 1974 Lanvin by Jules-Francois Crahay Pale Blue Print Silk Chiffon Ruffle Dress
I Have a Question
- This is a gorgeous Haute Couture dress from 1970s Lanvin.
- Made under the creative direction of Jules-Francois Crahay
-
Jules-Francois headed the Lanvin ateliers from 1964-1984. He has been noted as one of fashion’s 'great colorists with his colorful patterns making his 1970s Lanvin designs hugely desirable and influential.' His time at the Lanvin label is one of my personal favourites for the house.
- The dress would have been completely made by hand in the Paris Atelier
- The fabric is a feather light silk chiffon that is covered in a pretty tree and floral print that covers the dress from head to toe.
- The bodice of the dress is fantastic. It is cut halter style and hooks to close behind the neck. The neck and the entire edge of the halter all the way to the back are finished with a double row of the same silk that has been perfect perfectly hand pleated to create this phenomenal ruffle that frames the neck and gives the dress a very pretty and feminine feel.
- I also love that the entire upper back is left bare and exposed.
- It glides over the waist and hips and then the skirt falls to the floor from there widening out a touch as it nears the hem.
- If you wanted more shape you could add a belt around the waist and it would completely change how the dress looks.
- Inside everything has been done by hand to Couture standards.
- It is lined in an ivory silk and closes at the back with a hand set zipper. It hooks to close behind the neck.
- There are no size tags so please go by the listed measurements below.
- I see a couple of tiny nicks on the inner lining that do not show through when the dress is on.
- Excellent condition
Bust: 16" flat across from side seam to side seam
Waist: 13-14" flat across from side seam to side seam
Hips: to 18" flat across from side seam to side seam
Total length: 57" from neck to hem
Modern Sizing Equivalent: XS-SML
Item# DD5266
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.
















































