The twin of this dress walked the runway for the Resort 2012 show for Look 51. On the runway it was styled with a fabulous hat that gave it a very Spanish feel. I loved how it looked on the runway but it also looks as good on its own and not worn so specifically themed. This dress was mentioned in Vogue review specifically where they said "The artist's Spanish roots provided a through line to the collection's matador jackets; high-waist, narrow-cut pants; and pompom trim flamenco hats made of construction paper. If the headgear was a bit of a head-scratcher, a polka-dot evening dress was de la Renta at his best." It is fantastic and a rare larger size too.

The dress is made from a deep blue-black silk that has an abstract white dot screened over its surface. The bodice extends out and into an elaborate panel that curves up and over the shoulder on one side. The panel is made from a few layers to it to create a ruffled effect. Nestled into the ruffles are two red silk flowers. I love this little pop of colour. They pin into place so you can move them exactly where they sit best on you. The neckline is cut into a rounded curve that is very flattering. The bodice is fitted and cinches in at the waist with a full interior boned and cupped corset to help hold the shape. It curves out and over the hips and then the skirt cascades to the floor. The way the lower skirt is set into the body of the dress on a slight angle gives you a fabulous sweeping feel as you walk. The inner hem of the skirt is finished with a wide band of stiffening so that it holds the shape that you see. This also gives it a gorgeous movement when you move and walk. This is one of my own all time favourites from him. It appears to have been never worn or worn very little. Excellent condition

The dress is fully lined in silk and the bodice has a built in cupped and boned corset that closes with its own zipper. The dress closes with a back set zipper over that. Slight change to the dots near the back that looks like it was printed that way. Tagged a modern ODLR 14

Bust: to 20.5" flat across from side seam to side seam
Inner waist: to 17.5" flat across from side seam to side seam
Hips: to 23" flat across from side seam to side seam
Total length: 64" from top of shoulder to hem

Modern Sizing Equivalent: LRG-XL

Item# DD4994

Reference Photos/Video: Resort 2012 Oscar de la Renta, Look 51. Model Bette Franke.

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The twin of this dress and coat set walked the runway for the Fall 2000 Haute Couture collection as Look 17. The runway version was in a different colour but it was otherwise the same. The set is incredibly beautiful and chic once on the body. True Haute Couture pieces by Karl for Chanel are so very rare and hard to come by. It is an extraordinary find. This is an historically important example of the work that Karl was doing for Chanel during this time period.

Having both the coat and dress in this set makes it so versatile since you can mix and match with things you already own and wear them in so many different ways. The set is made from a deep coral pink and moss green coloured variation of the signature Chanel boucle. From a distance the colours combine to give it a more rust coloured feel but as you get closer you do see the two distinctive colours. The edges are finished with a fringe made of the two different colours. The fringe follows the edges on the coat and circles each cuff. On the dress it runs all the way around the hem. The dress is cut in the sleek and simple shift that skims over the body and flares out slightly as it nears the hem. Subtle seams shape the dress around you. It is hand lined in a deep green silk. The jacket slips over that with light handmade shoulder pads for a shape and  the sleeves are long. The shape is created with meticulous seaming set on curving lines. A hook and eye sits at the top of the neck. From there a ruffle runs all the way to the hem. The jacket is also lined in a deep green silk and there is a signature Chanel chain set around the inner hem. It is exceptional. Completely made by hand to Haute Couture standards. Excellent condition.

Both the dress and the jacket are fully lined in a deep green silk. The dress closes with a back hidden set zipper. The jacket has a hook and eye at the top of the neck. It appears to have been worn very little if at all. Both pieces have an appropriate Haute Couture label and numbered tape present. Both pieces are completely made by hand

The Chanel boucle is created with their proprietary method of weaving that they themselves describe as "by weaving the warp and weft, using a variety of different kinds of threads which creates a unique and somewhat irregular appearance. The warp – vertically strung – is the background of the fabric, the base that will support the assembly of materials. There can be up to 12 different threads used for a single warp. The weft – woven horizontally – gives the fabric its unique character and can have an unlimited number of threads. Tight, perforated, textured, thick, with a relief, plaited, random, twill… the potential number of effects is endless". This technique gives you that classic Chanel look.

Jacket
Sleeve: 24"
Slightly inset shoulders: 14.5"
Bust: 19" flat across from side seam to side seam
Waist: 18" flat across from side seam to side seam
Hips: 20" flat across from side seam to side seam
Length: 39" from neck to hem

Dress
Bust: to 19" flat across from side seam to side seam
Waist: 17" flat across from side seam to side seam
Hips: to 19.5" flat across from side seam to side seam
Length: 38" from shoulder to hem

Modern Sizing Equivalent: SML-MED

Item# DD4142

Reference Photos/Video: Fall 2000 Chanel Couture Runway, Look 17. Model: Tetyana Brazhnyk.

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The twin of this jacket walk the fall 2005 run runway for look 27. The collection was titled 'The Man Who Knew Too Much' and the Alexander McQueen site said of this collection: 'For the second time in his career, Alexander McQueen references The Birds for this collection a film that he remembers loving as a child principally because of the precise way in which the women featured choose to dress. Against a film-set backdrop flooded with red light models stride out in swing coats, pencil skirts, neat, cropped trousers and fitted chunky mohair all of which suit a modern-day Hitchcock heroine down to the ground' and Vogue's review stated 'Tippi Hedren and Marilyn Monroe. Biker molls and sweater girls. You got it: Alexander McQueen went to the sixties, all the way, for fall.... His combined knowledge of Savile Row tailoring and Parisian couture means he can scissor an impeccably narrow grey tweed coat or a nipped-waist pencil skirt suit, and put sizzle into period sobriety.'  

This jacket is fantastic and it is such a unique and easy piece to wear and mix in with things you already own. I love that it can feel more dressy and be a strong statement piece if it is styled like how it was on the runway, but it is also a piece you can throw over jeans. It is made out of a virgin fleeced wool and this gives it a beautiful soft blanket like feel. All of the edges are stitched with yarn to further play on that blanket feel and the edges are finished in fringes. It wraps and buttons into place and comes with a wide hand stitched belt that you can tie and cinch in the waist with. Each sleeve is incredibly wide and the shawl collar is very full. It is full enough that you could actually bring it up and over your head like a hood if you wished. Excellent condition with a note below.

Each jacket is unlined and buttons to close at and below the waist. There are inner straps that hold the jacket in place. Tagged a size 42. There is a slight yellowing on the inner muslin part of straps that go around the arms inside the jacket. I see a tiny little repair. Very minor. The cut is loose and easy and you can use the belt to cinch it in if you are smaller. It is meant to feel more oversized.

Sleeves: approx 31" from shoulder to ends of fringes
Shoulders: no true defined seam
Bust: open"
Waist: to 16.5" flat across from side seam to side seam
Hips: to 19" flat across from side seam to side seam
Total length: 27" from neck to hem

Modern Sizing Equivalent: SML-MED

Item# DD4991

Reference Photos/Video: Fall 2005 Alexander McQueen, Look 27. Model Vlada Roslyakova.

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The twin of this dress was Look 24 for the Resort 2020 presentation. The Luisa Beccaria label is made in Italy and run by the mother-daughter team of Luisa and Lucilla Beccaria. They are known for their incredibly feminine pieces that have an almost story book feel to them. The cost of their pieces run into the thousands and their clothing is very well made. The label's pieces always have a sense of romance to them. Vogue said of the collection that; 'Beccaria’s style is at its most resplendent when she’s designing for elegant soirées and receptions with a sense of occasion. Resort offered plenty of choices in embroidered lace, layered tulle, macramé, and wispy organza.'

This is a gorgeous dress. It has the prettiest floral design screened onto a feather light silk chiffon. Think the finest silk scarf you could have in terms of weight and feel. The print is done in pale shades of blue on an ivory backdrop. The collar wraps around the neck with long attached ties that you can let trail down the back as they did in the collection photos or wrap and tie it into a beautiful soft bow at the front like I did. The silk is gathered into the collar for added detail on the bodice. From there it skims to the waist where you can cinch it in with its matching tie belt in the same fabric. The belt has an added flower that matches the print of the dress. The skirt falls to the floor under that and the silk is all bias cut with yards of fabric in the skirt. All of that fabric means that with your slightest move the skirt floats around you. The skirt is in its original uncut length. The sleeves are fantastic. Each is a very full balloon sleeve made out of a single layer of the silk chiffon. They puff out dramatically above the cuff with each cuff ending in a split ruffle. This is a dress that you slip on and feel completely comfortable when wearing and yet it has as much drama and impact as you could ask for. It is a stunning and very romantic example of their work and beautifully made. It comes with its original hang tags and was never worn. Excellent condition

The outer dress is unlined and it comes with a matching ivory bias cut silk chiffon slip to wear underneath. It closes with hook and eye at the back of the neck and a hidden set side zipper. Elastic through the waist and at the end of each cuff. The original tie belt is included. The loose and easy cut should allow it to fit a variety of sizes. It will just drape more on a smaller frame and be more fitted on a larger frame. In its original uncut length, and appears to have never been worn. Tagged a modern 46 and has its original hang tags.

Outer Dress
Sleeves: approx 29" but meant to come up once on and 18" around the upper arm
Shoulders: no true defined seam
Bust: to 20" flat across from side seam to side seam
Waist: 14-16.5" flat across from side seam to side seam
Hips: open
Bodice: 15" from neck to waist 
Total length: 67" from top of shoulder to hem

Inner Separate Slip
Bust: 17-20" flat across from side seam to side seam
Waist: 16-20" flat across from side seam to side seam
Hips: 20-24" flat across from side seam to side seam
Length: 67" from waist to hem

Modern Sizing Equivalent: MED-LRG

Item# DD4590

Reference Photo: Resort 2020 Luisa Beccaria, Look 24.

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

The twin of this dress in yellow was part of the Resort 2010 collection. This dress with it stunning agate inspired print is even prettier that the solid coloured version. Printed pieces and these blue tones were used for the Spring 2009 show and a tag inside of this dress does have a date of 2009 so either he repeated the cut of the dress in the solid colour for the Resort 2010 show or this was made in 2010 but based on the 2009 prints and the date reflects the production date. It is absolutely gorgeous.

The silk chiffon that has been used to construct this dress is wonderful. It is covered with that amazing design that is set over the dress in a pattern done to reflect the colours and hues that you would see in an agate stone. The combination of the silk, the plunging halter top and that amazing back give the dress a soft and romantic feel while still having a bit of that McQueen edginess. The bodice is made of two wide gathered triangle panels of silk that wrap partway around the waist and then extend up and around the neck. At the back two other panels extend up from the waist and curve around the straps from the front. The triangles at the front create a low plunge that goes to the waist. The sides are wrapped slightly to the back waist but you still have a feeling of openness above that and I love that detail. The back is beautiful with those straps running over the bare expanse of skin. There is a soft partially twisted band at the waist for shape and then at the back it extends into long ties that you can tie into a bow as I have or let them trail down to the hem. Under the waist the skirt skims over the hips and then opens out to be very full. The softness and movement that the ultralight silk chiffon create when you move adds to the feminine feel that the dress has. It is genius. The volume in the skirt really becomes apparent when you move and it billows out around you to give the dress a light and airy feel. The dress is gorgeous and even better in person. This is a piece that will really come to life once on an actual body. Excellent condition

The dress closes with a low set hidden zipper and the ties at the back are attached and tie. The triangles have a lining of the same printed silk chiffon and the skirt is lined with an ivory silk chiffon. It is in its original uncut length and appears to have been worn very little if at all. Tagged a McQueen 40.

Bust: each halter will cover up to approximately 8"
Waist: 13" flat across from side seam to side seam
Inner hips: to 21" flat across from side seam to side seam
Bodice: 13.5" from top of shoulder to top of the 3" band at the waist
Total length: 62" from top of shoulder to hem

Modern Sizing Equivalent: XS-MED

Item# DD4795

Reference Photos: (1) Resort 2010 Alexander McQueen Look 25.  /  (2) Daisy Lowe attends the premiere of Boogie Woogie in London, April 2010.

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

This dress is the twin of Look 3 for the Pre-Fall 2020 collection. For this collection Pierpaolo paid homage to the Fall 1968 Haute Couture collection and I have included the reference photos of those original pieces here. This famous print was originally done by Mr Valentino and were inspired by the blue and white in Chinese Delft print vases. It is also very close in style to the 2013 Valentino dress that was a part of the in the Met Museums 2015 "China: Through the Looking Glass" exhibit. When speaking of this collection to Vogue Piccioli said; “I want to maintain couture’s values even in the pre-fall collection. I like the idea of breaking its rules and translating them into a modern, spontaneous wardrobe, making something historical become contemporary.” and they went on to mention this print in particular saying that 'he picked from the archives... a beautiful print of Delft blue vases from a sophisticated 1968 couture collection. “I want Valentino to be lively and joyous,” enthused Piccioli. “For me, beauty means life, emotion, something that vibrates and is full of energy—not something removed that you look at from afar, as if on a pedestal.” Mary Holland wore its twin to a premier that season as well. It is beautiful and very special.

The dress is pristine and utterly beautiful. It is made of a feather light silk organza that has been printed with a beautiful blue and white design. The print is intricate and I love how he has placed the print over the bodice and skirt to accentuate the design and cut of the dress. The silk is feather light in weight and floats beautifully over the body. The dress has a second layer of organza under the top layer which gives it just a touch less transparency and also helps to add to the airy and light feel that it has. For the sleeves, he kept them to one single layer so they have a touch of transparency. It has a neat little collar and buttons to close done the bodice with hidden set buttons. I love how carefully the pattern has been lined up across the panel at the front. The bodice lightly skims over you to the nipped in waist. The skirt falls from under the waist and is spectacular. It is lightly gathered into the waist seam and then opens up to be very full to the floor. This is a gorgeous dress and it is even better in person. It appears to have been worn very little if at all. Excellent condition

Fully lined in a silk organza with the sleeves unlined. It buttons down the front with hidden set buttons under that front panel and zips to close with a hidden set zipper down the back. Tagged a modern Valentino 40

Sleeves: 21.5"
Shoulders: 14.5"
Bust: 15.5-16" flat across from side seam to side seam
Waist: 12,5" flat across from side seam to side seam
Hips: open
Bodice: 15" from neck to waist
Total Length: 65" from neck to hem

Modern Sizing Equivalent: XS-SML

Item# DD4588

Reference Photos: (1) Pre-Fall 2020 Valentino, Look 3.  /  (2) Models in Valentino, British Vogue, September 1968.  /  (3) Valentino dresses at the MET Exhibition "China: Through the Looking Glass", 2015.  /  (4) Model in  Valentino Autumn 1968 Gown, photographed by Steven Meisel, 2015.  /  (5) Mary Holland in Valentino at the premiere of "Happiest Season", November 2020.

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This is a spectacular example of Thea Porter's work. It is very easy to wear with a touch of a caftan feel to it. That combined with those spectacular sleeves makes it very special piece. Her caftans and the dresses that had that caftan feel to them have come to represent Thea's work like no other pieces of her clothing that she designed. Everyone who was anyone wore her work back in the day, including Elizabeth Taylor who was a huge fan and collector. This dress is just spectacular and a very special and rare piece.

The dress is made from a printed silk chiffon that has a swirling design with a black backdrop. The print mixes different shades of green with pops of blue and the print covers the entire dress. The bodice has an empire cut and the front scoops low and wide. Detailing the edge of the neck and down the front is an antique gold metal cord embellishment. This circles around the neckline and part way down the front. Hand made frog knots made of the same cording close the dress down the front. The same gold cord covers the seam where the sleeves are set into the dress and more of it sit above the scalloping detail of the skirt. Thea was known to hunt antique stores and markets during her travels and use what she found in her designs and this is certainly a found antique textile. The dress buttons down the front to just past the waist. There is a seam set under the bust and then the dress falls from there in a loose and easy feel. The sleeves are fantastic. From just above the elbow to the cuff they balloon out to be spectacularly full. This lower portion of the sleeve is unlined and this gives it a touch of transparency. The final detail is that little scalloped panel that runs around the skirt above the bottom hem. It adds just a tiny touch of movement, and added detail that is lovely. This is very special and rare piece of Thea's work and it is also very beautiful. Excellent condition

Fully lined in a hand set black silk lining except for the lower sleeves. It closes down the front with gold antique cord loops and frog knots. Each cuff hooks to close. Tagged a vintage UK 12. Finished by hand throughout. There is some slight patina to the cording. A tiny bit of grubbiness to the seam under each arm on the inner lining. 

Sleeves: 26" and 11" around the upper arm
Slightly inset shoulders: 14"
Bust: 17" flat across from side seam to side seam
Seam under the bust: 14.5" flat across from side seam to side seam
Hips: to 21" flat across from side seam to side seam
Bodice: 10.5" from the top of the shoulder to the seam under the bust
Total length: 56" from neck to hem

Modern Sizing Equivalent: XS-SML

Item# DD4570

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This is a dress that was made for the shops in limited quantities. That said, I have included a runway photo here that has similar pleat work to give you an idea of how the skirt falls once on the body. Fall 2019 was wildly successful. The Vogue review for this collection touched on Pier Paolos's inspiration for the show saying; "(he is) a man on an intuitive mission to place fashion on a positive plane. 'I feel that people are looking for emotion and dreams—but not distant dreams,' he said today before his ready-to-wear show was about to take to the runway. 'I want to create a community for Valentino. I mean something different from ‘lifestyle,’ which is about owning objects. It’s about people who share values.'” Every piece he did for the label was special and this dress is a beautiful example of that. 

This dress feels thoroughly Valentino. The floral print that runs over its surface is spectacular. It is made from a fine and very light weight cotton whose finish gives it the look of a silk. It holds the soft pleat work beautifully. The lightness of the cotton combined with that soft open pleating is what lets it move so beautifully over the body once it is on. When you walk the fabric of the skirt catches the air and billows out around you. The body of the dress is done in a deep moss green that has the feel of being hand painted. Flowers trail down one side and this also has the feel of being hand painted. The strapless bodice is fitted to the waist with an inner boning to hold it in place. Inside there is a coral lining and this unexpected colour peeks through the exterior cotton very slightly. The skirt falls from the waist and widen out quite a bit as it near the floor. A wide ruffle is attached to the hem of the lower skirt for added volume and movement. There are many yards of fabric in the skirt and as you move the pleats expand to move around you beautifully. It appears to have never been worn or worn very little. Excellent condition

Lined through the bodice in coral and has an inner lightly boned bodice piece. The skirt is lined in a light white cotton. The dress closes with a hidden set side zipper and the inner bodice zips to close with its own zipper. Hand finishes. I have had another dress from the same collection in the shop before and that one had a tag that said to maintain the plisse effect that dress has you were to wring it to compress the pleats after cleaning. Tagged a Valentino 40. 

Bust: to 16.5" flat across from side seam to side seam
Waist: to 13.5" flat across from side seam to side seam
Hips: to 22" flat across from side seam to side seam
Bodice: 8" from top of bodice to waist
Skirt: 46.5" from waist to hem

Modern Sizing Equivalent: XS-SML

Item# DD4499

Reference Photo: Fall 2019 Valentino Runway, Look 60. Model: Yoon Young Bae.

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. 

In 1951 a 27 year old James Galanos launched his first label called Galanos Originals. By 1954 he had won a Coty award and the Neiman Marcus award. Galanos was a master cutter and his ready-to-wear line was made close to couture standards and with a level of craftsmanship that was on par with the French couturiers. Grace Kelly was an early fan. He was truly one of the great American designers and his work is held in all of the major museums around the world. 

This jumpsuit is absolutely gorgeous. The entire piece has a custom designed print that has been screened onto a feather light silk chiffon. Think the finest silk scarf you could have in terms of weight and feel. It has all been printed with a really outstanding design that highlights the cut of the jumpsuit. The colours are fantastic. That combination of various shades of green mixed with a soft purple and blue and pink cannot be beat. The jumpsuit lunges right to the waist at the front with a tie that keeps it in place and closed, but it is open underneath that spot to the waist so when you move, you get a very subtle glimpse of skin. The top skims over you and the sleeves start from the waist and then our wide and straight to their ends. I love how the end of the sleeve and the neck line are all finished with a black silk ribbon. The waist has elastic so is very easy to fit. If you wanted it to look very cinched and you could add a belt. The pants fall from under that and are cut to be very very wide and full so you get this incredible movement when you move. By the bottom hand, they are a full 31" around. The entire jumpsuit is lined in a green silk chiffon and all of the inner edges. Have ribbon finishes. It's incredibly well made. The movement and beauty of this piece is extraordinary. This is a piece that you slip on and feel completely comfortable when wearing it and yet it has as much drama and impact as you could ask for. It is a stunning example of his work. And it has pockets. I love it. Excellent condition

Fully lined in a green silk chiffon. It zips to close at the front under the elastic waist. The top has attached ties at the front. Hand finished through out with ribbon finished edges inside and out. It appears to have been worn very little if at all 

Sleeves: 25" and are 18" around the upper arms
Shoulders: no defined seams
Bust: no true side seams
Waist: 11-15" flat across from side seam to side seam
Hips: to 23" flat across from side seam to side seam
Bodice: 16" from top of bodice to waist
Pants: 42" from waist to hem with just under 2" turned under the hem
Inseam: 28" from the inner seam to hem
Gusset: 16" front he waist to inner seam and 32.5" from back of neck to inner seam

Modern Sizing Equivalent: XS-MED

Item# DD4990

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This is the runway piece from 2005 and the bead work on it was entirely done by hand by one of the same European ateliers who did beading for many of the Couture houses for this time period. It's modern Providence includes being worn by supermodel Daria Strokous to the 30th amfAR Gala, which also lets you see how gorgeous this is once on the body. In 1972 John won the Coty Award and then he won it again in 1976. Striking evening wear like this became his signature. His work is very expensive and beaded pieces like this sold for over $20,000 and more during this time period. This comes directly from his archives and is a dress that you will never see again since it is the only one that exists.

This dress is absolutely stunning. The fabric is completely covered in thousand of tiny deep silver seed beads and iridescent aqua coloured sequins. This gives the dress some weight - we weighed it and it is just over 6 pounds - but it is so beautifully made that it balances and glides over the body perfectly once on. The front plunges right to the waist with two long triangles curving up towards the neck and hooking at the back. A ruffle from the same fabric follows the plunging neckline all the way to the waist to soften the feel of that plunge. The back is left completely open for a bare expanse of skin to show when you turn around. I love the the way the sides curved down to the back. The waist is brought in and then it curls back out over the hips. From there the skirt falls to the floor widening out as it near the hem. This give it beautiful movement when you walk and move. The colour is this magical deep aqua and silver mix and the way the beads and sequins are set give it a stunning pattern over you. No matter what angle you see the dress from it catches the light fantastically. Excellent condition.

Unlined and closes with a low set side zipper at the back and hooks to close behind the neck. Hand finished throughout with hand, applied beads and sequins. Silk chiffon panel finished hem and edges. Made to Couture standards.

Bust: no true side seams
Waist: 12-12.5" flat across from side seam to side seam
Hips: 17-21" flat across from side seam to side seam
Bodice: approx 15-16" from neck to waist
Total length: approx 63" from neck to hem

Modern Sizing Equivalent: XS-SML

Item# DD4399

Reference Photos: Daria Strokous at the 30th amfAR Gala, Cannes, May 2024.

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

This Roberto Cavalli dress is from the Spring 2006 collection and is gorgeous. Its twin walked the runway that season and I am happy to have the runway shots of it and video so you can see how spectacular this dress moves when on the body. This was Look 36 and I think it was one of the most beautiful dresses of that collection. And it was certainly one of the most daring. You don't realize at first glance but the front plunges down and the back has a second unexpected opening that is quite low and exposes a flash of bare skin. It is exceptional and very sensual.

The dress is made out of a bias cut silk chiffon that has a gorgeous print work through it surface to create flowers. This is done in a combination of pale turquoise and a soft greens on an ivory backdrop. The front plunges quite low but the severity of the plunge is completely softened by the mass of ruffles that cascades around the neckline. The plunge is caught up by a large flower in the paler blue and then it is open a little bit more under that. When it is on the body, the lower opening is barely apparent because of the way the dress sits on the body, but it is there. The little capped sleeves are lovely and very full. They fall over the upper arm and are soft and wide cut. The dress skims over the body and is brought in just a touch around the waist by a combination of that flower and how it is seamed. At the back there is another long opening that begins at the back of the neck and runs to the very low back. You can see on the runway how this curves a bit once it is on the body. At the base of that opening there are attached ties that extend out to create a pretty little bow. You could also leave them untied and let them just cascade behind you. The skirt falls down from there to the floor and it is cut a little longer at the back so that you get a sweeping bit of a train that extends past the hem. I love how the layers in the skirt create this pretty ruffled feel. It also gives the skirt tremendous movement around you. When you move the entire dress seems to float perfectly around you. All of the silk is bias cut which allows the dress to fall like an absolute dream over the body. It is spectacular. It appears to have been worn very little if at all. Excellent condition.

Unlined and slips on to wear with a hidden snap behind the flower at the front. The dress lost its label during the cleaning process but the fabric is signed throughout. The bias cut will allow for a lot of give in the measurements and I have put the comfortable range below.

Shoulders: no defined seams
Bust: 17-21" flat across from side seam to side seam
Waist: 11-15" flat across from side seam to side seam
Hips: 16-20.5" flat across from side seam to side seam
Total length: 68" from neck to front hem and 73" to the back hem. The length will come up a bit once on because of the bias cut.

Modern Sizing Equivalent: XS-MED

Item# DD4988

Reference Photos/Video: Spring 2006 Roberto Cavalli, Look 36 Model Emina Cunmulaj.

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 launched his Haute Couture house in 1987 and was an instant success on the worldwide stage. A ready-to-wear line soon followed along with perfumes and menswear. His collections are always exotic, lavish affairs and his designs seemed to span the decades with their eccentric glamour pulled from multiple sources of inspiration. The twin of this cardigan was shown on the fall 1994 runway and you can see how fantastic it is on the body.

This is a beautiful example of Christian's ready-to-wear work and it is made to be slightly oversized and easy to wear. It is a piece that you can wear open and layered over other things or wrap and use the belt that comes with it or one of your own to have to feel more like a coat or to even be able to wear it on its own. It is made out of a mixed knit that is soft to the touch. Everything about it is meant to convey ease and luxury. It has no closures and just slips on. The shoulders slope down and into those fabulously long ribbed cuffed sleeves. You can push the sleeves up, wear them long or roll them. The body of the cardigan is loose and generously cut. Pockets sit low on each hip and the collar has a wide shawl feel to it. The entire bottom is one in a ribbon to pick up the cuffs. It is gorgeous and once on, you won't want to take it off. Excellent condition.

Unlined with no closures but does come with its original twist tie belt. Tagged a size M but the loose and easy for will work on a large range of sizes. The smaller you are the more it will feel oversized. 

Sleeves: 22" from he dropped shoulders
Dropped shoulders: 26"
Bust- hips: 29" flat across from side to side  and narrows to about 23"at the ribbing
Length: 32" from neck to hem and hangs a bit longer once on the body

Modern Sizing Equivalent: XS-LRG

 Item# DD4524

Reference Photo: Fall 1995 Christian Lacroix 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.

John Anthony's business was all done on a made-to-order basis. That means that each piece is the only one that exists, or in the very occasional circumstance that there are similar pieces, only a very limited amount of pieces were made. And to make things even a little more special.... the pieces I have in the shop come directly from John's archive. He is one of the great American couturiers and he was known for his sharp tailoring and striking evening wear. He launched his atelier in 1971 and he quickly rose to fame, winning a Coty award in 1972 and then again in 1976. This jacket is from his Fall 1980 collection and is the original sample from his archives.

This jacket is stunning to see in real life. It has a beautiful sleek cut and it is meant to be more fitted through the body. I love that it completely closes as this allows you to wear it on its own or layer it over other pieces. The shoulders have light padding for shape and the sleeves are long. The waist is brought in just a touch. It is meticulously tailored and John told me that creating jackets were one of his favourites things to do. They are infinitely challenging to have them sit perfectly on the body and his are tailored to a master level. It has no collar and the neckline is a sleek V.  It closes down the front with a series of hidden silk covered snaps and then there are three glass rhinestone buckles that close over the front. They are spectacular. The entire jacket is covered in glossy black sequins. These have all been set by hand and completely cover the silk that the jacket is made from. Each sequin is laid out so that it slightly overlaps its neighbour. To think of the man hours out into this jacket is incredible. The final finishing touch on this one are the bold motifs beaded onto the sequins on each side at the front. These have a 3D effect and sit up and off of the sequins below. The personal attention to each piece is clearly seen in the workmanship of his designs. His work is very expensive and beaded jackets like this retailed for up to $6,500 in the 80s and 90s which would be around $25k in modern dollars to recreate at this level. It appears to have been worn very little if at all. Excellent condition

Filly lined in a black silk and closes at the front with hidden set silk covered snaps. The rhinestone clasps close over that. Padding in each shoulder. Made by hand. A one of a kind.. 

Sleeves: 22" long and 13" around the upper arm
Shoulders: 16.5"
Bust: 17" flat across from side seam to side seam
Waist: 15.5" flat across from side seam to side seam
Hips: 18" flat across from side seam to side seam
Length: 24" from neck to hem

Modern Sizing Equivalent: SML-MED

Item# DD4551

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

This is from the Spring 2016 collection and its twin walked the runway for Look 32. This is Maison Margiela designed by John Galliano and I love having the photo references and runway video so that you can see how amazing the dress is once on the body. Vogue called this collection the "most rounded and product fulled collection so far". They went on to note that "He made a delightful merge of vintage-y eccentricity, Japanese geisha styling, and color—themes that have constantly been part of Galliano’s design territory from the beginning, of course....for evening and events, numerous dresses in extraordinarily subtle combinations of kimono-inspired prints and tints". This is dress was a part of that grouping and you can see the elements of a traditional kimono in its padding detailing and painted silks. On the runway they showed it with a bag wrapped and tied around the bodice and I loved that clever staying that added that bright pop of unexpected green. 

The first thing you will notice when you take this out of the box is how tiny it seems. It seems almost impossible to fit on an actual body but when you actually put it on you realize the amount of stretch that is cleverly hidden in it that allows it to form and fit you perfectly around the bodice. The colour is a muted plum and it is a fascinating and complicated combination of fabrications. The bodice has a built-in boned and cupped inner corset and then there is a layer of padding between that and the outer stretch silk jersey. It is strapless and meant to hug and fit the body. The skirt under that is fascinating. There is a layer of a thick stiffened mesh netting that sits over a white layer of the same netting and then that all sits over an inner printed layer of silk. Then that is backed in a black almost neoprene feeling fabric. This creates the slightly padded feel you see. If that wasn't enough the entire back of the dress has been painted with swaths of a bright turquoise paint that actually sits on top of the fabrics. It feels like he took a roller and just rolled over the fabric. John always pushes the edge in the way that he uses fabrics and this dress is no exception of that. It is a fascinating piece to see and an amazing future collectible. It has that brilliant tailoring and innovation that the label is know for combined with Galliano's genius. It appears to have been worn very little if at all. Excellent condition.

Fully lined as described above and closes with a back zipper. Fully separate boned and cupped corset inside. Tagged a 40. The fabric has some stretch.

Bust: to 15.5" flat across from side seam to side seam
Waist: 11-13" flat across from side seam to side seam
Hips: to 20" flat across from side seam to side seam
Bodice: 8" from top of bodice to top seam at the waist
Total length: 48" from the top of the bodice to the hem with approx 2" turned under the hem

Modern Sizing Equivalent: XXS-XS

Item# DD4598

Reference Photos/Video: Spring 2016 Maison Margiela, Look 32. Model Martina Lew.

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

The Fall 2001 show title was "Coco Pop" and part of the show had references to pop artist Roy Lichtenstein. The Chanel logo and house signatures were incorporated into the garments and you can see that on this dress with the famous Chanel Camellia flower worked into the sequin design that runs down the front. The twin of this dress walk the runway and I love that this lets you see how fantastic it is on the body. It is a beautiful dress..

The dress is strapless with a built-in inner net and silk foundation with light boning to hold it in place around you. The waist inside of the dress structured but on the exterior the fabric is simply shaped to nip it in at the waist. The base fabric is a flat, almost chenille feeling, flat pile black velvet that is light in weight. On the bodice there is a curved bib made out of a black lace backed with a nude silk chiffon. This has been finished with sequins ranging from silver to gold to black. A second curving panel covers the entire front of the skirt. Here it curves down in the opposite way of the one at the bodice and expands outwards as it needs the floor. I love how the floral sequin pattern is denser toward the top of the dress and then starts to almost degrade and become just a suggestion of the pattern, or perhaps is meant to be falling petals. The back of the dress is cut slightly longer that the front so that you get a beautiful line there. The back is solid black all the way down so very flattering. A little Chanel rectangle button with the logo and a mother-of-pearl inset sits on one hip. It is beautifully made and a gorgeous statement dress. Excellent condition.

Fully lined in a black silk and closes with a hidden set back zipper. A built-in inner corset is made of silk chiffon and netting and is lightly boned. The dress appears to have been worn very little if at all. Tagged a vintage Chanel 40. The fabric has a touch of stretch and I have given the comfortable range of measurements below while lying flat.

Bust: 16-18" flat across from side seam to side seam
Waist: 14-16" flat across from side seam to side seam
Hips: 18-20.5" flat across from side seam to side seam
Total length: 52" from top of bodice to front hem, 55" to the back hem

Modern Sizing Equivalent: SML-MED

Item# DD4986

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

This gorgeous Roberto Cavalli dress is from 2015 and its twin was worn by Naomi Campbell for Fashion for Relief where she walked the runway. I am happy to have some reference photos from the show so you can see how spectacular this dress is once on the body. It is exceptional and extremely beautiful.

The dress is made from a combination of a black net mixed with silk chiffon. The bodice portion of the dress is made from the netting and then it has a layer of bead work applied onto the net with silk chiffon backing the bead work areas so that it is opaque enough to wear. The parts that are not beaded have a touch of transparency to them. The detailing on the dress is amazing. Gold tube beads, seed beads and sequins are set in swirling patterns across the bodice. As a pattern runs down and over the waist & the hips the colours of the sequins gradually changed to a more muted gold and then to a silver. There are prong set, gold and clear glass crystals scattered throughout. The edges of the neck and arms have been finished with silver beads and tiny silver sequins. The skirt remarkable and it is in its original uncut length. It is covered in black feathers and each one has been attached to the silk of the skirt with either a sequin or a little prong set crystal. It falls from the top of the hip and widens out to the hem. When you move the skirt has incredible movement around you. The fabric is so light and airy that when you walk it creates this incredible floating sensation. The back of the dress is cut a bit longer than the front so you have a sweeping feel behind you. It is an incredibly beautiful dress and no matter how good it looks in the photos the sensation and tactile feeling of the fabric and lightness of it when you have it in hand is just phenomenal. It looks to have been worn very little if at all. Excellent condition.

The embellished parts of the halter are backed with a black silk so it is opaque and the skirt has an inner silk chiffon lining. It closes with a back hidden set zipper. Perhaps the occasional bead missing here and there. Tagged a Cavalli 38. 

Bust: has no fixed side seams. The front covers to approx 15-17" flat across
Waist: 12-13" flat across from side seam to side seam
Hips: to 18" flat across from side seam to side seam
Total length: 62" from neck to front hem, 70" to the longest point of the back hem

Modern Sizing Equivalent: XS-MED

Item# DD4662

Reference Photos/Video: Naomi Campbell in Roberto Cavalli for the Fashion For Relief charity fashion show at London Fashion Week, February 2015. (Video by Tashie Tinks)

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

This is a fantastic and surprisingly avant garde Haute Couture dress by Pierre Cardin. It is from the Spring 1985 collection and we have included some reference photos of the twin of the dress on the runway so that you can see how it sits on the body. They really give you an idea of how fantastic and unusual this is once it is on the body. It is a beautiful and elegant piece that may not be as mod in feel as some of Cardin's earlier pieces but it is one that shows the breadth of his talent. From a historical perspective it's also an interesting insight on the volume and play on proportion done in the 1980s. 

Throughout his career Cardin often played with volume and for the 1985 collection he put huge voluminous caped bodices over narrow skirts, a silhouette we first saw him begin to do in the late 1970s. This dress is made from a fine silk that is covered in a dynamic and bold floral print. You can see that fantastic play on volume in the cut. The dress was completely made by hand and the fine workmanship is wonderful to see. That avant garde cut is all created by clever seaming and traditional couture methods and this mix is fascinating. There is an inner more sheath-like dress and then a caped piece attaches over that. The neckline is set higher across the front with a pleated over piece that falls from the shoulders. At the front it is set into a black silk ribbon that wraps around the hip area. Your arms slip underneath it at the sides and then the cape extends downwards into a long point at the back. The top layer has been softly pleated and this gives it more volume and movement as you move. It is also what gives it that incredible and unusual silhouette that you see. The skirt falls from under the wide black silk ribbon that is attached around the hip area and it is done in a sleek and simple cut to the floor. It is very chic and unusual. Excellent condition with minor notes below

Fully lined in a hand set white silk and closes with a back hidden set zipper on the inner dress. At some point the hem was let down and I have left it for the extra length. You can see a faint line where it was folded. There are light shoulder pads whose inner stuffing has degraded. I see some minor yellowing to the inner lining around the top of the zipper area and very light grubbiness  to the very edge of the inner arm that you don't see because it is covered by the cape.

Inner bust: to 19" flat across from side seam to side seam
Inner waist: 17.5" flat across from side seam to side seam
Hips: to 20.5" flat across from side seam to side seam
Bodice: 15" from top of bodice to waist
Total length: 59" from waist to hem

Modern Sizing Equivalent: MED-LRG

Item# DD4981

Reference Photos: Spring 1985 Pierre Cardin 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.

During John Galliano's years from 1996-2011 at the house of Christian Dior he arguably produced some of the most amazing bias cut and chiffon dresses in the house's history. His work often has a feeling of the decadence and abandonment of the twenties and thirties with their beautiful cuts. This dress is from the Spring 2006 collection and is so very pretty with its beautiful floral print.

This is a stunning Dior dress and it is even better in person and on an actual body. As with many Galliano pieces it is meant to be on an actual body and not a mere dress form. The dress is made from an ivory silk chiffon that has an exuberant floral print that covers it entire surface from shoulder to hem. The fabric and the way it is cut and draped allow it to hug the body and skim over you once past the hip. The dress has a wide V plunging front and it has that same plunge shape at the back. There is an off set ribbon of fabric that runs down from the base of the plunge and then over to one hip. The fabric has been gathered all along that ribbon on both side in soft folds. This helps to give the dress its hourglass shape. AS flat bow sits at the base of that ribbon on the one hip and then underneath that are added panels of silk that give the dress this pretty extra volume. At the back the fabric is gathered up and under two more flat bows. A panel of silk expands out underneath the bows to give you a bit of a trained feel and create a gorgeous bit of movement. It is so pretty and special. Excellent condition with a minor note below. 

The dress is fully lined in an ivory silk. It closes with a hidden set zipper at the back. There is a minor bit of yellowing underneath the arm on the interior silk that does not go through to the front and a bit of grubbiness to the interior lining at the back hem. Please see the photos after the label shot. It is very tiny so please check the measurements.

Sleeves: The opening at the end is 9" around
Shoulders: no true seams
Bust: to 13.5" flat across from side seam to side seam
Waist: 11" flat across from side seam to side seam
Hips: to 19" flat across from side seam to side seam
Total length: 64" from top of the shoulder to hem

Modern Sizing Equivalent: XXS- XS

Item# DD4979

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

Christian Lacroix launched his Haute Couture house in 1987 and instantly caused a sensation around the world. A ready-to-wear line soon followed along with perfumes and menswear. His collections are always exotic, lavish affairs and his designs seemed to span the decades with their eccentric glamour pulled from multiple sources of inspiration. This dress is from the Fall 1999 collection and Its twin walked the runway. The runway version had bows added at points where the skirt is gathered up and the model wore a spectacular head piece with the dress. It was one of my favourite looks in the show and its a truly wonderful dress. 

This Lacroix is magical. The dress is made of a stunning silk brocade that hold the colours and shape of the dress beautifully. The silk is woven through with an oversized floral print and the flowers are scattered over the dress from the bodice to the hem. It is like wearing a full bouquet of flowers and the slightly metallic feel of the thread that makes up the flowers makes it even prettier. The bodice is strapless and is cut to be fitted to the body and hug you right down to the waist. The skirt is gathered into pleats along the sides of the waist and then under that are offset tiers that fall all the way to the floor in a cascade of silk brocade. There are yards and yards of silk that have gone into the construction of that skirt. It is gathered in and around the poufed tiers by wide bands of a black velvet. These give it the proper weight and structure to hold the gorgeous shape of the skirt. An inner net and sheer silk layer is set inside the skirt. This inner layer is finished with pleats and velvet ribbon along its edge. This inner skirt peaks out from under the edge of the top silk layer and adds a beautiful feminine detail. The skirt is cut longer at the back so that you get a beautiful sweeping feel behind you. The combination of that stunning silk and the way that it has been cut combined with the gathered tiers creates this stunning effect when you move and walk. It is that perfect mix of elegance, femininity, romance and fantasy that Christian excelled at. Excellent condition

Fully lined in a black silk and is lightly boned through the inner bodice. It zips to close at the back and has a hooked waist stay inside. In its original uncut length and appears to have been worn very little if at all. Tagged a vintage Lacroix 42.

Bust: 17.5" flat across from side seam to side seam
Waist: 14" flat across from side seam to side seam
Hips: open
Bodice: 9" from top of bodice to waist
Total length: 53" from top of bodice to front hem and is 61.5" to the longest point of the back hem

Modern Sizing Equivalent: SML-MED

Item# DD4976

Reference Photos/Video: Fall 1999 Christian Lacroix.

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

Bill Gibb was one of the most influential designers in 1970s Britain and his clothes were worn by the rich, the famous and the beautiful. Much of his work verged on couture and he was unrelenting in striving for perfection. His work has a high fantasy element to it. Every piece I bring into the shop is very special and the range he had was incredible. I have had a deep brown version of this dress in the shop I love finding a version in black. Its twin in ivory was also a part of the 'Great Names in Fashion' exhibit at the Fashion Museum Bath.

The dress is made of a fluid black jersey fabric that is light in weight and has an amazing drape. It flows to the floor from the densely beaded panel that sits across the upper bust. A second panel of beading is set at the back. Both panels have been completely hand covered with a design that is made out of hundreds of ivory and gold glass tube beads. Along the one side of the front panel there is a row of hand carved mother of pearl buttons that run from the top of the shoulder to just past the waist. The buttons are functional and wrap an overlay of fabric over the inner dress. This panel loops under the opposite arm and then wraps around you to the back where it is attached. This gives the dress a gorgeous Grecian feel and it also gives it added movement when you move. The dress underneath is a long sheath that falls from the shoulders and widens out slightly as it nears the hem. The sleeves are long and each one ends with more of those same buttons. The entire dress is detailed with strips of tiny little raised beads on a silver base. These follow all of the edges of the dress and they are even on the long interior seams even though you don't easily see them. I just love that he did that and it just shows you the attention that was paid to dresses during this time period. They help the dress to fall perfectly and they also catch the light for added glamour. It is stunning and a beautiful example of Gibb's work. Excellent condition with a tiny note below

The dress is unlined and slips over the head top wear. The attached panel buttons into place over the interior dress. Each cuff has loop and buttons to close. It appears have been worn very little if at all. The loose and easy cut should allow it to fit a range of sizes. I have given the comfortable range of measurements while laying flat. On a smaller frame it will just drape more. The striped applique at the top of one shoulder has a couple of beads missing on one part. Please see the photo after the label shot

Sleeves: 21.5"
Slightly dropped shoulders: 15"
Bust: 15-18.5" flat across from side seam to side seam
Waist: 14-19" flat across from side seam to side seam
Hips: 16-22" flat across from side seam to side seam
Length: 58" from top of shoulder to hem

Modern Sizing Equivalent: XS-MED

Item# DD4232

Reference Photos: Bill Gibb Dress on display at the "Great Names of Fashion Display" Exhibit at Fashion Museum Bath.

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

Bill Blass launched his label in 1970 when he bought out the Maurice Rentner label and re-launched it under his own name. This has a similar feel to a dress I had in the shop a few years back that dated to 1971 and I suspect that this is from that same time period. Blass was arguably one of the most famous of the American designers. His forte was the ability to mix simple styles with unexpected materials in way that was very flattering to the wearer. Even when the dress was as extravagant as this one is, he knew how to walk that line perfectly. This is the type of piece that you are only ever going to find in vintage.

This very early piece of his work and with its glamorous fabric and that dramatic feather collar I think it is some of his very best work ever. The dress is stunning and besides the actual beauty of it as a dress, the fabric is one of the best textiles I have ever seen. It is a soft light weight wool or wool mix and it is printed with a tremendously beautiful lion print that runs across its entire surface. Where the print sits on the front bodice it has been beaded to follow the print underneath. It is a subtle addition that you noticed the closer you get, but it is there and gives the dress the most amazing added tactile sensation. To offset the texture and extravagance of the print on that fabric, the actual lines of the dress are fairy simple. The bodice skims over the bust to the seamed waist that is slightly high. the sleeves are long and straight with a little notch at the end of each cuff. The neckline is high and scooped. The skirt falls from the waist to the floor in a gentle widening line. The neck is, of course where all of the true drama of the peace resides. Here we see that gorgeous feathered collar in all its glory. The collar is attached and the feathers on the collar have been hand dyed to match the colours of the dress. The effect is amazing and it is even better on person and on an actual body as all the elements really come to life. It is really one of the most dramatic pieces ever done by him. A true collectors piece. Excellent condition 

Fully lined in a creamy silky rayon and closes with the back zipper. The feathers are stable and show no shedding. The bead work on the front is all done by hand. Ribbon edge inner hem and hand finishing throughout.

Sleeves: 22" and are 11" around the upper arm
Shoulders: 14.5"
Bust: to 18" flat across from side seam to side seam
Waist: to 14" flat across from side seam to side seam
Hips: open
Bodice: 14" from neck to waist
Total length: 57" from neck to hem with 2" turned under the hem

Modern Sizing Equivalent: XS-MED

Item# DD4973

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

This gorgeous little dress is from the Alessandro Michele era at Gucci and it was from the 2017 collection. It was a piece produced for the shops and its twin was worn on the red carpet by Danube R Hermosillo. This is a gorgeous example of his work for the label and I am very pleased to have it in the shop. It is so pretty and a very easy dress to wear with lots of impact. 

This is a stunning dress. It is entirely cut on the bias and is tremendously flattering to the body. It is also insanely sexy while still being extremely comfortable to wear. The fabric is a beautiful metallic lame that moves and drapes beautifully. This one is especially interesting because he has mixed in that vibrant pink lame with the bright copper gold base. The front is made in a halter that curves down into that front plunge. There is pleating on the front triangles that follow the sweep of the fabric. The panels cross over each other where they meet at the waist so that it stays perfectly in place once on. The sides curve down and around to the back with the the entire back above that left completely bare and exposed. The waist is nipped in and then the skirt flares out at it reaches the floor. There are softened pleats worked through the entire skirt to give it a bit of an antiqued feel. There is also a hidden high slit for a flash of bare skin. Between the slit and the lightness of the fabric you get a ton of movement when you move. He added a giant bow in a metallic pink that is attached to the dress and drapes around the waist and down the hips. The trailing ends of the bow are all attached as well so the effect remains perfect no matter how you move. It is spectacular. Excellent condition

Fully lined in a nude silk mix and closes with a hidden set back zipper. In its original length and appears to have been worn very little if at all. Tagged a modern Gucci 42

Bust: 17-18" flat across from side seam to side seam
Waist: to 14.5" flat across from side seam to side seam
Hips: open
Bodice: 16" from top of shoulder to waist
Total length: 63.5" from top of shoulder to hem

Modern Sizing Equivalent: SML-MED

Item# DD4972

Reference Photos: Danube R Hermosillo in Gucci at the Everything, Everything Premiere, May 2017.

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

This dress was designed by Belgian-born Jules-Francois Crahay, who 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 hugel​y ​desirable and influential.' His time at the Lanvin label is one of my personal favourites for the house. I especially love the his work during the period through the late sixties and into the early 1970s. He was a genius at print and colour and he pushed the envelope in terms of using cutting edge fabrics available during this time period. This dress dates to the Spring 1972 collection and I am very pleased to have found a reference photo for a version of the dress in slightly different print. This dress has the extra modern provenance of its twin being worn by the character Samantha in the 2008 Sex and The City movie. I love it.

This Lanvin dress is gorgeous. The dress has a gorgeous bright colour and print combination. The crisp cotton fabric it is made of is holds colour exceptionally well so the colours are still crisp, bright and true. It has a waffle weave texture woven through it and that just contrasts and brings out the pattern on the dress even more. The dress a single shoulder that angles across the neckline at the front and the back. The fabric has been gathered into an open ring at the top of the shoulder. It is cut to be more loose and easy to skim over the bodice and then it cinches in more under the bust to the waist. You can see how that sits in the editorial shot that we have included here. You could also add a belt if you wanted to add even more definition around the waist. From there the skirt falls to the floor and it widens substantially as it nears the hem. The skirt has yards of fabric in it. The pattern that runs over the entire dress is spectacular and I love how he played with the angles of the stripe so the eye is brought in at the waist. The final finishing touch on the dress is that big oversized silver zipper with its giant silver loop at the top that acts as it's zipper pull. A very avant-garde detail for this time period. It is an amazing dress and it is one that is instantly recognizable piece of his work. Excellent condition

The bodice is unlined and the skirt is lined in a black silk. Ribbon finished hem. It zips to close at the side with a hook and eye above the zipper. 

Bust: 17-19" flat across from side seam to side seam
Waist: 14" flat across from side seam to side seam
Hips: open
Bodice: 17" from top of shoulder to waist
Total length: 60" from waist to hem

Modern Sizing Equivalent: SML-MED

Item#DD4968

Reference Photos: (1) Model in Lanvin photographed by Kourken Pakchanian, US Vogue April 1972.  /  (2-3) Kim Cattrall wearing Vintage Lanvin in Sex and the City: The Movie, 2008.

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 just had this set in the shop and I was very happy to find another one so soon. This one is a touch larger than the last. The twin of the set walked the runway for the 2008 Resort collection for Look 12. Vogue said that the collection was done "in an electric-bright palette.. and channelled Barbara Hutton's sixties—a glittery, lame, paisley, and leopard-print world of muumuus, bikinis, capri pants, trapeze dresses, cat-eye sunglasses, and scarf-wrapped hats. It bordered on camp... and Kitschy or not, there was no denying the workmanship that went into crafting the large collection." I love having the photos that show you how fantastic this is on the body and if its runway provenance was not enough, Lady Gaga also wore the twin of the top as part of an outfit in 2007.

The print that covers the entire surface of both pieces is fabulous. It is a leopard print but done in green, taupe and ivory instead of browns. I love the boldness that this creates. The pants have a flat banded waist that is meant to sit slightly low on the hips and then the legs are cropped. Two little decorative flap pockets sit on the front just below the waistband and there are slip pockets at the back that are mainly decorative as they are very shallow in depth. I love the nod to the sixties that this gives the pants. The top is also a nod to the sixties with its little baby doll cut. It is sleeveless and then it wraps and snaps in place at the front. This creates a low plunge at the front. It is defined under its empire waist with a wide grosgrain ribbon that is stiffened and done in a bright green. A peplum falls under that and it expands out and over the hips to add volume and shape. It has the perfect kitschy, camp, sixties baby doll feel and I love it. You can wear the pieces together for a strong statement or break up the set and wear them as separates with other pieces in your closet for lots of styling options. It looks to have been worn very little if at all. Excellent condition with a minor note below.

Both pieces are unlined. The pants have a flat waist and close with a hook and a zipper. Decorative flap pockets at the front under the waist and slit pockets at the back of the pants. The top snaps and hooks to close at the front. Both pieces appear to have been worn very little if at all. The middle seam that runs down the back of the top looks like it may have been redone at some point. The top is tagged a FR44, GB16, IT48, US12 and the pants are tagged a FR40, GB12, IT44, US8

Top
Bust: to 18" flat across from side seam to side seam
Empire waist: 16.5" flat across from side seam to side seam
Hips: open
Bodice: 12" from neck to the top of the green ribbon
Total length: 25" from neck to hem

Pants
Waist: 15" flat across from side seam to side seam with no give
Hips: 19.5" flat across from side seam to side seam
Length: 34" from waist to hem
Inseam: 25.5"
Rise: 15" from the top of the back waist to the inner seam

Modern Sizing Equivalent: SML-MED

Item# DD4967

Reference Photos/Video: (1-3) Resort 2008 Dior, Look 12. Model Tanya Chubko.  /  (4) Lady Gaga by Katherine Wolkoff, 2007.

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The twin of this walked the runway for Spring 1991 and we found just a second of footage of it as the model walks back down the catwalk. We have included that little bit of film along with a couple of stills taken from the clip for you to see. They are not the best photos ever, but we were still very happy to have confirmation that this was a runway piece. Marie Claire shot a different piece from the show done in the same fabric and that is also here for you to see. The dress is gorgeous and its looks like it was never worn. Truly a time capsule piece. 

The dress is made from a lightweight cotton voile that that has just enough weight so that it falls and drape perfectly over you. I love the bold use of all those brilliant colours in the print. There is an angled strap made out of the same fabric that curves over one shoulder. Inside the bust there is a built in, lightly boned bodice, with its own zipper that holds the dress in place over you. The dress drapes over the inner bodice and wraps around you almost like a sarong. Part of it wraps around the waist and snaps in the place for a touch of shape. It falls over the body in a loose and easy-to-wear way. The entire skirt wraps over itself and the wrapping of the fabric gives the hem an asymmetrical feel with one side hanging lower than the rest for a beautiful trailing feel. The wrap lets the slightest bit of air catch the fabric and lets it billow out around you when you walk and move. It is fantastic once on the body and really showcases his genius at both print and cut. Excellent condition

The inner bodice acts as the lining there and the rest is unlined. The built in, lightly boned bodice, closes with a zipper and flat hook and eye. The waist snaps and hooks in place. It appears to have been worn very little if at all. Tagged a vintage YSL 40. 

Bust: to 17" flat across from side seam to side seam
Inner waist: 13" flat across from side seam to side seam
Hips: open
Bodice: approx 15" from top of shoulder to inner hooked waist
Total length: approx 50" from top of shoulder to shortest part of from hem and approx 67" to the longest point of the back hem

Modern Sizing Equivalent: SML-MED

Item# DD4411

Reference Photos/Video: (1-4) Spring 1991 Yves Saint Laurent Runway.  /  (5) Yves Saint Laurent Editorial, Marie Claire, June 1991

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The twin of the dress walk the Fall 2009 runway for Look 55. Karl titled the Fall 2009 collection Belle Brummell inspired by Beau Brummell, a British Regency dandy who started a trend with how men wore caveats. Vogue noted that Karl similarly managed to translate the trends of the season in his own way. And did it in a way that perfectly balanced being grown-up and youthful. They went on to say that "That formula transmitted some of the loveliness of Karl Lagerfeld's sublime origami-paper Spring Couture collection into super-feminine white collar and cuff treatments—frothy plissé ruffs, chiffon camellias, and French maid frills encircled the neck or sleeves on soft, fitted black silhouettes." Many of the pieces focused on the shoulder and this dress is no exception. My photos don't come close to doing it justice. You can see in the reference photos how beautifully it is on the body and I love that Princess Charlotte Casiragh chose one to wear to Karl Lagerfeld “Karl For Ever” Tribute in 2019. 

I'm so happy that we have reference photos because I do not think that this dress really shows off in the best light on my dress form. It is one of those pieces that is cut to move and sit best on a body. The dress is made out of a light black silk with a squared off neckline. A soft black silk chiffon bow sits at the centre for detail. All of the seaming on the dress is done vertically. It skims over the bust and is brought in at the waist by that seaming and then curves back out over the hips. It flares out from there and the entire bottom of the skirt has angled black silk chiffon insets all the way around it. These are triangular in shape and widen out as they near the hem so that the lower skirt is quite full. I also love that they are not backed with any lining so as you move, you get a touch of transparency through each panel. You can see by how much in the reference photos. The sleeves are amazing. They are more of a capelet  really that wraps all the way around the back. It creates the prettiest movement as it catches the air. Seaming holds the caplet in place just below the shoulders and the fabric that runs over each shoulder has light padding inside. Is tremendously beautiful. Excellent condition.

Fully lined in a black silk with silk chiffon insets around the skirt that have some transparency to them. It closes with a hidden set back zipper with hook and eye above that. It appears to have been worn very little at all. Each shoulder is lightly shaped and padded. Tagged a Chanel 36.

Sleeves: approx 13" 
Shoulders: approx 15" with the padding sitting slightly off the edge of the shoulder to create the shape you see
Bust: to 17.5" 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: 53" from top of shoulders to hem

Modern Sizing Equivalent: XS-SML

Item# DD4970

Reference Photos/Video: (1-2) Fall 2009 Chanel, Look 55. Model Sasha Pivovarova.  /  (3-4) Princess Charlotte Casiraghi, in Chanel, for the Karl Lagerfeld “Karl For Ever” Tribute in 2019.

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This gorgeous Chanel has an amazing provenance. Its twin walked the runway for Look 83 that season, Julianne Moore wore one to Cannes that year, and Elle Fanning also wore one from us to Cannes just this year. We are so pleased to have another and this one even has its original hang tag in place. The Metiers d'Art presentations are always a celebration of the amazing craftsmanship and talent of the Chanel Artisans. Vogue stated that "The lace and ribbons and elaborate sleeve details of Winterhalter's portraits of Sissi (Empress Elisabeth of Austria), became part of the Chanel vocabulary in this collection." You can see that tribute to lace on this dress. On the runway an additional ribbon with a diamante crusted buckle was wrapped around the waist and I love that this shows you that you could add something around the waist to make it even more glamorous, or keep it perfectly minimalist and wear it as it was sold in the shops like Julianne and Elle did. 

Everything about this dress has that chic Chanel feel that makes many of Karl's designs feel like forever classics. Even without the fact that it is so well documented the dress feels very Chanel. It is beautiful in person and the simple lines and cut make it the kind of dress that you can wear multiple times while the styling and accessories you choose to add can make it feel different each time. It is made of black silk that has a slight bit of texture to it. It has enough weight to hold the intended shape beautifully. Wide straps curve up and over each shoulder and then extend to sit on each side of the low squared off opening that exposes your entire upper back. This is so unexpected and insanely sexy. The neckline is cut straight across. The waist is seamed and brought in with a wide silk satin black ribbon that ties in a bow at the front. The ends of the bow trail down the front of the skirt to add extra detailing. The ribbon also holds in place the panel of lace that runs down the entire front. The panel is made up of tiers of black lace that sit in horizontal bands. These start at the top of the neckline, run in and behind the band around the waist and then fall like an apron over the front of the skirt. The dress curves over the hips with little pockets hidden along the seams. Depending on your height, the skirt will fall to just above the ankle or the floor. It is an exceptional piece of Chanel and has its original shop tag. Excellent condition

Fully lined in a black silk and closes with a back hidden set zipper tag a Chanel 40. The original tag is attached which it's original price of $11,900 which is just over $16,000 in today's dollars, not even counting Chanel's rise in pricing that is well over the actual inflation value. Pockets on each hip.

Bust: to 18.5" flat across from side seam to side seam
Waist: to 15" flat across from side seam to side seam
Hips: to 23.5" flat across from side seam to side seam
Bodice: 14.5" from top of shoulder to shoulder top of the 2" band at the waist
Total length: 55" from top of shoulder to hem

Modern Sizing Equivalent: SML-MED

Item# DD4969

Reference Photos/Video: (1-2) Pre-Fall 2015 Chanel, Look 83. Model Caroline Brasch Nielsen.  /  (3-4) Julianne Moore in Chanel at the Chopard Trophy Party in Cannes, May 2015.  /  (5-7) Elle Fanning wearing this dress in Cannes, May 2024.

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

This is without a doubt, one of my favourite dresses from the Spring 2008 collection. Its twin walk the runway for Look 53. This collection marked Dior's 60th anniversary and it was also Johns 10th year with the label. He celebrated those milestones with a show that was a nod to both the archives and Old Hollywood glamour. Pieces were wait-listed worldwide. This dress was also produced in a black for the shops and both versions were produced in very limited quantities. It has also being a favourite on the red carpet and we have included both runway and carpet photos here. It is a spectacular piece for the collector.

The dress is made out of a luxurious red silk. John often chose this weight of silk because of the control it gave him to be able to drape and apply the level of seam work that he loved to do. It is all cut on the bias. The bodice is strapless with an inner boned and cupped corset that holds the dress in place. Silk panels have been draped, gathered and hand stitched into place to create the dramatic sweeping detailing you see at the front. At the back he gathered all of the fabric down and into the centre line to meet in a little peak at the centre of the waist. From there his signature bias cut allows the dress to skim and drape over you so that is shows every curve but is not overly fitted. As in many of his pieces the seaming has the feel  of the work you see from the twenties and thirties. The fabric has been pieced together with low dropped angled panels to create the widening of the lower skirt. It flares out at the bottom and at the back it is cut longer so that you get a touch of a sweeping feel behind you as you walk. It is an incredible feat of patterning. A row of signature tightly spaced buttons & loops in the same silk run up one side. John's pieces only truly come to life when worn and as good as this looks on the dress form, it is better once on the body. It is an incredible example of his work and looks to have been worn very little if at all. Excellent condition

Fully lined in a red silk and closes at the side with a series of silk covered buttons. The inner boned and cupped corset hooks to close with two rows of lingerie hooks to choose from. The bias cut gives it some give in the measurements and I've given the comfortable range when the dress is laying flat below. I see a teeny tiny darkened spot near the hem. Hand finishes.

Inner bust: 17-20" flat across from side seam to side seam
Inner waist: 13-15" flat across from side seam to side seam
Hips: 18-22" flat across from side seam to side seam
Total length: 55" from top of the bodice to front hem, 60" to the back hem

Modern Sizing Equivalent: MED-LRG

Item# DD4772

Reference Photos/Video: (1-4) Spring 2008 Christian Dior, Look 53. Model Morgane Dubled.  /  (5) Aishwarya at the IIFA 2008.  /  (6) Lucy at the People's Choice Awards, 2024.

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This is Pierpaolo for Valentino and it is a beautiful example of how wonderful he could cut a dress. Over the course of his time at Valentino he did several variations of these dresses and each is beautiful. Its simplicity makes it easy to wear and very flattering once on the body. It has a minimalist feel but is still striking. The colour is infinitely gorgeous on almost every skin tone. It is a beautiful dress. 

The dress has this fabulous almost sculptural feel with is simple cut and that beautiful fabric that is done in the house signature red. Its full coverage keeps it feeling very refined and elegant. It is made from a red wool and silk mix that feels very high end. This fabric choice keeps it fairly light in weight but it still has enough structure to hold that gorgeous shape that you see. The neck is a shallow scoop and the bodice is cut to skim over you.  The shoulders are shaped but soft and the sleeves are long and slightly taper down to the wrist. The waist is brought in with top stitched vertical seaming that runs all the way down to the hem. The skirt falls from there to the floor and is in its original uncut length. All of the seaming on the dress is vertical and the skirt is shaped to fall in those beautiful rounded folds. The panels within the skirt are each the exact same width as the ones beside it. It is all cut exactly and precisely so that the skirt balances and falls perfectly in the routed shape that it has. This gives it this pretty and graceful curve from the sides and also adds the sense of sweeping skirts as you walk away. The dress is fabulous on the body and it is beautifully finished. Excellent condition

Fully lined in a fine red silk and closes with a hidden back set zipper. Perhaps a tiny bit of grubbiness at the edge of the hem but otherwise appears to have been worn very little if at all. Tagged a Valentino 38

Sleeves: 24"
Shoulders: 14'
Bust: 16-16.5" flat across from side seam to side seam
Waist: 13.5" flat across from side seam to side seam
Hips: open
Length: 63" from neck to hem

Modern Sizing Equivalent: XS-SML

Item# DD4966

Reference Photo: Credit unknown.

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This amazing and so very easy to wear a dress is a production piece from the Valentino 2019 Resort collection. His inspiration for this collection was Rome in the 1970s. In Vogue's review, they noted that Pierpaolo's goal for pre-collections was always to create clothes that women could wear and really live in. I love that. One of the things that made this particular collection a stand out was his reworking of the Valentino logo. He told the press that he called these 'bootlegged logos' and I love the swirling way that he worked the logo in to create the print that covers this dress.

The dress is so cute and chic. It is made from a light jersey that is super easy to just slip on. It also holds colour fantastically. The sleeves are cut to be very full above their simple cuffs and this adds to the easy feel the dress has. The entire upper bodice of the dress is finished with an elastic so you can wear it fully off the shoulder. This allows your entire upper shoulders to show. The jersey fall over the bodice in an easy manner to the waist. The waist is finished with an elastic and there is a little ruffle just underneath that elastic. This makes fitting the dress extremely easy as it will move with you. If you wanted more of a cinched in look, you could easily add a belt, but it works perfectly well without one. The skirt falls to the just below the knee or a little longer depending on your height. The jersey has been pleated into soft pleats that open out as they near the hem. This gives it beautiful movement as you move. It is killer. The dress looks to have been worn very little if at all. Excellent condition  

Unlined and slips over the head to wear. Elastic around the top of the shoulder and waist. Each cuff buttons to close with a single button. The elastic at the waist and shoulders give it some room in the measurements. I have listed the comfortable range when laying flat below. Tagged a modern Valentino small.

Sleeves: 24.5" and are 16" around the upper arm
Bust: 18-20" flat across from side seam to side seam
Waist: 12-16" flat across from side seam to side seam
Hips: open
Bodice: 16" from top of shoulder to waist
Total length: 52" from waist to hem

Modern Sizing Equivalent: XS-MED

Item# DD4961

Reference Photos: (1-3) Resort 2019 Valentino Look 22 & 23

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

The Oscar de La Renta boutique label first appeared in 1967. His boutique label is important as it is know for being the first ready-to-wear line for a Seventh Avenue designer to be launched. These early pieces have lots of hand finishes and are just stunning examples of his work during these early days of his career. I am certain that this dress is from Spring 1971. I have had dresses in other colours with the same bodice treatment and that is the only collection that I am aware of that he did under this label with this type of treatment through the top. 

I love this dress. It is not only so easy to wear and so cute, but I don't think it was ever worn. The cotton is as crisp and bright as if it had just come off a rack. It is light in weight and feels exactly what it looks like - an early rendition of the bandana. The lightness of the fabric mixed with its crisp finish is what lets it move so beautifully over the body once it is on. When you walk, the fabric of the skirt and that fabulous handkerchief hem catch the air and move around you. The colour is a beautiful true red and the print layers white and black on top of the red cotton in a classic bandana design. The top is fully finished with horizontal elastics that give it the stretch and feel of a tube top. He has left a bit of a ruffle around the neckline. The sleeves have the same elastic treatment with another ruffle at their ends. I have photoed the dress with it sitting fully off of the shoulder, but you could also wear it higher up on the shoulder if you wished. The gathering goes to the top of the hip so you get an amazing shape through the body. The skirt falls from there skimming over the hips. Depending on your height the skirt falls from just below the knee to mid-calf. It appears to have never been worn or worn very little. Excellent condition

Unlined and slips on to wear. The fabric through the bodice where it is finished with elastic has a lot of stretch. I have put the comfortable range of measurements below when laying flat.

Sleeves: approx 8.5" and the upper arm will stretch from 12-20" around
Shoulders: no defined seam
Bust: 15-22" flat across from side seam to side seam
Waist: 13-21" flat across from side seam to side seam
Hips: to 24" flat across from side seam to side seam
Bodice: 18" from top of shoulder to where the elastic ends
Total length: 51" from top of shoulder to longest points of the hem

Modern Sizing Equivalent: XS-MED

Item# DD4959

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

The Spring 2008 collection was called 'La Dame Bleue' and was a tribute to his mentor and friend Isabella Blow who had committed suicide on May of 2007 after a long bout of illness. His statement of the show was this; 'Isabella flew. The collection is exuberant and excessive. It's about her way of thinking and that way of thinking brought light into fashion. Even when she was down she was up with what she wore. I had the best times with Isabella. I remember going to Mauritius with her and I'd come back from scuba diving and it would be 100 degrees and she'd be standing on the beach head to toxin McQueen with a Philip Treacy Hat on. Or we'd be sitting around the pool and she'd still be head to toe in McQueen with a Philip Treacy hat on. I've though a lot about why she would wear things like that and she wore them because it made her feel like a diva. She was a diva in what she wore. She pulled it off. I never blinked at what she wore. It just seemed normal. So this was a collection about Isabella ad about wearing clothes that transform you." The entire show was a beautiful testament to someone he loved dearly. This jumpsuit was produced for the shops however we've included two looks from the runway so you can see where the shape and cut came from from those runway pieces. This was the fifth last collection of his career and these last collections are considered to be some of his most brilliant. 

The jumpsuit is made from a black silk that drapes beautifully over the body. This is a piece that shows his strong tailoring background and detailed knowledge of how to cut a piece to best suit a woman's body. The shoulders are lightly padded and the little cap sleeve extends over the top of the shoulder. For me, the stand out detail on this piece is how underneath that little capped sleeve, there is a little hand set bit of vibrant pink silk that you only see a flash of when you move a certain way. It is like a delightful little secret. It also perfectly picks up on the colours of the show in the best possible way. The collar is a nod to a men's suit and I love the plunge of the front. The waist is brought in and you could cinch it in even further by adding a belt. It glides over the hips and then each pant leg is cut long with a cuff at its end. Again, another nod to men suiting. It closes with a zipper at the front and you can clearly see the hand stitching around the zipper. A button at the waist and hidden hooks hold everything in place just above the zipper. Pockets on each hip are the perfect finishing detail and are a clever way to add to this jumpsuit's hourglass shape. It is a phenomenal McQueen piece and looks to have been worn very little if at all. Excellent condition.

Fully lined in a black silk through the body and and a handset pink silk underneath the capped shoulders. Padding at the shoulders. It causes with a front set zipper at the waist and a button and hidden hook and eye above that. The pocket on the bodice is still tacked shut. Pockets on each hip. It appears to have been worn very little if at all. Hand finishes.Tagged a modern Alexander McQueen 42.

Bust: to 18.5" flat across from side seam to side seam
Waist: to 14" flat across from side seam to side seam
Hips: to 19" flat across from side seam to side seam
Bodice: 16" from neck to waist
Total length: 60" from top of shoulder to hem
Inseam: 31"
Torso: 34" from back neck to inner seam

Modern Sizing Equivalent: SML-MED

Item# DD4958

Reference Photos/Video: Spring 2008 Alexander McQueen.  (1-3) Look 11, Model Vlada Roslyakova.  (4-6) Look 29, Model Jourdan Dunn.

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.

During John Galliano's years from 1996-2011 at the house of Christian Dior he arguably produced some of the most amazing bias cut and chiffon dresses in the house's history. His work often has a feeling of the decadence and abandonment of the twenties and thirties with their beautiful cuts. They marry Old Hollywood with the minimalist spirit of the nineties and early 2000s and the results are stunning. This is an amazing example of his work from the Boutique line and it is gorgeous. It is so classically Galliano for Dior in its shape and cut. It is a real beauty.

The dress is made out of the palest possible peach / pastel salmon nude silk chiffon that has a slight bit of texture to it. It is completely cut on the bias which makes it so easy to wear. The dress is cut wide across the shoulders with a scoop at both the front and the back. From there it drapes down and over the body to the floor. That signature bias cut that he did so perfectly allows the dress to skim and drape over you so that is shows every curve but is not overly fitted. The sleeves are cut a bit wide through the upper arm, narrow down just slightly to the cuff and then have a full ruffle to finish them. The bead work that you see over the dress is continued over the sleeves so you get an amazing little glitz in the light from every angle. The bodice is heavily finished with an intricate pattern of silver tube and seed beads and these catch the light beautifully. The bead work continues around the back of the dress and then you have scattered medallions of beads down the front and back all the way down to where the skirt begins. The cut of the dress is meant to simply glide and skim over the body and then it flares out dramatically through the lower skirt. The seaming is a nod to the work you see from the twenties and thirties. The fabric of the lower skirting has been pieced together with a series of angled chevron panels. The widening of the hem is created by the way those angled silk chiffon panels are stacked on top of each other with each panel getting wider than the one above. This gives you so much movement when you walk. A row of tightly spaced matching silk covered buttons run up one side for the perfect finish. The dress is even better in person and on the body as the static photos cannot fully convey how a bias cut dress moves. They only truly come to life when worn. It is an incredible example of his work and looks to have been worn very little if at all. In its original uncut length. Excellent condition

Fully lined in the same silk chiffon and closes at the side with a series of silk covered buttons. You can see the hand work that was done to apply the beads on the inside of the fabric. I see a couple of very faint darkened marks near the hem that are very minor. The bias cut should allow it to fit a range of sizes and I have taken the comfortable range when laying flat for you below.

Sleeves: approx 23" to their longest points and are 16" around the upper arm
Shoulders: Approx15-16"
Bust: 17-20" flat across from side seam to side seam
Waist: 16-18" flat across from side seam to side seam
Hips: 19-22.5" flat across from side seam to side seam
Total length: 68" from top of shoulder to hem

Modern Sizing Equivalent: SML-LRG

Item# DD4954

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

John Galliano began his own label in 1984 and he was instantly a bit of a 'boy wonder' in fashion. He was British Fashion Council Designer of the Year in 1987, 1994 and 1995. In 1991 he made his Paris catwalk debut. In 1995 he was asked to head Givenchy and then went to Dior in October of 1996. His work, especially the bias cut pieces that he did, have a feeling of the decadence and abandonment of the twenties and they are beautifully cut. They marry Old Hollywood with the minimalist spirit of the nineties and early 2000s and the results are stunning. This is an amazing example of his work from the Spring 2006 season and it is gorgeous. This dress was a piece made for production and is a more minimalist version of the dress that walked the runway for Look 40 that season. It has all the things we love about his work presented in a beautifully chic and minimalist package that still has that strong impact of colour that the runway version had.

The dress is made out of a feather light silk chiffon that moves beautifully over the body. It is all cut on the bias so is easy to wear. I love the cut of the bodice. Twisted silk chiffon straps extend out from a peak at the centre front. They curve up and around the neck and then they fall down each side of your back. The entire back is scooped low so you have this bare expanse of skin showing. It drapes over the bodice and skims over the waist with an easy more generous feel. A gathered band of the silk chiffon is wrapped around the top of the hips and a long tie extends down all the way to the hem from where that attached sash meets at the side. From there the dress drapes to the the floor and widens out a touch as it nears the hem. A slit runs up one side of the skirt and this allows the silk to catch the air and move easily around you as you walk. The seaming is a nod to the work you see from the twenties and thirties. The colour and the way that it changes as it moves down the dress is of course one of the most important elements of the piece. It starts out to be a soft taupe at the top and then gradually changes to a pale pink to a vivid pink around the lower skirt and ends in a deep dusty fuchsia. It is stunning to have this brilliant pop of colour. A signature row of tightly spaced silk covered buttons run up one side for the perfect finish. The dress is even better in person and on the body as the static photos cannot fully convey how the dress moves once on the body. Excellent condition.

Fully lined in a matching taupe silk and closes at the side with a series of silk covered buttons. The bias cut allows some movement in the fabric and I have put the comfortable range when laying flat below. Tagged a vintage Dior F40, GB12, IT44, US8

Bust: 16.5-18" flat across from side seam to side seam
Natural waist: 16-17.5" flat across from side seam to side seam
Hips: to 21" flat across from side seam to side seam
Total length: approx 63" from neck to hem

Modern Sizing Equivalent: SML-MED

Item# DD4953

Reference Photos/Video: (1-7) Spring 2006 Christian Dior, Look 40. Model Michelle Buswell.  /  (8) Monica Bellucci wearing Dior at the 2006 Cannes Film Festival.

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In 1952 Givenchy founded his namesake house on Rue Alfred de Vigny in Paris and quickly rose to fame as one of the grand couturiers. 16 years later for the 1968-69 season he added a ready-to-wear line of clothing and accessories called 'Givenchy Nouvelle Boutique'. The line was initially sold in the United States exclusively through Bergdorf Goodman stores and was eventually available at other retailers as well. The line was high-end and extremely well made. He launched this line to expand his customer base and it made to appeal specifically to his non-couture clients. This label continued until 1992. When researching this piece we found its twin from the Spring 1977 runway and it is definitely a piece that was very well documented and photoed that season. It is easy to see why as it could not be more gorgeous.

The dress is exquisite and I love that you can see just how wonderful it is on the body from the runway and editorial reference photos that we have found for you. It is made from a light silk chiffon that weighs next to nothing. The sleeves are cut to be very full above their elastic ends and this adds to the flowing feel the dress has. I love that the sleeves are cut to sit fully off the shoulders. This allows your entire upper shoulders to show and the bare skin of your shoulders balances the length of the skirt. Over the bodice the fabric has been draped and gathered into place with a large soft tie at the centre front for detail. More gathered silk wraps around the waist from under the bust. This gives the entire upper body of the dress a soft and romantic feel. I love the shape it creates around the waist. The skirt falls to the floor from there. It widens out as it near the hem and the soft gathers that set it around the waist give it beautiful movement as you move. The sleeves have a touch of transparency to them and this gives the dress a very subtle sexiness to have the fabric feel so light and have that hint of transparency. It is killer. The dress looks to have been unworn or worn very little. Excellent condition  

The dress is lined in a red silky rayon and the sleeves are unlined. It closes with a side set zipper. Elastic around the top of the shoulder and cuffs. It appears to have been unworn or worn very little. It is all cut on the bias so has some room in the measurements. The comfortable range is listed below. 

Sleeves: approximately 24" from the drop
Bust: 16-18.5" flat across from side seam to side seam
Waist: 13-16" flat across from side seam to side seam
Inner hips: to 22" flat across from side seam to side seam
Bust: approx 18" from the top of the natural shoulder to the slightly dropped waist
Total length: 59" from top of the natural shoulder to hem with 4" turned under the hem and another 2.5" turned under that. 

Modern Sizing Equivalent: SML-MED

Item# DD4951

Reference Photos: Spring 1977 Givenchy. (Photos 3-5 from the Spring 1977 RTW Advance & Photo 6 from the Spring 1977 RTW runway).

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During John Galliano's years from 1996-2011 at the house of Christian Dior he arguably produced some of the most amazing bias cut and glamorous dresses in the house's history. His work often has a feeling of the decadence and abandonment of the twenties and thirties with their beautiful cuts. They mix Old Hollywood with the minimalist spirit of the nineties and early 2000s. This is an amazing example of his work from Fall 2006 and it is gorgeous. Look 7 from the runway was a very different dress but did have similar bead work on the skirt so I have included that here as a reference. This version was made for the shops and like all more elaborate bead work pieces he did would have only been released in limited quantities. It is a really beautiful dress.

This is a really striking dress that is very easy to wear. The dress is made from three layers that are attached at the top of the shoulder and then float over each other from there. The inside layer is a black silk chiffon and then there is a layer of black silk tulle over that. The very top layer combines a silk net with black silk lace. The outer layer is beautiful. The lace is placed at the top of the bodice and then again around the hem. The dress has a very loose and easy cut through the body. The bodice dips into a V at the front and it does the same at the back. The lace is set into the netting underneath in a pretty little curving scalloped design. I love how the edge of the neckline and the openings for the arms have the lace detailing and then the hem is also finished with lace. Just under the hip on one side there is a beautiful design that combines metal strands, tiny seed beads, larger tube beads and prong set crystal rhinestones. These are all set by hand and you can see that on the back. The design trails down the side and across the front of the hem as well as partway around the back hem. A tiny little slit sits on one side of the hem near the bead work and he has gathered it up with a stitch, which gives the hem a bit of an asymmetrical feel. It is truly a special and beautiful example of his work. Excellent condition 

The inner silk chiffon and middle tulle layer act as the lining underneath the top layer. The middle tulle layer has hidden set snaps down one side but the inner silk layer and top layer have no closures. You just slip it over the head to wear. Tagged a F38 GB10 IT42 US6. 

Bust: 15-17" flat across from side seam to side seam
Waist: to 15" flat across from side seam to side seam
Hips: to 19" flat across from side seam to side seam
Total Length: 59" from top of shoulder to hem

Modern Sizing Equivalent: XS-SML

Item# DD4754

Reference Photo: Fall 2006 Christian Dior, Look 7. Model Doutzen Kroes.

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Dolce and Gabban launched in 1985 by founders Domenico Dolce and Stefano Gabbana  who still run the label to this day. After a shaky start in the first few years, by the 1990s they they had started to open their own boutiques and had become a force in fashion. In 1993 Madonna chose them for her 1993 Girlie Show tour and they gained world wide recognition. They are known for their dramatic designs that are heavily inspired by their Sicilian heritage. This is the twin of the dress that was worn by Jennifer Lopez for Elle US Magazine that year and the twin of the dress in white was worn to the 2009 Oscars. It is a dress with incredible modern provenance given these two important moments in both fashion and Hollywood history.

Corsets with exposed boning along with lace ups are a hallmark of the Dolce and Gabbana label and this dress has those distinct design elements on full display. The entire body of the dress is one long exposed corset. It is made out of a fine black netting mixed with tulle. All of the boning that gives it structure is covered in a black ribbon that is exposed and becomes its own detail. The bodice is strapless and the cups are exposed. It is meant to hug you like a second skin. The waist is brought in and then the dress glides over the hips. Past the waist the ribbon no longer has boning behind it but it still serves to add structure to the dress. The way that the ribbon and boning have been laid out over the dress visually adds to the hourglass shape that the dress creates on you. At the back the dress closes with one of their big silver zippers that have become a signature and this sits just under one side of a full lace panel that runs long down the back. I love how the ties have been left long so they run down you at the back. The laces can also be used to adjust the size if you need a touch more room. The dress is cut to follow the body all the way to just about the knee and then the lower skirt explodes out from there in a massive fabulous bell shape. The top layer is that same silk net as the body of the dress and then under that there are multiple layers of soft tulle and stiffened tulle. I count seven in total. Running all the way around inside the top of the skirt is a wide padded panel that helps to add structure and support to the skirt. When laid out flat the entire skirt is just beyond a full circle which gives you an idea of how full that lower skirt really is. This is an utterly amazing dress. It has all its original tags in place and was never worn. Excellent condition.

The dress is lined in a combination of black silk and stretch silk with boning all through the bodice as described above. Multiple layers through the skirt as described above. All of the original tags are attached. It is tagged a Dolce and Gabbana size 38. The fabric has stretch. I have added the measurements with the lace is fully tightened  so the measurements below are the comfortable range when it is worn like that. The laces could be loosened to get another couple of inches if needed.

Bust: 14-16" flat across from side seam to side seam
Waist: 11-13" flat across from side seam to side seam
Hips: 16-20" flat across from side seam to side seam
Bodice: approx 9-10" from top of bodice to natural waist
Total length: 60" from top of bodice to hem

Modern Sizing Equivalent: XS-MED

Item# DD4949

Reference Photos: (1) Jennifer Lopez and Stefano Gabban photographed by Carter Smith for ELLE US, October 2008.  /  (2-3) Melissa George wearing Dolce & Gabbana at the Oscars, 2009.

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This is an interesting YSL. It appears to be the Rive Gauche version of the Haute Couture piece from that season and on the RTW runway we found a jumpsuit version of it that is identical in all but the legs vs the skirt. Is possible that it was also shown on the runway as well since collections from this time period were not fully documented. But even with these two reference photos you can see how much it comes to life when worn. It is such an easy dress to wear and it is drop dead gorgeous.

The fabric is a beautiful light weight deep brown silk jersey. The cut of the dress is incredible. The neckline is scooped and then the dress skims over you to the waist. The very edge of the neckline has been piped in the same fabric and the scoop is set a bit wide across so you see a touch of collarbone. The sleeves are fabulous. Each is cut to be very full so that they balloon out over their elastic cuffs. Very tiny padded insets sit just inside that slim band of fabric between the scoop and the seam of the sleeve and this adds the perfect amount of structure to hold the dress in place. The waist is seamed with a small band for shape and you could add a belt if you wanted even more definition. Once on the body the bodice will blouse over the skirt slightly. The skirt falls from the waist and is gathered in tiny gathers all the way around the waist. This allows the skirt to flare and open out slightly as it nears the floor. The quality of the jersey is beautiful and the workmanship in this dress is fabulous. It really showcases just what a genius he was that he could create such a simple piece with such a masterful hand. And it has pockets. Excellent condition with a minor note below.

Unlined and closes with a side zipper. Each cuff has elastic and the elastic has softened a touch. Hand finishes throughout and beautifully made. Tagged a vintage YSL 38.

Sleeves: 26"
Inset shoulders: approx 13-14"
Bust: 16-20" flat across from side seam to side seam
Waist: 12" flat across from side seam to side seam
Hips: open
Bodice: 18" from top of shoulder to top of the 1" band at the waist
Total length: 65" from top of shoulder to hem

Modern Sizing Equivalent: XS-SML

Item# DD4947

Reference Photos: (1) Fall 1975 Yves Saint Laurent Haute Couture.  /  (2) Fall 1975 Yves Saint Laurent Rive Gauche.

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The twin of this dress walked the runway for the Spring 2012 show for Look 46. On the runway it was styled with a very heavy and extremely dramatic wide belt and choker but once you see the dress on its own you realize just how light and pretty the dress actually is. Oscar showed the collection in his new showroom on 42nd street. The space had yet to be fully renovated and this gave the atmosphere a raw edginess and the styling reflected that. Vogue called the evening dresses 'entrance making'. This dress is wonderful and a harder to find larger size.

The dress is made from a lightweight silk organza in the most stunning brown. There is another layer of silk underneath and the dress is very light in weight. The entire top organza layer has been lightly gathered into soft, almost pleats, that add an incredible texture over the entire dress. The bodice skims over you to the seamed waist. The neckline is cut into a V with the two sides of the bodice crossing over each other at the front. It is very flattering. The straps curves up and over the shoulders and the back drops into a V for a pretty and feminine feel. The waist is seamed but has a more generous feel. You could add a belt if you wanted it to be more cinched in. The skirt cascades to the floor and is is very wide and full by the time it reaches the hem. The skirt is made up of four attached tiers of the almost weightless silk with each tier getting wider than the one above it all the way to the floor. This lets the skirt float beautifully 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. It is fabulous. Excellent condition with a minor note below.

The dress is fully lined in a matching brown silk. The dress closes with a back set hidden zipper. I see perhaps the tiniest bit of fading here and there on the edges of the fabric on the shoulder. Organza tends to do this and it is very minor. Tagged a modern ODLR 16

Bust: 20-22" flat across from side seam to side seam
Waist: to 17" flat across from side seam to side seam
Hips: open
Bodice: 16" from top of shoulder to waist
Total length: 62" from top of shoulder to hem

Modern Sizing Equivalent: LRG-XL

Item# DD4946

Reference Photos/Video: Spring 2012 Oscar de la Renta, Look 46. Model Taylor Nicole.

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This beautiful dress was Look 42 on the Spring 2014 runway for Ralph Lauren. It was part of a grouping of all white pieces and I think it is the stand out from that grouping and from the show. The purple label from Ralph Lauren signifies the runway pieces that are the high-end pieces the label produces. Ralph Lauren launched it in 1994 and the label was meant to be the pinnacle line for the brand. The dress is beautifully made. It is a dress that could be worn to any event, but would make a fantastic piece for a bride looking to go the non-traditional route.

This dress is absolutely gorgeous. It is meant to skim over the body and it has a beautiful movement that you can see in the runway video. It is made out of a stark white cotton with an inner lining of another crisp layer of cotton. Little white flowers have been individually cut out and hand sewn onto the dress with a spray of tiny sequins and beads to create their centres. The flowers change slightly in size and are set so they closely cluster up against each other. From the top of the bodice down, the entire dress is covered with a heavy layer of these flowers. This creates this fantastic and whimsical layer of texture over the entire dress. It is like you are wearing an entire floral bouquet and it is magical. Wide straps curve over the shoulder. The front has a slightly squared off feel and I love how the back dips down into a V so you get a bit of bare skin showing. There is no waist seam on this one. It is shaped to come in slightly at the waist and skims over your bust, waist, and hips. The skirt flares out starting at about the knee and is very wide by the time it reaches the hem. At the back, there is extra fabric built-in so that you get a bit of a sweeping feel behind you as you walk. The dress is made out of cotton which gives a bit of weight to it but the applique of all those flowers gives it this sense of lightness and airiness that is wonderful. All of the little hand sewn beads and sequins that attach each individual cluster of flowers to the dress catch the light in a very pretty way no matter what angle you see the dress from. When this is on and you are walking, it is absolutely gorgeous. This is Ralph at his best and it is a tremendously beautiful dress. Excellent condition with a minor note below

Fully lined in a white cotton and closes with a hidden set zipper at the back. There are some very tiny brown dots here and there on some flowers near the hem. It is extremely minor and it otherwise appears to have been worn very little if at all. The flowers have been hand applied and you can see the hand stitching at the back of the fabric. Tagged a modern Ralph Lauren 0.

Bust: 16" flat across from side seam to side seam
Waist: 13" flat across from side seam to side seam
Hips: to 18" flat across from side seam to side seam
Total length: 62" from top of the shoulder to front hem, 66" to the back hem

Modern Sizing Equivalent: XS-SML

Item# DD4942

Reference Photos/Video: (1-5) Spring 2014 Ralph Lauren, Look 42. Model Katya Riabinkina.  /  (6) Jun Hasegawa in Ralph Lauren. credit unknown.

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This is a stunning Christian Dior dress by Raf Simons from the Fall 2014 collection. Its twin walk the runway for Look 21 in the show. It is also one of the most photographed pieces from that show. You will often see a more simplified version of this dress for sale but this is the twin of the actual runway dress and is a rare and special find. In the book Dior: Catwalk the write-up on the show states: "This season I wanted to propose a new woman" said Raf Simons, "A woman with power and energy in a very definitive way. I wanted to pursue powerful tailoring, to offer another reality, another function. This season is less about the leisure of the garden and more about the pace of the city. I am attracted to the reality of the urban world and environment." They also noted that these dresses were meant to be a modern play on the classic 'Bar' shape established by the original Mr. Dior. Vogue noted that it was impossible for Raf to design anything that didn't come straight from the heart and I love that sentiment. It is extremely beautiful and perfectly representative of Raf's time at the label and what his vision for Dior looked like. 

This was one of a series of dresses that were composed of two pieces. Each had a simple shift like under-dress with a more elaborate top layer that was deliberately cut so that it needs its contrasting under-dress to really makes sense. Both could potentially be worn individually but they are better and feel complete when worn together. The dresses were done in a variety of colours and this bright blue and vivid orange combination was one of my favourites. It was a favourite of the fashion crowd and was also used in the Dior campaign and shot for the Dior magazine that season. 

The silk under-dress is a simple shift shape with a scooped neckline and no sleeves. There is darting around the chest area and it comes in just slightly at the waist and then flares out a touch as near the hem. It is backed in a matching silk and the entire thing has the feel of exceptional quality. Its bright orange colour is in sharp contrast to that electric blue top layer. The over-dress that slips on over the orange shift dress is made from a combination of wool and angora. This gives it a lovely soft texture. The front curves down into a deep V that allows the under-dress to show. The waist is highlighted with a softly gathered band of the same blue. The skirt under that is incredible. It is made out of long vertical panels of the fabric and they are split or have open seams all the way around the skirt. When you walk and move the orange under-dress shows in sharp contrast against the blue. I love how the dress closes down one side at the back so you get this beautiful unbroken line above and below the waist line. At the front to one side there is a spray of coloured glass crystals and bead work that run across the front of the main split. I have taken several shots of this and you can see how it is perfectly matched on either side of the split. Phenomenal. It is an amazing example of his time at the label. Excellent condition with a minor note below.

The inner dress closes with a hidden set seam at the back and it is lined in a matching orange silk. The inner hem has ribbon seamed edges. I see perhaps a tiny touch of grubbiness around the edge of the arm hole but I am being very picky. There is a tiny spot on the front. The over-dress hooks to close at the back side waist and this piece slips over the head to wear. It is lined through the bodice in a matching blue silk and the skirt is unlined. I see slight wear to the fabric around the edges of the arm holes and perhaps the tiniest bit of change of colour along the very edge. Again, I am being very picky and both pieces present perfectly once on. Please see the photos after the label shot. Tagged a FR38, GB10, IT42, US6

Inner Dress
Bust: 16-17" flat across from side seam to side seam
Waist: 14-15" flat across from side seam to side seam
Hips: to 18" flat across from side seam to side seam
Total length: 31.5" from top of shoulder to hem with 3" turned under the hem

Outer Dress
Bust: 17-19" flat across from side seam to side seam
Waist: to 15" flat across from side seam to side seam
Hips: open
Bodice: 15.5" from top of shoulder to waist
Total length: 46.5" from top of shoulder to hem

Modern Sizing Equivalent: SML-MED

Item# DD4940

Reference Photos/Video: (1-7) Fall 2014 Christian Dior, Look 21. Model Lexi Boling.  /  (8) Fall 2014 Dior Campaign by Willy Vanderperre.  /  (9) Hanne Gaby-Odiele for Dior Magazine.  /  (10) Alessandra Ambrosio for Vogue Spain, photographed by Alexi Lubomirski, November 2014.  /  (11) Olivia Palermo for HELLO! Fashion Magazine, October 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.

The Resort 2018 collection was Carolina's last collection that she designed before handing things over to Wes Gordon. In the Vogue review they talked abut the inspiration for the pieces saying, "Herrera said she looked to the gardens at her home in her native Venezuela for her flower motifs, and the exuberant colours she pulled from them for other pieces." This dress was Look One of the presentation. Brie Larson wore one on the Today Show that year, Grace Gummer wore hers to the Emmys awards HBO party and we found a photo of Helena Bourdon in one. It feels as fresh today as it did then. 

The dress is made out of a feather light silk crepe chiffon in a beautiful soft blue. A pretty floral print runs over the entire piece. The front plunges to the waist for a startling contrast to the romantic feel of the dress. A tiny ruffle runs over each shoulder and the sleeves slim down a touch as they reach their cuffs. The waist is seamed and buttons to close. A slit at the front runs up to meet the buttons and lets a flash of bare leg show when you move. The skirt is cut to feel soft and full as it nears the hem. This gives it a romantic feel and pretty movement when you move. This is the actual sample dress from the brand and has its original sample tag. Which means it very well may be the dress that was worn by some of the people that we have included here for reference. I love it. Excellent condition.

Fully lined in a pale blue silk chiffon and buttons down the front. Buttons on each cuff. Original hang tag and sample label attached.

Sleeves: 24"
Shoulders: approx 15"
Bust: 17" flat across from side seam to side seam
Waist: 12-13" flat across from side seam to side seam
Hips: to 22" flat across from side seam to side seam
Bodice: 15" from top of shoulder to waist
Total length: 53" from top of shoulder to hem
Slit: 21.5 from the hem up

Modern Sizing Equivalent: XS-SML

Item# DD4749

Reference Photos: (1-2) Resort 2018 Carolina Herrera Lookbook.  /  (3) Brie Larson on 'The Today Show' 2017.  /  (4) Grace Gummer at the 70th  Emmy Awards’ HBO Party, September 17, 2018.  /  (5) Helena Bordon in Carolina Herrera.  

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

The twin of this dress was Look 27 on the Spring 2011 Prada runway. It 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." Muiccia herself called it "minimal baroque". 

This is a fantastically rare dress and it is exceptional and important part of Prada's history. As noted above, the dress is made of a crisp white cotton. It is adorned with a heavy finish of embroidery to create that print that you see going across the dress is all the way around you. It is suspended from the shoulders by straps made of the same fabric. 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. It is just phenomenal. Excellent condition with a small note below.

The dress is fully lined in a white silk chiffon and zips to close at the back. I see one round bead missing at the back and a smudge of a mark near on the lining near the label. It otherwise 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.

Bust: to 17" flat across from side seam to side seam
Waist: to 17" flat across from side seam to side seam
Hips: to 18.5" flat across from side seam to side seam
Total length: 36" from top of shoulders to actual hem, 39" to the bottom of the bead work

Modern Sizing Equivalent: XS-MED

Item# DD4939

Reference Photos: (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.

The near twin of this dress walked the runway for the Spring 2020 show for Look 2. It was one of 12 pristine white looks that Pierpaolo opened the show with. When asked about this, he said “I wanted to work on something universal, to get back to the essence of shape and volume,” he said. “So I worked on the idea of the white shirt, but treating it with a couture sensibility.” Vogue called it "a long gulp of fresh air and optimism centered on something known." and noted the nod to the Renaissance in the "starched bibs, shirt collars, billowing sleeves, and ruffs" all of which this dress has in spades. It was also a nod to the 1968 all-white collection by Mr. Valentino. The show ended with a standing ovation for Piccioli. 

I love the traditional feeling tuxedo bib front of this dress. It buttons to close down the front with little mother-of-pearl buttons but these are all hidden behind a flat panel of crisp cotton. That contrasts perfectly with the starched waffle weave of the front bib. The collar is small and neat and the entire body is cut to billow out over you in an almost tube shape to the low seam at the hip. On the runway they showed it belted with a braided leather rope belt. That belt was sold separately and to show you how the dress looks belted I have added a little silk chiffon tie belt that I had here. The sleeves are beautifully full. For the cuffs he used that same crisp starched waffle weave cotton. The skirt is in total contrast to the top of the dress and is made from three tiers of feather light silk chiffon that are set exceptionally wide and full. This causes the dress to move around you with the slightest movement. There is another layer of chiffon underneath that to keep it from being completely transparent. It is a beautiful dress from a very special collection. I love how the label specifically denotes it as being from the Le Blanc collection. This dress was sold in two lengths and this one is slightly shorter than the one shown on the runway. Excellent condition.

The dress is unlined and slips over the head to wear. It buttons down the front to the seam where the skirt starts. Each cuff has a single button to close. It is meant to feel oversized through the body and you can cinch it in with a belt or the little silk sash that I will include. Tagged a Valentino 38S. The loose and easy cut should allow it to fit a range of sizes.

Sleeves: 22" from the dropped shoulder seam and are 16.5" around the upper arm
Dropped shoulders: to 19" 
Bust: to 20" flat across from side seam to side seam
Waist: to 20" flat across from side seam to side seam
Hips at seam: to 21" flat across from side seam to side seam
Bodice: 25" from neck to seam at top of hips
Total length: 52" from neck to hem

Modern Sizing Equivalent: SML-LRG

Item# DD4938

Reference Photos/Video: Spring 2020 Valentino, Look 2.

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.

James Galanos launched Galanos Originals in 1951. He was only 27 years old.  By 1954 he had won a Coty award and the Neiman Marcus award. By 1958 he was producing clothing that could range in price from $200 to $3000, an astronomical price for ready-to-wear for that time period. When you covert to modern dollars the top end figure would be about $31,000 today. His ready-to-wear was made to couture standards and on par with the French couturiers of the time. Grace Kelly was a huge fan and his work is held in all of the major museums around the world. He is one of my personal favourites and this set is an exquisite and very special example of his work.

This set is from the estate of 1950s model Betsy Pickering Kaiser. Betsy appeared on several Vogue covers in the 1950s and it was during that time period time period that she met Galanos. They were friends for over 60 years. She collected and wore Galanos pieces her entire life and was his friend and muse. He once told her husband ‘I would rather have Betsy wear my clothes than any other woman’. She was a constant presence on the International Best Dressed List and and was added to the Best Dressed Hall of Fame in the early 1970s.

The set is made from a beautiful printed light weight silk chiffon that is combined with a red lace that has a metallic finish. The entire set combined weighs ounces. Huge flowers cover the surface of the silk chiffon. The pants are made from two layers of the chiffon and they are cut long and wide. An elastic waist makes them very easy and comfortable to wear. Layered over the pants is a long dress that is also made from two layers of silk combined with a lace for the top part. Each side of the skirt is slit right up where the top ends. This lets the top skirt billow and move around you when you walk. The bodice part is made of two panels of a metallic red lace and it is connected along each side. There is a bit of an angled V where they connect at each sire. The lace has that fantastic metallic finish to it for contrast against the pattern in the silk chiffon. The bodice has an inner nude silk lining so that from a distance you look like you are wearing nothing underneath it. The top is suspended by four tiny silk straps that curve over the shoulders. Cut supermodel long in length. Excellent condition

The pants are made of two layers of silk chiffon and close with a back zipper and elastic through the waist. The outer layer is lined with a nude silk chiffon through the bodice and the skirt is made from two layers of the silk. The outer layer closes at the side with hidden fabric covered snaps. There are a couple of very minor repairs and light snags near the hem of the overlay. It is unlabelled but is a custom piece made for Betsy and came from her estate. 

Over dress
Bust: to 18" flat across from side seam to side seam
Waist: to 17" flat across from side seam to side seam
Hips: open
Bodice: 19" from the top of the shoulder to the seam under the lace edge
Total length: 62" from shoulder to hem

Pants
Elastic waist: 15-18" flat across from side seam to side seam
Hips: to 21" flat across from side seam to side seam
Pant: 45" from waist to hem
Inseam: 32" from inner seam to hem

Modern Sizing Equivalent: MED-LRG

Item# DD2278

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

This incredible dress is from the Fall 2004 Yves Saint Laurent collection and its twin walked the runway that season. With it's brilliant rose print the dress has such a joyful feel to it. And it feels very French. I am always excited to find examples of Yves' work from this time period and this one is extra special with the addition of its runway provenance. We also found video of the show so you can see how the dress moves. I love it.

The dress is exquisite and I love that you can see just how wonderful it is on the body from the runway reference photos and video that we have found for you. It is made from a light silk chiffon that weighs next to nothing. The sleeves are cut to be very full above their elastic ends and this adds to the flowing feel the dress has. I love that the sleeves are cut to sit fully off the shoulders. This allows your entire upper shoulders to show and the bare skin of your shoulders balances the length of the skirt. The bodice has a built in inner corset that holds the dress in place and gives it hidden structure. Over the inner bodice the fabric is draped into place in a series of gathers and soft pleats. This gives the illusion that the dress skims over the body rather then being so fitted underneath with the built in corseting. The very front is cut into a deep V for a little flash of skin and then he has partially hidden this with a velvet bow that joins the two sides together. The waist is nipped in and I have added a wide grosgrain ribbon for shape. If you wanted to wear it like it was shown on the runway you could easily add a more structured belt. The skirt under the waist seam is quite full and falls to the floor. It widens out as it near the ham and the soft gathers that set it around the waist give it movement as you move. Underneath the skirt is a silk chiffon underskirt in the same print and the under skirt goes to just about the knee or above depending on your height. Both that underskirt, the top printed layer and the sleeves, have a touch of transparency. It is a very subtle addition of sexiness to have these fabrics be so light and with that hint of transparency. The result is that you get a stunning bit of volume through the skirt as it flares out around you and moves when you move and then both the lower skirt and the sleeves have a touch of transparency to them so you get a suggestion of leg and arm showing. It is killer. The dress looks to have been unworn or worn very little. Excellent condition  

The built in corset acts as the lining through the bodice and it is boned and shaped. The skirt has a light silk chiffon lining in a matching fabric. The dress closes with a side set zipper on the inner corset and then the outer chiffon layer snaps into place over that. Elastic around the top of the shoulder and cuffs. The grosgrain ribbon belt is not original to the dress but will be included. It appears to have been unworn or worn very little. Tagged a YSL 42

Sleeves: approximately 25" from the drop
Inner bust: 16.5-18" flat across from side seam to side seam
Inner waist: 14" flat across from side seam to side seam
Inner hips: to 21.5 flat across from side seam to side seam
Bust: 14" from the top of the neckline to the waist
Total length: 59" from top of the neckline to hem

Modern Sizing Equivalent: SML-LRG

Item# DD4936

Reference Photo/Video: Fall 1994 Yves Saint Laurent.

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

This is a very pretty and easy to wear dress from Alexander McQueen whose pale taupe colour is flattering on almost all skin tones. It is a dress that is insanely sexy and bare feeling yet that pale and pretty colour combined with that brilliantly bright hued flower print keeps it feeling fresh. The dress is made of a jersey that gives it amazing drape and it feels easy-to-wear once on the body. The bodice has a halter style front that crosses over itself and creates a V at the front. A double strap curbs over the shoulders, and then at the back one set of the straps fall straight down to the sea there and the other one twist around itself to create a little X in the centre of your bare back. The skirt falls from the seam under the bust and is set to wrap around you at the front. Each edge at the front is set on a curve so that it opens as it falls down your leg. It skims over the hips, opens up around the legs, and then the lower skirt curves back in to fall long at the back. Wrapping it like this gives it tremendous movement when you move and with the back cut longer than the front it adds a gorgeous little kick as you walk. Over one side of the skirt is a huge flower in shades of pink that offer a bright and gorgeous contrast. The dress has the added bonus of travelling very well. It is the kind of piece that you can throw into your suitcase and slip on with either flats or heels when you reach your destination and be instantly ready to go. Excellent condition with a minor note below.

Lined through the bodice in the same fabric and the ski skirt is unlined. It closes with a set side zipper. The inner fabric content McQueen tag is present, but the main McQueen label was lost or removed at some point. The fabric has some stretch.  There is a bit of a mark on the inside of the bodice and it very very slightly shows all along the upper edge, but it  just looks like light hitting it so is wearable as is with no issue. A bit of the hem loose here and there. Please see the photos after the label shot. The comfortable range of measurements when laying flat are given below.

Bust: 14-16.5" flat across from side seam to side seam
Waist: 13-15" flat across from side seam to side seam
Hips: open
Bodice: 14-15" from top of bodice to waist
Total length: to 63" from neck to back hem

Modern Sizing Equivalent: XS-SML

Item# DD4932

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.