This is a stunning an literally huge antique Chantilly lace shawl that is absolutely exquisite. It measures a full 11 feet x 44 inches ( just over 3 feet) and literally weighs a few ounces despite it immense size. Chantilly lace originated and was created in France and is renowned for its fine delicate weave, outlining of the patterns within it and the very elaborateness of those pattern. Lace is having a huge comeback these days and it would be impossible to find lace of this level and workmanship anymore. This is an extraordinary example of the beauty of Chantilly lace and is equally remarkable for the sheer size of this piece.

The condition is at first appearance excellent but closer inspection did uncover some small breaks and a couple of 4" repairs that were well done but are there upon close inspection - you literally have to lie it flat and go over it to notice! I lowered my price quite a bit on this to accommodate for these small flaws and none of the breaks are so large as to detract or take away from this extraordinary textile and in my opinion the old and well done repairs only add to the immense beauty of this shawl!

Note that antique and twenties pieces are final sale. They will be packed exceedingly well and we only sell pieces that will stand up to the stress of shipping, however, having pieces potentially shipped multiple times through multiple customs and countries is too hard on garments that are historically important and deserve to be treated with love and care. Please purchase accordingly.

Item# A163

This item is in sound, as found condition

This is from the 1910s if not before and and is on remarkable condition for its age. Made of a purple dyed cotton velvet it is a stunning testament to the workmanship of this period. The applique panel that runs down the front and is picked up at the back is all backed in a fine tissue silk. This would have been constructed by hand and then placed and sewn by hand onto the base of the dress. It cleverly hides all the closures - behind the front panel lies an series of snaps and hooks that close the dress. That panel is hand embroidered on velvet with silk cording laid into place by hand as well. Around the very top portion of the collar is a inlay of metallic thread and tiny seed beads. I love the austere shape of the dress and how those elaborate panels completely offset that. It is exquisite and remarkable. Excellent, museum quality condition.

The fabric is self backed and the protons of the applique that are not attached to the dress itself but act as closures are lined in purple tissue silk. It closes with hook & eye and snaps under the front as described above.

Sleeves: 23"
Shoulders: 14"
Bust: 16" flat across from side seam to side seam
Waist: 17" flat across from side seam to side seam
Hips: open
Length: 48" from neck to hem

Modern Sizing Equivalent: XS-SML
(the Judy is a 6 and it JUST fit so you should be smaller then this or a collector only)

Note that antique and twenties pieces are final sale. They will be packed exceedingly well and we only sell pieces that will stand up to the stress of shipping, however, having pieces potentially shipped multiple times through multiple customs and countries is too hard on garments that are historically important and deserve to be treated with love and care. Please purchase accordingly.

Item# E529

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

"Mariano Fortuny created a number of variations of his pleated silk gowns. In this model, he combined elements of the classical chiton and the peplos. A "tunic" is attached along its neckline to a long sleeveless underdress, suggesting the apoptygma of the classical peplos. This effect is further emphasized by the handkerchief points at either hip, which would have been seen on the sides of an authentic apoptygma. In the ancient Grecian peplos, the arm openings were positioned along the neckline edge rather than the sideseam edges. This resulted in a dipping hemline at either side of the garment when worn. Fortuny took this structural attribute and achieved the similar, purely decorative effect by cutting away at the tunic's front and back hem. Further, he interpreted the buttoned or pinned closings characteristic of a chiton's shoulder seams by connecting the topline seam of the tunic's sleeves with Venetian glass beads interlaced with silk "rat tail" cording. Fortuny was noted for his antiquarian intentions and scholarly treatment of classical dress, yet in the end, he invented rather than replicated a Hellenic style."

This peach version is a very fine Fortuny Peplos gown, circa 1907-1920. Hand dyed to an Apricot, the pleated silk has a corded silk drawstring at the neck, short kimono style sleeves and an attached tunic with pointed side panels all of which are weighted with clear, Venetian white striped beads. The gown is in very good condition. The silk is strong and wearable with no splits in the pleats. The pleats are intact throughout, with just the slightest of softening in the arm areas - please super size the photos to view. There is a slighte fading of the color in the upper arm area as well. Even the one from the MET seems to have the same softening of the pleats and color through the arm area and I believe this occurs partly from age and partly as a result of the pleats being moved more in this area when worn. All the beads are present. The color, style of sleeve and type of beads used place this in the very early years of Fortuny's career. There is no label present (this was not uncommon in the earlier pieces) but I have had it verified by the senior curator at the Royal Ontario Museum and guarantee it to be a Fortuny.

It is 56" long from the mid neck at the back to the hem and does not appear to be altered or changed in any way from its original condition.

Note that antique and twenties pieces are final sale. They will be packed exceedingly well and we only sell pieces that will stand up to the stress of shipping, however, having pieces potentially shipped multiple times through multiple customs and countries is too hard on garments that are historically important and deserve to be treated with love and care. Please purchase accordingly.

Item# DD216

This garment is in sound, clean, as found condition and is odor free. Thoroughly checked over before shipping, it will be ready to wear upon arrival

This lame lace on metallic netting gown from the turn of the century is jaw dropping. It is is in utterly pristine condition†- something that is becoming more and more of a rarity as time goes by. This piece is one long sheath, drawn in at the lower skirt and caught up with a metallic thread floral detail. All that embroidery work is even more amazing when you realize that the metallic lace tulle is hand embroidered with real gold thread! And that all that hand work is in mint condition. The dress is an overdress and has a heavy Oriental influence a la Paul Poiret with it's loose, simple shape, high waist, kimono sleeves and slight hobble skirt. †The slip is silk charmeuse twenties with ribbon embroidery -included as bonus but not original to the dress. Puffed netting sleeves add a delicate, feminine touch and the belt is a strip of tightly woven metal thread lame. The condition is superb. Its completely wearable (with care of course - its still over a 100 years old so should be handled with much care, love and respect) and its really a work of art, not just a piece of clothing. I could gaze at the back alone for hours! The lucky girl who gets this will be very pleased indeed! It is truly a special piece

This is the second collection of headpieces for Shrimpton Couture, designed and made by hand by the talented Lucia Echavarría of the Magnetic Midnight label. Both this collection and the first that we did together draws its inspiration from some of the most famous headpieces in fashion’s history. Each collection, along with each individual headpiece, is exclusive to Shrimpton Couture.

This collection has been named Egyptomania and Lucia drew her inspiration from ancient Egyptian art and its presence in our cultural imagination. Egyptomania was a term used for the fascination with all things Egyptian in the nineteenth century, a fascination that spread to architecture, art and literature. The movement culminated in the discovery of King Tutankhamun’s tomb in 1922; after which, Egyptian motifs pervaded modern culture, art and fashion, becoming an integral part of the language of Art Deco. Cleopatra, its most famous queen, and her countless portrayals in art, literature and film throughout history, equally embodies this fascination with a magnificent past.

Each of the twelve pieces in the collection plays tribute to the dialogue between old and new in a palette combining rich black and gold velvet with gold sequins, mirrors and beads with hints of turquoise, coral and blue. Each is a one of a kind, made by hand masterpiece that feels modern yet evocative and like an incredible vintage find that is both timeless and unique.

The Alexandria headpiece features gold metal domes and coral, blue and turquoise beads. This piece is entirely handmade and a one off. As a result it may have slight imperfections, which only add to the uniqueness of the piece. To clean any mirrored surfaces, please gently and carefully wipe with a soft cotton cloth moistened with alcohol. In order to protect this piece, please store it in the hard-sided box that it will ship in.

Measures 7.5" total height from bottom of band to the top x 8" total width. The height from the center of the band to the top is 1". The size of the band can be adjusted to fit any size.

Item #MM2-8

Reference Photo: Cherie, Owner of Shrimpton Couture, by Erin Leydon. (Cherie is also wearing a S/S 2017 Celine Dress)

This is the second collection of headpieces for Shrimpton Couture, designed and made by hand by the talented Lucia Echavarría of the Magnetic Midnight label. Both this collection and the first that we did together draws its inspiration from some of the most famous headpieces in fashion’s history. Each collection, along with each individual headpiece, is exclusive to Shrimpton Couture.

This collection has been named Egyptomania and Lucia drew her inspiration from ancient Egyptian art and its presence in our cultural imagination. Egyptomania was a term used for the fascination with all things Egyptian in the nineteenth century, a fascination that spread to architecture, art and literature. The movement culminated in the discovery of King Tutankhamun’s tomb in 1922; after which, Egyptian motifs pervaded modern culture, art and fashion, becoming an integral part of the language of Art Deco. Cleopatra, its most famous queen, and her countless portrayals in art, literature and film throughout history, equally embodies this fascination with a magnificent past.

Each of the twelve pieces in the collection plays tribute to the dialogue between old and new in a palette combining rich black and gold velvet with gold sequins, mirrors and beads with hints of turquoise, coral and blue. Each is a one of a kind, made by hand masterpiece that feels modern yet evocative and like an incredible vintage find that is both timeless and unique.

The Aswan headpiece is a small headband that features gold beaded leaf and flower embroidery on a black velvet base. This piece is entirely handmade and a one off. As a result it may have slight imperfections, which only add to the uniqueness of the piece. To clean any mirrored surfaces, please gently and carefully wipe with a soft cotton cloth moistened with alcohol. In order to protect this piece, please store it in the hard-sided box that it will ship in.

Measures 7.5" total height from bottom of band to the top x 9" total width. The height from the center of the band to the top is 1.5". The size of the band can be adjusted to fit any size.

Item #MM2-1

This is the second collection of headpieces for Shrimpton Couture, designed and made by hand by the talented Lucia Echavarría of the Magnetic Midnight label. Both this collection and the first that we did together draws its inspiration from some of the most famous headpieces in fashion’s history. Each collection, along with each individual headpiece, is exclusive to Shrimpton Couture.

This collection has been named Egyptomania and Lucia drew her inspiration from ancient Egyptian art and its presence in our cultural imagination. Egyptomania was a term used for the fascination with all things Egyptian in the nineteenth century, a fascination that spread to architecture, art and literature. The movement culminated in the discovery of King Tutankhamun’s tomb in 1922; after which, Egyptian motifs pervaded modern culture, art and fashion, becoming an integral part of the language of Art Deco. Cleopatra, its most famous queen, and her countless portrayals in art, literature and film throughout history, equally embodies this fascination with a magnificent past.

Each of the twelve pieces in the collection plays tribute to the dialogue between old and new in a palette combining rich black and gold velvet with gold sequins, mirrors and beads with hints of turquoise, coral and blue. Each is a one of a kind, made by hand masterpiece that feels modern yet evocative and like an incredible vintage find that is both timeless and unique.

The Cleopatra headpiece features a black velvet base with gold beaded and sequined flowers embroidery and a gold beaded edge. This piece is entirely handmade and a one off. As a result it may have slight imperfections, which only add to the uniqueness of the piece. To clean any mirrored surfaces, please gently and carefully wipe with a soft cotton cloth moistened with alcohol. In order to protect this piece, please store it in the hard-sided box that it will ship in.

Measures 9" total height from bottom of band to the top x 10" total width. The height from the center of the band to the top is 3.25". The size of the band can be adjusted to fit any size.

Item #MM2-12

This is the second collection of headpieces for Shrimpton Couture, designed and made by hand by the talented Lucia Echavarría of the Magnetic Midnight label. Both this collection and the first that we did together draws its inspiration from some of the most famous headpieces in fashion’s history. Each collection, along with each individual headpiece, is exclusive to Shrimpton Couture.

This collection has been named Egyptomania and Lucia drew her inspiration from ancient Egyptian art and its presence in our cultural imagination. Egyptomania was a term used for the fascination with all things Egyptian in the nineteenth century, a fascination that spread to architecture, art and literature. The movement culminated in the discovery of King Tutankhamun’s tomb in 1922; after which, Egyptian motifs pervaded modern culture, art and fashion, becoming an integral part of the language of Art Deco. Cleopatra, its most famous queen, and her countless portrayals in art, literature and film throughout history, equally embodies this fascination with a magnificent past.

Each of the twelve pieces in the collection plays tribute to the dialogue between old and new in a palette combining rich black and gold velvet with gold sequins, mirrors and beads with hints of turquoise, coral and blue. Each is a one of a kind, made by hand masterpiece that feels modern yet evocative and like an incredible vintage find that is both timeless and unique.

The Hartor headpiece features large metal gold beads and a gold velvet base. This piece is entirely handmade and a one off. As a result it may have slight imperfections, which only add to the uniqueness of the piece. To clean any mirrored surfaces, please gently and carefully wipe with a soft cotton cloth moistened with alcohol. In order to protect this piece, please store it in the hard-sided box that it will ship in.

Measures 9" total height from bottom of band to the top x 9" total width. The height from the center of the band to the top is 3". The size of the band can be adjusted to fit any size.

Item #MM2-6

Reference Photos: Cherie, Owner of Shrimpton Couture, by Erin Leydon. (Cherie is also wearing a 1950s Bonwit Teller Strapless Black Silk Dress - click here to see)