This is the prettiest silk kimono whose interior side is done in as pretty a print as the exterior. Because of the way its finished properly on the inside you can easily flip it inside out and wear it the other way around. Which effectively gives you two kimonos in one. Even the belt has been made so that each side of it matches one side of the kimono. Both sides are covered with a dreamy and romantic print. On the one side it is a combination of deep bright blues with a huge over-sized floral print. Then on the inside it is an ivory colour with a pretty, more delicate floral print in soft corals. These vintage kimonos made for the western markets are perfect to use as  lingerie robes but they can also double as a dress when wrapped a tied, or an evening jackets when worn layered over other pieces. They are perfect for a honeymoon too. It is just lovely. I just love the romantic feel of the blossoms as they trail across the surface of the kimono. It is a wonderful piece that can work for many different options and it is just so pretty. Excellent condition with a small note below.

The kimono has two sides as described above. Comes with its original reversible tie belt. There are some very tiny marks on it but they are minor. Please see the shots after the label shot.

Width across including sleeves: 50"
Sleeve drop: 22.5"
Bust: 25" flat across from side seam to side seam
Length: 55" from neck to hem

Modern Sizing Equivalent: One Size Fits All

Item# D638

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

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 period between 1972 and 1975 and it is just exceptional. He really did mix colour and print like no other and I think this is a stunning example of his work. I love when I find great examples of this label from this time period. 

This Lanvin dress is gorgeous. I am in absolute love with it. The dress has a very unusual but gorgeous colour and print combination. The wool challis fabric it is made of is light in weight and holds colour exceptionally well. The colors are still crisp, bright and true. The dress has little cap sleeves and the neckline plunges into a V at the front and crosses over itself. The main print on the bodice is of florals and then that is edged with a striped pattern at the back and front. It zips down the back and I think it's amazing how the pattern at the back has been set so that it doesn't break in an awkward kind of way. The waist is cut with a loose and easy cut and on each side of the waist are attached ties that you can use to cinch it in a bit. Since they are attached at the sides you can tie them at the front as I have or at the back. The ties are printed with the floral print on one side and the stripes on the other. From under the waist the skirt falls to the floor and it widens as it nears the hem. A wide panel of the floral print runs down the center and around the hem. The rest of the skirt is a white dot on a soft brown backdrop. This is all achieved by the print having been screened onto the fabric and not pieced together. Which means that it was all pre-planned and figured out and that each dress made would have had to have been cut out specifically so that the design sits right over the dress. Incredible. The pattern that runs over the entire dress is spectacular and it is an instantly recognizable piece of his work. Rarely do you see someone able to mix stripes, floral and dots all on one piece and have it somehow work and be as beautiful as this piece is. Excellent condition

Unlined and closes with a back painted metal zipper. Attached ties at the waist as described above. It appears to have been worn very little if at all.

Sleeves: 11" around the ends and 9" long
Shoulder: 15"
Bust: 18-19" flat across from side seam to side seam
Waist: 13.5" flat across from side seam to side seam
Hips: open
Bodice: 15" from neck to waist
Skirt: 42.5" from waist to hem

Modern Sizing Equivalent: SML-MED

Item# DD3962

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

This is a gorgeous little jumpsuit. It has no label so who made it is a mystery but it is fabulous regardless. This is truly a piece that needs an actual body in it to come to life and my dress form is not doing it full justice. I love the colour combination with its shades of bright tropical blues mixed with a soft orange and then pops of black and white. The fabric is a crepe jersey that has a bit of a texture to it and holds the colour extremely well. It is as bright and crisp as the day it came off the rack. It has no sleeves and the bodice is meant to skim over you. The waist is loose and easy so it is very comfortable to wear and move in. The pants are very full and flare out in a gentle swoop of fabric as they fall to the floor. Each is a full 34" around at the bottom hem. At first glance it looks like a full length dress but as soon as you move you realize it is a jumpsuit. I love the addition of the gold cording that has a series of gold metal 'coins' dangling from it. These have been added around the collar and each arm opening. More of it circles the entire waist and because they are set so that they hang from the gold cording they make a pretty sound when you move. It is fantastic and even better in person. Excellent condition.

Unlined and closes with a back painted metal zipper. Each leg is a full 34" around the bottom hem. Hand finished throughout with ribbon edge finishes at the inner hem. There is a good 2.5" turned up under the hem of each leg if you meed more length. It looks to have been worn very little if at all.

Bust: to 18" flat across from side seam to side seam with a B-C cup in room at the front
Waist: 15" when measured flat across the back from side seam to side seam
Hips: to 18" flat across the back from side seam to side seam
Bodice: 13.5" from the neck to the waist seam
Pant length: 47" from waist to bottom hem
Inseam: 31"

Modern Sizing Equivalent: SML-MED

Item# D637

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

Halston used this particular spaced sequin technique predominantly between about 1977 to 1982. Instead of layering and overlapping the sequins, they were laid out flat in rows, side by side, to create a pattern over the silk. It creates a beautiful visual effect. It is also unusual to find his more colourful pieces. This is a stunning example of his work from this time period.

The silk chiffon that is used to make this dress has been dyed to a fabulous purple. The silk is cut on the bias and has a touch of transparency to it. To wear it you would just add a long nude or purple slip underneath and you could pay with how opaque the end result is by the choice of fabric you chose that you layered under it. Of course in this day and age you could also wear something that leaves you more bare. Onto the silk are thousands of hand placed iridescent purple sequins. This allows the dress to catch the light from every single angle and it is stunning to see.  Halston imported these sequin fabrics from India. During this time period India is where some of the best sequin work in the world was being done. Each individual sequin has been meticulously sewn into place by hand. The design that the sequins are laid out in is done to highlight the curves of the body and visually create more curves. To wear the dress you slip it on and there is a single prong set rhinestone button at the back above the keyhole. The dress then just falls into place over the body in his signature long simple sheath silhouette. The sleeves are long and and straight cut. You end up entirely covered from head to toe and yet with the lightness of the fabric, it's transparency and bias cut movement of the fabric, is still very sensual and sexy. This is a balance that Halston excelled at. The dress is feather light and feels like a dream on. It is stunning and a wonderful and rare example of his work. It looks to have been worn very little if at all. Excellent condition

Unlined and slips on to wear with a prong set rhinestone button and loop at the back of the neck above the open keyhole. Hand applied sequins and hand finished.

Shoulders: 15"
Bust: to 18" 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
Length: 60" from neck to hem

Modern Sizing Equivalent: SML-MED

Item# DD3961

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

I have had one of these dresses in the shop before and it is one of my favorites. It's twin walked the runway that season and then the dress was photoed by David Seidner before it was released to the public to purchase. It is a beautiful example of Yves work during this time period and one of my favorite dresses by him. I myself own one and I love it. It is extraordinarily beautiful.

The first thing you will notice about the dress is that it is as light as air. It is made from a feather light silk voile that has enough crispness to it to hold the shape but that adds as little weight as possible. The dress is strapless and the bodice is gathered into soft draping pleats that are gathered in and held in place down the seam on both sides. There is no shaping or boning inside. It simple drapes over your body and your coverage is provided by two layers of the fabric and the opaqueness caused by that double layer of silk combined with the draping. The gathers run from the top of the bodice to just below the hip. The seam that ends at the hip is cut on a slight downward angle so that the visual line it creates adds length. The skirt falls under that to the floor and it is also made from a double layer of the same fabric. The two layers of the skirt float over each other and will move with your slightest movement. Attached all the way around that seam at the hip is a wide sash of fabric. It extends out into extra long ties at one side. This is how you create that fabulous big soft bow at the side. This adds so much detail and volume and I love it. The print that runs over the entire dress is the perfect final finish. It combines a pretty purple with a muted green and an off-white. The fabric has a touch of transparency to it and with the double layer of the silk the pattern floats over itself and there is a depth created by the effect of the two patterns layered over each other that is fantastic. One of my favorite pieces ever. It is even better in person. Excellent condition

The second inner layer of the same fabric acts as the lining. It closes with a side set zipper. It appears to have been worn very little if at all.

Bust: to 17.5" flat across from side seam to side seam
Waist: 14" flat across from side seam to side seam
Hips: 20.5" flat across from side seam to side seam
Length: 52" from top of bodice to hem

Modern Sizing Equivalent: SML-MED

Item# DD3960

Reference Photo: (1) S/S 1984 Yves Saint Laurent Runway Collection. Model: Anna Bayle.  /  (2) Yves Saint Laurent 1983, David Seidner Archives.

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

This dress came from the house archives of the Tiziani label, which was launched in 1963 in Rome by American designer Evans Richards. The label quickly became a favorite among celebrities and socialites including Elizabeth Taylor, Doris Duke, Gina Lollobrigida, and Principessa Borghese. The label is also famous because a very young Karl Lagerfeld designed for the label. Lagerfeld worked at Tiziani from 1963 to 1969 which makes the pieces he designed while there some of the very earliest examples of his work. This piece is unlabeled but I sourced it from a person who had purchased it direct from the owner of the atelier archives through a verified auction.

The dress is made from a purple silk that is heavy enough to keep the shape that you see. It was then heavily beaded by hand in some areas to highlight the design of the dress. The bodice dips into a V neck that is detailed with a knife pleated ruffle edged with a pink silk satin trim. The ruffle is integral to the design of this dress. It is used throughout to accent the lines and design. It defines the band at the waist that gives you shape and is used on both the cuffs and hem. It is also used to define the panel of beading that sits on each sleeve. The sleeves are incredible. They are cut to be a very full pouf above the wrists. At the middle point of each sleeve is a wide panel that is completely beaded all the way around the arm. More beads sit in one shoulder and there is a heavily done design of them that runs over and down the front of the skirt. The bead work is amazing. It is a mix of hand done embroidery, real metal thread, seed beads, crystals and large oversized domed appliques. These catch the light to give the dress a touch of high glamour. The green of the beadwork pops against the purple silk and they add incredible texture. The body of the dress is fairly simple in design. The bodice is cut to skim over you and the waist is defined by that wide band at the waist. It is cut slightly more on the loose and easy side rather then cinched heavily in. The skirt falls to the floor from there and there is a substantial amount of silk in it. It is hand lined in silk. The bottom hem of the skirt is finished with knife pleating and ruffles to tie in the extravagance of the upper part of the dress. It is made entirely by hand and it is finished to a couture level. It is an amazing piece of fashion history. Excellent condition

Fully lined in a purple silk and closes with a back zipper. Each cuff buttons to close. The inner skirt is finished with a wide stiffened hem that is hidden in the silk lining. This helps to give the skirt structure and the volume that you see. Hand work throughout and made to couture standards. Light padding in each shoulder. There is the tiniest bit of fading to the edge of the purple silk lining on the inner arms. It otherwise looks ot have been worn very little if at all.

Sleeves: 23.5"
Slightly dropped shoulders: 16.5"
Bust: 19" flat across from side seam to side seam
Waist: 15" flat across from side seam to side seam
Hips: open
Bodice: 11" from neck to first seam under the bust, and 17.5" from neck to waist
Skirt: 42" from the dropped waist seam to hem

Modern Sizing Equivalent: MED-LRG

Reference Photo: Cherie, Owner of Shrimpton Couture.

Item# DD3251

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

This stunning set is from the Fall 1984 Haute Couture collection and its twin was photoed that season as well. Who knows this might be the actual set! I have included that reference photo here for you so that you can see how amazing it is on the body. I love how they pushed the sleeves up for the shots which gives it a totally different feel. Ungaro launched his label in 1965 after working for both Balenciaga and Courrreges. He was a brilliant designer who was known for his of extravagant fabrics and flamboyance. His Haute Couture pieces are not easy to find and this set is fantastic.

Both of the pieces that make up this set are stand outs and can be worn together as intended or you can mix and match them with pieces you already have to really extend their wearabilty. The inner dress is amazing. It is cut in that signature Ungaro silhouette for this time period. These little fitted dresses were meant to hug and highlight every curve of the body. The dress is made out of a silver silk velvet that has a metallic silver and gold foil worked through the velvet. This gives is a subtle shimmer and allows it to catch the light from every angle. The fabric is hand draped over the entire dress to give it an incredible texture. The bodice has a highly modified sweetheart shape with one side set at a high peak and the other in a soft curve. The gathers are shaped to follow the line of the bust and emphasize the breasts. On the side that it zippers to close there is a pretty strip of hand applied beads and sequins that run down that side of the dress for extra detailing. Over this is the jacket. The jacket is made from an ivory lace that is backed with a silk. Onto the lace is a mix of embroidery work, little silk applique, rhinestones and faux pearls. The shoulders are padded and the top of the sleeve is gathered around the shoulder for a bit of a high capped feel. The sleeves narrow in a touch from there as they reach their ends. The waist is brought in and shaped with vertical seaming and then the hips flare out. There are no closures on the jacket, it is meant to just slip on and sit over the dress. It is finished with a dramatic Ostrich feather border that that wraps around the neck, down the front and all the way around the hem. It is completely made by hand and the proper Haute Couture numbered tape is present. Excellent condition

The dress is hand lined in a ivory silk and closes with a hand set side zipper. The bodice is boned. Interior waist stay hooks to close. The jacket has no closures. Padding in each shoulder. I see minor marks on the interior lining of the dress and perhaps a slight grubbiness to the inner arms of the jacket. Please see the last photo after the label shot.

Dress
Bust: 16.5" flat across from side seam to side seam
Waist: 13.5" flat across from side seam to side seam
Hips: 17" flat across from side seam to side seam
Bodice: 9" from top of bodice to waist
Skirt: 25" from waist to hem

Jacket
Sleeves: 23"
Slightly extended shoulders: 16"
Bust: to 20" flat across from side seam to side seam
Waist: approx 14" flat across from side seam to side seam
Hips: approx 19" flat across from side seam to side seam
Length: 32" from neck to hem, including the feathers

Modern Sizing Equivalent: XS-SML

Item# DD3367

Reference Photo: Fall 1984 Emanuel Ungaro Haute Couture. (via @only_french_couture)

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

Jacques Fath showed his first collection of just twenty garments in the spring of 1937. It was well received and he steadily built a strong clientele to become of of the busiest ateliers in Paris. The Fath label was shuttered in 1957 after Fath's death three years earlier. In 1992 the label was revived for a short period of time  and Dutch designer Tom Van Lingen was charged with bringing the label back to life. He remained at the helm from 1992 to 1997. This jacket is from that time period and comes from the same woman whose estate I have sourced the other Fath pieces from. She loved extravagant pieces and this jacket is fabulous.

This is one one those magical pieces you will only ever find with vintage. The jacket is exceptional. It somehow combines the feel of a 19th century Dandy with a 1950s skater jacket and yet still brings in the 1990s. The fabric is the start point and it is gorgeous. It is a silver and white brocade that has a swirling design worked over its surface. The pattern on it is slightly raised so you get this incredible texture. The background is slightly darker silver grey shade and then there is a lighter brighter silver that outlines the design. This catches the light and gives the entire jacket a subtle shimmer. The cut of the jacket is incredible. It has shaped shoulders and long sleeves. It skims over the bodice and then comes in sharply at the waist. The skirt of the jacket flares out quite dramatically all around you and the front panels are cut on an angle and are set longer then the back length. The back has an additional pleat at the center for more volume. There is also an unexpected and dramatic cut out at the back. The sleeves are finished with a dramatic white fox cuff and little braided knots close the front. It is a beauty. Excellent condition with a note below

Fully lined in an ivory silk taffeta and closes at the front with a series of braided knots and loops. Pocket flaps are decorative only. There is discoloration to the inner lining under each arm. I see a couple of marks on the exterior. Please see the three photos after the label shot. Priced with these in mind. For those opposed to fur, the cuffs could be easily removed and replaced with a modern faux, feathers or the jacket could be worn without them as the sleeves are perfectly finished underneath.

Sleeves: 24"
Slightly extended shoulders: 15"
Bust: 16" flat across from side seam to side seam
Waist: 13" flat across from side seam to side seam
Hips: open
Length: 33" from neck to back hem, 39" to the longest point of the front

Modern Sizing Equivalent: XS-SML

Item# C601

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

Donald Brooks pieces are extremely well made and his main label pieces, like this one, border on couture in their construction as they were all made to order. Brooks launched his main line label in 1963 with a collection for the Spring 1964 season. He quickly became one of the most sought after of the American designers and his client roster included Mrs. Kennedy, Claudette Colbert and Faye Dunaway. The New York Times said that he was one of 'the three B's of fashion' alongside Bill Blass and Geoffrey Beene. He helped to launch the American Council of Fashion Designers, won three Cody Awards and he designed the costumes for numerous Broadway plays. He launched a secondary boutique line 1971 but by 1973 both of his self-named labels shuttered as he chose to focus on his costume and stage work which was really his first love. This is an exceptional piece of his work

This is an absolute dream piece. This is the type of dress that you will only ever find in vintage. I really cannot gush about it enough. I have had this in my archives for several years now and it felt like the right time to let it go. It is a beautiful and glamorous dress that is red carpet worthy and would make an amazing wedding dress for the bride looking for a non-traditional shorter choice or as an alternative dress in a more extended wedding celebration. And of course it could also be worn to any event. As good as it looks here it only really comes to life once on. The cost to produce this level of fabric now would be sky-high. It is an intricate combination of an ivory silk cording that has been hand stitched into place around several types of netted lace. This combination of lace and cording then lies over an inner matte silk satin. The cording and lace add incredible dimension and texture to the dress. The work that would have gone into the fabric alone is mind blowing. The lines of the dress are equally as beautiful. The bodice has a slight dip at the front neckline and is cut to skim over the bodice from there. There is an inner lining that goes down into a scooped curve so that you see the skin of the upper back and bodice through the lace. The waist is just above the natural waistline. A wide ivory colour silk satin ribbon is attached and wraps around you and then at the front it is finished with the stunning four sided rounded bow that sits up and off the dress. The skirt falls from there and widens out as it nears the hem to give the dress a slight babydoll feel. I love how the all of the edges are finished with a scalloping effect. At the back it zips to close and then has hidden silk covered snaps to secure the fabric over the zipper to hide it. The amount of detail in this dress is just fantastic. It is an absolute work of art. Excellent condition

The bodice is lined in a combination of a nude lingerie weight netting and silk taffeta. The skirt has a full matte silk satin underskirt under the net layer. The sleeves are unlined. It closes with a painted metal zipper at the back and the outer lace snaps over that. Inner waist stay hooks to close. The sleeves buttons to close with hand covered silk buttons and loops. The dress is a more traditional ivory colour in person and more creamy feeling. Perhaps a touch of grubbiness to the edges along the neck but I am being picky. Perhaps a broken thread here and there but remarkably no noticeable broken areas despite all the intricate thread work. Finished by hand throughout.

Sleeves: 24"
Slightly dropped shoulders: 15.5"
Bust: to 16.5" flat across from side seam to side seam
Waist: 14" flat across from side seam to side seam
Hips: open
Bodice: 12" from top of bodice to waist
Skirt: 25.5" from waist to hem

Modern Sizing Equivalent: XS-SML

Item# DD3959

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

A few years ago I had this dress in the opposite colourway of a red on gold and I was so happy to have found this opposite version with its gold on red. Bill Blass launched his label in 1970 when he bought out the Maurice Rentner label and re-launched it under his own name. Blass was arguably one of the most famous of the American designers. His forte was the ability to mix simple styles with luxurious materials and his evening wear in particular seemed to have a way of flattering the wearer. Even when the dress was as bold as this one is. He knew how to walk that line perfectly. This is an fantastic piece of his work and with its glamorous metallic fabric it is even better. The first one flew and I suspect this one will as well. This is one of my all time favourite pieces by him and it is exceptionally beautiful. 

This is an exceptional dress. It is a stunning example of his work during this time period and these metallic pieces are among my favorites by him. The base fabric is a red organza and it is lined in a red silk organza. Fused onto and through the silk are gold lurex appliques that give the fabric a two dimensional pop and makes it gleam and glitter in the light. That gold appliques cover the dress from head to toe with the red organza showing between. I love how each each applique has a red thread detailing running through the design which adds yet another dimension to the overall look of the dress. The neckline is a cut into a low V that plunges to just above to the high set waistline. The bodice skims over you and then is balanced beautifully by those spectacular sleeves. Each sleeve is cut so that it widens as it reaches its edge and then it is finished in a wide border of silk ribbon and split up one side. That same ribbon edging goes around the neckline and circles the waist in a double row. At the front center of the waist is a fabulous embellishment of coiled red and gold fabric. This all tops the skirt that is set into the waist with a series of soft folds. It flows to the floor from there, widening as it nears the floor with yards and yards of fabric. It is a beautiful and dramatic piece of vintage couture. Excellent condition.

Lined through the bodice in a red silk organza and a red silky rayon through the skirt. The sleeves are unlined. It closes with a back painted metal & nylon zipper and hook & eye at the neck. Hand finishes.

Sleeves: 22.5"
Shoulders: 14.5"
Bust: 17" flat across from side seam to side seam
Waist: 13" flat across from side seam to side seam
Inner hips: to 24.5" flat across from side seam to side seam
Bodice: 14" from shoulder to bottom seam of the 3" band
Skirt: 40.5" from bottom seam at waist to hem

Modern Sizing Equivalent: XS-SML

Item# DD3957

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

Ruben Panis was known for his flair for drama. He started off his career designing costumes for showgirls in Las Vegas and eventually honed his skills by working for both James Galanos and Norman Norell. His gowns were worn by many Hollywood icons like Elizabeth Taylor, Zsa Zsa Gabor. At the height of his career he was charging up to $5000 for a dress which at the time was an exorbitant amount. This is an excellent example of his work and it is just gorgeous.

The dress is made out of a beautiful silk jersey that is the perfect shade of a clear, bright red. The way it is cut is very forties in feel with a bit of that old Hollywood charm. The bust is gathered in soft horizontal drapes that run from the top of the bodice to the top of the hip. Inside it is lightly boned. This gives it structure as well as creating a beautiful curving line that accentuates the body underneath. Running up and around the neck is a tiny strap made of the same jersey. This strap hooks into place at one side and you have the option of tucking it in and wearing the dress as a strapless piece. It is not a huge change but it is nice to have the option of either. The skirt falls to the floor under that and the jersey gives it lots of swing and movement. On each side of the dress is this fantastic and with elaborate beadwork design. The beads have been hand applied and form a large abstract flower that splays across each side of you. In the center of each flower is a small dangle of beads that move when you move. The petals are long and curved around you. I love that from the front you just get a hint of the beadwork so when you turn it's this stunning and magical surprise. Excellent condition.

The bodice is lined in a red silky rayon and the skirt has an inner lining made of the same jersey fabric. It closes with a back, painted metal zipper and the strap hooks at one end. Light boning through the bodice and hand finishes.

Bust: 16.5-17" flat across from side seam to side seam
Waist: 13" flat across from side seam to side seam
Inner hips: to 19" flat across from side seam to side seam
Bodice: approx 15" from top of neck to natural waist, 20" to bottom of the draping
Skirt: approx 42" from natural waist

Modern Sizing Equivalent: XS-SML

Item# DD3304

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

The is from the Spring 2017 collection which was an important and interesting show for two reason. First it was the first solo show for PierPaolo Piccioli and second he brought in Zandra Rhodes to make prints for the fabrics shown in the collection. This dress did not make the actual show but I have included a photo of the dress with the same print that did. The show was a huge success and the Vogue review for this collection stated in part; 'They (the models) were wearing a collection he’d based on looking at a lot of medieval art, but particularly at Hieronymus Bosch’s triptych, The Garden of Earthly Delights—not that the clothes read as historicist at all. “I like to know my history, and then forget it,” Piccioli said.... He’d also become fascinated by the work of Zandra Rhodes, the great British fashion designer of the ’70s and ’80s, known for her hand-drawn prints and floaty, haute hippy dresses, so he got on a plane to London to see her. “He was wonderful,” exclaimed the pink-haired designer, who was sitting in the front row today. “He and an assistant came to my studio for two days, I showed them everything in my archive, and he asked me what I could do to make prints from the Bosch painting. It’s just incredible to see what they did with them." In short, he aced it, not only meeting expectations but surpassing them too.'

I own the twin of this dress myself and I love it. It is one of my favorite pieces. It feels thoroughly Valentino but it also nods at the work and cut of Zandra. Then you add in that spectacular Rhodes print that covers its surface and it's just a joy. The dress is made from a fine light weight silk that is cut on the bias. Think scarf weight. This is what lets it move so beautifully over the body once it is on. When you walk, the fabric of the skirt and those fantastic caped sleeves catch the air and billow out around you. The colour is a beautiful clear red and the print draws in several other tones and shades of red. It plunges into a V at the bodice at the front and then at the back it is scooped quite low with a crossover of skinny straps to hold it n place and still leave your back bare. The seams runs angled under the bust and then it just falls from there to skim over the waist with no seam there to break the line. Depending on your height, the skirt falls to just above the floor in a sweeping expanse of fabric. This is a signature length for him and it allows your shoes to peek out from under the skirt. The skirt is cut beautifully and gradually widens out as it nears the hem. That and the bias cut of it is what gives it the floating effect it has when you move. There is actually several yards of fabric in the skirt. The sleeves are wonderful. Each is extremely wide and falls from the wide set shoulders. I took a shot where I held one out so you can see how wide they are. I love them. The precision in cut to have this all fall and move so beautifully should not be underestimated. It looks to have been worn very little if at all. Excellent condition

Lined through the front bust in a red silk and the rest of the dress is unlined. The dress has a low set zipper at the back. Tagged a Valentino 36. The easy cut should fit a range of sizes. It looks to have been worn very little if at all.

Shoulders: no true defined seam
Bust: to 16" flat across from side seam to side seam
Waist: to 15" flat across from side seam to side seam
Hips: open
Length: 56" from shoulder to hem

Modern Sizing Equivalent: XS-SML

Item# DD3958

Reference Photo: Spring 2017 Valentino Runway, Look 44. Model: Blesnya Minher.

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

Vicky Tiel was backed by Elizabeth Taylor as a young designer after working on the costumes for 'Whats New Pussycat'. After a stint with a partner she launched her self named label in Paris in 1970. She as one of the very early boutique owner/designer that offered a ready-to-wear option in Paris. That said, her clothes often walk a fine line between ready-to-wear and couture in terms of their construction and techniques used. By the mid to late seventies her style had developed into the ultra sexy and feminine clothing that she is now known best for. By the eighties and into the nineties, she had a cult celebrity following. This is a stunning example of just how gorgeous and dramatic her work could get.

This is one of the most gorgeous Vicky Tiel Couture dresses That I have had in the shop. The dress is cut with her signature hourglass silhouette that follows your every curve. The bodice dips at the front with a pretty curved sweetheart neckline and has a simple coop at the back. The bodice is shaped and cupped over the breasts and there is inner boning for support. It is fitted under that and the waist is nipped in sharply. The sleeves as long and I love how they are set in a straight line down from the shoulder to give that sharp little angle where they meet the curve of the bust. The skirt wrapped over itself and the hem curves up that one side. There is a bit of a slit behind the front wrap so you get a flash of leg when you sit or walk. The fabric is gathered in on the one side for detail and there is a slight nit of padding that sits under the waist seam, This is what give s it that little shelf like feel and touch of volume that exaggerates the shape of your curves. I love it. The silk is equally spectacular. The back drop is done in an inky black  with a secondary pattern woven though in a different finish thread. Then onto that is a stunning bright pink floral print and vivid green leafs. It looks to have been worn very little if at all. Excellent condition

The dress is fully lined in black silk and closes with a back painted metal zipper.  Boning through the bodice. It looks to have been worn very little if at all.

Sleeves: 22"
Inset shoulders: 13"
Bust: 16.5" flat across the back from side seam to side seam
Waist: 13.5" flat across the back from side seam to side seam
Hips: 17.5" flat across the back from side seam to side seam
Bodice: 15" from top of the shoulder to waist
Skirt length: 23.5" from waist to hem

Modern Sizing equivalent: SML-MED

Item# DD3955

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

Antony Price launched his label in 1979 and quickly became known as one of the more glamorous designer of the eighties. His work tended to have a mix of femininity and toughness that showed off the body and often had dramatic over-the-top finishing touches. Supermodel Jerry Hall was a muse and the rock and roll crowd adored him. You can see that mix of tough and feminine in this fabulous little dress with its elaborate gathers and its fitted one shoulder silhouette.

The dress is made out of a black taffeta and all of the gathers have been set by hand. The dress and its gathers have been molded around the body on a curving angle that are set to slope down on the same line as the shoulder. The fabric and the way that it has been gathered gives the dress a slight bias cut to it so that it moves easily over the body once on. It is a dress that is meant to curve and wrap around your body like a second skin. It is very sexy. The waist curves in and the skirt is cut slim and fitted. What is fascinating about this dress is that the zipper closure is set the follow the curves of the gathers. Instead of a normal vertical zipper at the side or back, he has set his zipper to wrap around the body so there is no line to break the design. This not only completely hides the zipper perfectly but might also have been done so the girl wearing it could have the option to leave the zipper open a bit to show a little skin if she wished. This is a dress that needs an actual body in it to make it truly come to life. It is amazing. Excellent condition.

Fully lined in a black silky rayon and closes with a curving set zipper as described above and shown in the photo. Appears unworn. Tagged a size medium on the handwritten tag but cut small

Bust: to 16" flat across from side seam to side seam
Waist: to 13.5" flat across from side seam to side seam
Hips: to 18.5" flat across from side seam to side seam
Length: 40" from top of shoulder to hem

Modern Sizing Equivalent: XS-SML

Item# DD2758

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

This dress was shown in the xx collection in a solid blue and then made in a couple of patterns. This dress in its metallic red rose print was one. The Attico brand was founded by Gilda Ambrosio and Giorgia Tordini and the line has a vintage vibe to it that I love. This dress has never been worn and still has its original hang tag attached.

The dress is brand new and unworn. It is made out of gorgeous fabric that has a red metallic rose print with green leafs running over its surface. The print is fabulous and completely covers every inch of the dress. The fabric is light in weight and adds to its ultra sexy feel. It is easy to wear too. It simply wraps and ties to one side of the inner side seam and then it snaps into place under the half bow of fabric at the waist on the other side. The front plunges down into a low V at the neck and the bodice is cut on a on a flattering curve. It is set wide across the shoulders and the sleeves pouf out around the upper arm and then taper into the wrists. The ties and snap cinch it in at the waist and then it curves around the hips. It is cut micro mini short. It is brand new and unworn. Excellent condition

Unlined and ties to close at the inner side and then the bow snaps into place. Tagged a size 38. Unworn and pristine. The wrap does give it a bit of play for sizing

Sleeves: 23"
Slightly inset shoulders: 13"
Bust: to 16" flat across from side seam to side seam
Waist: 13" flat across from side seam to side seam and adjustable more
Hips: to 20" flat across from side seam to side seam and adjustable more
Length: 31" from neck to hem

Modern Sizing Equivalent: XXS-SML

Item# DD3956

Reference photo: Spring 2019 Look 11, Attico

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

This is a version of a dress from the Spring 1998 Haute Couture collection. I have included a reference photo here and you can see the similarities between the two dresses. It was not unusual for a client to have a dress completely customized to her and this most likely is a one off with no other exactly like it made. The dress is absolutely exquisite. It is a stunning example of Mr. Valentino's couture work during this time period.

This dress is absolutely beautiful. It is strapless with a fitted and sculpted bodice. The bodice and back have been shaped and set by hand into wide flat curving panels  that wrap around the bodice. It is a masterpiece lesson in couture techniques. The top of the bodice has a wide panel that curves over the sweetheart shape and then extends down into the skirt. Inside it is boned and has a full an inner corset for support and to hold the dress perfectly in place. At the back the pleats wrap around toward the zipper, cross over themselves and then extend into the skirt. The inner skirt of the dress is made of a fine black silk netting that is backed by silk chiffon. That  netting is then completely covered with a dense application of bead and sequin work that is entirely done by hand. I believe that the bead work was done by Lesage. It is all done completely by hand and this level of fine workmanship that would have taken many many hours to complete, perhaps even into the hundreds of hours. The outer skirt lays over this inner skirt and opens in an angle down the front so that you see part of the inner beaded skirt. What is truly incredible is that even though the entire inner skirt is beaded al the way around, you only see that one part of it from the front. That is the level of work that you see only in couture. The dress appears to have never been worn, or worn very little. Excellent condition

The inner skirt is fully backed in a silk chiffon. The outer panels of the skirt are unlined. The inner bodice has a netted silk corset that is boned and cupped. The bead work extends all the way up to just under the bodice on the inside. There is a zipper to close the corset with a second zipper over that to close the outer layer. Inner waist stay that hooks to close. The dress is completely finished by hand to haute couture standards. It appears to have been worn very little if at all. My photos do not do it full justice and it really needs an actual body to bring it to life. 

Bust: to 17.5" flat across from side seam to side seam, with a B-C cup
Inner waist: 14.25" flat across from side seam to side seam
Hips: to 19" flat across from side seam to side seam
Bodice: 10" from top of bodice to inner waist seam
Skirt: 40" from inner waist seam to hem

Modern Sizing Equivalent: SML-MED

Item# DD3156

Reference Photo: Valentino Spring 1998 Haute Couture Collection

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

For the Spring 1999 collection Oscar did a series of separates and dresses that featured these dramatic trained silk taffeta skirts. There were several variations shown on the runway and I have included some of those here. Ashley Judd wore a red sleeved version of the dress to the VH1 Divas Live event. She then changed and wore the skirt and jacket version to the after party at the Beacon Theatre in New York. The Met Museum holds a piece from this collection in their permanent archives too. This strapless dress version is spectacular and if it is a piece with drama that you are after - this is it.

This Oscar de la Renta piece is so striking and it has all the drama that I love to find when I look for vintage. The dress is made out of a silk taffeta and the colour of the silk changes slightly in different lights. In most it seems to be a deep midnight blue but in certain light it has a more purple tone. The bodice is strapless and is constructed from a series of silk covered boning placed vertically side by side all the way around you. Each boning is placed at exactly the same space away from the next one and this technique creates incredible texture. Inside the bodice it has built in cups and a small amount of padding for support. It nips in at the waist and then the skirt falls to the floor and beyond. The skirt is cut to skim over the hips and is shaped to exaggerate the curve of the hips. It them narrows in towards the floor. At the back it gathered in and up to the back of the mid thigh. The edge of the hem is detailed with a jagged edging. Where it is gathered up and into the back of the skirt these create their own fabulous design as they fall from the back of the skirt. The skirt then extends out into a sweeping curve of fabric to create a train behind you. It is extraordinary. My photos do not do it full justice and it really needs an actual body to bring it to life. Excellent condition

The bodice is fully lined in a black silk organza, The inner bodice is boned all the way around. The dress closes with two zippers, one that closes the interior and a second that closes the exterior. Slight padding in each cup. Tagged a vintage 12

Bust: 17" flat across from side seam to side seam, with B-small C cup
Inner waist stay: 13.5" flat across from side seam to side seam. You can go to 14" if the stay is not hooked
Hips: to 20" flat across from side seam to side seam
Bodice: 10" from top of bodice to waist
Skirt: 42" from waist to longest point of front hem, the back skirt extend to about 62" from waist to longest point

Modern Sizing Equivalent: SML-MED

Item# DD2906

I also have another version form the runway in the shop at the moment and you can see that one here 

Reference Photos: (1-2) Spring 1999 Oscar de la Renta Runway Collection.  /  (3-5) Ashley Judd at the VH1 Divas Live Event & After Party, April 13, 1999 at Beacon Theater in New York.

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

This dress has had the part of the label that tells the collection date removed at some point in its history but I believe it is from the later 1980s based on the styles and similarities to other dresses I have previously had in the shop from that period. Regardless of its exact date it is definitely Karl's work and it is a gorgeous example of his work. It is a very easy to wear dress and of course Chanel is never a bad idea. 

This Chanel dress is so pretty. It is made out of a black silk chiffon that gives the dress its play on different transparencies that make up the design. It is light in weight and wonderfully easy to wear. Despite its light weight the fabric still has enough substance to hold the cut and give it the wonderful shape that you see. The bodice of the dress is sleeveless and cut to skim over you. A single layer sits over the bodice to the high scooped neckline and then there is a second layer under that to cover the breasts. The top layer then curves over the shoulder and plunges to the waist band in a deep open V. From just under the bust to the waist is a wide gathered 7" band made from gathered silk chiffon. I love how the gathers are set horizontally so it breaks the vertical lines of the dress and becomes a design detail in itself. The skirt falls for under there and it is made up of several curving panels of the silk chiffon that are set around the waist. The opaqueness  is created by them being layered over each other but when you move or sit you get a flash of a subtle transparency that is fabulous.  The lightness of the silk allows it to flare out and the movement that the layers give the dress has once it is on is incredible. The front is curved up so that is is slightly shorter then the back. At the back it zips to close and then has a row of tightly spaced gold toned Chanel buttons running all the way up the back. The construction is immaculate and it looks to have been worn very little if at all. It is gorgeous. Excellent condition

Lined as described above through the bodice and it zips to close at the back with a row of buttons over the zipper closure. It looks to have been worn very little if at all.

Bust: to 17" flat across from side seam to side seam
Waist: 14" flat across from side seam to side seam
Hips: open
Bodice: 11.5" from top of shoulder to top seam of waist banding
Waist band: 7"
Skirt: 26" from bottom seam of the waist band to shortest point of the front hem, 41" to the longest point at the back

Modern Sizing Equivalent: SML-MED

Item# DD3954

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

Adolfo started his career under Balenciaga and like Halston he was a successful milliner before opening his own fashion house. He became know for his Chanel inspired suiting and beaded pieces. Adolfo often did custom work for his clients who ranged from the Duchess of Windsor, to Jackie Kennedy Onassis, Gloria Vanderbilt and Nancy Reagan. He even won a Coty Award in 1969. I love his work and this is a gorgeous set.

When worn together the pieces have the feel of a dress. But being three separate pieces you have the versatility to wear them with other items you already own and really extend the life of them. All three pieces are made out out of a light weight silk lame that has gold metallic thread running through the fabric. The silk of the sleeveless tank top combines two shades of gold. The skirt has that same gold set as a wide band around the hem. Then the body of the skirt is a gorgeous purple silk. Onto the purple is a wavy design in a gold and a metallic green. The green especially catches the light with the smallest movement and it is fabulous. The skirt is fitted at the waist with a gold bad of fabric and then widens out as it nears the hem. Depending on your height this should fall at a mini length. It also comes with its original gold tie belt that is finished with long purple silk cord and tassels. This is one of those pieces that is even better in person. Excellent condition.

The top is unlined and the skirt has a second interior layer of the gold silk lame. The top buttons at the back of the neck with a fabric covered button and the skirt closes with a zipper and hook & eye at the waist. Pockets on the hip of the skirt. The top is bias cut so has some give.

Top
Bust: 16-19" flat across from side seam to side seam
Waist: 15-18" flat across from side seam to side seam
Hips: 18" flat across from side seam to side seam
Length: 19.5" from shoulder to hem

Skirt
Waist: 12" flat across from side seam to side seam
Hips: open
Length: 38" from waist to hem

Modern Sizing Equivalent: XS-SML

Item# DD2626

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

The Western world in the twenties to fifties had a special fascination with the far East and this highly influenced the fashion of that time period. In particular Japan and China began to export and sell pieces that they made specifically for the tourist market. These often combined classic design elements of their respective cultures with a slight Western twist to the cut and colours that were used. You will often will see the shorter jackets come up for sale but the longer cut coats like this one are a little harder to find. They are far more versatile in my opinion. These were the most prized both then and now. This one is stunning. I own the twin of this one and besides mine and this one I have rarely seen one in this colour before. It is made from a very fine soft dusty pink with a floral detailing that runs over the entire coat. These are embroidered and woven directly into the silk with a matte thread. The cuffs are top stitched for extra detail. At the neck that same top stitching detail runs along the collar and continues down the front and around the hem and then it also details those pretty curved pockets at the front. It closes down the front with silk frog buttons in a matching pink silk. It is lovely and light which makes it very easy to wear. Excellent condition with a minor note below

Fully lined in pink silk, it closes with frog knots at the front. There are some small faint marks on the front

Sleeves: 19" 
Shoulders: no defined seams
Bust: 19.5" flat across from side seam to side seam
Waist: 20" flat across from side seam to side seam
Hips: 22" flat across from side seam to side seam
Length: 43" from neck to hem

Modern Sizing Equivalent: SML-MED

Item# C601

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

Bill Blass launched his label in 1970 when he bought out the Maurice Rentner label and re-launched it under his own name. Blass was arguably one of the most famous of  the American designers. His forte was the ability to mix simple styles with luxurious materials and his evening wear in particular seemed to have a way of flattering the wearer. He knew how to walk that line perfectly. This is a gorgeous example of his work and I love that I can date it based on the very similar one that was used the a Vogue shoot that year. It gives you a better idea of how it will look like once on a body.

The dusty pink mauve coloured sequins that cover that entirely this dress are so densely applied that they actually overlap one another. There are hundreds of thousand of sequins used and it is incredible. Mixed in with those is a band of gold beads that wrap around the hips. This is set around the on one side and widens out over the hip and then narrows to a point where it meets the low set waist seam. Another triangle feeling band sits at the hem of the skirt on the opposite side. This time done in silver sequins. It is cut in that fabulous eighties big volume on top over a fitted skirt. The shoulders are strong and padded for shape. The neckline is scooped and the sleeves are long. The bodice is cut long and it is meant to blouse out over the skirt. Inside there is a silk lining in that same purple and then the sequin fabric is also lined in silk. It buttons down the back and you get a tiny glimpse of skin between the buttons. The sequins catch the light at your slightest move and its fabulous in person. Excellent condition.

Fully lined in silk with a low set inner zipper at the waist and a series of buttons down the back. Padding in the shoulders, It is meant to be oversized at the top so the hips are the most important measurement to consider.

Sleeves: 22"
Shoulders: 14.5"
Bust: to 19" flat across from side seam to side seam
Natural waist: open
Seam at top of skirt: 15.5" flat across from side seam to side seam
Hips: 17.5" flat across from side seam to side seam
Bodice: 19.5" from top of shoulder to seam at top of skirt
Skirt: 22" from waist to hem

Modern Sizing Equivalent: XXS-XS

Item# DD3953

Reference Photo: Models in Bill Blass, Vogue, October 1982.

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

Early Ferragamor pieces are highly collectible and in their day they were sought after. Women like Elizabeth Taylor and Brigitte Bardot were huge fans of the label. From the sixties through to the early eighties the Ferragamor label was known world wide for pieces that incorporated gorgeous graphics and cutting edge designs. This dress is extremely well made and a very dramatic and bold dress that will definitely turn heads. 

This dress is entirely covered with hundreds of thousands of glass beads. When it is off the body it it heavy. I weighed it on my scale and it comes in at just under 7 pounds. And yet it drapes and sits on the body in a very balanced way. You can definitely tell it is a high end piece given all that weight. It is very rare that you would see a dress this heavy in a new piece. Usually heavy applications of glass bead work is reserved for modern couture or far older pieces then this. The cut of this dress is a very flattering one shoulder silhouette. The base fabric is a fine red silk chiffon and then it is lined in a second inner layer of a red silk chiffon. The one side curves up and over the shoulder and then from there it curves gracefully across the back and the bottom point of the plunge sits slightly towards the back. The shoulder is twisted for a pretty detail. The angle the open side is cut on is fairly sharp so it really leaves you bare on the one side. The waist is seamed but not cinched and the dress has its original fully beaded, matching belt that you can wrap and tie around you to add more shape. The dress falls to the floor from there and the skirt widens out as it nears the floor. There are many yards of fabric in the skirt and one side of the back skirt has more folds and gathered fabric. This is done on the more bare side of the bodice and it a deliberate detail to add extra volume there and highlight the open plunge above it. It is also cut slightly longer here as well for a pretty nod to a train without being a train. The beads are done in both a flat pattern towards the bottom and then are more a looped design towards the upper part of the dress. This gives the beads a very subtle bit of movement. The beads are the same red as the dress. They catch the light with your slightest movement and from every angle. It is just spectacular. Excellent condition with a minor note below

Fully lined in a red silk chiffon. It closes with a side zipper and an inner waist stay hooks to close. Tagged 40. I see a small ares on one side of the bodice where the fabric has been folded and sewn. The angle is sharp and I am sure this was done so it fully covers the bust of you are smaller chested. I left it could it could be easily un-tacked. I see a small area of missing beads near the zipper and one near the edge of the arm hole side. Please see the photos after the label shot. There is the occasional loose thread or missing bead here and there but there are so many thousands of beads its minor and its pretty much unavoidable with a dress with this many beads  

Bust: 16-18" flat across from side seam to side seam
Waist: to 14" flat across from side seam to side seam
Hips: to 24" flat across from side seam to side seam
Bodice: 15" from top of bodice to waist
Skirt: 44" from waist to hem and 47" to the one slightly longer part at the side of the back

Modern Sizing Equivalent: SML-MED

Item# DD3952

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

This is just a wow kind of piece. It is made from a red jersey that has a touch a sheen finish and has some pretty fabulous draping. There is a a touch of Studio 54, disco era sexiness thrown in the mix and it just couldn't be better. The jumpsuit simply slips on to wear and has elastic through the waist so that you can get into it. The top is draped and cut loose and easy. It has a serious plunge on the front and the back with panels of fabric draping over the bodice to the waist. Both sides plunge almost to the waist but the placement of the fabric holds it in place so that you feel safe wearing it. Each shoulder is gathered across the top of the shoulder and left as a wide panel of fabric there to create impact. The waist has elastic so its incredibly easy to wear. The jumpsuit has its original matching tie belt so you can cinch on the waist as much as you want to really emphasize the shape or you can wear it loose and easy. The pants have an almost harem cut feel to them, with each leg narrowing in a bit by the time they hit the ankles. Each side has a huge pointed panel that you can leave out for a more avant garde shape or tuck the point inwards to create a soft draping down the side of the leg. It is so sexy and so very easy to wear. It looks to have been worn very little if at all. Excellent condition

Unlined and has elastic through the waist. The fabric does have some stretch. Original tie belt is present. The easy cut should allow it it fit a range of sizes. the colour is a touch brighter in person

Bust: open  and generous. Should fit most busts from tiny to about 40" around
Waist: 12-17" flat across from side seam to side seam
Hips: open and generous
Bodice: approx 15" from neck to lowest waist seam but meant to drape a bit
Pants: 39" from waist to hem
Inseam: 28"

Modern Sizing Equivalent: XS-MED

Item# DD3951

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

This is the second time I have had this dress so despite that fact that it has no Bill Blass label I recognized it right away. It does still have its Martha label in it which is nice considering that its twin was used for the ad campaign that year in conjunction with Martha's, a high end boutique of this time period. It is as good as the first time I had it and is a dress that is a true classic. It is even more gorgeous in person too.

This beautiful sequin covered dress is absolutely stunning. It is also insanely sexy once on the body and it is beautifully made. The base of the dress is a snakeskin printed silk that is backed in a silk chiffon. Onto this are thousands of hand applied clear sequins placed side by side to completely cover the surface of the fabric. This flat application technique for the sequins is more time consuming due to the precision required and it also changes the way the light hits it as opposed to overlapping sequins. It gives the fabric the suggestion of liquid and when you move the light catches the sequins and creates the most magical effect. The neckline is a high and hooks behind the neck to leave the upper back and shoulders exposed and bare. The waist nips in and you can add a belt for even more shape as it was shown in the ads or leave it off if you prefer to not break the line. The skirt falls to the floor and gradually widens out as it nears the hem. It is truly beautiful. Excellent condition

Fully lined in a fine red silk chiffon. It closes with a low back zipper and the halter hooks to close at the very back of the neck. Hand finishes and original belt. I see a couple of sequins missing at the back of the neck near the hooks. Please see the final photo

Bust: to 16" flat across from side seam to side seam
Waist: 13" flat across from side seam to side seam
Hips: to 19" flat across from side seam to side seam
Bodice: approx 15" from top of bodice to waist
Skirt: 41.5" from waist to hem with just under 3" turned up under the hem

Modern Sizing Equivalent: XS-SML

Item# DD3950

Reference Photo: Bill Blass for Martha Ad, 1974.

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

This dress was designed by Belgian-born Jules-Francois Crahay, who headed the Lanvin ateliers from 1964-1984. His time at the Lanvin label is one of my personal favourites for the house. He pushed the envelope in terms of using cutting edge fabrics available during this time period and his designs ranged from high fantasy and print-work to amazingly wearable and timeless pieces like this. It is stunning in person and  think it is even better then the photos do it justice.

The dress is made from a black moire finished silk mix in a black on black design. The finish lets it subtly catch the light from every angle while still feeling elegant and not too over-the-top. The bodice is strapless and lightly boned for structure. It has a pretty curved and scalloped pattern around the top edge for a little unexpected detailing. It is meant to fit snug to you and then nips in at the waist. Under that the skirt is cut in this fantastic tulip shape. It is quite full and open through the hips and then it comes in to narrow down as it reached the hem. Over this is an 8" wide peplum that circles all the way around the hips and is cut and set so that it flares out a bit to add to the exaggerated feel the hips have. It is gorgeous and looks to have been worn very little if at all. Excellent condition.

Fully lined in black silky rayon and closes with a side hidden zipper. The bodice is lightly boned. Hand finishes throughout.

Bust: 16.5" flat across the back from side seam to side seam
Waist: 13" flat across the back from side seam to side seam
Hips: to 23" flat across the back from side seam to side seam
Bodice length: 8.5" from top of bust to waist
Skirt length: 21" from waist to hem

Modern Sizing equivalent: XS-SML

Item# DD3949

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

Victor Costa launched his label in 1974 and was known for producing versions of what was seen on the Paris runways. Costa chose good fabrics for his designs and even though his work was often very close interpretations of other designs he did add his own unique twist when it came to colours, cut and fabrics. Some of his work is quite lovely and this dress is one of the very good pieces that he did. 

This is such a great little dress. It is simple yet very striking with the feathers all around the bodice. The body of the dress is made from a black jersey and it is cut and shaped to follow your curves. The fabric has some thickness to it so that it keeps the exact shape that you see once on the body. The skirt has the illusion of being wrapped over itself at the front. It circles around the hips and wraps over itself at the front curving up from the hem. This leaves an overlapped opening so that you get a flash of leg when you move or sit. The waist is accented by a wide band of gathered fabric that starts at the top of the hips and goes right up to under the bust curving in for shape. Topping this is that wonderful strapless bodice that is made out of overlapped feathers. The feathers have this fantastic slightly green iridescent finish to then that catches the light from every angle. This creates a fantastical and whimsical feel that is fabulously bold and dramatic. Excellent condition

The dress is lined in the same jersey as the exterior and it closes with a back zipper. The inner waist stay closes with hook and eye. There is a light layer of padding through the bust and the bodice is lightly boned

Bust: to 17" flat across from side seam to side seam
Seam under the bust: 15.5" flat across from side seam to side seam
Waist: 14" flat across from side seam to side seam
Seam at top of hips: 17.5" flat across from side seam to side seam
Natural hips: to 21" flat across from side seam to side seam
Length: 36" from top of feathers to hem

Modern Sizing Equivalent: SML-MED

Item# DD3948

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

Bill Gibb was crowned Designer of the Year in 1970. He was one of the most influential designers in 1970s Britain and his clothes were worn by the rich and famous. His work has a high fantasy element to it that I love. Much of his work verged on couture and he was unrelenting in striving for perfection. This dress is from his 1976 collection and version from that same collection with similar elements use for it was photoed on Tina Chow for Vogue that season. His pieces were never produced in large quantities and this one is exceptional. It is wonderful to have such a gorgeous example of his work in the shop.

This amazing set is actually two separate pieces which is lovely as you can mix and match them with pieces you already own to extend their wear. The top piece is this fantastic evening coat that is pure drama. It is made out of a pale pink silk netting with a built in inner bodice piece that is made out of pale pink silk. This sits over a full length skirt that is made out of a fine silk chiffon with a soft pink silk lining. The top layer of silk on the skirt is knife pleated all the way around. This gives is some volume and movement when you walk. Around the hem are three stripes of silk satin ribbon in a pale blue, a pink and a mint green. This same ribbon detail is also used to edge the inner silk of the jacket. The effect of seeing the stripes on the skirt and the top through the netting of the jacket is stunning. The inner top also has the same knife pleat finish so that it feels like one ling piece under the netting once on the body. The very top layer that floats over everything is a silk netting that has been hand embroidered with a flowers and vines design. The design has done with a soft pastel thread that has a metallic silver running through it. This covers the entire outer later and gets denser as it reaches the hem. The thread itself is the same colour combination as the ribbons on the skirt and under the top but with that metallic finish. The final effect is incredibly beautiful and romantic. The edges of the jacket are finished with silver cording and there is a long tie of silver cording at the neck. The sleeves are incredible. They are cut extra long and each has an inner knife pleated inset made out of a pale pink silk chiffon. They pouf out from the shoulder and are caught up just below the elbow. On an actual arm they are meant to sit up on the arm where they are brought in so that they netting above is very full. Below that the lower sleeve is cut to flare out and widen as it reaches the end of the sleeve. Each sleeve has the same hand embroidery detailing as the body of the jacket. Long silver cords hang down from the seam at the elbow.

No matter how much you might love the photos this one is even better in person. The workmanship in it has to be seen in real life to be fully appreciated. It is a beautiful and glamorous dress that is red carpet worthy and would make an amazing wedding dress for the bride looking for a non-traditional choice or as an alternative dress in a more extended wedding celebration. And of course it could also be worn to any big event. Excellent condition

Both piece are fully lined in a pale pink silk as described above. The skirt closes with a metal and nylon zipper. The top slips on to wear with snaps and hook and eye at the very top of the neck. The colours in person are softer and bit more pink feeling in person. There is some light fading to one side of the skirt near the closure but its very minor. 

Skirt
Waist: 13.5" flat across from side seam to side seam
Hips at inner lining: to 20" flat across from side seam to side seam
Length: 44" from waist seam to hem

Top/Overlay
Sleeves: approx 31"
Shoulder opening: approx 17"
Bust: to 18.5" flat across from side seam to side seam
Waist- hips: open
Length: 25" from top of shoulder to hem of inner top, 58" from shoulder to the full length hem

Modern Sizing Equivalent: SML-MED

Item# DD3081

Reference Photos: (1-2) Tina Chow in an ensemble by Bill Gibb. Photographed by David Bailey for British Vogue, April 1976.  /  (3-4) Cherie, Owner of Shrimpton Couture, by Erin Leydon.

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

The Lucie Ann label started off as a lingerie company when it launched in 1947 by Lucie Ann Onderwyzer. She soon became known for her extravagant feathered edged peignors that were all the rage in Hollywood. Eva Gabor was a huge fan and client and she often wore the label on her TV series 'Green Acres'. Once in to the early 60s she branched out to more hostess type pieces as well and this caftan dress is one of the most coveted of the things she did from that period. I have had one other about 10 years ago and am happy to have found its twin. It is a bit of a rarity and quite fabulous. It is made out of a light weight gold lame fabric that has a stunning swirling print that runs over its surface. The backdrop is a deep natural linen colour and then the print is a mix of pink, coral, blue and green that pops off the neutral backdrop. The entire fabric has a gold thread worked through it with some parts done in a heavier weight to form another layer of the print. This allows the caftan to catch the light and shimmer from every angle. It is tremendously easy to wear. It slips over the head with a V neck at the front and then extends out at each side. There are built in wide openings for your arms and then it drapes beautifully down each side. Gold sequins and a flat gold braiding detail both the cuffs and the neckline. It is very light weight and easy to wear. Excellent condition.

Unlined and closes at the back with hooks above an open keyhole. The loose and easy fit should allow it to work on a variety of sizes. At some point the hem was taken down and there is a very faint fold line in some spots along it. The edge is serge finished and neat. I chose to leave it as its looks fine on like this. You could easily shorten it if you wished but this way it is at its maximum length.

Width: 38" flat across from seam to seam
Length: 59" from neck to hem

Modern Sizing Equivalent: OSFA

Item# DD3947

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

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. He was crowned Designer of the Year in 1970. 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 I love this one especially as it truly shows the range of his work. This set is also a little extra special because its near twin resides in the permanent collection of the Victoria & Albert Museum. Theirs is a skirt and similar jacket while this one is an actual dress and jacket. They dated it with a general reference to the 1960s but I feel that it has more the feel of the 1977 collection after finding the reference photo of a piece with similar details on it. Bill Gibb's work is extremely rare to find and knowing that this one is important enough to have been acquired by a museum is just an added bonus for a collector .

My photos cannot convey how beautiful this dress is in person. The dress is amazing in its own right and is a stand out. It is suspended from the shoulders by two tiny straps. The bodice is set high for an empire feel and then the top is shaped and covered with the gold netting. The fabric is beautiful. It is a fine deep ivory netting that has a touch of a taupe gold feel to it. A pattern is then worked through it with a gold metallic thread. The gold is done in a fine floral design and this runs over the entire dress. Behind the netting the dress is lined in a fine silk that gives depth. The gold pattern becomes denser as it nears the hem so that the effect intensifies. The entire dress shimmers and catches the light from every angle and it is incredible to see in person. The skirt falls from under the bodice and it has been meticulously pleated into knife pleats that are the exact size of the one beside it. This helps to add some volume to the skirt while still giving it an ethereal fairy tale feel. The silk lining underneath is the palest taupey gold pink and this gives the netting just a touch of a pink feel to it in certain lights. It is incredibly beautiful. You can then slip on the jacket which is cut to fall over the full length of the dress. It has simple sleeves and is made out of a pale pink silk chiffon. Onto the silk of the jacket is an extensive pattern that has been embroidered by hand. The jacket is made up of four panels of fabric that are split along the seams between each panel from the hem to the waist line of the dress. These sit open along the seams and allow the fabric of the dress to show underneath when you move. The embroidery work in this piece is done in a combination of soft corals, mint and ivory. The tiniest little seed pearls detail parts of the embroidery and all of the edges of the outer jacket are finished with gold lace. It is a beautiful example of his work and would make an amazing wedding dress for the bride looking for a non-traditional choice or as an alternative dress in a more extended wedding celebration. And of course it could also be worn to any big event and you can also wear the pieces seperately. Excellent condition with one tiny note below.

The dress is fully lined in silk and closes with a side metal and nylon zipper. The overlay is unlined and slips on to wear with hook and eye at the very top. It appears to have never been worn, or worn very little. I see one small mark on the front panel of the chiffon jacket near the hem. Please see the photo after the label shot.

Dress
Bust: to 16" flat across from side seam to side seam
Waist at seam: 15" flat across from side seam to side seam
Hips at inner lining: 19.5" flat across from side seam to side seam
Bodice: 13" from top of straps to empire waist seam
Skirt: 44" from waist seam to hem

Overlay
Sleeves: 19"
Shoulders: 14"
Bust: to 17" flat across from side seam to side seam
Waist- hips: open
Length: 52" from top of shoulder to hem

Modern Sizing Equivalent: XS-SML

Item# DD3079

Reference Photo:  Bill Gibb Set from the V&A Online Collection.

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

John Bates founded the Jean Varon label in 1960 and it became known for the futuristic designs that Bates created. By the late sixties and into the seventies his work tended more towards more floaty, feminine designs. Some of the very best pieces were made during this time period and his print dresses are some of my favourites to find.

I have only ever seen one other version of this dress and it was full length so I am not sure if this one was shortened at some point or if it was ordered at this length. Either way it is a gorgeous little dress. It is made out of a light cotton mix voile. The print on it is a pretty soft blue and the fabric has a touch of transparency to it that gives the colour an extra dimension. The dress has a high scooped neck and the front bodice has a bibbed feel created by a center panel that is edged in a black and white braiding. This is also where the dress opens up so that you can get into it and the tightly spaced domed buttons that run down one side and across one shoulder become a beautiful design element. At the back there is the same braiding again. The waist is set slightly high. The sleeves are amazing. Each is very full and sit above a buttoned cuff. I love how the top of cuffs are both accented by more of that black and white cording. Under that the skirt falls to below the knee and is quite full due to the pleating that runs down the center on both sides o the dress. Flat knife pleats act as gathers down the middle of the front and back and also add even more detail to the dress. It is so pretty. Excellent condition with a small note below

Fully lined in an ivory silky rayon and and closes with the buttons up the side of the front and across the shoulder. Each cuff buttons to close. There is a teeny part of the braiding at the back of the neck that has pull out. I can put a stitch to hold it down before it ships. And one button is missing on one cuff. This will sit best on a 0-4 as it is cut small across the chest  (and a small busted 4 at max)

Sleeves: 26"
Shoulders: 14"
Bust: 17" flat across from side seam to side seam
Midpoint of the bust flat across is 13"
Waist: 13.5" flat across from side seam to side seam
Hips: 16.5" flat across from side seam to side seam
Bodice: 11.5" from top of bodice to waist
Skirt: 28.5" from waist to hem

Modern Sizing Equivalent: XXS-XS

Item# DD3945

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

This is a very recognizable Alexander McQueen piece. While there are many of his pieces out there that only die-hard collectors would know at first glance, this is one of the dresses that has that wonderful print that you know is McQueen. The spring 2003 collection was the first collection McQueen showed after joining the Gucci Group. It was hailed as being his most commercial to date. The collection was titled 'Irere', which means transformation in Amazonian. The Met Museum notes that it 'appeared to be poetic renderings of a disaster at sea'. It is sometimes referred to as the Shipwreck collection. In it Lee tells the story of a shipwreck at sea resulting in a landfall in the Amazon. The collection ends with a series of chiffon dresses that were tie-dyed in incredible bright color palettes of blue, red, and yellow. This is the twin of the second dress that walked the runway to start that portion of the show and it is gorgeous.

On the runway this dress was shown with a white belt and to give you an idea of that I have used a white grosgrain ribbon that I will include with the dress. The dress is not 100% perfect but it is extra interesting because it has its silk chiffon panels that are on the dress that walked the runway. These wrap around to the back where they tie. In the video I have included here you can see them as the model walks away from the camera. Every version I have seen for sale out there does not have these extra panels. If this dress was perfect this detail alone would have increased the price by a couple of thousand dollars from what I have put it here for. In some of the photos I draped them over the shoulder so you can see them better. The dress absolutely exudes joyful exuberance and the colours are amazing. This dress sold out world wide when it was produced and there are very few out there. The dress is strapless with a built in inner corset piece that is stiffened with a flattened front panel. It comes in at the waist and then curves out over the top of the hips. This leaves the skirt unlined as the inner structure ends there at the hips. The sheer amount of fabric in the skirt keeps it from being completely transparent. Over this inner structure lies the feather printed silk chiffon which is attached and draped around and over the top of the bodice. In the photos I took without the ribbon at the waist you can see how it has been hand stitched into place to give some shape. The skirt is then inset all the way around in a series of very structured points. The hem is left unfinished so no extra weight is added. When you have this on and walk in it each panel moves independently and swoop and float around you like some fantastical fairy costume. The colours in the dress are spectacular and the print is meant to suggest the bird of paradise. The blue is a rich saturated shade and then the other colours mixed in are stunning. To see it in person and how it moves is literally like looking at a moving three dimensional piece of art. Excellent overall condition with a note below.

The inner dress is shaped and light boning as described above. Over this is a nude silk chiffon that falls to the top of the thighs. The dress closes with a back hidden set zipper. It is tagged a McQueen size 42. The white ribbon is not original to the dress but will be included. I see a tiny bit of stress to the seam along one of the chiffon panels that attache to the bodice and there is wear to the silk on each side of the bodice. It seems stable and held up to a dry cleaning. Please see the photos after the label shot. It looks unworn otherwise. Priced with these in mind. When the panels are wrapped around and tied at the back those areas are completely covered.

Bust: to 18" flat across from side seam to side seam
Waist: 14" flat across from side seam to side seam
Seam at top of hips: to 20" flat across from side seam to side seam
Hips under that seam: open
Inner corset length: the inner corset is 16" from the top of the bodice at the side to the end of the corset at the top of the hips.
Length: 41.5" from the top of the bodice to the hem

Modern Sizing Equivalent: SML-MED

Item# DD3946

Reference Photos/Video: (1-5) Spring 2003 Alexander McQueen Collection, Look 40 modelled by Daniela Lopes.  /  (6) From the book "Alexander McQueen" edited by Claire Wilcox.

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

This is a beautiful Emilio Pucci dress that is made out of one of his signature silk jerseys. This fabric held colour wonderfully and is part of the reason why even all these decades later that the dress is still so vibrant in feel. The dress is covered with one of his iconic prints that suggests bold florals. This one is a mix of several shades of ocean blues with grey and ivory pops. The dress is easy to wear. The bodice crosses over itself at the front and there is a little hidden set, silk covered snap to hold it perfectly in place. A contrasting border edges the neckline and runs down to the the slightly high set waist. The waist is also detailed with a printed border that curves around you and there is a panel of it that runs down the back of the skirt. The sleeves are long with a bit of volume over the cuffs and each wide cuff is a double panel of the border print. Under the waist the skirt falls in a sleek line with a slight A-line cut. There are hidden pickets along each hip. This is a classic Pucci silhouette and very sexy despite it not being super form fitting. The contrasting printed bits help to define the cut of the dress and draw the eye into a pretty silhouette. This mix of blues is always one of my favorite of his prints and the pattern is bold and beautiful. The dress appears to have been worn very little if at all. Excellent condition.

Unlined and closes with a painted metal zipper at the side. Tagged a vintage Pucci 12. The fabric does have slight stretch. Each cuff closes with a newer looking series of hidden set snaps and there is a silk covered hidden snap at the bodice as described above. Hidden picket along each hip

Sleeves: 26"
Shoulders: 15"
Bust: 16-18" flat across from side seam to side seam
Waist: 14" flat across from side seam to side seam
Hips: 20-22" flat across from side seam to side seam
Bodice: 14" from neck to bottom seam of the 2" band at the waist
Skirt: 26.5" from bottom seam of the band at the waist to hem

Modern Sizing Equivalent: SML-MED

Item# DD2718

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

I love these velvet Pucci jackets and this one is great. It is cut with a slightly longer cut that most of the ones I have had pass through my hands and this makes it even more versatile to use as a layered jacket piece. That said it does zipper all the way up the front so you can also wear it on its own as a top so it is that much more versatile. His velvet pieces have an extra layer of richness and texture to them because of the luxurious fabric choice. Plus, nothing held his vibrant colors like his velvet pieces did. This one is a stunning and vibrant mix of a wild mix of colours that includes almost every bright colour he ever did. There are a variety of  prints too and the print is laid out in blocks that each have its own print within. This covers the entire jacket and makes it one bright wonderful piece. It has a neat collar made of attached piped pieces that curve around the neck and the cut skims the body to just past the hip. A contrasting printed border finishes the button front, cuffs and hem. It zips to close at the front and the inside has a bright vivid green lining. This color combination is just wonderful and its a real little find. Great overall condition with a note below

Fully lined in a green silk and closes with a double zipper down the front. Each cuff buttons to close with velvet covered buttons. The zipper looks like a replacement and I suspect the lining was also replaced at some point. There are some small spots that are scattered over the velvet here and there. Priced with these in mind.

Sleeves: 23"
Shoulders: 16.5"
Bust: 19.5" flat across from side seam to side seam
Waist: 17" flat across from side seam to side seam
Hips: 21" flat across from side seam to side seam
Length: 28" from neck to hem

Modern Sizing Equivalent: MED-LRG

Item# S973

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

The Bessi company was launched in 1950 but it was not until 1968 that it started producing the printed pieces that the label is now associated with. Like Pucci he signed all his prints and created them himself. In terms of style, construction and quality, Bessi dresses were often on par with Pucci and Leonard, especially the ones from the late sixties to mid seventies. This one is just lovely and the colour of it is divine.

This gorgeous little dress is made from one of their signature velvet fabrics. These velvet pieces hold color especially well and they have a rich decadent feel to them that is hard to beat with their modern counterparts. The print would have been created in-house and then transferred to the velvet. This one is the most gorgeous shade of a dusky soft purple shade that has pops of pale pinks and white. The print is a pretty floral design that runs over the velvet. The dress is kept simple in its cut so that the colors and the print can shine. The bodice skims over the bust with a high neck. It has no sleeves and the arm openings dip low on each side. It skims over the bust to meet a band of velvet at the waist. This then tops a simple skirt that curves over the hips and widens out as it nears the hem. The skirt has some fullness and the design is beautifully laid out onto it. A border is creates contrasting to the print and this runs down the center of the dress on both sides and circles the hem. It is also used on the top of each shoulder and for the collar. It is quite lovely. Presents as excellent condition with some notes below to review

Fully lined in a Bessi embossed pale blue silk and closes with a back painted metal zipper. Unlabeled but signed throughout. The lining has slight discoloration throughout. There is some grubbiness along the edge of the collar and the edges of the arm.  There is a very faint change in colour to one side of the bodice and along the top of one shoulder. Once on these are very minor due to the extensive print. Please review the photos provided after the label shot and know that the photos look worse then how it does in person. Priced with these in mind and still has tons of life in it and is super cute on.

Bust: to 17.5" flat across from side seam to side seam
Waist: 14.5" flat across from side seam to side seam
Hips: open
Bodice: 14" from neck to bottom seam of 2" waist band
Skirt: 27" from bottom seam of waist band to hem

Modern Sizing Equivalent: SML-MED

Item# DD3944

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