In 1951, 27 year old James Galanos launched his first label called Galanos Originals.  By 1954 he had won a Coty award and the Neiman Marcus award. By 1958 he was producing clothing that could range in price from $200 to $3000, an astronomical price for ready-to-wear for that time period. That said, his ready-to-wear was made to almost that of true couture and with a level of craftsmanship that was on par with the French couturiers. Galanos was a master cutter and draper and he used many couture techniques in the construction of his dresses and gowns. Grace Kelly was an early fan. His work is held in all of the major museums around the world and he is one of my personal favourite designers. 

Here we have a piece that dates to the late 1970s or early 1980s. It is absolutely gorgeous and as good as it looks in the photos, know that it is even better in person. The texture and quality of the fabric should be seen and felt not just viewed on the screen. The skirt is remarkable. It is cut to be one long and lean line. It has a high 19" side slit that allows for a good amount of leg to show and for you to be able to walk with that curved and fitted cut. The fabric is very unusual. It it is a black silk jersey that is a puffed 3 dimensional quality to it created by hand stitching the pattern into the fabric. This adds incredible texture to the dress and is in direct contrast to the more restrained manner that the bodice has been pleat stitched. For the bodice the fabric has been seamed with teeny little pleats that are all set on a curve. These are then hand gathered and ruched over the inner corseting so that the fabric curves around you. Set into the silk of the bodice is a curved  panel of black lace. This is set in and not backed with any lining so that it is transparent and allows your skin to peek through. This curved bit of sensual lace begins just off the centre and between the breasts, curves under and then runs half way down the back on a beautiful sloping curve to expose a sliver of the waist and hip. It gives the dress just the slightest touch of a scandalous feel. Two skinny straps extend out from either side of the lace at the top and curve up and over the shoulder on a curving angle. It is insanely sexy. Exquisite to the last detail. It appears to have been worn very little it at all. Excellent condition

Fully lined in a black and metallic stretch silk jersey through the bodice and it is lightly boned and formed. The fabric of the skirt is self-lined and the interior seams ribbon and piped finished. It closes with a side zipper. All hand work inside.

Bust: to 17" flat across from side seam to side seam
Waist: 14" flat across from side seam to side seam
Hips: to 20" flat across from side seam to side seam
Length: 59" from top of straps to hem

Modern Sizing Equivalent: SML-MED

Item# DD2510

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

In 1951, 27 year old James Galanos launched his first label called Galanos Originals.  By 1954 he had won a Coty award and the Neiman Marcus award. By 1958 he was producing clothing that could range in price from $200 to $3000, an astronomical price for ready-to-wear for that time period. That said, his ready-to-wear was made to almost true couture and were made with a level of craftsmanship that was on par with the French couturiers. Galanos was a master cutter and draper and he used many couture techniques in the construction of his dresses and gowns. Grace Kelly was an early fan. His work is held in all of the major museums around the world and he is one of my personal favourite designers. 

The label on this dress is one of his earlier ones and when researching the date I found a dress in the Met Museum's collection with the same label and that uses the same technique for the way that the skirt is set into the bodice of the dress. The dress in the Met's collection was also photoed for Vogue that year. I have included both those for reference and it gives you a great idea of how this dress will look on the body. In the Vogue description the skirt was described as being; 'narrow in outline, but with beautiful easy folds from the waist, falling in self contained spirals' which is a lovely way to describe the way that it is set into the dress. I love that my version has a more bare shouldered feel to it and how the bright floral print covers the entire dress and adds a real wow factor it. It also gives it a bit more of an easy, tropical feel then the more formal version held at The Met. The fabric is a beautiful light weight silk that is completely covered with the large flower print that you see. The colours in the print are spectacular and combine a bright orange, yellow and green on a black backdrop.The skirt is cut so that it gathers up and into the middle of the dress. This gives it that lovely curved line at the front and the draping down each side that you see. It also creates a touch of volume across each hip which makes your waist look smaller. The bodice is suspended by tiny straps made out of the same silk. The front has a wide set scooped neck and the back is the same. The back of the dress closes with a series of buttons that run from the nape of the neck to the waist with a zipper set under that. It is seriously gorgeous on and gives you curves while feeling very forgiving. It really showcases just what a genius he was. Excellent condition

Fully lined in a black silk chiffon. It closes with a low painted metal zipper at the waist and then has a row of buttons above that. Bias cut so there is a little play with the measurements which I have given below. It appears to have been worn very little if at all.

Bust: to 18" flat across from side seam to side seam
Waist: to 13" flat across from side seam to side seam
Hips: open
Bodice: 15" from shoulder to waist
Skirt: 44" from waist to hem

Modern Sizing Equivalent: SML-MED

Item# DD3555

Reference Photos: (1) F/W 1957 James Galanos Dress in The Met Collection.  /  (2) Model in James Galanos photographed by Irving Penn for Vogue, October 1957.

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

James Galanos typifies that true American glamour. His work combines a chic sophistication with bold design and fabric choices. He was particularly known for his amazing evening wear. His work was executed to the highest standards and the workmanship is on par with couture. He is often called one of the great American couturiers and that title is well deserved in terms of construction and quality found in his pieces. He was a master at working with silk chiffon and his technique of layering the skirts with multiple panels of silk is a signature.

I love this dress. The color combination is very unusual and the silk chosen for the layers that make it up are of the highest quality. The dress is made out of several layers of silk chiffon. The inner pink dress is made out of four full layers that are stacked perfectly on top of each other. For the skirt each layer is attached at the side seam and waist which leaves the hem free and gives the dress movement when you move. The top portion is also made out of layers of the silk and here is it finished with inner elastic through the waist and all around the upper seam of the neckline. This makes the dress very easy to wear and comfortable. It simply slips on and falls perfectly in place over the body. Over the skirt is a panel of green that is set on both the front and the back of the skirt. This is attached around the waist with the side left open down the length of each side so that the pink of the skirt underneath shows. It has its original matching fabric tie belt that you can use to cinch the waist for added shape or use around the neck or even as a head wrap. The choice of these unexpected colors work surprisingly well with each other and it is made to the Galanos couture equivalent standards. The dress form does not do the dress justice as to how it works on an actual body. Excellent condition with one small note below.

The various layers of silk also act as the lining for the dress. It closes with a hand set, painted metal side zipper above the waist and then has elastic through the waist and around the upper edge of the bodice. Hidden pockets along the seams of each hip. Hand rolled edges and hand finishes throughout. It does have tiny straps that you could wear over the shoulders but I feel they are more to hang the dress so presented it as strapless. There is the faintest watermark in the silk at the waist. Please see the last photo

Bust: to 18" flat across from side seam to side seam
Waist: 12-15" flat across from side seam to side seam
Hips: to 19.5" flat across from side seam to side seam
Bodice: 16"
Skirt: 41" from waist to hem

Modern Sizing equivalent: XS-MED

Item# DD1199

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

James Galanos was known as the designer that could rival the French in terms of construction and design. He launched his atelier in 1951 and though he was never a designer that was formally acknowledged as being a true Haute Couturier, he certainly produced clothing that had all of the hallmarks that define couture. This attention to detail and cut gave him the status as being known as one of the 'American Couturiers'. This dress is a fantastic example of his work and its twin is held in the permanent archives of the Goldstein Museum

This dress with its huge bright print that runs down the front is exceptional. I absolutely love the drama and high couture feel of it. The fabric is beautiful. It is a gorgeous black silk crepe that has a good weight to it so that the lines he wished the dress to have stay perfectly in place once it is on the body. The body is cut to skim over you and the neckline is cut in a wide low V. The width of that V leaves just a touch of collar bone exposed. The sleeves end at above the elbow and each puffs out above the piped cuff. The back dips into an even lower V which leaves a large expanse of skin exposed. The skirt falls from under the bodice and it is interesting how it is set on a curve under the bust at the front instead of a more standard straight seam. Tiny soft folds run around this curve and it wraps around the sides and part way at the back. This curve perfectly follows the top of the floral design that has the feel of a piece of art painted into the fabric. The one single huge flower runs the full length of the skirt to the just above the hem where the leaves of the flower peak out. The back is left a solid black so that you get this long unbroken line with just a hint of what is happening on the front from the bits of the print that peek out at the sides. It is amazing. Excellent condition.

Fully lined in a black silk. The inside seams are ribbon edge finished. Hand finished and closes with a hand set, back painted zipper that is offset to follow a seam

Shoulders: approx 16"
Bust: 17.5" flat across from side seam to side seam
Waist: 13.5" flat across from side seam to side seam
Hips: 19.5" flat across from side seam to side seam
Length: 57" from shoulder to hem, with 4" turned up under the hem

Modern Sizing Equivalent: SML-MED

Item# DD3489

Reference Photo: 1965-1975 James Galanos Dress at the Goldstein Museum of Design 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.

James Galanos was known as the designer that could rival the French in terms of construction and design. He launched his atelier in 1951 and though he was never a designer that was formally made a couture house he certainly produced clothing with many of the hallmarks that define couture, thus giving him the status as being known as one of the 'American Couturiers'. 

The dress is constructed from a very unusual fabric combination that gives it that ethereal feel. A layer of a beautiful lightweight silk  is covered with a layer of white silk chiffon. This is done both for the outside and the full interior. The unexpected luxury of this would not even be able to be economically done now. The three layers are completely attached at all the seams. The print is on the innermost silk layer. The entire dress is cut on the bias and as the white chiffon moves over the inner layer in the small way that it is allowed, you get this pretty and romantic diffused feel to the print. It is such a simple but extremely clever way to create an extra layer of softness. The print runs over the entire dress and as it is on a body and it moves it just gets prettier. The dress under the attached cape is very simple. It is cut to skim over the bust, waist and hips and then flares out on all sides to the hem for a pretty volume when you move. The back of the skirt is cut slightly longer then the front. The skirt actually has a lot of fabric in it, falling softly and in a more sleek way when you stand still and then really moving and showing how much is there when you move. All of the seams are vertical and have been done by hand. This vertical seaming really helps to add to the feel of length the dress has. Around the neckline is an attached caped panel of the same silk & silk chiffon. Here the fabric is finished in the same way as the body of the dress with that same attached layer of weightless silk chiffon on the top and then it is also finished that same way underneath. This floats over your shoulders, arms and then curves around and behind the body for a beautiful caped effect. The lightness of the silk there gives it a billowing effect when you move and walk that is stupendous. A really lovely and romantic dress that is even better on the body and in real life. Excellent condition with one small note to review below

The innermost layer of the silk chiffon as per the description above acts as the lining. It closes at the back with a hand set metal and nylon zipper and a silk covered button and loop at the back neck. Hand finishes throughout. I see two teeny marks on the front cape. They may come out with another round of cleaning. Please review the photo after the shot of the label. It looks to have been worn very little otherwise.

Bust: 17-18.5" flat across from side seam to side seam
Waist: to 15" flat across from side seam to side seam
Hips: to 20" flat across from side seam to side seam
Length: 56" from neck to front hem, 58" to the back hem

Modern Sizing Equivalent: SML-MED

Item# DD3404

Reference Photos: Cherie, Owner of Shrimpton 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.

In 1951, 27 year old James Galanos launched his first label called Galanos Originals.  By 1954 he had won a Coty award and the Neiman Marcus award. By 1958 he was producing clothing that could range in price from $200 to $3000, an astronomical price for ready-to-wear for that time period. That said, his ready-to-wear was made to almost that of true couture and with a level of craftsmanship that was on par with the French couturiers. Galanos was a master cutter and draper and he used many couture techniques in the construction of his dresses and gowns. Grace Kelly was an early fan. His work is held in all of the major museums around the world and he is one of my personal favourite designers. 

Here we have a piece that dates to the late 1970s or early 1980s. It is absolutely gorgeous and as good as it looks in the photos, know that it is even better in person. The texture and quality of the fabric should be seen and felt not just viewed on the screen. The skirt is remarkable. It is cut to be one long and lean line. It has a high 19" side slit that allows for a good amount of leg to show and for you to be able to walk with that curved and fitted cut. The fabric is very unusual. It it is a black silk jersey that is a puffed 3 dimensional quality to it created by hand stitching the pattern into the fabric. This adds incredible texture to the dress and is in direct contrast to the more restrained manner that the bodice has been pleat stitched. For the bodice the fabric has been seamed with teeny little pleats that are all set on a curve. These are then hand gathered and ruched over the inner corseting so that the fabric curves around you. Set into the silk of the bodice is a curved  panel of black lace. This is set in and not backed with any lining so that it is transparent and allows your skin to peek through. This curved bit of sensual lace begins just off the centre and between the breasts, curves under and then runs half way down the back on a beautiful sloping curve to expose a sliver of the waist and hip. It gives the dress just the slightest touch of a scandalous feel. Two skinny straps extend out from either side of the lace at the top and curve up and over the shoulder on a curving angle. It is insanely sexy. Exquisite to the last detail. It appears to have been worn very little it at all. Excellent condition

Fully lined in a black and metallic stretch silk jersey through the bodice and it is lightly boned and formed. The fabric of the skirt is self-lined and the interior seams ribbon and piped finished. It closes with a side zipper. All hand work inside.

Bust: to 17" flat across from side seam to side seam
Waist: 14" flat across from side seam to side seam
Hips: to 20" flat across from side seam to side seam
Length: 59" from top of straps to hem

Modern Sizing Equivalent: SML-MED

Item# DD2510

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

In 1951, 27 year old James Galanos launched his first label called Galanos Originals.  By 1954 he had won a Coty award and the Neiman Marcus award. By 1958 he was producing clothing that could range in price from $200 to $3000, an astronomical price for ready-to-wear for that time period. That said, his ready-to-wear was made to almost true couture and were made with a level of craftsmanship that was on par with the French couturiers. Galanos was a master cutter and draper and he used many couture techniques in the construction of his dresses and gowns. Grace Kelly was an early fan. His work is held in all of the major museums around the world and he is one of my personal favourite designers. 

The label on this dress is one of his earlier ones and when researching the date I found a dress in the Met Museum's collection with the same label and that uses the same technique for the way that the skirt is set into the bodice of the dress. The dress in the Met's collection was also photoed for Vogue that year. I have included both those for reference and it gives you a great idea of how this dress will look on the body. In the Vogue description the skirt was described as being; 'narrow in outline, but with beautiful easy folds from the waist, falling in self contained spirals' which is a lovely way to describe the way that it is set into the dress. I love that my version has a more bare shouldered feel to it and how the bright floral print covers the entire dress and adds a real wow factor it. It also gives it a bit more of an easy, tropical feel then the more formal version held at The Met. The fabric is a beautiful light weight silk that is completely covered with the large flower print that you see. The colours in the print are spectacular and combine a bright orange, yellow and green on a black backdrop.The skirt is cut so that it gathers up and into the middle of the dress. This gives it that lovely curved line at the front and the draping down each side that you see. It also creates a touch of volume across each hip which makes your waist look smaller. The bodice is suspended by tiny straps made out of the same silk. The front has a wide set scooped neck and the back is the same. The back of the dress closes with a series of buttons that run from the nape of the neck to the waist with a zipper set under that. It is seriously gorgeous on and gives you curves while feeling very forgiving. It really showcases just what a genius he was. Excellent condition

Fully lined in a black silk chiffon. It closes with a low painted metal zipper at the waist and then has a row of buttons above that. Bias cut so there is a little play with the measurements which I have given below. It appears to have been worn very little if at all.

Bust: to 18" flat across from side seam to side seam
Waist: to 13" flat across from side seam to side seam
Hips: open
Bodice: 15" from shoulder to waist
Skirt: 44" from waist to hem

Modern Sizing Equivalent: SML-MED

Item# DD3555

Reference Photos: (1) F/W 1957 James Galanos Dress in The Met Collection.  /  (2) Model in James Galanos photographed by Irving Penn for Vogue, October 1957.

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

James Galanos typifies that true American glamour. His work combines a chic sophistication with bold design and fabric choices. He was particularly known for his amazing evening wear. His work was executed to the highest standards and the workmanship is on par with couture. He is often called one of the great American couturiers and that title is well deserved in terms of construction and quality found in his pieces. He was a master at working with silk chiffon and his technique of layering the skirts with multiple panels of silk is a signature.

I love this dress. The color combination is very unusual and the silk chosen for the layers that make it up are of the highest quality. The dress is made out of several layers of silk chiffon. The inner pink dress is made out of four full layers that are stacked perfectly on top of each other. For the skirt each layer is attached at the side seam and waist which leaves the hem free and gives the dress movement when you move. The top portion is also made out of layers of the silk and here is it finished with inner elastic through the waist and all around the upper seam of the neckline. This makes the dress very easy to wear and comfortable. It simply slips on and falls perfectly in place over the body. Over the skirt is a panel of green that is set on both the front and the back of the skirt. This is attached around the waist with the side left open down the length of each side so that the pink of the skirt underneath shows. It has its original matching fabric tie belt that you can use to cinch the waist for added shape or use around the neck or even as a head wrap. The choice of these unexpected colors work surprisingly well with each other and it is made to the Galanos couture equivalent standards. The dress form does not do the dress justice as to how it works on an actual body. Excellent condition with one small note below.

The various layers of silk also act as the lining for the dress. It closes with a hand set, painted metal side zipper above the waist and then has elastic through the waist and around the upper edge of the bodice. Hidden pockets along the seams of each hip. Hand rolled edges and hand finishes throughout. It does have tiny straps that you could wear over the shoulders but I feel they are more to hang the dress so presented it as strapless. There is the faintest watermark in the silk at the waist. Please see the last photo

Bust: to 18" flat across from side seam to side seam
Waist: 12-15" flat across from side seam to side seam
Hips: to 19.5" flat across from side seam to side seam
Bodice: 16"
Skirt: 41" from waist to hem

Modern Sizing equivalent: XS-MED

Item# DD1199

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

James Galanos was known as the designer that could rival the French in terms of construction and design. He launched his atelier in 1951 and though he was never a designer that was formally acknowledged as being a true Haute Couturier, he certainly produced clothing that had all of the hallmarks that define couture. This attention to detail and cut gave him the status as being known as one of the 'American Couturiers'. This dress is a fantastic example of his work and its twin is held in the permanent archives of the Goldstein Museum

This dress with its huge bright print that runs down the front is exceptional. I absolutely love the drama and high couture feel of it. The fabric is beautiful. It is a gorgeous black silk crepe that has a good weight to it so that the lines he wished the dress to have stay perfectly in place once it is on the body. The body is cut to skim over you and the neckline is cut in a wide low V. The width of that V leaves just a touch of collar bone exposed. The sleeves end at above the elbow and each puffs out above the piped cuff. The back dips into an even lower V which leaves a large expanse of skin exposed. The skirt falls from under the bodice and it is interesting how it is set on a curve under the bust at the front instead of a more standard straight seam. Tiny soft folds run around this curve and it wraps around the sides and part way at the back. This curve perfectly follows the top of the floral design that has the feel of a piece of art painted into the fabric. The one single huge flower runs the full length of the skirt to the just above the hem where the leaves of the flower peak out. The back is left a solid black so that you get this long unbroken line with just a hint of what is happening on the front from the bits of the print that peek out at the sides. It is amazing. Excellent condition.

Fully lined in a black silk. The inside seams are ribbon edge finished. Hand finished and closes with a hand set, back painted zipper that is offset to follow a seam

Shoulders: approx 16"
Bust: 17.5" flat across from side seam to side seam
Waist: 13.5" flat across from side seam to side seam
Hips: 19.5" flat across from side seam to side seam
Length: 57" from shoulder to hem, with 4" turned up under the hem

Modern Sizing Equivalent: SML-MED

Item# DD3489

Reference Photo: 1965-1975 James Galanos Dress at the Goldstein Museum of Design 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.

James Galanos was known as the designer that could rival the French in terms of construction and design. He launched his atelier in 1951 and though he was never a designer that was formally made a couture house he certainly produced clothing with many of the hallmarks that define couture, thus giving him the status as being known as one of the 'American Couturiers'. 

The dress is constructed from a very unusual fabric combination that gives it that ethereal feel. A layer of a beautiful lightweight silk  is covered with a layer of white silk chiffon. This is done both for the outside and the full interior. The unexpected luxury of this would not even be able to be economically done now. The three layers are completely attached at all the seams. The print is on the innermost silk layer. The entire dress is cut on the bias and as the white chiffon moves over the inner layer in the small way that it is allowed, you get this pretty and romantic diffused feel to the print. It is such a simple but extremely clever way to create an extra layer of softness. The print runs over the entire dress and as it is on a body and it moves it just gets prettier. The dress under the attached cape is very simple. It is cut to skim over the bust, waist and hips and then flares out on all sides to the hem for a pretty volume when you move. The back of the skirt is cut slightly longer then the front. The skirt actually has a lot of fabric in it, falling softly and in a more sleek way when you stand still and then really moving and showing how much is there when you move. All of the seams are vertical and have been done by hand. This vertical seaming really helps to add to the feel of length the dress has. Around the neckline is an attached caped panel of the same silk & silk chiffon. Here the fabric is finished in the same way as the body of the dress with that same attached layer of weightless silk chiffon on the top and then it is also finished that same way underneath. This floats over your shoulders, arms and then curves around and behind the body for a beautiful caped effect. The lightness of the silk there gives it a billowing effect when you move and walk that is stupendous. A really lovely and romantic dress that is even better on the body and in real life. Excellent condition with one small note to review below

The innermost layer of the silk chiffon as per the description above acts as the lining. It closes at the back with a hand set metal and nylon zipper and a silk covered button and loop at the back neck. Hand finishes throughout. I see two teeny marks on the front cape. They may come out with another round of cleaning. Please review the photo after the shot of the label. It looks to have been worn very little otherwise.

Bust: 17-18.5" flat across from side seam to side seam
Waist: to 15" flat across from side seam to side seam
Hips: to 20" flat across from side seam to side seam
Length: 56" from neck to front hem, 58" to the back hem

Modern Sizing Equivalent: SML-MED

Item# DD3404

Reference Photos: Cherie, Owner of Shrimpton 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.