• This gorgeous dress is one that was made for the shops and I believe is from the early 2010s.
• It was made under the creative direction of both Maria Grazia Chiuri and Pierpaolo Piccioli. 
• Even with only the dress form shot it is so gorgeous. It is not hard to imagine just how beautifully this one will be on the body and how it moves. 
  
• The base of the dress is made from stocking layers of silk chiffon and silk done in a deep pewter-silver colour. It is then heavily embellished from top to toe. The embellishments give it some weight but the silk layers underneath keep it from being too heavy once on the body. 
• The dress is suspended by two straps that curve up and over the shoulders. The front neckline is scooped. At the back we see another scoop and there it is softened by a draping layer of embellished silk chiffon that falls softly over the scoop. 
• Vertical lines of clear beads with silver applied to their centres are applied over the bodice. The beading is done in different sizes and mixed in with tiny silver sequins. These stop at the seam under the bust. At the back the bead work is applied more on an angle all the way up to the edge of the silk chiffon draped panel there.
• A heavy band of glass crystal rhinestones sit just under the seam where the bust ends. These top a 3.5" expense of a double layer of netting that is embellished with a diamond pattern done and silver metal thread. Little clear beads top where each intersection happens within the pattern. This panel is transparent so you get a glimpse of skin underneath. Where the panel ends there is a second wide band of the glass crystal rhinestones. All of the rhinestones are prom set, and this would all had to have been applied by hand.
  
• The skirt falls from under there, curving over the hips and widening out to a pretty fullness by the time it reaches the hem. The skirt has three full layers of silk in its construction, and I love that the back is cut longer than the front. This gives you a beautiful slight sweeping feel, and picks up on that pretty drape at the back. It is fantastic.
• The dress is fully lined in a marching silk behind the bodice. The panel at the waist is transparent. The skirt is made of three layers of silk and silk chiffon. The dress closes with a hidden set side zipper. There is perhaps the tiniest bit of grubbiness along the very edge of the arms. It is extremely minor but mentioned for accuracy.
• There is no size tag present so please go by the measurements listed below
• Excellent condition

Bust: 16-16.5" flat across from side seam to side seam
Waist: 12.5" flat across from side seam to side seam
Hips: to 17.5" flat across from side seam to side seam
Bodice: 11" to the seam under the bust and 15" from the top of the shoulder to the bottom seam of the waist.
Total length: 58" from top of shoulder to front hem and the back extends another 6.5" past that

Modern Sizing Equivalent: XS-SML

Item# DD5248

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

• The near twin of this dress walked the runway for the Fall 2005 show for Look 82 and was worn by Erin Wasson. 
• It was made under the creative direction of the original Mr. Valentino.
• Vogue said of the collection that "Valentino's couture touch brought exquisite workmanship to filmy lace blouses and brocade jackets as well as evening gowns that captured the seasons passion for Victorian and Edwardian effects." They went on to mention the feel of this gown specifically saying "courtly evening gowns had trains, composed of tiers of ruffles."
• On the runway they showed the dress with the ruffles backed in a silk taffeta in what looks to be a more coral red. When the dress was produced for shops this version has a pink behind the bows and it is lined in pink for just a hint of colour. The silk ruffles cascading down dress have no lining in a different colour. I think the dress is more striking this way. It is not so busy as how it looks and was presented on the runway.
• The dress is absolutely spectacular and showcases what made these original Valentino pieces so special under Mr. Valentino's direction.
• The dress is strapless and curves across you at the front and is fitted around the bust. Inside there is a built-in corset that is lightly boned to keep the dress perfectly in place.
• From there it is shaped so that comes in at the waist without any seams to break the eye. It curves back out to glide over the hips.
• The skirt widens out to be very full by the time it reaches the hem. The back of the skirt is cut longer than the front so that you get a beautiful sweeping feel behind you.
• Beginning just under the bust is the first ruffle. It is 7.5" wide and is set to curve down and around you before dipping lower at the back for a very pretty line. And its long longest point in the back it extends to 12". A bow in a matching silk sits at the top centre of the front and this is backed in a pink silk for a tiny touch of colour.
• The second ruffle begins just under the waist and this one follows that same beautiful curve around you. It dips lower and longer at the back to a full 21" at its longest point. This ruffle is also topped by a pretty black and pink silk bow at the front.
• Each of the tiers is gathered in lightly along where they are set into the dress so that they have lots of volume and movement. Under the last ruffle the entire lower skirt at the back widens out substantially and trails behind you in a swooping train. Under the skirt is a pink silk organza lining that is finished with a pink edging made of the same pink silk that the bows are backed with. When you move and your legs kick the dress outward you get a little hint of the pink and it all perfectly ties in with the pink of the bows.
• This is a truly spectacular dress and one that you will not see come around very often if ever again. 
• The dress has a built-in black silk corset that is lightly boned and zips with its own zipper. The dress closes with a hidden set zipper over that. Where the ruffle goes over the zipper, there is a series of hidden snaps to fully close the ruffle over the zipper so that it is all hidden. The skirt is lined in pink organza as described a book. The dress appears to have been worn very little if at all.
• There is no size tag present so please go by the measurements listed below
• Excellent condition

Bust: to 16" flat across from side seam to side seam
Inner waist: 12" flat across from side seam to side seam
Hips: 17.5" flat across from side seam to side seam
Total length: 56.5" from top of the bodice to the front hem and the back extends another 9" past that.

Modern Sizing Equivalent: XS-SML

Item# DD5240

Reference Photos: Fall 2005 Valentino, Look 82. Model Erin Wasson.

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

• The twin of this dress walked the runway in a deep burgundy brown colour for the Fall 2002 collection as Look 65.
• It was made under the creative direction of the original Mr. Valentino.
• The dress is made from layers of a feather light black silk chiffon that is cut on the bias. It is an extremely easy dress to wear and fit because it has a definite caftan feel to it.
• It is cut to sits either just at the edges of the shoulders as I have shot it here or can be worn off the shoulders like how you see it was worn in the runway photos. I love how that bare expanse of skin offsets the fullness of the dress underneath. 
• The sleeves are phenomenal. Each is cut so that it is very full and wide. They cascade down the arm in a double layer of silk and they are split along the upper edge. Each sleeve is cut so that it falls on an angle so that the innermost portion of the sleeve falls much longer than where the outer edge lies creating a cascade of silk down your arm. The lightness of the silk chiffon gives them a ton of movement around the arm when you move.
• The top of each shoulder is gathered into a series of rounded pleats and more of the same rounded pleats sits on the side of each hip. Long panels of silk chiffon fall from under the pleats set on the outside of each hip. These are cut much like the sleeves with a double layer of silk chiffon stacked on top of each other and ending in different lengths. This adds a tremendous amount of movement to the skirt when you move. I love how they tie in the sleeves and skirt together.
• The dress skims over the body and widens out quite a bit as it nears the hem. This is what gives the dress its caftan feel. The back hem is cut longer than the front so you get a sweeping feel behind you. 
• The body of the dress is made from three layers of silk chiffon and these act as the lining. The sleeves are made of two layers of the silk as described above. The dress closes with a hidden set back zipper. It appears to have been worn very little if at all. Be easy cut should allow it to fit a range of sizes. On a smaller frame it will just drape more.
• Tagged a vintage Valentino 12
• Excellent condition

Sleeves: to 33" at their longest points and are full and open around the upper arm.
Bust: 18-19" flat across from side seam to side seam
Waist: to 16.5" flat across from side seam to side seam
Hips: to 24" flat across from side seam to side seam
Total length: 61" from top of shoulder to the front hem and the back extends another 10" past that.

Modern Sizing Equivalent: MED-LRG

Reference Photos/Video: Fall 2002 Valentino, Look 65.

Item# DD5227

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

• The twin of this gorgeous dress walked the runway for the Spring 2011 collection in a taupe colour and was Look 41 in the show.
• It was made under the creative direction of both Maria Grazia Chiuri and Pierpaolo Piccioli. 
• Even in the different colour between the runway shot and the runway video you can see just how beautifully this one is on the body and how it moves. 
• Vogue said of this collection that the pieces "displayed incredible Couture like workmanship" and gushed over the exuberant use of ruffles and lace throughout the collection.
• The dress is made out of a pinky-coral silk that is cut on the bias and flows over the body beautifully. The fabric choice keeps the dress very light in weight and gives it beautiful movement. I love it far more in this pretty colour than the pale taupe that it was shown on the runway in. 
• The entire top portion of the dress is finished in stacked ruffles made from silk organza that overlap the one underneath. On the bodice, there are also ruffles made of the same silk as the body of the dress interspersed between the organza ruffles. These swoop over you to curve up and over the single shoulder. All of the ruffles that cover the bodice have been set  on an angle to follow the same curve of the neckline and the ruffles continue all the way around you to the back. I especially love the little twirl created at the top of the shoulder that adds just a little bit of extra detail there.
• It comes in at the waist and then the top of the hips at the sides are subtly gathered for shape. It is all very pretty and feminine.
• The skirt falls from under there and widens out to a pretty fullness by the time it reaches the hem. The skirt has three full layers of silk and the draped to side curves upwards with an overlapped slit. So when you move a certain way you see a bit of a flash of bare leg. I love how the hem is curved to pick up on the angle of the bodice.
  
• The dress is fully lined in a marching coral silk chiffon through the bodice. The skirt is made of three layers of silk and these act as the lining. The dress closes with a hidden set side zipper.
• Tagged a Valentino 6
• Excellent condition

Bust: 16-17.5" flat across from side seam to side seam
Waist: 14-15" flat across from side seam to side seam
Hips: to 20" flat across from side seam to side seam
Bodice: approx 12.5" on the top of the shoulder to the inner seam under the bust
Total length: 63" from top of shoulder to front hem and the back extends another 4" past that

Modern Sizing Equivalent: SML-MED

Item# DD5210

Reference Photos: Spring 2011 Valentino. Look 41.

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

• The twin of this dress walk the runway for the Fall 2005 show for Look 67 and was worn by supermodel Carmen Kass. 
• It was made under the creative direction of the original Mr. Valentino.
• Vogue said of the collection that "Valentino's couture touch brought exquisite workmanship to filmy lace blouses and brocade jackets as well as evening gowns that captured the seasons passion for Victorian and Edwardian effects." They went on to mention the feel of this gown specifically saying "courtly evening gowns had Tissot trains, composed of tiers of ruffles."
• On the runway they showed the dress with a silk sash around the waist in an olive green. Apparently this was a styling decision only and the dress was not sold with it once it became available.
• The dress is absolutely spectacular and showcases what made these original Valentino pieces so special under Mr. Valentino's direction.
• Tiny net straps in the same colour curve up and over each shoulder. Each one has been heavily detailed with hand set beads and sequins in a matching deep blood red burgundy. It is a subtle bit of added glitz that works perfectly with the dress.
• The dress curves across you at the front and is fitted around the bust. Tiny little gathers are done along the inset seam along each side of the bodice At the back it is scooped so your upper back is left bare and exposed.
• From there it comes in at the waist and then curves back out to glide over the hips. At the front it falls in a more smooth column and then widens out quite a bit for the lower skirt. A wide 10" ruffle  finishes the front hem. Inside of that ruffle, you can feel that there are layers of netting that help hold its volume in shape to create the width you see from the front of the lower skirts.
• At the back is where all of the full on drama of the dress begins. Four very full ruffled panels are set stacked horizontally, one on top of each other, with each one below the one above becoming wider and fuller. Each of the tiers of silk have more netting inside so they hold their shape and volume fantastically. You can see how the entire lower skirt at the back widens out substantially and trails behind you in a swooping train. It is absolutely phenomenal.
• The choice of the silk that he's used as some structure and helps to hold all the shape that you see. The colour is a deep ox blood burgundy that is just phenomenal.
• This is a truly spectacular dress and one that you will not see come around very often if ever again. These would have been special ordered by clients through the boutiques.
• The dress is fully lined in a matching silk and closes with a back hidden set zipper. The ruffles around the lower skirts all have stiffened netting hidden inside them to help hold the shape and volume that you see. More stiffened netting around the inner hem and beautifully made. It appears to have been worn very little if at all.
• Tagged a vintage Valentino 6
• Excellent condition

Bust: 16" flat across from side seam to side seam
Waist: 13.5" flat across from side seam to side seam
Hips: 18" flat across from side seam to side seam
Total length: 62" from top of the shoulder to the front hem and the back extends another 9" past that.

Modern Sizing Equivalent: XS-SML

Item# DD5193

Photos/Video: Fall 2005 Valentino, Look 67. Model Carmen Kass.

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

• A printed version of this dress walked the runway for the Fall 1974 collection
• The dress made under the creative direction of Ossie Clark 
  
• This is one of his most iconic and collectible designs and it is easy to wear as well. I love that we have reference photos. You can see how gorgeous this sits once on the body.I love that we have reference photos. You can see how gorgeous this sits once on the body. I also highly appreciate the models styling and runway 'attitude' as it does fully capture Osse's viewpoint.
• The dress is made out of his signature moss crepe in a beautiful clear red that is flattering on most skin tones. It is very sexy and instantly recognizable as being an Ossie Clark piece.
• The front is cut in a low plunge that meets the waist. At the waist of the plunge is a little gap so you have a bit of a squared off feeling rather than the typical V. Because of the way it is cut and the angle the front is cut on, it is surprisingly secure once on the body and stays in place very well without exposing you despite that low plunge. A curved shoulder yolk wrapped over the shoulder and extends into the back. The fabric at the front between the seam under the bust seam and those shoulder yokes are gathered vertically for added pretty detail.
  
• The sleeves are phenomenal. Each is a cut very wide and are gathered around the shoulder yolk, giving the illusion that they extend directly out from the front and back. Their width gives them an almost caped feel as they flow over the upper arm.
• The bust skims over you and then comes along a upward curving scene that ends at the base of the plunge. This talks and insert that gives you some definition around the waist and then cursed down the centre front of the skirt. It is all shaped to give you an hourglass feel with no harsh lines to break the eye and line of the dress.
• The skirt curves back out and over the hips where it widens out to be quite by the time it reaches the hem. There are yards of beautiful, moss crepe in its construction. An extra panel of fabric is set along the front horizontal seam just below the hip. This adds even more fabric and gives the dress beautiful movement when you move.
• When you stand still it falls in a beautiful column of moss crepe but when you move you really get a sense of the fullness and the amount of fabric in a skirt
• The dress is unlined and made out of a red moss crepe. It closes with a low back zipper with a keyhole slit between the seam of the shoulder yolk and where the zipper starts. Someone has added two snaps to hold the keyhole closed. I have left them, but they could easily be removed, or left undone, if you wanted it to be more open.
  
• Tagged a vintage Ossie UK12
• Excellent condition

Sleeves: 11.5" and are full and open
Slightly extended shoulders: approx 16"
Bust: 16.5-20" flat across from side seam to side seam
Seam under the bust: 16" flat across from side seam to side seam 
Waist: 14" flat across from side seam to side seam
Hips: 21.5" flat across from side seam to side seam
Bodice: 12" from top of shoulder to seem under the bust
Total length: 61" from waist to front hem, 62.5" to the back hem

Modern Sizing Equivalent: SML-MED

Item# DD5279

Reference Photos: Fall 1974 Ossie Clark.

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

• The twin of this dress walked the runway for the Spring 1990 collection.
• It was made under the creative direction of Yves Saint Laurent
• I love that the reference photos shows how amazing it is once on an actual body. The dress has a very Old Hollywood / 1940s feel that I also love. This was a look that he touched upon often in his work and this is classic and beautiful Yves.
• The dress is made out of a red silk crepe that drapes beautifully once on. 
  
• The sleeves are fantastic. Each is a big balloon sleeves that puffs out dramatically over the cuffs. They are gathered into where they attach into the shoulder and then they drop and expand out to phenomenal volume above their cuffs.
• The front crosses over itself in a plunge and hear as well we see gathering start from the shoulders. It wraps and snaps into place around the waist on both the inside and outside with all of the closures hidden from view. A hidden snap that lets you close the V more or you can leave it open for a more full deep plunge. 
• The skirt is gathered in under the waist seam with the majority of it, pulled over to the one side. This causes a dripping all the way down to the hem on that side. The skirt itself falls to the floor and gently widens out as it near the hem. This gives it beautiful movement as you move. Everything about the dress is about movement around the body. He was a master at creating shapes that accentuated the body, but without ever having to be very tight and fitted.
• The dress is fully lined in a red silk and closes with a series of hidden set snaps around the waist and behind the opening hidden by the knot of fabric at the side. A hidden set snap at the front where it crosses over into the plunge. Each cuff has a slight elastic in it. There is also elastic around the back of the waist that make the dress very easy to fit. I see one darkened mark near the hem at the front and two little nicks out of the fabric in that same area. These are extremely minor and mentioned for accuracy.
• Tagged a vintage YSL 42
  
• Excellent condition.

Sleeves: 25.5" and are very full through the upper arm
Shoulders: 15"
Bust: 17-22" flat across from side seam to side seam
Elastic waist: 13-17" flat across from side seam to side seam
Hips: to 21" flat across from side seam to side seam
Bodice: approx 17" from top of shoulder to waist and meant to drape over a bit
Total length: 62" from top of shoulder to hem

Modern Sizing Equivalent: SML-MED

Item# DD5281

Reference Photo: Spring 1990 Yves Saint Laurent Runway.

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

• This is a great Valentino over lay skirt that dates to the 1970s or 1980s and is from the boutique label.
• It was made under the creative direction of the original Mr. Valentino
• Valentino launched his ready-to-wear label in 1962 just two years after opening his first salon in Rome. He often brought in the designs that he created for his main couture label into the boutique work. In these early days pieces were remarkably close in quality and the line between the two labels was often blurred. 
• The skirt is made out of a deep pink and black silk chiffon in a oversized floral print that is gorgeous.
• This was meant to be worn over something else and it is fully opened down the front from the waist to the hem.
• The waist is banded and hooks at the front to close. The silk falls to the floor from there. There is a tremendous amount of silk in this piece so it has a lot of movement around you when you move. 
• I love that you can wear this over everything from boy shorts, to a short or full length skirt, pants, or even a swimsuit. The styling options are endless.
• The overlay is unlined and closes at the front waist with three hook and eye. Under that it is fully open to the floor. Because of how it opens at the front, you could easily make it smaller and there is an inch of fabric that you could use if you needed to make it bigger.
• Tagged a vintage Valentino 8
• Excellent condition
  

Waist: 12" flat across from side seam to side seam
Hips: open
Total length: 47" from waist to hem

Modern Sizing Equivalent: XS-SML

Item# DD5269

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

• This is a gorgeous Haute Couture dress from 1970s Lanvin.
• Made under the creative direction of Jules-Francois Crahay 
• Jules-Francois headed the Lanvin ateliers from 1964-1984. He has been noted as one of fashion’s 'great colorists with his colorful patterns making his 1970s Lanvin designs hugely desirable and influential.' His time at the Lanvin label is one of my personal favourites for the house.
  
• The dress would have been completely made by hand in the Paris Atelier
• The fabric is a feather light silk chiffon that is covered in a pretty tree and floral print that covers the dress from head to toe.
  
• The bodice of the dress is fantastic. It is cut halter style and hooks to close behind the neck. The neck and the entire edge of the halter all the way to the back are finished with a double row of the same silk that has been perfect perfectly hand pleated to create this phenomenal ruffle that frames the neck and gives the dress a very pretty and feminine feel.
• I also love that the entire upper back is left bare and exposed.
• It glides over the waist and hips and then the skirt falls to the floor from there widening out a touch as it nears the hem.
• If you wanted more shape you could add a belt around the waist and it would completely change how the dress looks.
• Inside everything has been done by hand to Couture standards.
• It is lined in an ivory silk and closes at the back with a hand set zipper. It hooks to close behind the neck.
• There are no size tags so please go by the listed measurements below. 
  
• I see a couple of tiny nicks on the inner lining that do not show through when the dress is on.
• Excellent condition

Bust: 16" flat across from side seam to side seam
Waist: 13-14" flat across from side seam to side seam
Hips: to 18" flat across from side seam to side seam
Total length: 57" from neck to hem

Modern Sizing Equivalent: XS-SML

Item# DD5266

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

• Oleg Cassini started his career working for Jean Patou, opened his first shop in Rome and eventually moved to the US in 1936. He designed Hollywood costumes starting in 1941 and dressed Hollywood for decades. He also had his own label and was the designer of choice for Jacqueline Kennedy while she was the First Lady.
•  In 2003, The Council of Fashion Designers of America Board of Directors noted Cassini's extraordinary design achievements with their first ever Board of Directors Special Tribute.
• This dress is from his Black Tie label which was his ready-to-wear line in the 1980s.
• The dress is made of a pink silk chiffon and then that has been densely covered in iridescent clear sequins. Mixed in and around the sequins are thousands of little clear glass tube beads that have silver in their centres. The same tube beads are applied to form a border that runs over the straps and around the neckline.
• Pretty straps curve up and over each shoulder and the front neckline is scooped. The back is also scooped and set to sit a little lower so more of your upper back is exposed. My dress form is a bit short-waisted and the front neckline will fall properly on an actual body and will not be as low as it appears here.
• It skims over the bust and is shaped to come in slightly over the waist. From there curves back out over the hips. The skirt falls from there in a fairly straight line to the hem. At the back there is a slit that runs up the centre to allow you to walk easily.
• Inside it is lined in a pink silky rayon, and that combined with the pink silk chiffon of the outer layer, keeps it very light in weight and easy to wear.
• The dress is fully lined in a pink silky rayon and closes with a back hidden set zipper. I do see the occasional loose thread and perhaps a missing sequin or beadhere and there, but I do not see any bare areas.
• Tagged a vintage Cassini 10
• Excellent condition

Bust: to 18" flat across from side seam to side seam
Waist: 14.5" flat across from side seam to side seam
Hips: to 20" flat across from side seam to side seam
Total length: 59" from top of shoulder to hem and the slit is 21" from the ham up

Modern Sizing Equivalent: MED-LRG

Item# DD5254

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