This incredible dress has it's original tag that appears to indicate that it was a sample from 1998. I have not been able to verify if this dress was produced for the shops or if it remained a one-off sample. If it is the only one that would be an incredible thing to have and even if it was produced it's so utterly beautiful that it would just be adding more beauty to the world if there was more than one. Of course I will continue to hunt for that information and one day I hope to send its new owner verification. Regardless of its production status, the dress is one of the best Valentino pieces I've ever seen.

This is a really stunning dress. And it shows how beautifully Valentino emphasize the female body will always stay completely elegant. The netting treatment on the dress makes you feel like you have been wrapped in the tulle. Underneath, the inner ivory silk taffeta layer gives the dress structure and it makes this beautiful, slight rustling sound when you move. The silk netting over that has a dot pattern over its surface. It is gathered down and along both sides. This creates this fantastic ruching all the way down that highlights your curves. Where it is gathered down both sides there is an elaborate line that has been beaded with two types of tiny black seed beads. The neckline curves around you at the top and then the dress is cut to skim over you with the shape all created by inner vertical seaming. The bottom skirt of the silk ivory underlay has been allowed to peek out from underneath the netting. It flares out and has an elaborate pleated ruffle all the way around. It is cut a little longer at the back and has extra fabric there as well so that you get this bit of a train effect behind you and a little fabulous kicking out of fabric as you walk. This is an incredible dress and one of my favorite Valentino pieces I've ever had in the shop. Excellent condition

The ivory acts as the lining through the body and then the bodice is lined with an additional layer of black silk satin. Lightly boned through the inner built-in bodice. It closes with a hidden set side zipper and the inner bodice piece has its own separate zipper. It has its original tag and appears to have never been worn. Tagged a vintage Valencia 40

Bust: 16.5" flat across from side seam to side seam
Waist: 12" flat across from side seam to side seam
Hips: 18.5" flat across from side seam to side seam
Length: 55" from top of bodice to front hem, 59" to the back hem

Modern Sizing Equivalent: XS-SML

Item# DD4431

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 Valentino dress whose twin in the opposite colour way of this one walked the Spring 2006 runway for Look 63. I actually prefer the pink with yellow accent over the show piece. I think its even more romantic in feel. It is beautifully made and a wonderful example of Valentino's main label and the work that he was doing during this time period. In their review of the collection Vogue noted that Mr. Valentino was looking for a replacement and this is indeed one of his final few shows. He definetly was not resting on his laurels. The entire collection was stunning. Vogue noted the floral pieces in particular saying 'Valentino gave equal play to gorgeous color, which appeared in rose prints, and rich floral embroideries that captured the season's feel for Asian motifs....when it comes to jet-set elegance, Valentino has no rivals.' Indeed

The dress has this perfect easy to wear feel and at the same time is utterly and perfectly beautiful. It is made out of layers of a beautiful silk chiffon that has been cut on the bias. The bias cut and soft floating feel of the chiffon are used to create beautiful movement through the skirt when you move. You can see in the attached runway reference video how spectacular this is when on and moving. I absolutely love the colour. It is a soft romantic dusty pink and the that is highlighted with a pastel dusky yellow tone underneath. Over both of those is a rose print that covers every inch of the dress. The color in person is even better then how it photoed and that soft pastel pink is very flattering on most skin tones. The bodice of the dress is set high and wraps around the bust like a bandeau. On one side it is gathered up and into a soft wide strap that curves up and over the shoulder. Under the bandeau the dress falls in a sheath of silk that skims over your waist and hips and widens out as it nears the hem. The entire front of the dress is a separate panel that wraps from the opposite side of the shoulder and then is caught up at the base of the strap on the other side. This then becomes a ruffle that cascades all the way down the one side. The underlayer of that front panel is the yellow so that when you walk or sit you see that flash of color. The dress is also lined in that same yellow and that touch of colour peeking through the pink is just perfection. The back is slightly longer for that perfect sweep of fabric and floating affect around you when you move. It is just stunning on the body. Every detail is perfect. It has its original tag and was never worn. Excellent condition

Fully lined in silk chiffon as described above and It closes with a hidden set side zipper. Original hang tag present. Tagged a vintage Valentino 8

Bust: 17.5" across from side seam to side seam
Seam under the bust: 15.5" across from side seam to side seam
Natural waist: 15" flat across from side seam to side seam
Hips: to 20" flat across from side seam to side seam
Bodice: approx 12.5" from top of the shoulder to seam under the bust. The bodice itself is 4" wide
Skirt: 51" from seam under the bust to front hem, 55" to the back hem

Modern Sizing Equivalent: SML-MED

Item# DD4339

Reference Photo/Video: Spring 2006 Valentino Runway, Look 63. Model Julia Stegner.

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

Valentino launched his ready to wear label in 1962 just two years after opening his first salon in Rome. He eventually expanded and added other boutiques. His first New York boutique launched in the fall of 1970 and it caused a sensation. Traffic was backed up 3 blocks with everyone who was anyone trying to get in on opening night. More boutiques followed including one at Bergdorfs. He encouraged his couture clients to also shop in his boutiques. He wanted everyone to have the Valentino experience and noted that he often carried the lines he created for his Couture label into the boutique work. The fabric and construction details were still remarkably close in quality to his couture pieces at this point in time. The line between the two was often blurred and on this set you can see that in the hand finishing that is has. This is one of the most beautiful Valentino pieces I have had in the shop.

The dress is made out of a black silk taffeta that holds its shape and volume beautifully. This is a two piece set made up of a dress and its matching jacket. They are fantastically beautiful worn together but I also love that having the two pieces gives you more styling options and extends the life of this in your wardrobe. The dress is suspended by two tiny straps that curve up and over each shoulder. The bodice dips into a wide set V at the front and dips lower across at the back to leave a bare expanse of open skin. It is cut to be more fitted to the waist and then under that it is all volume and drama. The skirt has an incredible amount of volume to it that shows best when you move. The lightness of the silk causes the skirt to billow out and move around you as you move yet it still has enough weight that it holds that full feeling when you stand still. When this is on and you are walking the effect that this creates is absolutely gorgeous. The 13" ruffle that circles the entire lower hem is actually added on top of the skirt and not simple seamed onto the edge. That means the ruffle has the inner part of the skirt behind it and this extra weight and fabric helps to hold its shape. A very clever little construction detail. The ruffle also adds an extra touch of romance to the piece. And it has pockets. Over this pops the jacket and it is a thing of beauty in its own right. The body of the jacket widens out from the soft shoulder and curves around and up from the hem to the neckline. I love the ruffle finish that follows all the way around the edge. The sleeves are incredible and each is cut to be very wide by the time they reach their ends. The seam above the ruffle finish on them is a full 20" around and the ruffle makes it go beyond that even. It is absolutely beautiful. This is Valentino at his best and a tremendously beautiful dress and jacket. Excellent condition. 

Fully lined in a black silk. The dress closes with a back zipper and there are two hidden hook and eye at the base of the jacket at the front. Tagged a size 6. 

Dress
Bust: to 16.25" flat across from side seam to side seam
Waist: 12" flat across from side seam to side seam
Hips: open
Bodice: 14.5" from top of shoulder to waist
Skirt: 43" from waist to hem

Jacket
Slightly inset shoulders: 13"
Sleeves: 22.5" long and 14" around the top part of the arm
Bust: 17" flat across from side seam to side seam
Waist: 14" flat across from side seam to side seam
Length: 17.5" from neck to hem

Modern Sizing Equivalent: XS-SML

Item# DD4054

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 fabulous fall 1970 dress from the Valentino boutique label. Valentino launched his ready to wear label in 1962, just two years after opening his first salon in Rome. He eventually expanded and added other boutiques. His first New York boutique launched in the fall of 1970 and it caused a sensation. Traffic was backed up 3 blocks with everyone who was anyone trying to get in on opening night. More boutiques followed including one at Bergdorfs. He encouraged his couture clients to also shop in his boutiques. He wanted everyone to have the Valentino experience and it should be noted that he often carried the lines he created for his Couture label into the boutique work. The primary difference was in the fabric and construction details but they were still remarkably close in quality. This especially held true in the early days. The line between the two labels was often blurred and on this dress you can see that in the hand finishing that is has. This one is extra fabulous because it is so well documented.

When searching for the date for the dress we found documentation that has both Marisa Berenson wearing it for Vogue that season and also Naomi Simms who wore it to that opening of the New York Valentino boutique. Which gives it a significant place in Valentino's history. The dress is gorgeous and it is made of a black silk chiffon that has a ribbon weave fused directly into the silk. This gives it an oversized thatched woven effect. In between the ribbon weave the silk is semi-transparent and the play between the two opacities is stunning in person. The entire dress is backed with a black silk chiffon lining and that gives the more transparent parts a backdrop so that the silk feels like it has depth. To highlight the design even more is that gorgeous print made up of a pink and purple and gold coloured threads that run over the entire dress. I love how the pattern is heavier at the bottom and then slowly makes its way up to be just scattered paisley's on the black backdrop by the top of the dress. The collar is small and neat and the sleeves are cut to pouf out above the buttoned cuffs. The sleeves are not lined so you get a sense of transparency there. The dress is cut into a chic sheath that skims over your bust, waist and hips until it flares out just slightly at the hem. There's no seam to break the line at the waist, instead he has placed two square pockets on each hip to detail this area. The pocket are amazing. Each zips to close from corner to corner and the zipper is then detailed with a long knotted and fringed tassel. Another matching tassel details the zipper that closes the front of the dress. In both the reference photos a sash was wrapped around the waist for added shape and you could easily re-create that look. I think it looks equally as well worn straight and sleek. It's nice to have both options because the dress looks dramatically different each way. It is gorgeous and very well made. Excellent condition.

Fully lined in a black silk and zippers to close up the front as described above. Each cuff buttons to close with two silk covered buttons and each pocket zips to close. There's an extra button in the lining of the dress. Hand finishes. The dress appears to have never been worn or worn very little. Tag a size 8 with a hand written size label.

Sleeves: 14"
Shoulders: 23.5"
Bust: 17.5" flat across from side seam to side seam
Waist: 17" flat across from side seam to side seam
Hips: 19" flat across from side seam to side seam
Length: 52" from neck to hem

Modern Sizing Equivalent: XS-SML

Item# DD4205

Reference Photos: (1) Marisa wearing Valentino, photo by Elisabetta Catalano in Rome, Vogue September 1970.  /  (2-3) Naomi Sims attends the grand opening of Valentino Boutique on October 12, 1970 in New York City.

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

There are hints of this dress from both the 1986 collection and in the 1988 collection. The original owner did buy it in the 1980s but I do not have the exact day. I tend to lean towards the earlier date for it but I have included reference photos from both the above mentioned collections. It is a stunning example of Valentino's work during this time period.

The dress is beautiful to see in person. It flows over the body from the more fitted bodice and the lightness of the silk allows it to move and float around you when you move. The bodice is a stunning example in shaping and couture techniques. Inside it is boned and has built in cups. This interior structure holds it perfectly in place over the body once on. On the exterior the silk is hand set and gathered over the bust and all the way around you. Each individual gather is meticulously hand stitched into place. Above this more structured part of the dress is a single layer of the chiffon. At the front it scoops in a higher set neck and at the back it is set with a keyhole running down to the top of the gathered bodice. The skirt flows out under that in four layers of the silk and each layer is bias cut. This is what allows it to have such beautiful movement when you move. The final touch are those pretty sleeves that are cuffed at the wrist and pouf out around the arm above that. It also has its original very large silk shawl piece. It is beautiful. The dress does have some flaws but is structurally sound. Please review the notes below.

The interior bodice is finished is boned and corseted. The skirt has four layers of silk as described above. The interior corset closes with hook and eye and the silk layer zips to close over. Each cuff buttons with two silk covered buttons and loops. Three buttons at the top of the back neck. There are areas of fading through the skirt that go through the layers. I have photoed the worst of them. There are some faint areas of the same on the silk above the corset and on the sleeves. I see one tiny repair near the hem at the back of the skirt. It comes. I think you could potentially remove the sleeves and upper bodice and use the shawl to create a layer over the worst of the fading or just have it redyed and it would be perfect again. Sold as found and final and the price is according to the description above

Sleeves: 25"
Shoulders: 15"
Bust: 17.5" flat across from side seam to side seam
Waist: 16.5" flat across from side seam to side seam
Hips: open
Bodice: 16.5" from top of neck to interior waist stay
Skirt: 45" from interior waist stay to hem
Shawl: 54" x 52"

Modern Sizing Equivalent: MED-LRG

Item# DD3018

Reference Photos: (1) From the book "A Grand Italian Epic, Valentino", 1988/1989 collection  /  (2-3) The "Degradè" Dress from the Valentino Haute Couture 1986 collection. (4) Cherie, Owner of Shrimpton Couture, by Erin Leydon taken on location at JohnMel Stables 

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 incredible dress has it's original tag that appears to indicate that it was a sample from 1998. I have not been able to verify if this dress was produced for the shops or if it remained a one-off sample. If it is the only one that would be an incredible thing to have and even if it was produced it's so utterly beautiful that it would just be adding more beauty to the world if there was more than one. Of course I will continue to hunt for that information and one day I hope to send its new owner verification. Regardless of its production status, the dress is one of the best Valentino pieces I've ever seen.

This is a really stunning dress. And it shows how beautifully Valentino emphasize the female body will always stay completely elegant. The netting treatment on the dress makes you feel like you have been wrapped in the tulle. Underneath, the inner ivory silk taffeta layer gives the dress structure and it makes this beautiful, slight rustling sound when you move. The silk netting over that has a dot pattern over its surface. It is gathered down and along both sides. This creates this fantastic ruching all the way down that highlights your curves. Where it is gathered down both sides there is an elaborate line that has been beaded with two types of tiny black seed beads. The neckline curves around you at the top and then the dress is cut to skim over you with the shape all created by inner vertical seaming. The bottom skirt of the silk ivory underlay has been allowed to peek out from underneath the netting. It flares out and has an elaborate pleated ruffle all the way around. It is cut a little longer at the back and has extra fabric there as well so that you get this bit of a train effect behind you and a little fabulous kicking out of fabric as you walk. This is an incredible dress and one of my favorite Valentino pieces I've ever had in the shop. Excellent condition

The ivory acts as the lining through the body and then the bodice is lined with an additional layer of black silk satin. Lightly boned through the inner built-in bodice. It closes with a hidden set side zipper and the inner bodice piece has its own separate zipper. It has its original tag and appears to have never been worn. Tagged a vintage Valencia 40

Bust: 16.5" flat across from side seam to side seam
Waist: 12" flat across from side seam to side seam
Hips: 18.5" flat across from side seam to side seam
Length: 55" from top of bodice to front hem, 59" to the back hem

Modern Sizing Equivalent: XS-SML

Item# DD4431

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 Valentino dress whose twin in the opposite colour way of this one walked the Spring 2006 runway for Look 63. I actually prefer the pink with yellow accent over the show piece. I think its even more romantic in feel. It is beautifully made and a wonderful example of Valentino's main label and the work that he was doing during this time period. In their review of the collection Vogue noted that Mr. Valentino was looking for a replacement and this is indeed one of his final few shows. He definetly was not resting on his laurels. The entire collection was stunning. Vogue noted the floral pieces in particular saying 'Valentino gave equal play to gorgeous color, which appeared in rose prints, and rich floral embroideries that captured the season's feel for Asian motifs....when it comes to jet-set elegance, Valentino has no rivals.' Indeed

The dress has this perfect easy to wear feel and at the same time is utterly and perfectly beautiful. It is made out of layers of a beautiful silk chiffon that has been cut on the bias. The bias cut and soft floating feel of the chiffon are used to create beautiful movement through the skirt when you move. You can see in the attached runway reference video how spectacular this is when on and moving. I absolutely love the colour. It is a soft romantic dusty pink and the that is highlighted with a pastel dusky yellow tone underneath. Over both of those is a rose print that covers every inch of the dress. The color in person is even better then how it photoed and that soft pastel pink is very flattering on most skin tones. The bodice of the dress is set high and wraps around the bust like a bandeau. On one side it is gathered up and into a soft wide strap that curves up and over the shoulder. Under the bandeau the dress falls in a sheath of silk that skims over your waist and hips and widens out as it nears the hem. The entire front of the dress is a separate panel that wraps from the opposite side of the shoulder and then is caught up at the base of the strap on the other side. This then becomes a ruffle that cascades all the way down the one side. The underlayer of that front panel is the yellow so that when you walk or sit you see that flash of color. The dress is also lined in that same yellow and that touch of colour peeking through the pink is just perfection. The back is slightly longer for that perfect sweep of fabric and floating affect around you when you move. It is just stunning on the body. Every detail is perfect. It has its original tag and was never worn. Excellent condition

Fully lined in silk chiffon as described above and It closes with a hidden set side zipper. Original hang tag present. Tagged a vintage Valentino 8

Bust: 17.5" across from side seam to side seam
Seam under the bust: 15.5" across from side seam to side seam
Natural waist: 15" flat across from side seam to side seam
Hips: to 20" flat across from side seam to side seam
Bodice: approx 12.5" from top of the shoulder to seam under the bust. The bodice itself is 4" wide
Skirt: 51" from seam under the bust to front hem, 55" to the back hem

Modern Sizing Equivalent: SML-MED

Item# DD4339

Reference Photo/Video: Spring 2006 Valentino Runway, Look 63. Model Julia Stegner.

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

Valentino launched his ready to wear label in 1962 just two years after opening his first salon in Rome. He eventually expanded and added other boutiques. His first New York boutique launched in the fall of 1970 and it caused a sensation. Traffic was backed up 3 blocks with everyone who was anyone trying to get in on opening night. More boutiques followed including one at Bergdorfs. He encouraged his couture clients to also shop in his boutiques. He wanted everyone to have the Valentino experience and noted that he often carried the lines he created for his Couture label into the boutique work. The fabric and construction details were still remarkably close in quality to his couture pieces at this point in time. The line between the two was often blurred and on this set you can see that in the hand finishing that is has. This is one of the most beautiful Valentino pieces I have had in the shop.

The dress is made out of a black silk taffeta that holds its shape and volume beautifully. This is a two piece set made up of a dress and its matching jacket. They are fantastically beautiful worn together but I also love that having the two pieces gives you more styling options and extends the life of this in your wardrobe. The dress is suspended by two tiny straps that curve up and over each shoulder. The bodice dips into a wide set V at the front and dips lower across at the back to leave a bare expanse of open skin. It is cut to be more fitted to the waist and then under that it is all volume and drama. The skirt has an incredible amount of volume to it that shows best when you move. The lightness of the silk causes the skirt to billow out and move around you as you move yet it still has enough weight that it holds that full feeling when you stand still. When this is on and you are walking the effect that this creates is absolutely gorgeous. The 13" ruffle that circles the entire lower hem is actually added on top of the skirt and not simple seamed onto the edge. That means the ruffle has the inner part of the skirt behind it and this extra weight and fabric helps to hold its shape. A very clever little construction detail. The ruffle also adds an extra touch of romance to the piece. And it has pockets. Over this pops the jacket and it is a thing of beauty in its own right. The body of the jacket widens out from the soft shoulder and curves around and up from the hem to the neckline. I love the ruffle finish that follows all the way around the edge. The sleeves are incredible and each is cut to be very wide by the time they reach their ends. The seam above the ruffle finish on them is a full 20" around and the ruffle makes it go beyond that even. It is absolutely beautiful. This is Valentino at his best and a tremendously beautiful dress and jacket. Excellent condition. 

Fully lined in a black silk. The dress closes with a back zipper and there are two hidden hook and eye at the base of the jacket at the front. Tagged a size 6. 

Dress
Bust: to 16.25" flat across from side seam to side seam
Waist: 12" flat across from side seam to side seam
Hips: open
Bodice: 14.5" from top of shoulder to waist
Skirt: 43" from waist to hem

Jacket
Slightly inset shoulders: 13"
Sleeves: 22.5" long and 14" around the top part of the arm
Bust: 17" flat across from side seam to side seam
Waist: 14" flat across from side seam to side seam
Length: 17.5" from neck to hem

Modern Sizing Equivalent: XS-SML

Item# DD4054

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 fabulous fall 1970 dress from the Valentino boutique label. Valentino launched his ready to wear label in 1962, just two years after opening his first salon in Rome. He eventually expanded and added other boutiques. His first New York boutique launched in the fall of 1970 and it caused a sensation. Traffic was backed up 3 blocks with everyone who was anyone trying to get in on opening night. More boutiques followed including one at Bergdorfs. He encouraged his couture clients to also shop in his boutiques. He wanted everyone to have the Valentino experience and it should be noted that he often carried the lines he created for his Couture label into the boutique work. The primary difference was in the fabric and construction details but they were still remarkably close in quality. This especially held true in the early days. The line between the two labels was often blurred and on this dress you can see that in the hand finishing that is has. This one is extra fabulous because it is so well documented.

When searching for the date for the dress we found documentation that has both Marisa Berenson wearing it for Vogue that season and also Naomi Simms who wore it to that opening of the New York Valentino boutique. Which gives it a significant place in Valentino's history. The dress is gorgeous and it is made of a black silk chiffon that has a ribbon weave fused directly into the silk. This gives it an oversized thatched woven effect. In between the ribbon weave the silk is semi-transparent and the play between the two opacities is stunning in person. The entire dress is backed with a black silk chiffon lining and that gives the more transparent parts a backdrop so that the silk feels like it has depth. To highlight the design even more is that gorgeous print made up of a pink and purple and gold coloured threads that run over the entire dress. I love how the pattern is heavier at the bottom and then slowly makes its way up to be just scattered paisley's on the black backdrop by the top of the dress. The collar is small and neat and the sleeves are cut to pouf out above the buttoned cuffs. The sleeves are not lined so you get a sense of transparency there. The dress is cut into a chic sheath that skims over your bust, waist and hips until it flares out just slightly at the hem. There's no seam to break the line at the waist, instead he has placed two square pockets on each hip to detail this area. The pocket are amazing. Each zips to close from corner to corner and the zipper is then detailed with a long knotted and fringed tassel. Another matching tassel details the zipper that closes the front of the dress. In both the reference photos a sash was wrapped around the waist for added shape and you could easily re-create that look. I think it looks equally as well worn straight and sleek. It's nice to have both options because the dress looks dramatically different each way. It is gorgeous and very well made. Excellent condition.

Fully lined in a black silk and zippers to close up the front as described above. Each cuff buttons to close with two silk covered buttons and each pocket zips to close. There's an extra button in the lining of the dress. Hand finishes. The dress appears to have never been worn or worn very little. Tag a size 8 with a hand written size label.

Sleeves: 14"
Shoulders: 23.5"
Bust: 17.5" flat across from side seam to side seam
Waist: 17" flat across from side seam to side seam
Hips: 19" flat across from side seam to side seam
Length: 52" from neck to hem

Modern Sizing Equivalent: XS-SML

Item# DD4205

Reference Photos: (1) Marisa wearing Valentino, photo by Elisabetta Catalano in Rome, Vogue September 1970.  /  (2-3) Naomi Sims attends the grand opening of Valentino Boutique on October 12, 1970 in New York City.

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

There are hints of this dress from both the 1986 collection and in the 1988 collection. The original owner did buy it in the 1980s but I do not have the exact day. I tend to lean towards the earlier date for it but I have included reference photos from both the above mentioned collections. It is a stunning example of Valentino's work during this time period.

The dress is beautiful to see in person. It flows over the body from the more fitted bodice and the lightness of the silk allows it to move and float around you when you move. The bodice is a stunning example in shaping and couture techniques. Inside it is boned and has built in cups. This interior structure holds it perfectly in place over the body once on. On the exterior the silk is hand set and gathered over the bust and all the way around you. Each individual gather is meticulously hand stitched into place. Above this more structured part of the dress is a single layer of the chiffon. At the front it scoops in a higher set neck and at the back it is set with a keyhole running down to the top of the gathered bodice. The skirt flows out under that in four layers of the silk and each layer is bias cut. This is what allows it to have such beautiful movement when you move. The final touch are those pretty sleeves that are cuffed at the wrist and pouf out around the arm above that. It also has its original very large silk shawl piece. It is beautiful. The dress does have some flaws but is structurally sound. Please review the notes below.

The interior bodice is finished is boned and corseted. The skirt has four layers of silk as described above. The interior corset closes with hook and eye and the silk layer zips to close over. Each cuff buttons with two silk covered buttons and loops. Three buttons at the top of the back neck. There are areas of fading through the skirt that go through the layers. I have photoed the worst of them. There are some faint areas of the same on the silk above the corset and on the sleeves. I see one tiny repair near the hem at the back of the skirt. It comes. I think you could potentially remove the sleeves and upper bodice and use the shawl to create a layer over the worst of the fading or just have it redyed and it would be perfect again. Sold as found and final and the price is according to the description above

Sleeves: 25"
Shoulders: 15"
Bust: 17.5" flat across from side seam to side seam
Waist: 16.5" flat across from side seam to side seam
Hips: open
Bodice: 16.5" from top of neck to interior waist stay
Skirt: 45" from interior waist stay to hem
Shawl: 54" x 52"

Modern Sizing Equivalent: MED-LRG

Item# DD3018

Reference Photos: (1) From the book "A Grand Italian Epic, Valentino", 1988/1989 collection  /  (2-3) The "Degradè" Dress from the Valentino Haute Couture 1986 collection. (4) Cherie, Owner of Shrimpton Couture, by Erin Leydon taken on location at JohnMel Stables 

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