This little Yves Saint Laurent dress has such a joyful feel to it. I am always excited to find examples of Yves' work from this time period and this one is extra special because it is the twin of the dress that was shown on the 1983 runway. We also found a editorial shot from that season with the same dress in a solid colour that was shot for L'Officiel magazine. I love the solid colour version as well but the printed one just has so much colour and joy to it I can't help but love it a little more. 

This is a gorgeous little day dress that you could easily style to work into the evening, especially during the warmer months. The colours are amazing and absolutely pop off of the cotton fabric that he chose for this dress. Cotton takes colour extremely well and it is the perfect choice to get these crisp vibrant tones. It also holds the shape well so that the dress has volume where Yves wanted it. Yves Saint Laurent was a master at choosing the fabrics that were the perfect compliment to the prints that he used. This dress is no exception to that rule with its riot of bright flowers covering its surface. The cut is pure Yves and a wonderful example of the work he was doing during this time period. The sleeves end just below the elbow and are cut with a full balloon sleeve pouf above their wide and easy elastic cuffs. The bodice is fitted with a V neckline at the front. The upper portion of the bodice is done in the same floral fabric as the sleeves and skirt but he then inset a blue fabric to define the waist and visually cinch it in. He then plays with proportion by adding a blue cotton peplum that runs all the way around the hips and flares outwards. Below that the skirt flares out with a pretty swing feel. The combination of the prints and the cut is genius. Excellent condition with a minor note below

Unlined and zips to close at the side. It is tagged a vintage YSL 36. It appears to have been worn very little if at all but there is some fading to the tops of the curves on the peplum. You notice it more when it is off the body and laying flat but not when on. Please see the photo after the label shot. 

Sleeves: 19"
Shoulders: 14"
Bust: 18" flat across from side seam to side seam
Waist: 13" flat across from side seam to side seam
Hips: open
Bodice: 15" from neck to waist
Skirt: 25" from waist to hem

Modern Sizing Equivalent: SML-MED

Item# DD3653

Reference Photo: (1) S/S 1983 Yves Saint Laurent Rive Gauche Runway.  /  (2) Yves Saint Laurent Rive Gauche, L'Officiel, 1983.

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 a great little black dress by Yves Saint Laurent. It is strapless and cut to hug your curves. The fabric is a black cotton that is heavy enough to give the dress some structure. To put it on you first do up the bandeau that is inside the dress. This is made from a black muslin and this inside piece zips into place so that the dress is held securely around you. Then you simply button it up down the front. I love the flap finish that runs all the way around the top of the dress. There are two big pockets on each hip that are finished with that same exaggerated flap. They not only add detailing but also add the illusion of more shape. The flap at the top adds shape to the bust and the ones on the pockets help to give the hips a flare out for an hourglass feel. The hem is cut short to that you get miles of legs showing. Everything about the cut of the dress is done to highlight the curves of the body. It is wonderful. Excellent condition

Unlined with an attached interior bandeau as described above. Buttons to close. Pockets are functional. The fabric has a very very slight fade feel to it at some or the edges that is a natural component of this fabric as it ages. 

Bust: to 17" flat across from side seam to side seam
Waist at inner waist stay: 14.5" flat across from side seam to side seam
Hips: to 18" flat across from side seam to side seam
Length: 26.5" from top of bodice to hem

Modern Sizing Equivalent: SML-MED

Item# DD3641

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 an iconic and classic look from the Rive Gauche collection. I have dated this one to the 1977 collection based on the version of the label and print that is similar to the one in the reference photo I have included here. That shot was used for the ad campaign that year.

These are so easy to wear and very comfortable. You just slip this on and you are ready to go. This can also be belted to add shaped and bring the length up which gives the dress a lot of versatility and styling options. They are a play on the smock style dress combine with that classic Yves Saint Laurent signature style of this time period. This one is made out of a scarf weight silk that is a soft and fluid silk. Around the neckline is a black cotton velvet bib that is edged with cording and closes at the very front with five glossy black domed buttons. The sleeves are full and ballon out above their velvet trimmed cuffs. The body of the dress is cut loose and easy with a low dropped seam to separate out the skirt and to tie all the velvet parts together. The skirt is constructed with lots of fullness so that it has a little extra swing. It really transforms when on an actual body. This is classic YSL and a great piece of fashion history. Excellent condition

Unlined and slips on to wear. Buttons at the neck with five button and loops. Pockets on each hip t the seams. tagged a 36 bit the cut is generous so should fit a range of sizes. Meant to be oversized on the body. 

Sleeves: 24"
Shoulders: the velvet part is 14" and there are no real side seams on the silk part
Bust: to 24" flat across from side seam to side seam
Waist: to 26" flat across from side seam to side seam
Hips: to 24" flat across from side seam to side seam
Length: 45" from neck to hem

Modern Sizing Equivalent: XS-MED

Item# DD3639

Reference Photos: (1) F/W 1977 Yves Saint Laurent Rive Gauche.  /  (2) Yves Saint Laurent, L'Officiel, 1981.

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

Yves play on the tuxedo and 'Le Smoking' suit is one of his most famous hallmarks. He first presented the now famous suit in 1966. His play on traditional menswear is lauded by many as 'having empowered women by giving them the option to wear clothes that were normally worn by men with influence and power'. This is a stunning example from the Rive Gauche collection of 1992. It was captured on Beverly Peele backstage at the show and you can see in that photo how stunning this is on.

This one has a full length skirt in a rich silk that beautifully balances the cut of the jacket. Yves did variations of this suit every season for both his Couture and Rive Gauche presentations and mixed the play on a men's tuxedo jacket with skirts and pants of varying lengths and cuts. They were shaped and tweaked by Yves to be immensely flattering on the female body. I love this more formal full length skirt version and the fact that you can mix and match the pieces. That combined with the sequins on the jacket make the suit feel so bold and yet still elegant and refined in feel. The jacket is tailored with a sleek cut that follows the curves of the body. It has his signature matte satin tuxedo collar. Yves produced many versions of this suit over the years but what I find remarkable is that each version is distinct in how it closes at the front and the way that the collar is shaped. This one has one over-sized faceted and glossy jet button below that amazing collar. Two flap pockets are top set on the hips and the shoulders are sharp and perfectly padded. The entire jacket except for the collar was then covered in a dense application of glossy black sequins. This catches the light and is fabulous in person. The skirt is cut in a long column of the same silk used for the collar of the jacket. It falls to the floor in a long and lean line and there are pockets hidden on each hip. His suits change the way we approach woman's wear and any example of the Le Smoking version is collectible. They are a particularly wonderful example of how strong his tailoring was and vision for a woman's place in the world. This is an important piece of fashion history. Excellent condition

Both pieces are lined in a black silk. The jacket has a single button at the front to close. The skirt has a zipper and hook & eye at the waist with pockets on each hip. Two pockets on the jacket that still have most of their original tacking to keep them closed. Padding in each shoulder It looks to have been worn very little if at all. The jacket is tagged a 36 and the skirt has no size tag present.

Jacket
Sleeves: 24"
Padded shoulders: 16"
Bust: to 18" flat across from side seam to side seam
Waist: to 14" flat across from side seam to side seam
Hips: to 18" flat across from side seam to side seam
Length: 23" from neck to hem at the front, 22 at the back

Skirt
Waist: 12.5" flat across from side seam to side seam
Hips: open
Length: 43.5" from waist to hem

Modern Sizing Equivalent: XS-SML

Item# DD3624

Reference Photo: Beverly Peele wearing Yves Saint Laurent. Photo by Roxanne Lowit, 1992. (As seen in the book "Roxanne Lowit Photographs Yves Saint Laurent".

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 fantastic piece by Yves Saint Laurent that manages to feel refined and chic, yet very bold at the same time. This is a piece that would have been produced in the early 1970s and shows all the hallmarks of his work during this time period. The body of the sweater is made of a wool mix and I love how it blends a deep rusty red with a darker taupe colour. This gives the piece a very chic country feel. It is cut to cut long and straight through the body with no waist so that it creates a simple line that stops at the top of the hips. If you wanted more shape you could easily belt it. Front pockets sit low on the front on eithor side of the buttons. The buttons themselves are round and thick and are a deep charcoal meant to highlight the fur trim. The fur circles around the tops of each arm and is a soft and supple black fox. This adds unexpected volume to the top. This came from a woman who was very fashionable and regularly bought couture and high end and her pieces were well stored. Excellent condition  

Unlined and closes down the front with the buttons you see. Tagged medium. The pockets at the front are shallow but functional. There is the slightest of wear to the edges of the fur but I am being extremely picky. 

Slightly dropped shoulders: 17"
Bust-hips: 19" flat across from side seam to side seam
Length: 28" from neck to hem

Modern Sizing Equivalent: SML-MED

Item# S926

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

I have a small collection of historically important, key designer labelled vintage furs and fur trimmed pieces stored away in my archives that I will be slowly posting on the site over the next couple of years until I have none left. I will no longer be buying furs for the shop moving forward and have not purchased anything for several years now. I feel like times have changed and while there still is a place for vintage furs for some, including collectors and historians, many modern girls are choosing other options. Many of the pieces in my collection are representative of the designer during a set time period in history that was different then our modern outlook. I have decided that the best course to handle this controversial issue is to let the pieces I have go rather then sit in a cold storage unit. Fur pieces are final sale.

Salvadore Albani was an independent couturier operating out of Paris. He was known as one of the more 'affordable' couturiers of his day which meant you could buy a cocktail dress for several thousands of francs instead of tens of thousands. Kim Novack and Brigitte Bardot were fans and his work was quietly known by the women who could afford couture. This piece is from the eighties and it is remarkable how close it looks to the work of some of the modern brands who have been 're-inventing' that decade for several seasons now. It is an incredibly well made dress and is finished to haute couture standards. The dress is made from a light weight lame finish silk in a deep inky black. The main body and sleeves have a texture to then that gives them a light 3D effect. The collar, skirts, cuffs and the sash at the waist are then finished in the same fabric that has been plisse pleated. The fabric is very light and sexy feeling when on. It is loose and easy cut through the body that is flattering and comfortable to wear. The neck is high and finished with a pleated ruffle. The shoulders are set wide and each sleeve poufs out over the upper part of the arm and then curves and tapers down to the wrist. Each cuff has the same ruffle finish as the collar and there are two layers of silk there. Below the waist is an attached band of fabric that is wider at one side and then curves around the hips and ties. The sash is made out of the plisse fabric and this gives it volume and some structure that allows you to shape it as you wish. The skirt has two layers to it that that are set on a slight angle so one side is shorter then the other. I love all the shape and volume that the dress has and it still feels very avant garde even now. Hand finished interior and made to couture standards. Excellent condition

Unlined and closes at the back with a zipper and then you can adjust the hips with the attached sash. The teeniest bit of sheen to the fabric under one arm near the seam. The beck was small on the dress form. It measures 14" around. You could add an extender or button and loop to give you more room if needed. 

Sleeves: 26"
Slightly inset shoulders: 14"
Bust: to 18.6" flat across from side seam to side seam
Waist: 16" flat across from side seam to side seam and adjustable more
Hips: to 21" flat across from side seam to side seam and adjustable more
Length: 40" from neck to shorter side of hem, 44" to the longer side

Modern Sizing Equivalent: MED-LRG

Item# DD3674

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

I have several interesting pieces coming that are from a client whose aunt had most of her clothes made. This dress was made by Ady Couture and the story behind this label is fascinating. Ady Couture was based out of Lausanne Switzerland. She would buy couture fabrics from the couture houses along with the patterns and with permission make copies of the piece presented in the Haute Couture collections. When she was younger, and lived in Amsterdam, Ady would attend the private viewing and purchase directly from the couture houses. My client believes that her arrangement with the ateliers was a way to work around customs that prompted Ady to negotiate this arrangement with the ateliers. In my hunt for more information I have been able to verify that they made this permissible copies of the work of Yves Saint Laurent, Christian Dior, Givenchy and Ungaro. There may have been others but this are the four houses I am confident on. This particular dress is most likely a Givenchy copy from the Fall 1987  Couture collection where Givenchy did a tribute to artist Christian Berard. The entire collection revolved around his work and one of the key elements for the collection was the printing of his work onto the textiles. The bow ribbon print was a primary element used. I have included a reference of a dress from that collection with a similar print. This dress does not have a label but is from the time period that she lived in Switzerland. There is a small possibly it is an actual Givenchy because she was also buying from some more well know labels at the time. It is priced as an Ady piece and the context that it would have with that label. The dress is completely made by hand to Haute Couture standards and it is an incredible piece.

This is a dress that when you see it on the hanger is really doesn't look like much but the second it hit the dress form it came to life. I can only imagine how amazing it will be once on an actual body. It is made out of a rich liquid silk satin that drapes and falls over the body beautifully. The bodice is fitted and it nips in at the waist. The skirt below that falls in a sleek column that wraps around you and overlaps itself at the front. This allows it to open slightly when you walk so you get a bit of leg showing. Attached around the waist is a draped panel of fabric that hooks into place along one hip and then you tie the long extended ties into place. I have tied it into a bow so that there is more volume there. I also shot one photo where it is just looped so that the ties hang long down the side. This gives the illusion of a more voluminous skirt then there actually is and also gives the dress a nod back the forties in feel. At the back it buttons into place with a series of glossy black buttons and the back dips into a low V for a little expanse of skin to show above that. The silk is a true black that has that amazing Berard inspired bow and ribbon print in a vibrant pink screened over it. It is gorgeous. Inside it is completely finished to couture standards with every seam hand finished. I have taken some detail shots for you to see the fine workmanship inside. It is an incredible piece and just beautifully made. It appears to have been worn very little if at all. Excellent condition 

Fully lined in a black silk crepe through the skirt and a silk crepe chiffon through the bodice. It closes with a low set zipper at the back and buttons to close above that. The hip swag wraps around you and hooks into lace with four hook & eye. Hand finished throughout. It appears to have been for very little if at all. Made to Haute Couture standards with a tremendous amount of detail put into its construction.

Bust: to 18" 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
Bodice: 16" from top of bodice to waist
Skirt: 41" from waist to hem

Modern Sizing Equivalent: SML-MED

Item# DD3673

Reference Photo: Fall 1987 Givenchy.

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

This is a beautiful two piece set by Oscar de la Renta. This is classic Oscar with its pink colour combination and feminine feel. The pieces are made to go perfectly together but you can also have them play double duty by wearing them separately. The dress is a classic day dress with a structured fit. The silk he chose is very high quality and it is covered in an exaggerated plaid done in several shades of pink. The choice of silk keeps it light and easy to wear but the construction techniques used for it give it the structure and shape that you see. The top is loose fitting and the sleeves balloon out above their buttoned cuffs. It does up down one side with a series of silk covered buttons. The skirt is gorgeous. It skims over the hips and falls with a slight flare as it nears the hem. On one side at the front he has added a series of flat pleats. These flare and move as you move and create a little extra detail that I love. You can see the care put into it with each line of the pattern in the silk brilliantly lining up with the ones beside it where the pleats close. It comes with its original silk covered wide belt that you use at the waist to cinch the dress in. Over this goes the matching pink coat that has been lined in the same pink silk as the dress. So if you wear the coat open you see the same fabric. I love that. The exterior is done in a light woven boucle feeling fabric done in several tones of pink. It has a boxier straight cut through the body with one pocket at one side. It closes with a series of large hand carved wooden buttons. It is marvellous together and classic Oscar. Excellent condition with one small note below. 

The dress is lined in an ivory silk through the body with the sleeves unlined. It closes down the front with buttons as seen. Snaps close it under the waist line and there are snaps to close each cuff. An inner waist stay hooks to close and there is padding in each shoulder. The coat is lined in a matching silk to the dress and buttons at the front with hand carved wood buttons. There is small padding in each shoulder and the pocket on the front is functional. The set comes with its original slip buckle belt. The belt has some grubbiness and there is one tiny spot on the front side of the dress. Please see the photo after the label shot. Tagged a vintage OLDR 12

Dress
Sleeves: 27" but do come up once on
Wide set shoulders: 17"
Bust: to 20" flat across from side seam to side seam
Waist: 15" flat across from side seam to side seam
Hips: to 20" flat across from side seam to side seam
Bodice: dropped - 17" from neck to waist
Skirt: 23" from waist to hem

Coat
Sleeves: 24.5"
Shoulders: 16.5
Bust: to 20.5" flat across from side seam to side seam
Waist: 20" flat across from side seam to side seam
Hips: to 23" flat across from side seam to side seam
Length: 40" from neck to hem

Modern Sizing Equivalent: MED-LRG

Item# DD3660

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 little Yves Saint Laurent dress has such a joyful feel to it. I am always excited to find examples of Yves' work from this time period and this one is extra special because it is the twin of the dress that was shown on the 1983 runway. We also found a editorial shot from that season with the same dress in a solid colour that was shot for L'Officiel magazine. I love the solid colour version as well but the printed one just has so much colour and joy to it I can't help but love it a little more. 

This is a gorgeous little day dress that you could easily style to work into the evening, especially during the warmer months. The colours are amazing and absolutely pop off of the cotton fabric that he chose for this dress. Cotton takes colour extremely well and it is the perfect choice to get these crisp vibrant tones. It also holds the shape well so that the dress has volume where Yves wanted it. Yves Saint Laurent was a master at choosing the fabrics that were the perfect compliment to the prints that he used. This dress is no exception to that rule with its riot of bright flowers covering its surface. The cut is pure Yves and a wonderful example of the work he was doing during this time period. The sleeves end just below the elbow and are cut with a full balloon sleeve pouf above their wide and easy elastic cuffs. The bodice is fitted with a V neckline at the front. The upper portion of the bodice is done in the same floral fabric as the sleeves and skirt but he then inset a blue fabric to define the waist and visually cinch it in. He then plays with proportion by adding a blue cotton peplum that runs all the way around the hips and flares outwards. Below that the skirt flares out with a pretty swing feel. The combination of the prints and the cut is genius. Excellent condition with a minor note below

Unlined and zips to close at the side. It is tagged a vintage YSL 36. It appears to have been worn very little if at all but there is some fading to the tops of the curves on the peplum. You notice it more when it is off the body and laying flat but not when on. Please see the photo after the label shot. 

Sleeves: 19"
Shoulders: 14"
Bust: 18" flat across from side seam to side seam
Waist: 13" flat across from side seam to side seam
Hips: open
Bodice: 15" from neck to waist
Skirt: 25" from waist to hem

Modern Sizing Equivalent: SML-MED

Item# DD3653

Reference Photo: (1) S/S 1983 Yves Saint Laurent Rive Gauche Runway.  /  (2) Yves Saint Laurent Rive Gauche, L'Officiel, 1983.

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

Geoffrey Beene was one of the great American fashion designers and he was recognized for both his artistic and technical skills. He launched his label in 1963 and a piece from his very first collection landed the cover of Vogue. A Coty award followed a year later and in 1984 the Council of Fashion Designers created the annual Geoffrey Beene Lifetime Achievement award in honor of Beene's fashion legacy. This dress is from the Fall 1984 collection and we found an amazing editorial photo of it in the September issue of Vogue that year. It is one of my favourite things in the shop and it is even better in person. 

I am completely in love with this dress. It is so representative of his work and is just a gorgeous little dress in its own right. The silk that he chose for the dress is a fine silk taffeta that holds the volume and shape that he wanted while still keeping the dress light and airy feeling once on the body. The colour are a blend of a silver toned grey with a large black floral print over it. The sleeves are puffed and they have lots of volume built into them. The neckline is high and the bodice is cut to to be more fitted. Into the silver silk taffeta below the neckline there is an inset made out of a semi-transparent silk that has a metallic lame finish. This angles up into a peak at the front and then wraps around the sides. It goes from the top of the peak in height right down to the waist seam. Set along the angle of the front peak is a long panel of the same metallic silk chiffon. These extend out into extra extra long ties. You cross them over each other and then you can wrap them around your body. For the shots here I have tied them at the back but they are long enough that you could wrap them around you and tie at the front as well. Depending on how you tie them you will get a glimpse of skin through the inner front panel. You can style the ties to take advantage of that and show more of the transparent panel or tie them so that it completely covers it for a fully opaque feel. This play on transparent cut-outs is a staple of Beene's work as he progressed into the nineties and I love seeing it in this earlier piece. Below the waist the skirt falls to the floor in a cascade of silver and black. There are many yards of silk that have been used to construct the skirt so when you move you can really get a sense of its fullness. You could probably add an underskirt if you wanted it to be even fuller. Underneath the top layer of the skirt is built in silk chiffon underskirt that is edged  in a wide panel of black lace. The lace is finished with a curving scalloped edge and when you move or sit you get just a peek of it from underneath. Square polished buttons down the back are the perfect finishing touch. It is gorgeous. Appears to have never been worn or worn very little. Excellent condition.

The skirt is fully lined in a black silk chiffon that is edged with a wide panel of scalloped black lace at the hem. The bodice is also lined in a black silk chiffon. It close with a series of buttons down the back and a low back zipper at the waist. The inner waist hooks to close. Each sleeve has elastic in its cuff and they are cut wide and easy. The ties are attached at the front as described above. It appears to have never been worn or worn very little.

Shoulders: no defined seam
Bust: 18" flat across the back from side seam to side seam
Seam at low waist: 13.5" flat across the back from side seam to side seam
Hips: open
Bodice: 16" from shoulder to low waist seam
Skirt: 40" from waist seam to bottom hem

Modern Sizing equivalent: SML-MED

Item# DD1904

Reference Photo: Vogue, September 1984.

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