valentino

Fall 1982 Valentino by the Original Mr Valentino Purple Silk Strapless BubbleDress w Rainbow Detailing

  • This dress is from the Fall 1982 Valentino collection.
  • It was made under the creative direction of the original Mr. Valentino.
  • This is a very rare and unusual dress from the Valentino boutique label.
  • Michelle Harper wore its twin in 2011 and you can see it in the foreground of the photo of an exhibit of his work at the Met Museum. Its twin was shot in black that season as well.
  • Valentino launched his ready-to-wear label in 1962 just two years after opening his first couture salon in Rome. In 1970 he expanded and opened a boutique in New York. 
  • His ready-to-wear was done to give everyone access to the Valentino experience. He often based the boutique designs from his main couture label and in the early days pieces were remarkably close in quality and the line between the two labels was often blurred. This is a beautiful example of that.
  • The dress is made of a beautiful weight silk in the perfect shade of purple mixed with those rainbow coloured bands at the top of the bust and around the inner hem. The silk has just enough weight to hold the shape that you see, but still feels light on the body.
  • I love the unusual lines that this dress has and how despite its bold silhouette it is still easy to wear and very flattering.
  • The dress is strapless and the neckline is set in a peak at the front with the four coloured stripes set on angles that slant down and then curve around the back. The silk is seamed to fit around you and really emphasize the shape through the bust and waist.
  • It curves over the very top of the hips from there and then the skirt falls out outwards in the most dramatic poof under that.
  • The skirt is a masterpiece. It is gathered softly into the waist and then it expands outward in that fantastic shape that you see. At the bottom it is brought in and under and there are four more matching bands of coloured silk in those rainbow colours. 
  • When this is on and you move you are going to get the most incredible movement of the skirt.
  • There is tulle in between the outer layer and the inner silk lining in the skirt that helps to keep the skirt its structure and shape so it does not collapse around you once you are standing still. And it has pockets.
  • The dress is fully lined in a light purple silk. Light boning through the bodice and the inner silk portion of the bod closes with a row of hook and eye. The dress zips to close over that. The skirt has a black silk chiffon lining and this closes with its own hook and eye inside at the waist. The rest of the skirt is lined in a black silk organza and there is tulle in between the exterior layer and the organza. I see a tiny bit of change of texture where the silk has been pressed over the inner tulle here and there. It is very minor and just mentioned for accuracy. Hand finishes.
  • Tagged a vintage Valentino 10 
  • Excellent condition

Bust: has a maximum of 33" available space inside the bodice
Inner waist: to 13.5" flat across from side seam to side seam
Hips: open 
Bodice: 9.5" from side of bodice to side of waist seam
Total length: 55" to the longest point of the back hem and the front is 46" to the shortest point.

Modern Sizing Equivalent: XS-SML

Item# DD5725

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Please review all measurements carefully. More often than not, vintage garments do not fit any size category exactly. If in doubt, measure a garment of your own that fits and is a similar cut and compare it's measurements to the listed measurements below.

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