• The dress is from the Fall 1984 Givenchy Haute Couture collection.
• It was made under the creative direction of Hubert de Givenchy
  
• The dress would have been completely made by hand in the Paris atelier.
• This is the actual sample dress that walked the runway that day.
• I love that the reference photos from the runway lets you see how perfectly this will fit once on the body. Having a piece of true Couture is always extra special and the fact that this is the runway sample makes it that much more so. It is a true piece of fashion history.
• The skirt of the combines a beautiful black silk velvet and black silk cut out beaded overlay while the bodice is made from a very high quality soft blue coloured silk.
• The dress is strapless and inside is an attached inner corset. The inner corset is boned and structured to hold the dress perfectly in place around you.
• The silk is set over the inner corset so that it softly drapes around you. A panel wraps around the upper bodice meeting at the front where it appears to tie. Underneath that is where it closes and this tie detail cleverly hides a hidden handset zipper.
• It snaps into place over the zipper and there are more snaps set along part of the waistline. It is extremely elaborate in the way it closes and this is the kind of closure and attention to detail that you see in true Couture pieces.
• It nips in at the waist and then curves back out over the hips and falls to the floor widening out as it nears the hem.
• The skirt has a black silk velvet base with an entire second layer attached over that. This gives you this incredible depth and texture to the layers.
• The top black silk portion is a hand cut out floral design that has all of the edges finished with a black stitched edging.
• The flowers are set to overlap each other over the entire skirt. The open cut outs between the flowers leave open areas that you see the underlying velvet through. At the centre of each flower is a faceted black jet bead that adds a bit of a sparkle to the dress. 
• This is an incredible piece of history from this time period under the direction of the original Hubert de Givenchy.
• The inner velvet acts as the lining and then the bodice is lined in a matching blue silk. Inside the bodice is a handmade built-in boned inner corset. Two zippers close the dress. There is one hidden at the front of the bodice as described above and a second one sits on the side of the skirt. Two inner waist stays hook to close. The bodice snaps into place over the zipper and partially around the waist of the skirt. The very final row of flowers at the hem have no beads. The hem has a simple surged finish. This is not unusual to see in runway sample pieces. The dress has its original handwritten sample Couture tag present.
• There is no size tag since it is a true couture piece. Please go by the measurements below.
• Excellent condition

Bust: 15-17" flat across from side seam to side seam
Waist: 12.5" flat across from side seam to side seam
Hips: to 18" flat across from side seam to side seam
Bodice: 9.5" from top of bodice to waist
Total length: 57" from top of bodice to hem

Modern Sizing Equivalent: XS-SML

Item# DD5809

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 dress is from the Spring 1990 Givenchy Haute Couture collection.
• It was made under the creative direction of Hubert de Givenchy
• We found a reference photo of its twin, which lets you see how fantastic it is once on a body.
• A similar dress in black walked the runway and you can see the twin of this dress in the background walking away from the camera in that shot.
  
• The dress would have been completely made by hand in the Paris atelier.
• It is made out of a rich ivory silk that has a beautiful drape to it.
• The silk is gathered up onto one shoulder and then this drapes down under the other arm. There is extra fabric all along the edge so you get a really beautiful drape along that side.
• It is cut so bad it skims over the bust and then the waist is cinched in for shape.
• The skirt is elaborately gathered into the waist area and all of the draping in the skirt is set so that it sweeps upwards into the waist. This allows the dress to drape over the hips as needed, and then it comes in naturally more around the legs to create a very Grecian feel.
• It wraps over itself and closes with an elaborate series of silk covered snaps and hooks. Where it crosses over you will get a flash of leg when you walk or sit. You can see this in the reference photo
• A panel of silk is gathered on the one side of the waist and falls more towards the side and back for added detail and movement.
• There is a very elaborate design done in gold metal pieces that are all hand set onto the silk. It is composed of gold beading in a variety of shapes and sizes, dangling metal cords and prong set glass crystal rhinestones. The entire lower portion of the gold metal design is set in dangling strands off of the dress so when you move this has incredible movement.
• The dress is unlined and snaps to close up the side of the bodice that goes over the shoulder and then it hooks and snaps into place both inside the inner waist and along the front of the waist. The bust and hips are completely cut on the bias so are very forgiving and have movement over the body. On this one, if the waist fits the rest should fit. I see a couple very faint tiny marks here and there and a teeny tiny pinhole near the seam of the waist. Please see the photos after the label shot. These are very minor but mentioned for accuracy.The dress is completely made by hand and has its proper couture label present.
• There is no size tag because it is true Couture. Please go by the measurements below. 
• Excellent condition with the minor notes above.

Bust: 16-22" flat across from side seam to side seam
Waist: 12" flat across from side seam to side seam
Hips: open
Bodice: approx 17" from top of shoulder to waist and meant to blouse over a bit
Total length: approx 40" from top of shoulder to hem

Modern Sizing Equivalent: XS-SML

Item# DD5755

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.

• Due to new customs regulations this dress can only ship to a Canadian address. Please feel free to contact me if you have any questions about this or need assitance.
• This dress is from the Fall 1982 Givenchy collection.
• It was made under the creative direction of Hubert de Givenchy.
• I believe this is the actual runway sample that walked the runway. The only photo that we have been able to find to verify its presence on the runway is one from the back but it is still a photo that shows that it is a runway piece.
• It would have been made completely by hand in the Paris atelier.
• The dress is unlabelled and it is made by hand in the same level other of his runway samples that we have had in the shop.
  
• The bodice and sleeves are made from a black velvet with a flat pile finish. I love how it is cut to sit off shoulder and leave a bare expanse of skin across the top of your shoulders. Two little straps curve over the top of the shoulder to hold it perfectly in place and then the sleeves drop so your upper arm is bare.
• The neck line and the very top of each sleeve have a finish of black feathers that add an amazing feel to the dress.
• The sleeves have been tacked into place along the edge of the bodice and they have an elastic running around the top edge for an easy fit.
• The bodice comes in for shape around the waist and then curves back down to the top of the hip.
• The skirt is spectacular. It comes out from the bottom seam of the top and explodes outward around you with incredible volume
• The skirt is made out of a fine black and silver-grey striped silk that has a pretty red metallic dot woven through its surface. It is the perfect subtle touch of colour and contrast.
• The way the feathers fall around the sleeves and upper bodice is just incredible. They also create slight movements when you move. This is a superb example of his Couture abilities.
• The bodice of the dress is fully lined in a black silk and the skirt is lined with a black silk organza. It closes with a back zipper and each sleeve zippers to close at the wrist. It is finished a level appropriate to a runway sample and all of the work is by hand. It appears to have been worn very little at all.
• There is no size tag present given that it is Couture. Please go by the measurements listed below.
• Excellent condition

Sleeves: 17" from their open top to the end and the elastic stretches from 8-10" around
Bust: to 16" flat across from side seam to side seam
Natural waist: to 13" flat across from side seam to side seam
Seam at the top of the hips: 16.5" flat across from side seam to side seam
Hips: open
Bodice: 14" from top of bodice to seam at the top of the hips
Total length: 59" from the top of the shoulder to the front hem and the back extends another 4 " past that. There is an additional. 5" of silk turned under the hem.

Modern Sizing Equivalent: XS-SML

Item# DD5730

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 version with similar floral finishes walked the runway for the Spring 1982 Givenchy collection.
• It was made under the creative direction of Hubert de Givenchy
• In 1952 Hubert de Givenchy founded his namesake house on Rue Alfred de Vigny in Paris and quickly rose to fame as one of the grand couturiers. 16 years later for the 1968-69 season he added a ready-to-wear line of clothing and accessories called 'Givenchy Nouvelle Boutique'. The line was initially sold in the United States exclusively through Bergdorf Goodmans and was eventually made available at other retailers. The line was high end and extremely well made.
• This part of his brand was created specifically to appeal to his non-couture clients who wanted to be able to purchase a piece of the Givenchy dream.
• The label continued until 1992 when it was retired and re-branded as the Givenchy Couture label.
  
• The dress combines a brilliant pink silk skirt with a more fitted strapless bodice. The bodice on this one is so pretty. The base of it is a slightly off-white silk that has a white netting covering it. That is then covered with the prettiest little silk flowers in a range of soft pastel colours mixed with pops of pink and purple.
• The flowers cover the bodice all the way around from the front to the back. They have been laid out flat beside each other and only the centres are sewn down onto the fabric so that the petals sit off the fabric and move slightly with the smallest bit of air. 
• The skirt is full with the silk layer on the top and an inner silk chiffon layer underneath. The colour is a brilliant pink that perfectly picks up in the pink flowers in the bodice. It is set into the waist in soft folds so that it really has fullness and movement when you move.
• The dress comes with its original green silk covered belt that you wear with it for an added pop of colour. 
  
• The dress is fully lined in a ivory silk though the bodice and the skirt is lined in a pink silk. Light boning in the bodice. There is an inner waist stay and another under the bust and both hook to close. It closes with a metal side set zipper. There is a touch of grubbiness along the edges of the bodice around the arm areas and the flowers have softened over the years. There is some grubbiness and slight fading to the edge of the skirt hem and I see one tiny hole in the silk. The belt shows some fading and wear. Please see the photos after the label shot. Everything is minor overall and the dress presents beautifully.
• There is no size tag present. Please go by the measurements listed below.
• Great condition

Modern Sizing Equivalent: XS-SML

Item# DD5720

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 dress is from the Spring 2018 collection. 
• It was made under the creative direction of Clare Wright Keller.
• The dress is made out of a black jersey that is cut on the bias. This lets it drape beautifully over you as it fall over the body.
• The ease of the jersey make it easy to both fit and wear and the fabric has enough weight to it that it is completely opaque. 
• The construction of the dress is fantastic. It is made to be one long tube with a seam at the waist on the front of the dress only.
• The shoulders are soft and the sleeves are long.
• The dress has no collar and plunges down at the front to the waist. Two long ties extend out from the base of the front plunge. You can loop or knot them and then they fall almost to the floor at the front
• The plunge at the front gives it a very edgy and sexy feel while the jersey keeps it feeling comfortable to wear.
  
• The skirt flares out at it reaches the floor with a high slit runs up the front so you get a flash of leg when you move
• The dress is in its original length and it closes with a back hidden set zipper. I see some minor grubbiness around the hem. It otherwise appears to have been worn very little if at all. 
• Tagged a modern Givenchy 36
• Excellent condition

Sleeves: 25" and they are 10-12.5" around the upper arms
Shoulders: 15"
Bust: 16-18" flat across from side seam to side seam
Waist: 12-14" flat across from side seam to side seam
Hips: 16-18" flat across from side seam to side seam
Bodice: 16" from neck to waist
Total length: 62" from neck to hem and the slit is 32" from the hem up.

Modern Sizing Equivalent: XS-SML

Item# DD5615

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 dress is from the Fall 1984 Givenchy Haute Couture collection.
• It was made under the creative direction of Hubert de Givenchy
  
• The dress would have been completely made by hand in the Paris atelier.
• This is the actual sample dress that walked the runway that day.
• I love that the reference photos from the runway lets you see how perfectly this will fit once on the body. Having a piece of true Couture is always extra special and the fact that this is the runway sample makes it that much more so. It is a true piece of fashion history.
• The skirt of the combines a beautiful black silk velvet and black silk cut out beaded overlay while the bodice is made from a very high quality soft blue coloured silk.
• The dress is strapless and inside is an attached inner corset. The inner corset is boned and structured to hold the dress perfectly in place around you.
• The silk is set over the inner corset so that it softly drapes around you. A panel wraps around the upper bodice meeting at the front where it appears to tie. Underneath that is where it closes and this tie detail cleverly hides a hidden handset zipper.
• It snaps into place over the zipper and there are more snaps set along part of the waistline. It is extremely elaborate in the way it closes and this is the kind of closure and attention to detail that you see in true Couture pieces.
• It nips in at the waist and then curves back out over the hips and falls to the floor widening out as it nears the hem.
• The skirt has a black silk velvet base with an entire second layer attached over that. This gives you this incredible depth and texture to the layers.
• The top black silk portion is a hand cut out floral design that has all of the edges finished with a black stitched edging.
• The flowers are set to overlap each other over the entire skirt. The open cut outs between the flowers leave open areas that you see the underlying velvet through. At the centre of each flower is a faceted black jet bead that adds a bit of a sparkle to the dress. 
• This is an incredible piece of history from this time period under the direction of the original Hubert de Givenchy.
• The inner velvet acts as the lining and then the bodice is lined in a matching blue silk. Inside the bodice is a handmade built-in boned inner corset. Two zippers close the dress. There is one hidden at the front of the bodice as described above and a second one sits on the side of the skirt. Two inner waist stays hook to close. The bodice snaps into place over the zipper and partially around the waist of the skirt. The very final row of flowers at the hem have no beads. The hem has a simple surged finish. This is not unusual to see in runway sample pieces. The dress has its original handwritten sample Couture tag present.
• There is no size tag since it is a true couture piece. Please go by the measurements below.
• Excellent condition

Bust: 15-17" flat across from side seam to side seam
Waist: 12.5" flat across from side seam to side seam
Hips: to 18" flat across from side seam to side seam
Bodice: 9.5" from top of bodice to waist
Total length: 57" from top of bodice to hem

Modern Sizing Equivalent: XS-SML

Item# DD5809

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 stunning and rare dress designed by Coty Award winning, Haitian born designer, Fabrice Simon. He was one of the preeminent black designers during this time period and pieces by him are very hard to find.
• It is the very near twin of the piece worn by Cornelia Guest in the photo that we have added here.
• His clothes were worn by some of the most famous names of the time and his work was seen on women like Kathleen Turner, Natalie Cole and Whitney Houston, who wore one of his dresses to the 1988 Grammy's. The top supermodels of the time like Iman, Beverly Johnson, Christie Brinkley and Jerry Hall were also all fans of his work. 
• The dress is meant to be worn off the shoulder and the entire top of the neckline features an elaborate finish made out of a two layers of a black silk. Each layer is attached down its middle and then sat side-by-side. The edges are all angled and pointed. This creates a gorgeous volume around your shoulders that balances out the volume of the lower skirts.
• The body of the dress is a black silk that is covered in black tube beads. The beads run over the dress in an interesting little panel with big square cut, rhinestones and little beads interspersed throughout for a little added glitz.
• The waist comes in and then the dress curves back out over the hips. It is fitted to past the hips with a border of the black beading that runs around where the skirt is attached. A ruffle with the same detail and finish as the shoulder sits below that.
• The lower skirt is incredibly full. It is made out of a soft pink silk that flares out all around you and moves incredibly as you move. There is a built-in underskirt that is made out of multiple layers of a white net with a very inner layer of an ivory silk.
• An incredible piece that is a rare example of his work.
• The top of the dress is fully lined in a black silk and the skirt is finished as described above. It closes with a back zipper. There is light boning through the bust and elastic at the top of the shoulders. There are some very small areas where the bead work is missing and some grubbiness on the skirt. Please see the photos after the label shot.
• There is no size tag present as it would have been custom made. Please go by the measurements list of below
• Excellent overall condition

Bust: to 17" flat across from side seam to side seam
Waist: 13" flat across from side seam to side seam
Hips: to 19.5" flat across from side seam to side seam
Total length: approx 65" from top of the natural shoulder to hem

Modern Sizing Equivalent: SML-MED

Item# DD5810

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 the dress walked the runway for the Spring 1985 YSL runway.
• It was made under the creative direction of Yves Saint Laurent.
  
• This is a dress that is immediately recognizable as being YSL and was very well documented. Besides being seen on the runway one was famously shot by Helmet Newton for Vogue and it appeared in another editorial that season as well.
• The dress combines a black crepe skirt with a pink textured fabric, bought us and then a brilliant blue textured fabric piece that wraps around the hips and trails down one side
• I love that we have referenced photos of this one because it truly transforms once on the body.
• The pink of the top has heavy texture running through it. It is gathered into a wide strap across the top of the shoulder, and then extends down on an angle under the arm on the other side. It's all gathered into the top of the shoulder, and this creates the fantastic drape that you see running across on both the front of the bodice and the back.
• The seam where it meets, the black skirt is set on an angle that runs almost perfectly opposite to the angle of the neck line. It runs down to about the top of the hip on one side and then angles down to about mid hip on the other.
• Under that is a lightweight black skirt that continues to curve over the hips and then expands out for the lower skirt. There's quite a bit of fabric at the lower skirt so it has beautiful movement when you move and the back is cut a touch longer for a perfect little sweet behind you.
• Around the waist is a brilliant, deep, turquoise panel of fabric. This wraps around you and then comes back to hook into place at the hip where the ties start. I love how you can expand the fabric quite full over your hip on the one side.
• The ties continue down the side of the skirt and they are quite wide. They add to the movement the dress has when you move and add an unexpected bit of glamour.
• I love the almost startling combination of the three colours. It is a fantastic example of his work during this era.
• The dress is online and closes with a side, set, zipper, and hook an eye above that. The sash wrapped around the hips and hooks into place. The top and waist have a more bias cut feel, and I've put the range of measurements for those below.
• Take a vintage YSL 38
  
• Excellent condition

Bust: 16-18" flat across from side seam to side seam
Waist: 14-16" flat across from side seam to side seam
Hips: to 19" flat across from side seam to side seam
Total length: 59" from top of shoulder to hem and the back extends another 3" with approximately 1.5" turned under the hem.

Modern Sizing Equivalent: SML-MED

Item# DD5810

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 1988 show.
• It was made under the creative direction of Marc Bohan for Christian Dior. 
• The evening portion of the collection focused on short dresses that had a corseted waist and bust with wrapping techniques that gave the feel of a sarong. The dress is a wonderful example of the feel he was after and it is fantastic.
• We found a teeny slice of a photo of it on the runway and even though the photo shows the model on an angle it does give you an idea of how wonderful this will be on the body.
• This would have been made completely by hand in the Paris atelier.
• The fabric is a black silk organza that has been gathered so it has a slight 3D puffed effect. This creates an incredible texture over the dress.
• The fabric is light in weight and despite the elaborate construction of the dress is not at all heavy once it is on.
• Inside the dress has a full proper corset with boning and built in cups to give support . A wide grosgrain ribbon hooks in place around the inner waist.
• All of the seams are finished by hand and its construction is a nod to the early days of couture.
• The bodice is cut with a curving sweetheart neckline and it is meant to hug the body. It is elaborately gathered and fitted around the bust with all of the gathered folds coming in to the seams that run over the bodice.
• It nips in at the waist and there is a large and elaborate bow that sits at the base of an angle seam coming from the bust. I love how this is set to curve around the hip to the back.
• The addition of the bow adds to the hourglass feel the dress has.
• The skirt curves down and comes back in and under the front panel to give it a more wrapped sarong feel.
• The dress is fully lined in a black silk and closes with a hand set side zipper. The interior of the bodice is boned and cupped for support. The inner corset closes with its own zipper and a wide band at the interior waist hooks to close. There is a tiniest bit of lightening to some of the edges on the fabric. This is a natural aging of this type of fabric and I do not consider it to be a true flaw but it is mentioned for accuracy. It otherwise appears to have been worn very little if at all.
• There is no size tag present because it is true Couture. Please go by the measurements listed below.
• Excellent condition

Bust: to 17" flat across from side seam to side seam
Interior waist: to 13" flat across from side seam to side seam
Hips: to 19" flat across from side seam to side seam
Bodice: approx 10" from top of bodice to waist
Total length: 29.5" from top of bodice to hem

Modern Sizing Equivalent: SML-MED

Item# DD5782

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 the dress walked the runway for the Spring 1988 collection.
• It was made under the creative direction of Christian Lacroix
• I love that the runway shots show just how phenomenal the dress is once on the body. It feels as relevant now as it did then.
• Lacroix's Luxe label was only produced the very first couple of seasons after launching his label. It was a very high-end (very expensive) ready-to-wear line that was made to demi-couture standards. It was available primarily to his couture clients and a select few beyond that. It was the predecessor to his regular ready-to-wear collections. The label only lasted the first two seasons because some of the couture clients complained at how close the garments were to their Haute Couture pieces. Very few pieces were made so they are almost as rare as finding one of his Haute Couture pieces.
• The dress is spectacular.It is made out of a cotton pique that has a gorgeous texture running through it. A white dot pattern pops off the red backdrop.
• It is meant to be fitted to the body. The inner bodice is boned and shaped and I love the two black grosgrain bows that sit on the top of each peak. The back dips quite low to expose an expanse of bare skin. 
• Black grosgrain straps have been tacked into place at some point. The dress was shown originally and produced as a strapless piece. It would be easy to tack the straps if you prefer it that way or just tuck them in so you can wear it either way.
• It curves in at the waist and the inner underskirt is attached there and acts almost like a bit of a corset around the waist. 
• The skirt has wide inverted flat pleats that open out to achieve the fullness that you see and this falls over an inner attached underskirt.
• The underskirt underneath is what gives the dress its incredible volume. It is made out of a stiffened white net and all the volume that you see is from the underskirt. It has added built-in side panniers inside to add extra volume and hold the width of the skirt. The very lower edge is finished with a stiffened netting and then that is covered with a band of black lace that peeks out from under the edge of the skirt.
• The best part about the dress is that it still has its original little removable 'sleeves'. Each is made out of the same red fabric and slips over your arm to sit high on the upper arm. They are lined with organza inside so once on the arm, they hold their gorgeous puffed shape. 
• The dress is fully lined in a white silk through the bodice and has built in boning to hold it in place around you. The inner attached skirt hooks to close around the waist and the dress zips to close over that. Hand finishes throughout. I see a couple of extremely minor marks on the inner lining and a couple of the dots on the exterior have just slightly faintly yellowed. It is extremely minor but mentioned for accuracy. It otherwise appears to have been worn very little if at all.
• There is no size tag so please go by the measurements listed below
• Excellent condition

Sleeves: the openings are elastic. The larger opening is 12" around and will stretch to a mass of 18" around. The smaller opening is approximately 10" and will stretch to 18" around.
Bust: 16-18" flat across from side seam to side seam
Waist: to 13" flat across from side seam to side seam
Hips: open
Bodice: approximately 11" from top of bodice to waist
Total length: 32" from from top of bodice to hem

Modern Sizing Equivalent: XS-MED

Item# DD5781

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.