• The twin of this dress walked the runway for the Spring 2017 collection for Look 39.
• It was made under the creative direction of Pierpaolo Piccioli and the print was done in collaboration with Zandra Rhodes.
• Historically, this was an important collection as it was Pierpaolo's first solo show at Valentino. It was also his first collaboration with Zandra Rhodes.
• The dress is beautifully documented on the runway the dress and one was also shot for Vogue that season. I love this show shows you how gorgeous it is once on the body especially since it is a tough one to photo on a dress form without arms.
• The dress is made out of a beautiful lightweight silk chiffon that has a custom Zandra Rhodes print covering the entire dress. The colour is a deep, dusty pink, and the print on it is a mute metallic gold and deep copper paint fuel that is done in her proprietary manner in studio.
• The shoulders are bare with a single ribbon, silk strap running over them. The neckline is heavily gathered and this detail extends down and into each side of the sleeves. The sleeves lace up down their lengths along the top and then are full and easy under that. I love the gathered ruffle that follows the line of lace and extends around the entire neckline. 
• This cut leaves your shoulders bare and also lets a little bit of skin peek out between the laces of the sleeves. The sleeves themselves are a single layer of the silk chiffon so they have a beautiful delicacy to them. 
• The dress skims over the bust and drapes easily over the body to a more generously cut waist. The waist is gathered to pick up on the finish of the neck line and hear you see another ruffle that runs all the way around you.
  
• The waist is cut more generously so that you have a beautiful flow from head to toe. You can see this in all of the various reference photos and how it sits on the body. This cut was to become one of Pierpaolo signatures.
• The skirt flows to the floor from there and it is beautifully full and easy. It has a second silk chiffon layer underneath in a solid version of the same colour so that it is opaque enough to wear. The amount of fabric used through the skirt gives it a ton of movement when you walk and move. 
• The lightness of the silk and the way that it lays over the body allows it to move spectacularly over you and it will pick up the slightest bit of air.
• The dress is fully lined in a matching silk chiffon. It closes with a hidden set back zipper. It appears to have been worn very little if at all.
• Tagged a Valentino 38
• Excellent condition

Sleeves: approximately 11" and they are 12" around the upper arm when the laces are fully tied close. Loosening the laces will give you more room.
Bust: 16-18" flat across from side seam to side seam
Waist: 14-15" flat across from side seam to side seam
Hips: open
Bodice: 17" from top of shoulder to slightly dropped waist
Total length: 60" from top of shoulder to hem

Modern Sizing Equivalent: XS-MED

Item# DD5599

Reference Photos/Video: (1-8) Spring 2017 Valentino, Look 39.  /  (9) Photographed by Hao Zeng for Vogue.

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 Valentino collection.
• It was made under the Creative Direction of Pierpaolo Piccioli 
• This was a red carpet favourite and its twin was seen on both Nicole Kidman and Nicky Hilton.
• Over the course of his time at Valentino Pierpaolo did several variations of these elaborate ruffled and embellished dresses in different fabrications and each is beautiful. The cut of the dress makes it easy to wear and it is very flattering once on the body. It has a beautifully feminine feel and is very striking with the addition of the ruffles. The pink is infinitely gorgeous on almost every skin tone. 
• The dress is even better in person than how it photoed here.
• It is made from a pink silk organza mixed with panels of lace set in a chevron pattern that runs down the bodice and top of the skirt on both the back and the front. These fabric choices keeps it light in weight but still give it enough structure to hold that gorgeous shape that you see.
• The neck is cut high with a band of lace running around the neck. A little ruffle of organza runs around the bottom of the collar and this sets the tone for the rest of the dress.
• A ruffle details the top of each shoulder, at each of the cuffs, and then more ruffles are set throughout the dress and around the hem.
• The bodice is cut to skim over you and I love the bit of play on transparency with the very top of the bodice and the sleeves with them being a single layer of the organza. The shoulders are soft and the sleeves are long and slightly taper down to a ruffled wrist.
• The waist is detailed with more ruffles and is cut slightly on the more generous size. This is a signature cut for him and makes the dress very easy and flattering to wear. 
• The skirt falls from there to the floor. It is wonderfully full and extremely elaborate. Chevron panels of lace detail the top portion of the skirt and then panels of organza continue down set on angles for the full length of the skirt. Every second panel of organza has a ruffle peeking out from underneath. The skirt is very wide by the time it reaches the hem and it has wonderful movement. 
• Over the entire dress is an absolutely gorgeous mix of hand set rectangular silver metallic sequins that are set vertically over the dress. These are mixed with hand set pronged rhinestones that follow the design of the dress. On the sleeves they are set in vertical rows and then throughout the dress they are set in angled rows to follow the chevron design of the lace and organza. 
• This was a special order piece and very few were made.
• The dress is fully lined in a pink silk. It closes with a hidden back set zipper and buttons at the back of the neck. Each sleeve has a button at the wrist. It is in its original uncut length. It has its original tags attached and was never worn.
• Tagged a Valentino 40
• Excellent condition

Sleeves: 27" including the ruffle that is just under 2" wide. Each sleeve is 11.5" around the upper arm. The neck is 14" around
Bust: 16-17" flat across from side seam to side seam
Waist: 15" flat across from side seam to side seam
Hips: open
Bodice: 14" from neck to the top seam of the 2" band around the waist
Total length: 64.5" from neck to hem

Modern Sizing Equivalent: XS-MED

Item# DD5575

Reference Photos/Video: (1-3) Nicole Kidman at the Critics Choice Awards, 2018.  /  (4-5) Nicky Hilton at the Fall 2018 Paris Couture Valentino Fashion Show.

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 coat walked the runway for Pre-fall 2019 Valentino for Look 4.
• It was made under the creative direction of Pierpaulo Piccioli.
• The show was in Tokyo and combined both women and the men's pre-fall, both firsts for the label. Piccioli maintained that "he wanted to 'keep the prettiness in the romanticism, the codes of the house' but then apply the notion of Wabi-Sabi to these clothes to bring them firmly into today's world."
• The coat is made out of a soft mohair and cotton mix to give the appearance of a shaggy sheepskin.
• The cut is meant to be oversized as you can see on its runway counterpart.
• It has no collar, but sits higher around the neck. The shoulders are soft and they curve down and into the more full cut sleeves.
• Three hidden hooks close it partway down from the neck and it's open from under that. Having them hidden keeps the coat feeling simple and sleek so it's just the drama of the red faux fur and the oversized silhouette that stays centre stage.
• When you look at the construction, it actually is quite clever and surprising. Panels fall from the front shoulders down and these sit over the panels that wrap around from the back. After about the waist each of the four panels fall independently from each other and this gives the coat lots of movement. The design is very clever.
• It also gives a very interesting feel when you put your hands in the pockets because you are actually slipping your hands through and under the front panels to a pocket tucked and hidden along the back panel that wraps around to the front.
• The red is a touch deeper than the classic Valentino red, which makes it a perfectly fabulous neutral in many ways.
• The coat has some weight but it is distributed over you very well once on the body.
• It is fully lined in a red silk and slips on to wear with three fur hooks hidden down the upper part of the front. The faux fur is purposely meant to look slightly aged and the coat appears to have been worn very little if at all. Pockets along each hip.
• Tagged a modern Valentino 44
• Excellent condition

Sleeves: approximately 22" and they are 16" around the upper arm
Shoulders: approximately 17.5" but meant to be soft and slightly draped/ oversized
Bust: to 22" flat across from side seam to side seam
Waist-Hips: open
Total length: 46" from neck to hem

Modern Sizing Equivalent: MED-XL

Item# DD5562

Reference Photo/Video: Pre Fall 2019 Valentino, Look 4. Model Fran Summers.

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 incredible dress walked the runway for the Fall 1995 collection.
• It was made under the creative direction of the original Mr. Valentino.
• I love that we have runway reference photos so that you can see how phenomenal this is once on the body. 
• This is a fantastically rare dress by the original Mr. Valentino and it is extraordinarily beautiful.
• The dress combines an inky black velvet with portions covered in glossy black sequins that are densely applied. Little bits of lace give it that touch of Valentino femininity.
• Black piping outlines the neckline and the neckline scoops in a soft V down the front. The piping continues up and over the shoulders and then crosses over the bare and exposed back. Lace has been added along the length of the entire piping for the prettiest finishing detail.
• The bodice is shaped and comes in at the waist to a low seam that sits just below the natural waist. The entire bodice has been finished with tiny little black sequins that are densely applied so that they slightly overlap. 
• I love how the rows that they are set in are slightly angled. This is all a clever way to give illusion of more shape through the body. The sequins sit inside four vertical panels across the front and the direction of the sequins changes so you get this incredible hitting of the light on the sequins from every angle.
• The skirt is made out of rich black velvet and I love the combination of the velvet and sequins together. The richness of each textile perfectly compliments the other.
• As the skirt falls to the floor it flares out dramatically and is extremely wide. When I lay it out flat the bottom is a full circle around. This has been achieved by long triangles of sequins set in around the entire hem of the skirt.
• The triangles have a black net backing so if the light hits them in the right way they have a sense of transparency contrasting further to the velvet and adding to the beauty of the dress once it is on the body.
• The sequin triangles have been laid out with the same technique as the rows on the bodice. They are set on angles that meet at a middle point. This allows them to catch the maximum amount of light from every angle.
• Each triangle is finished with the same lace edging that you see on the bodice. Inside the inner edge of the hem there is a band of stiffened netting that helps to hold the shape and volume around you. When you move the skirt moves around you and it is absolutely incredible.
• It is really an outstanding example of his work during this time period.
• The dress is fully lined in a silky black silk and closes with a hidden set side zipper. It appears to have been worn very little if at all. The bias cut should allow it to work on a range of sizes and frames.
• There is no size tag present so please go by the measurements listed below
• Excellent condition

Bust: 16-18" flat across from side seam to side seam
Natural waist: 13-14" flat across from side seam to side seam
Seam under natural waist: 13.5" flat across from side seam to side seam
Hips: to 19" flat across from side seam to side seam
Bodice: 17.5" from top of shoulder to seam under natural waist
Total length: 61.5" from top of shoulder to hem

Modern Sizing Equivalent: SML-MED

Item# DD5546

Reference Photos: Fall 1995 Valentino. Model: Stella Tennant.

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

• The twin of this gorgeous dress walked the Fall 1986 runway.
• It was made under the creative direction of the original Mr Valentino.
• This is an exceptional example of Valentino's work that he was doing during the 1980s. Finding pieces from this time period in such immaculate condition is a rarity and I am very pleased to have this beautiful dress in the shop.
• In 2022 Sara Sampaio wore one backwards on the red carpet. 
• I love having the red carpet and runway photo so that you can see how the dress can be worn either way around. We also photoed it both ways so that you can see how it lies. 
• The dress is made out of an inky black velvet and then the back inset and end of each sleeve are made out of a stiffened silk chiffon fine net that has the rows of glittering rhinestones set onto it
• The dress has all of the red carpet feel that you look for in the best of his work. The shoulders are shaped with inner padding, and then they extend down into the sleeves, which are wider at the tops near the shoulder and narrow to those amazing cuffs.
• Each cuff is a band of the silk that has hand applied horizontal rows of rhinestones wrapped around them for a glamorous finish. I love this extra detail that lets you have that bit of glitz no matter which way around you decide to wear the dress.
• The bodice is meant to skim out from the shoulders. The same shape is repeated at the back.
• The waist is brought in with subtle darting and then it curves out and over the hips to fall to the floor, widening out slightly as it near the hem.
• The inset of net and rhinestones has been set on a sharp angle that extends to the lower back. When this is turned around to be worn at the front, it goes down to the low waist. There is transparency here so if you do decide to wear it to the front you can also decide how daring you want to be as far as what you wear underneath.
• This is an exceptional and early example of his work.
• The dress is fully lined in a black silk organza with the areas covered in rhinestones having transparency between the rows. It closes with a hidden set zipper placed at what was traditionally the front. Padding in each shoulder. Each cuff closes with a hidden set zipper. The back skirt extends slightly longer and has a bit of fullness. If you wear the rhinestone side to the front, you will have that little bit of extra fabric there.
• Tagged a vintage Valentino 8
• Excellent condition

Sleeves: 23" and they are 14" around the upper arm
Shoulders: no true seams and the padding let them extend slightly off the edges of the shoulder
Bust: to 18" flat across from side seam to side seam
Waist: to 15" flat across from side seam to side seam
Hips: to 20" flat across from side seam to side seam
Total length: 56" from top of shoulder to front hem and the back extends another 3" past that at the centre longest point with approximately 2" turned under the ham. 

Modern Sizing Equivalent: MED-LRG

Item# DD5547

Reference Photos: (1) Fall 1986 Valentino.  /  (2-5) Sara Sampaio at the Red Sea Film Festival, December 2022.

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 2017 collection for Look 39.
• It was made under the creative direction of Pierpaolo Piccioli and the print was done in collaboration with Zandra Rhodes.
• Historically, this was an important collection as it was Pierpaolo's first solo show at Valentino. It was also his first collaboration with Zandra Rhodes.
• The dress is beautifully documented on the runway the dress and one was also shot for Vogue that season. I love this show shows you how gorgeous it is once on the body especially since it is a tough one to photo on a dress form without arms.
• The dress is made out of a beautiful lightweight silk chiffon that has a custom Zandra Rhodes print covering the entire dress. The colour is a deep, dusty pink, and the print on it is a mute metallic gold and deep copper paint fuel that is done in her proprietary manner in studio.
• The shoulders are bare with a single ribbon, silk strap running over them. The neckline is heavily gathered and this detail extends down and into each side of the sleeves. The sleeves lace up down their lengths along the top and then are full and easy under that. I love the gathered ruffle that follows the line of lace and extends around the entire neckline. 
• This cut leaves your shoulders bare and also lets a little bit of skin peek out between the laces of the sleeves. The sleeves themselves are a single layer of the silk chiffon so they have a beautiful delicacy to them. 
• The dress skims over the bust and drapes easily over the body to a more generously cut waist. The waist is gathered to pick up on the finish of the neck line and hear you see another ruffle that runs all the way around you.
  
• The waist is cut more generously so that you have a beautiful flow from head to toe. You can see this in all of the various reference photos and how it sits on the body. This cut was to become one of Pierpaolo signatures.
• The skirt flows to the floor from there and it is beautifully full and easy. It has a second silk chiffon layer underneath in a solid version of the same colour so that it is opaque enough to wear. The amount of fabric used through the skirt gives it a ton of movement when you walk and move. 
• The lightness of the silk and the way that it lays over the body allows it to move spectacularly over you and it will pick up the slightest bit of air.
• The dress is fully lined in a matching silk chiffon. It closes with a hidden set back zipper. It appears to have been worn very little if at all.
• Tagged a Valentino 38
• Excellent condition

Sleeves: approximately 11" and they are 12" around the upper arm when the laces are fully tied close. Loosening the laces will give you more room.
Bust: 16-18" flat across from side seam to side seam
Waist: 14-15" flat across from side seam to side seam
Hips: open
Bodice: 17" from top of shoulder to slightly dropped waist
Total length: 60" from top of shoulder to hem

Modern Sizing Equivalent: XS-MED

Item# DD5599

Reference Photos/Video: (1-8) Spring 2017 Valentino, Look 39.  /  (9) Photographed by Hao Zeng for Vogue.

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 Valentino collection.
• It was made under the Creative Direction of Pierpaolo Piccioli 
• This was a red carpet favourite and its twin was seen on both Nicole Kidman and Nicky Hilton.
• Over the course of his time at Valentino Pierpaolo did several variations of these elaborate ruffled and embellished dresses in different fabrications and each is beautiful. The cut of the dress makes it easy to wear and it is very flattering once on the body. It has a beautifully feminine feel and is very striking with the addition of the ruffles. The pink is infinitely gorgeous on almost every skin tone. 
• The dress is even better in person than how it photoed here.
• It is made from a pink silk organza mixed with panels of lace set in a chevron pattern that runs down the bodice and top of the skirt on both the back and the front. These fabric choices keeps it light in weight but still give it enough structure to hold that gorgeous shape that you see.
• The neck is cut high with a band of lace running around the neck. A little ruffle of organza runs around the bottom of the collar and this sets the tone for the rest of the dress.
• A ruffle details the top of each shoulder, at each of the cuffs, and then more ruffles are set throughout the dress and around the hem.
• The bodice is cut to skim over you and I love the bit of play on transparency with the very top of the bodice and the sleeves with them being a single layer of the organza. The shoulders are soft and the sleeves are long and slightly taper down to a ruffled wrist.
• The waist is detailed with more ruffles and is cut slightly on the more generous size. This is a signature cut for him and makes the dress very easy and flattering to wear. 
• The skirt falls from there to the floor. It is wonderfully full and extremely elaborate. Chevron panels of lace detail the top portion of the skirt and then panels of organza continue down set on angles for the full length of the skirt. Every second panel of organza has a ruffle peeking out from underneath. The skirt is very wide by the time it reaches the hem and it has wonderful movement. 
• Over the entire dress is an absolutely gorgeous mix of hand set rectangular silver metallic sequins that are set vertically over the dress. These are mixed with hand set pronged rhinestones that follow the design of the dress. On the sleeves they are set in vertical rows and then throughout the dress they are set in angled rows to follow the chevron design of the lace and organza. 
• This was a special order piece and very few were made.
• The dress is fully lined in a pink silk. It closes with a hidden back set zipper and buttons at the back of the neck. Each sleeve has a button at the wrist. It is in its original uncut length. It has its original tags attached and was never worn.
• Tagged a Valentino 40
• Excellent condition

Sleeves: 27" including the ruffle that is just under 2" wide. Each sleeve is 11.5" around the upper arm. The neck is 14" around
Bust: 16-17" flat across from side seam to side seam
Waist: 15" flat across from side seam to side seam
Hips: open
Bodice: 14" from neck to the top seam of the 2" band around the waist
Total length: 64.5" from neck to hem

Modern Sizing Equivalent: XS-MED

Item# DD5575

Reference Photos/Video: (1-3) Nicole Kidman at the Critics Choice Awards, 2018.  /  (4-5) Nicky Hilton at the Fall 2018 Paris Couture Valentino Fashion Show.

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 coat walked the runway for Pre-fall 2019 Valentino for Look 4.
• It was made under the creative direction of Pierpaulo Piccioli.
• The show was in Tokyo and combined both women and the men's pre-fall, both firsts for the label. Piccioli maintained that "he wanted to 'keep the prettiness in the romanticism, the codes of the house' but then apply the notion of Wabi-Sabi to these clothes to bring them firmly into today's world."
• The coat is made out of a soft mohair and cotton mix to give the appearance of a shaggy sheepskin.
• The cut is meant to be oversized as you can see on its runway counterpart.
• It has no collar, but sits higher around the neck. The shoulders are soft and they curve down and into the more full cut sleeves.
• Three hidden hooks close it partway down from the neck and it's open from under that. Having them hidden keeps the coat feeling simple and sleek so it's just the drama of the red faux fur and the oversized silhouette that stays centre stage.
• When you look at the construction, it actually is quite clever and surprising. Panels fall from the front shoulders down and these sit over the panels that wrap around from the back. After about the waist each of the four panels fall independently from each other and this gives the coat lots of movement. The design is very clever.
• It also gives a very interesting feel when you put your hands in the pockets because you are actually slipping your hands through and under the front panels to a pocket tucked and hidden along the back panel that wraps around to the front.
• The red is a touch deeper than the classic Valentino red, which makes it a perfectly fabulous neutral in many ways.
• The coat has some weight but it is distributed over you very well once on the body.
• It is fully lined in a red silk and slips on to wear with three fur hooks hidden down the upper part of the front. The faux fur is purposely meant to look slightly aged and the coat appears to have been worn very little if at all. Pockets along each hip.
• Tagged a modern Valentino 44
• Excellent condition

Sleeves: approximately 22" and they are 16" around the upper arm
Shoulders: approximately 17.5" but meant to be soft and slightly draped/ oversized
Bust: to 22" flat across from side seam to side seam
Waist-Hips: open
Total length: 46" from neck to hem

Modern Sizing Equivalent: MED-XL

Item# DD5562

Reference Photo/Video: Pre Fall 2019 Valentino, Look 4. Model Fran Summers.

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 incredible dress walked the runway for the Fall 1995 collection.
• It was made under the creative direction of the original Mr. Valentino.
• I love that we have runway reference photos so that you can see how phenomenal this is once on the body. 
• This is a fantastically rare dress by the original Mr. Valentino and it is extraordinarily beautiful.
• The dress combines an inky black velvet with portions covered in glossy black sequins that are densely applied. Little bits of lace give it that touch of Valentino femininity.
• Black piping outlines the neckline and the neckline scoops in a soft V down the front. The piping continues up and over the shoulders and then crosses over the bare and exposed back. Lace has been added along the length of the entire piping for the prettiest finishing detail.
• The bodice is shaped and comes in at the waist to a low seam that sits just below the natural waist. The entire bodice has been finished with tiny little black sequins that are densely applied so that they slightly overlap. 
• I love how the rows that they are set in are slightly angled. This is all a clever way to give illusion of more shape through the body. The sequins sit inside four vertical panels across the front and the direction of the sequins changes so you get this incredible hitting of the light on the sequins from every angle.
• The skirt is made out of rich black velvet and I love the combination of the velvet and sequins together. The richness of each textile perfectly compliments the other.
• As the skirt falls to the floor it flares out dramatically and is extremely wide. When I lay it out flat the bottom is a full circle around. This has been achieved by long triangles of sequins set in around the entire hem of the skirt.
• The triangles have a black net backing so if the light hits them in the right way they have a sense of transparency contrasting further to the velvet and adding to the beauty of the dress once it is on the body.
• The sequin triangles have been laid out with the same technique as the rows on the bodice. They are set on angles that meet at a middle point. This allows them to catch the maximum amount of light from every angle.
• Each triangle is finished with the same lace edging that you see on the bodice. Inside the inner edge of the hem there is a band of stiffened netting that helps to hold the shape and volume around you. When you move the skirt moves around you and it is absolutely incredible.
• It is really an outstanding example of his work during this time period.
• The dress is fully lined in a silky black silk and closes with a hidden set side zipper. It appears to have been worn very little if at all. The bias cut should allow it to work on a range of sizes and frames.
• There is no size tag present so please go by the measurements listed below
• Excellent condition

Bust: 16-18" flat across from side seam to side seam
Natural waist: 13-14" flat across from side seam to side seam
Seam under natural waist: 13.5" flat across from side seam to side seam
Hips: to 19" flat across from side seam to side seam
Bodice: 17.5" from top of shoulder to seam under natural waist
Total length: 61.5" from top of shoulder to hem

Modern Sizing Equivalent: SML-MED

Item# DD5546

Reference Photos: Fall 1995 Valentino. Model: Stella Tennant.

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

• The twin of this gorgeous dress walked the Fall 1986 runway.
• It was made under the creative direction of the original Mr Valentino.
• This is an exceptional example of Valentino's work that he was doing during the 1980s. Finding pieces from this time period in such immaculate condition is a rarity and I am very pleased to have this beautiful dress in the shop.
• In 2022 Sara Sampaio wore one backwards on the red carpet. 
• I love having the red carpet and runway photo so that you can see how the dress can be worn either way around. We also photoed it both ways so that you can see how it lies. 
• The dress is made out of an inky black velvet and then the back inset and end of each sleeve are made out of a stiffened silk chiffon fine net that has the rows of glittering rhinestones set onto it
• The dress has all of the red carpet feel that you look for in the best of his work. The shoulders are shaped with inner padding, and then they extend down into the sleeves, which are wider at the tops near the shoulder and narrow to those amazing cuffs.
• Each cuff is a band of the silk that has hand applied horizontal rows of rhinestones wrapped around them for a glamorous finish. I love this extra detail that lets you have that bit of glitz no matter which way around you decide to wear the dress.
• The bodice is meant to skim out from the shoulders. The same shape is repeated at the back.
• The waist is brought in with subtle darting and then it curves out and over the hips to fall to the floor, widening out slightly as it near the hem.
• The inset of net and rhinestones has been set on a sharp angle that extends to the lower back. When this is turned around to be worn at the front, it goes down to the low waist. There is transparency here so if you do decide to wear it to the front you can also decide how daring you want to be as far as what you wear underneath.
• This is an exceptional and early example of his work.
• The dress is fully lined in a black silk organza with the areas covered in rhinestones having transparency between the rows. It closes with a hidden set zipper placed at what was traditionally the front. Padding in each shoulder. Each cuff closes with a hidden set zipper. The back skirt extends slightly longer and has a bit of fullness. If you wear the rhinestone side to the front, you will have that little bit of extra fabric there.
• Tagged a vintage Valentino 8
• Excellent condition

Sleeves: 23" and they are 14" around the upper arm
Shoulders: no true seams and the padding let them extend slightly off the edges of the shoulder
Bust: to 18" flat across from side seam to side seam
Waist: to 15" flat across from side seam to side seam
Hips: to 20" flat across from side seam to side seam
Total length: 56" from top of shoulder to front hem and the back extends another 3" past that at the centre longest point with approximately 2" turned under the ham. 

Modern Sizing Equivalent: MED-LRG

Item# DD5547

Reference Photos: (1) Fall 1986 Valentino.  /  (2-5) Sara Sampaio at the Red Sea Film Festival, December 2022.

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.