• This dress is from the 1970s Mr. Blackwell label.
• It was made under the creative direction of Richard Blackwell.
• Blackwell launched his label in the late 1950s and even at that time his dresses sold for between $800 and $1000 (up to $10,000 in modern dollars).
• He dressed many of the big stars of the day including Jane Russell, Dorothy Lamour and Jayne Mansfield. 
• His pieces were often one of a kind pieces that were fitted to a specific client in the couture tradition.
• This dress is a wonderful example of his work. Rarely do such fine examples of this time period, and with this level of glamour, come to market anymore.
• The dress is made of a combination of a nude net, glossy black hand applied sequins and a bias cut jersey skirt.
• The cut is simple but dramatic because of the amazing way that the bodice is constructed with it heavily applied sequin embellishments.
• The dress is cut to skim over you to the waist which is brought in for a touch of shape. I have added a black ribbon that is not original to the dress to cinch it in even more. That will be sent with the dress. You could also add a belt if you wanted a more structured feel.
• The bodice of the dress is made from a transparent nude net that gives the illusion that you are not wearing anything but sequins from a distance.
• A densely applied pattern done in glossy black sequins wraps around you. It goes all the way around just above the waist and then the bodice breaks apart into two separate designs on either side to cover the breasts. 
• It curves around the sides and angles low into the waist at the back. This gives the illusion that your back is completely bare and exposed.
• The effect that the somewhat scandalous design has once on a body is very sexy.
• The sequins have all been hand placed and they mix being placed flat on the net with being placed on their sides and stacked against their neighbour. This gives part of the pattern a raised 3D effect. 
• The skirt falls under that and is made from a jersey that reminds me of 1970s Danskin jersey in its weight and the way it falls. It curves out over the hips and then is quite wide by the time it reaches the hem. 
• The dress is unlined and closes with a back zipper. It appears to have been worn very little if at all. The ribbon belt added will be sent with the dress. Hand finishes throughout.
• There is no size tag present. Please go by the measurements below.
• Excellent condition.

Bust: to 17.5" flat across from side seam to side seam
Waist: to 13" flat across from side seam to side seam
Hips: to 24" flat across from side seam to side seam
Bodice: 15" from top of shoulder to waist
Total length: 55.5" from top of shoulder to hem with 1.75" turned under

Modern Sizing Equivalent: SML-MED

Item# DD5852

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 dates to the late 1970s, maybe early 1980s.
• It was made under the creative direction of Richard Blackwell.
• The Mr Blackwell label was launched by Richard Blackwell in the late 1950s and even at that time his dresses sold for between $800 and $1000 which in modern dollars converts to up to $10,000 a dress. He dressed many of the big stars of the day including Jane Russell, Dorothy Lamour and Jayne Mansfield.
• His custom label was pieces that were made-to-order and were one-of-a-kind pieces that were fitted to a specific client in the couture tradition.
• During the 1960s he became the first in history to present a collection during a television broadcast and he is also the first to be attributed  making for his line available for plus-size women. This is a beautiful example of his work during this point of his label.
• The dress is made out of a very pretty brightly printed black jersey that holds the shape and volume very well.
• The dress has a fairly simple silhouette. The inner dress is meant to skim over the body all the way to the floor, and then there is an attached piece around the neck line that falls over the upper shoulders.
• The front is set a bit wider across the neck and then the back scoops down into a V to add an unexpected flash of bare skin
• A little extra shape is added by the matching tie belt that is made out of the same fabric. I have topped it into a bow that sits just under the edge of the cape for these photos. You could easily wear the dress without it or change it for a wider more substantial belt.
• The there are no sleeves on the inner dress. Instead, the single layer of matching jersey is attached around the edge of the neckline. It is just under 15" in width at its widest point and it drapes over your shoulders and down the top of the arm. This continues all the way around front to back to give you that lovely cape effect that you see.
• Under the cape, the dress is meant to skim over your bust, waist and hips. Once past the hips it widens out slightly to the floor.
• The perfect finishing detail is the addition of hand set sequins that sit over the print of the cape portion of the dress. On the lighter colours they are a clear sequin with an iridescent finish, and on other colours they chose sequins to match the colour underneath. This lets the dress have a subtle glimmer in the light.
• The dress is fully lined in a black stretch jersey and it closes at the back with a zipper. Hand finishes throughout. It appears to have been worn very little if at all.
• There is no size tag present. Please go by the measurements below.
• Excellent condition

Cape: is just under 15" it's widest point
Bust: 16-19" flat across from side seam to side seam
Waist: 14-16" flat across from side seam to side seam
Hips: 17-20" flat across from side seam to side seam
Total length: 58" from top of the shoulder to the hem with approximately 3.5" turned under the hem.

Modern Sizing Equivalent: XS-MED

Item# DD5700

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 1970s Mr. Blackwell label.
• It was made under the creative direction of Richard Blackwell.
• Blackwell launched his label in the late 1950s and even at that time his dresses sold for between $800 and $1000 (up to $10,000 in modern dollars).
• He dressed many of the big stars of the day including Jane Russell, Dorothy Lamour and Jayne Mansfield. 
• His pieces were often one of a kind pieces that were fitted to a specific client in the couture tradition.
• This dress is a wonderful example of his work. Rarely do such fine examples of this time period, and with this level of glamour, come to market anymore.
• The dress is made of a combination of a nude net, glossy black hand applied sequins and a bias cut jersey skirt.
• The cut is simple but dramatic because of the amazing way that the bodice is constructed with it heavily applied sequin embellishments.
• The dress is cut to skim over you to the waist which is brought in for a touch of shape. I have added a black ribbon that is not original to the dress to cinch it in even more. That will be sent with the dress. You could also add a belt if you wanted a more structured feel.
• The bodice of the dress is made from a transparent nude net that gives the illusion that you are not wearing anything but sequins from a distance.
• A densely applied pattern done in glossy black sequins wraps around you. It goes all the way around just above the waist and then the bodice breaks apart into two separate designs on either side to cover the breasts. 
• It curves around the sides and angles low into the waist at the back. This gives the illusion that your back is completely bare and exposed.
• The effect that the somewhat scandalous design has once on a body is very sexy.
• The sequins have all been hand placed and they mix being placed flat on the net with being placed on their sides and stacked against their neighbour. This gives part of the pattern a raised 3D effect. 
• The skirt falls under that and is made from a jersey that reminds me of 1970s Danskin jersey in its weight and the way it falls. It curves out over the hips and then is quite wide by the time it reaches the hem. 
• The dress is unlined and closes with a back zipper. It appears to have been worn very little if at all. The ribbon belt added will be sent with the dress. Hand finishes throughout.
• There is no size tag present. Please go by the measurements below.
• Excellent condition.

Bust: to 17.5" flat across from side seam to side seam
Waist: to 13" flat across from side seam to side seam
Hips: to 24" flat across from side seam to side seam
Bodice: 15" from top of shoulder to waist
Total length: 55.5" from top of shoulder to hem with 1.75" turned under

Modern Sizing Equivalent: SML-MED

Item# DD5852

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 set dates to the 1970s and most likely to the mid to late 1970s.
• It was made under the creative direction of Geoffrey Beene.
• Beene is one of the great American designers and it is always a pleasure to find outstanding examples of his work for the shop.
• I love that it is a set. Whenever you have two pieces you have that added versatility of being able to mix and match them with things you already own. This extends the life and wearability of the pieces.
• Both the top and skirt have been made out of a light in weight black silk that has been top stitched in long vertical rows to create a quilting feel to it. Mixed with that are black and silver metallic thread details.
• The top is made to feel slouchy and easy to wear. The neck line is scooped at the front and falls in a shallow V at the back.
• The shoulders are soft and the sleeves extend down to slightly narrow in at their cuffs.
• Both the neck line, the ends of the sleeves, and the hem are edged in a black ribbon that has angled silver thread bands.
• The top is fairly loose and easy through the body and you can see how it sits over the skirt in that perfect relaxed way. Running down the front of the top is a wide five inch band of silver and black chevron.
• The skirt has that exact same band of silver and black running down the front. These lineup perfectly once on and it creates this fantastic flash of silver down the front of the outfit.
• The skirt has a slim band around the waist for shape and then it curves out and over the hips. From there is widens out slightly as it nears the hem.
• It wraps to close over itself and hooks into place both inside and outside of the waistband. There is an exposed slant pocket on one hip and there is a second pocket hidden under the wrap on the other side.
• I love that he has little tags that say front on both pieces hidden on the inside. The perfect little vintage detail.
• Both pieces are self backed. The top slips over the head to wear with no closures. The skirt wraps and hooks to close. It is meant to be more on the easy slouchy side in terms of fit. 
• There was no size tag present. Please go by the measurements listed below.
• Excellent condition

Top
Slightly dropped sleeves: 22" and they are just under 16"around the upper arm
Shoulders: approximately 15.5"
Bust: to 18" flat across from side seam to side seam
Waist: to 19" flat across from side seam to side seam
Bottom edge: to 19.5" flat across from side seam to side seam
Total length: 22" from top of shoulder to waist

Skirt
Waist: 13" flat across from side seam to side seam
Hips: 19.5" flat across from side seam to side seam
Total length: 33" from waist to hem

Modern Sizing Equivalent: SML-MED

Item# DD5848

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 dates to the 1970s maybe early 1980s and is from the Miss O label which was launched in the mid-1970s to attract a younger client to the ODLR brand. 
• This dress is absolutely dreamy. It is made out if a very light in weight silk that has the weight and feel of a silk scarf. 
• Tiny silk straps curve over each shoulder and it is cut to hug the bodice.
• The silk has been draped softly over the inner lining in soft horizontal gathers that wrap all the way around you.
• That stunning red and black floral print that covers the entire dress combined with the soft gathers creates the most gorgeous effect.
• The dress is meant to hug the body and highlight your curves to the waist to create an hourglass feel. Extra long attached ties are set on each side and you can wrap them around to cinch in the waist to add even more shape.
• The skirt falls from under that and it is spectacular. Here you see the genius of Oscar. It curves out from under the waist and expands out in a rounded line. At about the knee, it begins to curve back inwards to the hem.
• This gives you this pretty curve from every angle and the lightness of the silk allows it to move around you fantastically.
• The final perfect detail is how it curves up at the centre front. This allows you to walk and also allows for a flash of bare skin when you walk and move.
• The dress is lined in a black silk through the bodice and the skirt is unlined. It is soft through the inner bodice. It closes with a side set zipper and snaps on the fabric below the waist. It appears to have been worn very little if at all.
• Tagged a vintage ODLR 8
• Excellent condition
  

Bust: to 17" flat across from side seam to side seam
Waist: to 14" flat across from side seam to side seam
Hips: to 24" flat across from side seam to side seam
Bodice: 15" from top of shoulder to waist
Total length: 57" from top of shoulder to the longest point of the back hem. The slit is 23.5" up from that longest point.

Modern Sizing Equivalent: XS-SML

Item# DD5846

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 Thea Porter is from the Spring 1972 collection.
• It was made under the creative direction of Thea Porter.
• This is the actual dress that was in the Thea Porter exhibit in 2015 and was lent to them from my personal archives. It even still has the little paper tag that the museum added for their records.
• The twin of this dress was selected for the ad campaign that ran in Cosmopolitan that April. 
• The dress is made out of a pretty deep aubergine coloured light weight cotton voile that has a floral print over its entire surface. This is mixed with panels of a solid red in the same fabric. 
• The shoulders are soft and the sleeves are incredibly wide by the time they reach their ends. Each sleeve is almost 48" around by their bottoms! I love the incredible movement these add when you move.
• The front falls into a V that dips down to meet the wide six inch red band that wraps under the bust and down to the waist.
• The band ads shape and offers stunning contrast to the print. I love how that same red is picked up in a wide band that runs around each sleeve and then a another one that goes all the way around the hem of the skirt.
• The skirt falls from under that and is incredibly full. It is really cut to pick up and mirror the fullness and shape of the sleeves. The skirt has an inner lining of red so when you move or twirl you get another flash of red there as well.
• It is a stunning piece of her work and of course it has the added special province of being a documented museum exhibited piece.
• The dress is lined in a red cotton voile through the body and skirt and the sleeves are unlined. It closes at the back with a zipper. I see two small dark spots on one sleeve. Please see the photo after the label shot.
• Tagged a vintage Thea Porter 14
• Excellent condition with the one minor note above

Sleeves: 23"
Shoulders: no true defined seam
Bust: to 17" flat across from side seam to side seam
Waist: to 14" flat across from side seam to side seam
Hips: open
Bodice: 15" from neck to bottom of the red band at the waist
Total length: 58" from neck to hem

Modern Sizing Equivalent: XS-SML

Item# DD5847

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 exceptional dress is by Marc Bohan for Christian Dior and it is a wonderful example of his work during this time period.
• The floral print and style best matches the work that he was doing in and around Spring 1974.
• The dress is made from a silk organza that has a slight texture and has been done in the prettiest pink. Screened onto the silk is a soft pastel floral print that covers the entire dress.
• The neckline is set high and detailed with a wide six inch ruffled collar that follows the hide set neckline. It softly falls over the edges of the shoulders at the sides.
• That ruffle collar extends all the way around you and down the back to follow the deep and unexpected V there. I love this almost shocking expanse of bare skin in contrast to the more covered front. That combination of the extremely pretty pink and then that open cut out at the back feels very sexy when you turn around.
• The shoulders are soft under the ruffle and the sleeves extend down and narrow slightly in at the cuff where they button to close. The sleeves have no lining so you get a play on transparency through them that is very pretty.
• At the front the bodice skims over you to the waist. The waist is detailed with a band of the same pink silk chiffon. My dress form is fairly short through the upper body so the top blouses out a bit over top of that band. If you are longer through the body it would fall slightly less bloused to the waist.
• The skirt billows out from under that to the floor. It widens out beautifully as it nears the hem and extra fabric has been set along the centre of the back to give it added fullness, creating the perfect balance to the ruffles that surround the V above. It is absolutely stunning.
  
• The band around the waist adds shape but you could define the waist even more by adding a belt or sash to cinch it in as much as you want.
• Once on the body the entire dress has this stunning movement and yet feels minimalist and elegant. It walks this beautiful line between the femininity and prettiness of the fabric mixed with that added touch of sensuality with the bareness of the back.
• The dress is fully lined in silk organza and closes with a side set zipper. The band around the waist hooks to close over that. Each sleeve closes with a silk covered button and loop. The pink is a touch softer hue in person than how it photoed. It appears to have been worn very little if at all. 
• There is no size tag present. Please go by the measurements listed below.
• Excellent condition

Sleeves: 23.5" and they are 12" around the upper arm
Slightly inset shoulders: 14"
Bust: to 17.5" flat across from side seam to side seam
Waist: to 12.5" flat across from side seam to side seam
Hips: open
Bodice: 15" from top of shoulder to the top of the 1.5" band around the waist
Total length: 57.25" from neck to hem

Modern Sizing Equivalent: XS-SML

Item# DD5840

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.