• This is a well documented butterfly print Thea Porter dress from Spring 1970.
• It was made under the creative direction Thea Porter. 
• Thea Porter combined exoticism, embellished ornamentation and luxurious fabrics in her pieces and her work was a phenomenon during her day.
• This style of dress is one of her most well known dresses and it has been one of her most loved styles since it was first created in 1968. At the time they were referred to as 'Gipsy' dresses although our modern sensibilities no longer refer it to them as that. The Thea Porter book that accompanied the 2015 Fashion and Textile Museum exhibit "Thea Porter 70s Bohemian Chic" (for which over a dozen pieces were pulled from my archives) has many example of stars from that time period wearing their versions. Kate Moss is perhaps the most notable of modern girls who have one and she caused a sensation when she wore her blue version for her wedding rehearsal in 2011. This is almost certainly a one of a kind, or a version of very few that would have been made.
• The butterfly print was by Sheila Hudson and we found references of variations of it on several items. A 1970 evening suit is a part of the V&A Collection. Talitha Getty wore a dress over green trousers to the Paris Casino for a night out with Rudolf Nureyev in 1970 and that photo can be seen in the book 'Thea Porter: Bohemian Chic by Laura McLaws Helms and Venetia Porter.'. Joan Collins and Jackie Collins both wore the print attending the West End premiere of the musical 1776 in London in June 1970 and a dress with the print was shot for British Vogue that June. In modern times, Nicole Ritchie wore a very similar version in 2006. 
• The Thea Porter book states that this style of dress were 'generally made out of a combination of three different fabrics, which give it an enduring variety. If the skirt was in plain cloth cotton, the bodice was usually in brocade… We made the dress in every conceivable fabric, from embroidered chiffon to liberty cotton‘s to velvet…. The silhouette of a slimmer torso combined with a full skirt (composed of 4.5 m of fabric) and sleeves became the basis for Porter‘s 'gypsy or gipsy' dress'. (note that this is historically what the dress was called at the time and this is a direct quote from the book). The book goes on to talk about the cut and design of these dresses saying that 'the bust became an integrated part of the body, ending directly below the breasts to create an empire line. The cut is such that the bust is held in securely, yet pushed up, removing the necessity of wearing a bra. The uneven hem of the dress evolved as a form of collaboration between Thea and one of her first seamstresses, Meg Lake, who was self taught and didn’t realize that a circle of fabric cut on the bias would fall irregularly and need to be trimmed. Porter love that effect and the mistake became a design signature.'
• I love that although this is a classic Thea dress it still kind of 'breaks the rules' for these dresses and uses only the one fabric for the entirety of the piece. Which also illustrates the importance that Thea held Sheila's designs in.
• The neckline scoops down in that curved squared off cut these dresses have. A green velvet ribbon details the cut of the bodice and more velvet defines the waist. 
• The sleeves are a single layer of the butterfly printed silk chiffon and have a touch of transparency to them. They are magnificently full and each one puffs out above an elastic cuff.
• The skirt is two layers, an inner green layer and then floating over that is a bias cut of the same butterfly printed silk chiffon that the sleeves are made out of.
• The silk of the skirt starts just under the velvet band at the waist and it flares out in yards of silk. It has that perfectly imperfect hem described above with the sides falling slightly longer then the centre. 
• The sleeves are unlined and the skirt is lined as described above. It closes with a back set zipper and each sleeve has elastic at the cuffs. The dress is unlabelled. I see slight overall patina to the velvet ribbon. It is an incredible dress
• There is no size tag present. Please go by the measurements listed below.
• Excellent condition with the note above. 

Sleeves: approx 25" and they are full and open through the upper arm.
Shoulders: no true seam since they are inset
Bust: to 19" flat across from side seam to side seam
Velvet ribbon under the bust: 15" flat across from side seam to side seam
Waist: 13.5" flat across from side seam to side seam
Hips: open
Bodice: 11" from shoulder to the top of the velvet ribbon under the bust, 16.25" to waist seam
Total length: 48" from shoulder to longest points of hem

Modern Sizing Equivalent: SML-MED

Item# DD5813

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 dates to the time period between 1976-1978.
• It was made under the creative direction of Loris Azzaro.
• Azzaro launched his label in 1967 and quickly defined his trademark looks by using ornate fabrics and avant garde ways of defining the body.
• Some of the most beautiful women in the world wore his clothing including Marisa Berenson, Raquel Welch, Jane Birkin, Sophia Loren and Tina Turner. 
• By the seventies and eighties he was experimenting with volume and proportions and new fabrics that at the time were all cutting edge.
• This is a stunning example of his work from the mid- to later part of the 1970s. To give you an idea of the way the paper bodice fits I have included a photo of French singer Dalida and one if Raquel Welch both wear dresses similar to the bodice of this one.
• The dress combines glossy black sequins with a netted tulle skirt.
• The dress is strapless and the bodice is cut with a rounded sweetheart neckline. The cups are shaped and the dress curves down and over the waist. From there is continues back out to curve over the hips.
  
• This entire extended upper portion of the dress is completely covered in glossy black sequins that catch the light from every angle. The sequins have been applied to the dress so that they each overlap the one next to it creating a dense application.
• Under that the skirt falls to the floor and widen out as it near the hem. 
• The skirt is made out of of a netted tulle that is set in ruffle layers that curve up and toward the front. The layers of ruffles give the skirt incredible movement when you move. A full underskirt sits under that and is done in a black silk so that it's opaque enough to wear.
• At the back the length of the bodice is extended a bit before the skirt starts. This is a clever way to create curves and length.
• It is a stunning dress and one of the best I have had from him.
• The dress is fully lined in a black silk and closes with a zipper at the back. His signature cupped strapless bra is tacked inside. You could easily remove or replace this as needed for a better fit. There is elastic around the upper seam of the bodice and the fabric has some give. Hand finished throughout.
• There is no size tag present. Please go by the measurements listed below.
• Excellent condition

Bust: to 17" flat across from side seam to side seam
Waist: 14-15.5" flat across from side seam to side seam
Hips: 18-19.5" flat across from side seam to side seam
Total length: 56" from the top of the bodice to the hem

Modern Sizing Equivalent: SML-MED

Item# DD5800

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 1978 collection.
• It was made under the creative direction of Yves Saint Laurent.
• We found a reference photo from the runway and it's twin was also used in the ad campaign that season.
• The reference photos show the dress with a sash that is in a solid print. When the dresses were produced and sold in the shops they were sent with matching dotted tie belts.
• I have photoed it here both loose and easy without the tie belt  so you can see how it can be worn as more of a caftan feel and with the belt tied to add shape.
• The dress is made out of a single layer of a black silk chiffon with a multi-colour dot print screened onto the chiffon. It is extremely light-in-weight and moves very beautifully.
• The neckline of the top is set wide across and has an elastic finish so that you can wear it off of the shoulder for a bare expanse of skin to show. I love the little ruffled detail along the edge that the elastic gathering creates.
• Sleeves extend straight out from there and are extremely full and open. They are brought in at the cuff and he repeated the same elastic gathering detail just like on the neckline.
• Under that the dress skims and opens to be very full and easy all the way down to the hem. This gives an incredible movement around you because of the ultra-light weight of the fabric.
• To get a more defined feeling through the middle you just tie the belt and cinch it in as much as you wish. On the runway and in the ad campaign it was styled belted with a solid wider sash. I love that it shows that by changing up the look of the belt it changes up the look of the dress.
  
• It is very full by the hem and I love how the bottom is finished with a very wide band of the same fabric. The front is cut shorter than the back and that extra ruffle around the bottom and the changing length all help to really allow it to move around you.
• This is an absolutely stunning example of his work during this time period and I love that it is so well documented.
• The dress is unlined and it weighs very little. It slips over the head to wear with elastic through the neckline. Each shoulder has a little less elastic which is purposeful. Each cuff has elastic. The open and loose cut should allow it to fit a wide range of sizes. The belt is original to the dress and is included. It appears to have been worn very little if at all.
• The dress is tagged a YSL 36
  
• Excellent condition

Sleeves: approximately 25" and the upper arms are very full and easy
Bust: "16-23 flat across from side seam to side seam
Waist-hips: open
Total length: approximately 47" from top of bodice to shortest point at the front and the back falls to approximately 59" at the hem

Modern Sizing Equivalent: OSFA

Item# DD5795

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 1977 Dior show.
• It was made under the creative direction of Marc Bohan.
• I have had several other dresses from this collection and it is a personal favourite season in Dior's history.
• I am very happy to have photo references so you can see how fantastic this dress sits on the body and how it can also be worn belted for added shape.
• The dress is made out of a feather light silk chiffon and comes with its original matching ivory silk slip that can be worn underneath.
• I shot the dress with the shoulders up because the slip underneath has a little straps. On the runway it was shown off the shoulder and I love that you have the option of wearing it either way.
• It has a red and two different blue tone abstract stripe print that runs over the entire dress. You can see how he has manipulated the directions of the stripe to highlight the detailing and shape of the dress.
• Matching ties run through the neckline and this is what allows you to bring the neckline in or to wear it more loos and off of the shoulder. Two more ties close the front under that.
• The sleeves are fantastic. They are very wide where they come out from the body of the dress and then are gathered in at the wrist. They each have a little tie bow and elastic around the cuff with a ruffled finish.
• The body of the dress is very full and open and should fit just about any size.
• I love the inset at the front and how it has just the perfect amount of detail and contrast with the stripes going the other way.
• Around the hem is a wide band that also has the stripes placed the other way to the rest of the dress.
• At the back it falls with a more caped feel if you choose to wear it without a belt. If you do add a belt, you can bring the length up as much as you wish. The styling possibilities are endless.
• The outer dress is unlined and it comes with its matching inner slip. You could switch the switch out for another colour to get a different feel. The dress slips over the head to wear and then ties at the front as described above. The inner slip zips to close at the side. I see some minor pulls in the silk here and there. Please see the photo after the label shot. It is an extraordinary dress from this time period. The dress should fit pretty much any frame and you could always wear a different sized slip underneath if you need more room. Hand finishes throughout.
• There is no size tag present. Please go by the measurements list listed below.
• Excellent condition with the minor note above.

Dress
Sleeves: approximately 22"and they are full and open around the upper arm
Bust:-hips: to 33" flat across from side seam to side seam
Total length: approximately 56" from shoulder to hem

Slip:
Bust: 17" flat across from side seam to side seam
Waist: 15.5" flat across from side seam to side seam
Hips: to 19" flat across from side seam to side seam
Total length: 48" from shoulder to hem

Modern Sizing Equivalent: Outer dress OSFA, slip SML-MED

Item# DD5793

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 1976 YSL collection.
• It was made under the creative direction of Yves Saint Laurent.
• On the runway the skirt was pulled up more than how I have shot it here and I love that that shows you how versatile the dress is in terms of how you can wear the length.
• A similar dress was also used for the ad campaign.
• The dress is made out of a light floral printed pink silk jersey that has some stretch to it and drapes beautifully over the body while keeping light in weight.
• The neck line is set wide across so you can wear it off of the shoulder for a bare expanse of skin to show. An elastic is woven through the top of the neckline so you could also wear it up and on the shoulders if you wished.
• The sleeves extend out from there and are cut to just above the elbow. Their ends have elastic which allows you to change their length on your arm and how they sit.
• The bodice skims down to an elastic waist and this tops, a another panel of the same fabric that also has an elastic band that goes all the way around.
• The two bands of elastic are what let you choose how high to wear the dress around your waist and hips. You can dramatically change the length from a very long full length to something more like what you see on the runway. Bringing the dress up just allows the silk jersey to drape more over the layer underneath.
• The skirt is under the final band of elastic, flares out slightly as it reaches its hem. When the dress is laid out flat, it is extra long and then once on adjusting where the elastic band sit determines the final length.
  
• This is an absolutely stunning example of his work during this time period and one of my favourite pieces I have ever had in by him.
• The versatility and ability to style. The dress in multiple ways is just fantastic.
• The dress is unlined and slips over the head to wear with elastic as described above. It appears to have been worn very little if at all.
• Tagged a YSL 40
• Excellent condition

Sleeves: approximately 16" and they are very full around the upper arm
Bust: 16-20" flat across from side seam to side seam
Elastic waist: 11-17" flat across from side seam to side seam
Lower elastic band: 14-22" flat across from side seam to side seam
Bodice: approximately 15" from top of natural shoulder to elastic waist and there is 16" between the two elastic bands
Total length: 70" from top of natural shoulder to hem and then you can shorten the length by how much you adjust where you wear either elastic band

Modern Sizing Equivalent: XS-MED

Item# DD5776

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.