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This is a very sexy Azzadine Alaia dress that we think dates to around 2013 when he did that fantastic red dress for Rihanna. It has the same kind of light in weight liquid knit and the play on transparency that her dress had. It is an incredibly beautiful and sexy dress.
The dress is made from one of his signature feather light knits that seem like magic. It is a deep black in colour and the knit has a touch of transparency to it. The bodice has a second inner layer of the knit at the front but even with that you still get a bit of transparency. Each side of the front bodice of the dress falls from the shoulder and is gathered into the waist for a very Grecian feel. It plunges into a low V and an inner piece is scooped to follow that same shape. The sides plunge almost to the waist and then at the back there is a panel that extends out and hooks into place for a low scoop behind the neck. This leaves a large curving open expanse of skin all the way to the waist. It is incredibly sexy. The waist is banded with a horizontally set knit band that has elastic inside so it is very comfortable and easy to fit and wear. The skirt is gathered into that band and it is very full beneath. There are yards and yards of knit in the skirt but when you are standing still it all falls into a column because of how light the knit is. It is only when you move that you realize how many yards of fabric are in the skirt. You get the most fantastic movement as you walk. The dress is in its original uncut length and it appears to have been worn very little if at all. Excellent condition
The front bodice has a second panel behind it and the rest of the dress is unlined. It closes with a hidden set zipper from the waist down and hooks to close at the back. Elastic through the waist.
Bust: each side of the halter covers up to 10" flat across from side to side with no true side seams
Elastic waist: 12-15" flat across from side seam to side seam
Hips: open
Bodice: approx 15.5" from top of shoulder to waist
Total length: 69.5" from top of shoulder to hem
Modern Sizing Equivalent: XS-MED
Item# DD4887
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.
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The twin of this dress in white walked the runway for Look 76 for the Spring 2004 show. During this period Mr. Valentino was still in charge and designing for his self named label. I love that I have tons of photos and the video of it so you can see just how fantastic this dress is on the body. It is a killer dress. The show was a huge success and the Vogue review for this collection stated in part; "When the fashion chat is all about the "new ladylike," it's not hard to give in to the methods of seduction Valentino has perfected. He's had "lady" down pat for years—for the genuine ones of the yacht-owning class, that is. His Spring collection covers the waterfront for that society, and those who aspire to it.... It all looked romantically pretty in the just-so mode that his clients adore." And what's not to love? The dress moves beautifully, is elegant and chic, and yet with that open side feels insanely sexy. This is the magic of original Valentino and this one is just tremendous.
We have also added to the modern provenance of this dress with Marlo Kelly wearing this dress for this year's Emmy's.
This is such a gorgeous dress. Its simplicity combined with that almost shocking open side add up to an incredible piece. The dress is made of a beautiful black silk crepe that gives it its sleek sculpted feel. The dress is very sexy and shows off some skin but still feels very elegant and refined. The fabric has just a touch of a bias cut to it through the body so its very comfortable to wear. I love the way that it curves up and over your shoulders and scoops at the neckline. It skims over the bust and then starts to widen out and skim over the waist and hips. The skirt falls to the floor under that and it is all cut on the bias. By the time it reaches the hem it has widened out into that beautiful sweeping line that you see. A high slit up one leg gives it additional movement. The bias cut and that slit make the hem of the skirt move and float around you at your slightest movement. The open side is on the same side as the slit. The silk of the dress has been gathered up and around the cut out on the one side. The opening of the cut out is finished with a piped fabric and then more of the piping is used to created a laced webbed feel that sits inside the circle. This gives you a touch of coverage but still lets your skin show through. Extending out from that opening are long ties that trail down the side. These give the illusion of being able to tighten and adjust the lace. It is absolutely gorgeous. Excellent condition with a minor note below
Unlined and closes with a side hidden set zipper. We see a couple of teeny nicks to the fabric on one spot near the hem of the back. The fabric is bias cut so does have some movement. We have put the comfortable range of measurements below.
Bust: 15-17" flat across from side to side with no true side seams
Waist: 12-14" flat across from side seam to side seam
Hips: to 20" flat across from side seam to side seam
Length: 59" from top of shoulder to front hem, 62" to the back hem
Slit: 28" from hem up
Modern Sizing Equivalent: XS-MED
Item# DD4886
Reference Photos/Video: (1-6) Spring 2004 Valentino, Look 76. / (7) Portia de Rossi in Valentino at The 61st Annual Golden Globe Awards, January 2004. / (8-9) Marlo Kelly in this dress for Emmys weekend, 2024.
This garment has been professionally cleaned, pressed and is odor free. Thoroughly checked over before shipping, it will be ready to wear upon arrival.
valentino
Incredible Spring 1993 Valentino Runway Star Dress w Front & Back Mesh Insets
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The twin of this dress walked the runway on supermodel Carla Bruni who looked unbelievable in it. Valentino did a series of these dresses that were all done with this touch on a Western theme of stars on them with slightly different upper bodices. This is the second of that series that I have had. The first was sourced privately for a client and I love that I have found another one. We have included photos of the runway and of video many of the pieces so you can see how fantastic this is on the body.
Each side at the front of the dress is shaped to curve around the bust. It plunges into a low V at the front and then underneath that to the waist there is a black mesh panel that is transparent. I love how this makes the body feel bare but you are covered at the same time. At the base of the plunge you see the first of five rhinestone encrusted stars that the dress has. Another star sits at the top of each shoulder and they are placed slightly to the front so that you clearly see them when the dress is on. The back mimics the panels at the front in shape but here each of those panels is finished in black mesh. The V above and the V below where they hook together are open for a bare expanse of skin to show. The final two stars sit at the base of either of those panels at the back and you can clearly see them from the side and back. I love how they make this dress instantly recognizable as being from this collection. The dress skims over the hips from there and flares out as it reaches the hem. It is quite wide by the time it reaches the hem so you get fantastic movement as you walk, which you can see in the runway video. It is truly a fantastic piece of Valentino history. Excellent condition with a note below.
The dress is fully lined in a black silk and closes with a side set zipper from the waist down. The back mesh panels hook into place. There are built-in cups inside the bust and they would be easy to take out if you didn't like how they fit. We see a couple rhinestones missing off of the very tips of the stars. One of the larger rhinestone beads at the side is cracked underneath itself. We see one missed stitch on the front netting by the side. All very minor. Please see the photos after the label shot.
Bust: to 18" flat across from side seam to side seam
Waist: 12.5" flat across from side seam to side seam
Hips: 18" flat across from side seam to side seam
Total length: 60" from top of shoulder to hem
Modern Sizing Equivalent: SML-MED
Item# DD4885
Reference Photos/Video: (1-6) Spring 1993 Valentino. / (7) Spring 1993 Valentino Ad Campaign by Walter Chin.
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.
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