• The twin of this dress walked the runway as Look 64 for the Spring 2020 Gucci show.
• It was made under the creative direction of Alessandro Michele
• Its twin also appeared in editorial shoots and on Tamu McPherson that year adding to its documentation. 
• The dress is made out of a soft purple silk and wool that holds the shape perfectly without being too heavy to wear. This is mixed with a black patent leather trim.
• The neckline is cut high and finished with the black patent trim. I love the little unexpected contrast that this adds. You see the same black patent trim edging in the bottom of each sleeve.
• The shoulders are soft and the sleeves fall out from there and become very wide by their ends. Each one measures a full 20" around their bottom openings.
• At the front right under the collar there is a pretty cut out that is done to feel like the petals of a flower. These are completely open so that they add an unexpected flash of bare skin.
• The dress flows loose and easy from there to the hem. As it drapes over the body it expands outwards on that same flared line that you see on the sleeves.
• That easy tunic, caftan feeling cut, makes the dress very easy to fit on a variety of body shapes and is so comfortable once on.
• The dress is fully lined a soft purple silk and closes with a hidden set back zipper. It's original hang tag is attached and it was never worn. I see one pin head size dot on one sleeve and a tiny touch of wrinkles in the patent where it naturally folds. Both are very minor but mentioned for accuracy.
• Tagged a modern Gucci 40
• Excellent condition

Sleeves: 23.5" and they are 14" around the upper arm
Shoulders: 15"
Bust: to 17.5" flat across from side seam to side seam
Waist: to 18" flat across from side seam to side seam
Hips: to 20" flat across from side seam to side seam
Total length: 54" from neck to hem

Modern Sizing Equivalent: SML-MED

Item# DD5723

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 set walked the runway for the Fall 2007 show for Look 43. 
• It was made under the creative direction of John Galliano.
• Galliano repeated the same design through the upper bodice for Look 18.
• In the book 'Dior Catwalk' they note that the Collection "managed to translate the intricate Japanese inspired references and techniques of Galliano's previous Haute Couture show for ready-to-wear, from origami folding and gravity defying pleats to elegant draping, tiered skirts, striking headpieces and bright colors." Women's Wear Daily hailed the collection as "a brilliant blockbuster, a glorious celebration of the grand and glamorous."
• Once worn together you get the feel of a full length dress but it is a two piece set with its original belt included. Both pieces are made out of a dusky purple hammered silk that has incredible drape.
• The top slips on and zips to close at the back. The shoulders are soft and the sleeves are cut long and on a curve a traditional tailoring technique to follow the shape of the arm. Each sleeve is cut a little longer than a normal sleeve so that when they are on the body they can be bunched up along your arm just slightly or worn slightly over the top of the hand depending on your arm length. 
• The sleeves are cut to curve outward from the body of the top with gusseted seams underneath forgoing the traditional arm seams. This means extra steps during the garment assembly that you rarely see anymore outside of Couture.
• The neckline comes down in a shallow V and then the silk is gathered up and into the intricate fold at the front.
• A hand dyed to match snakeskin belt is used to cinch in the waist. The buckle of the belt is finished in deep purple rhinestones.
• The skirt skims over the hips and there is an extra panel of fabric that puddles and drapes down one side. It runs from just below the hip down all the way to the floor.
• Under that extra added panel is an incredibly high slit that goes to the top of the thigh. The skirt flares out as it nears the floor and the hem has a touch of an asymmetrical feel to it with the side with the panel falling longer past the hem than where it starts on the inside portion of the slit.
• On the runway you can see the high slit as the model moves and this skirt has that same detail.
• This is an exceptionally rare set and an outstanding example of his work for this collection.
• The top slips on with a hidden set short zipper at the back of the neck. The belt has a rhinestone encrusted buckle and the skirt closes with a side hidden set zipper. There is a teeny bit of lift on the edges and wear marks on the belt that are minor and if I hold the skirt up to the light I see a tiny bit of vertical thinning marks under the waist and here and there around the ham of the skirt. They do not show through to the front at all and I am being very picky. Both pieces otherwise appear to have been worn very little if at all.
• Both pieces are tagged a vintage Dior FR40, GB12, IT44, US8
• Excellent condition

Top
Sleeves: approx 26-27" and are 12" around the upper arm
Shoulders: no true defined seam
Bust: to 18.5" flat across from side seam to side seam
Waist: to 17" flat across from side seam to side seam
Bottom seam: 19" flat across from side seam to side seam
Total length: 20.5" from neck to hem

Skirt
Waist: 13.5" flat across from side seam to side seam
Hips: open
Total length: 49" from waist to the shortest part of the hem, 54" to the longest
Slit: 36.5" from the shortest part of the hem up

Modern Sizing Equivalent: SML-MED

Item# DD5724

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 Fall 1982 Valentino collection.
• It was made under the creative direction of the original Mr. Valentino.
• This is a very rare and unusual dress from the Valentino boutique label.
• Michelle Harper wore its twin in 2011 and you can see it in the foreground of the photo of an exhibit of his work at the Met Museum. Its twin was shot in black that season as well.
• Valentino launched his ready-to-wear label in 1962 just two years after opening his first couture salon in Rome. In 1970 he expanded and opened a boutique in New York. 
• His ready-to-wear was done to give everyone access to the Valentino experience. He often based the boutique designs from his main couture label and in the early days pieces were remarkably close in quality and the line between the two labels was often blurred. This is a beautiful example of that.
• The dress is made of a beautiful weight silk in the perfect shade of purple mixed with those rainbow coloured bands at the top of the bust and around the inner hem. The silk has just enough weight to hold the shape that you see, but still feels light on the body.
• I love the unusual lines that this dress has and how despite its bold silhouette it is still easy to wear and very flattering.
• The dress is strapless and the neckline is set in a peak at the front with the four coloured stripes set on angles that slant down and then curve around the back. The silk is seamed to fit around you and really emphasize the shape through the bust and waist.
• It curves over the very top of the hips from there and then the skirt falls out outwards in the most dramatic poof under that.
• The skirt is a masterpiece. It is gathered softly into the waist and then it expands outward in that fantastic shape that you see. At the bottom it is brought in and under and there are four more matching bands of coloured silk in those rainbow colours. 
• When this is on and you move you are going to get the most incredible movement of the skirt.
• There is tulle in between the outer layer and the inner silk lining in the skirt that helps to keep the skirt its structure and shape so it does not collapse around you once you are standing still. And it has pockets.
• The dress is fully lined in a light purple silk. Light boning through the bodice and the inner silk portion of the bod closes with a row of hook and eye. The dress zips to close over that. The skirt has a black silk chiffon lining and this closes with its own hook and eye inside at the waist. The rest of the skirt is lined in a black silk organza and there is tulle in between the exterior layer and the organza. I see a tiny bit of change of texture where the silk has been pressed over the inner tulle here and there. It is very minor and just mentioned for accuracy. Hand finishes.
• Tagged a vintage Valentino 10 
• Excellent condition

Bust: has a maximum of 33" available space inside the bodice
Inner waist: to 13.5" flat across from side seam to side seam
Hips: open 
Bodice: 9.5" from side of bodice to side of waist seam
Total length: 55" to the longest point of the back hem and the front is 46" to the shortest point.

Modern Sizing Equivalent: XS-SML

Item# DD5725

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.