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yves saint laurent
Spectacular Fall 1989 Yves Saint Laurent Runway Metallic Gold Detailed Silk Chiffon Dress
I Have a Question
- This is a phenomenal dress whose twin walked the runway for the Fall 1989 YSL show.
- It was made under the creative direction of Yves Saint Laurent.
- The dress is made out of a feather light silk chiffon that has a brilliantly covered print over its entire surface. Worked into the fabric are little gold thread metallic 'dots'. This fabric choice holds the colours beautifully.
- The neckline is set more wide across so that it sits towards the edges of the shoulders and then plunges into a V at the front. The front wraps over itself and hooks into place around the waist and then has a small row of snaps under that. This clever partial wraparound lets the front wrap over itself to create that V.
- The shoulders are soft and the sleeves extend out from there. They are cut a bit wider at the top and narrow into the wrist.
- The cuffs on this one are spectacular. There is a hidden set zipper at each wrist and then on the opposite side the cuffs are gathered into the seam and highlighted with eight silk covered buttons that run up from the wrist.
- The bodice is cut to skim over you and then it narrows into the waist. The dress comes with its original matching silk chiffon belt that lets you define the waist even more. I love the soft bow that sits underneath where the belt hooks into place around you. It just adds yet another phenomenal detail.
- The skirt is as gathered into the waist and it has many, many yards of fabric in its construction. Tiny gathers are set in all along the seam around the waist and then it opens out to be very full under that. This is what gives the skirt its incredible volume.
- You get an idea of just how much fabric is in the skirt by the reference photos that we have added here. It is truly incredible.
- Even with all of the volume in skirt because of how many yards of fabric are in it the dress remains light in weight because of the silk chiffon.
- I love how the gold gives the entire dress a touch of a metallic glint to it in the light and the mix of colours keep it vibrant and beautiful.
- This is an absolutely stunning example of his work during this time period and this is a rare and hard to find piece.
- The dress is unlined and closes with a combination of hooks and snaps around the waist and just under the waist. A hidden set zipper at each cuff. The belt closes with hooks under the bow and it is original to the dress. The dress is unlabeled and 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: 26" and they are 14" around the upper arm
Shoulders: 15"
Bust: to 19" flat across from side seam to side seam
Waist: to 13.25" flat across from side seam to side seam
Hips: open
Bodice: 17" from top of shoulder to waist and meant to blouse over the waist a bit once the belt is on.
Total length: approx 60" from top of shoulder to hem.
Modern Sizing Equivalent: SML-MED
Item# DD5759
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.
yves saint laurent
Exquisite Fall 1997 Yves Saint Laurent Brilliant Multi Floral Printed Silk Chiffon Bias Cut & Draped One Shoulder Dress
I Have a Question
- The twin of this dress walked the runway for the Fall 1997 collection.
- It was made under the creative direction of Yves Saint Laurent.
- I love that the reference photos show you how gorgeous it truly is once on the body.
- The dress is made of a beautiful bias cut silk that has an extraordinary brilliant floral pattern running over its entire surface. It is like wearing an entire bouquet of flowers in the best possible way.
- The bust angles on a slight curve up to a wide gathered strap that curves over the shoulder to become a part of the back where it angles softly back down to the side. This leaves the other shoulder bare and exposed.
- The inner dress drapes and skims over the bust and curves in at the waist to a seam. From there it curves back out over the the hips.This gives is a slightly more generous feel through the waist so it is easier to fit.
- There is an attached panel of fabric at the front waist that loops around and then wraps all the way back around you to attach along the front of the neckline. At the back it snaps into place over a hidden set zipper slightly off to the side. At the front it snaps into place under the arm and then it is attached to the shoulder on the other side.
- This panel is what gives the dress is extraordinary beauty. The panel that is attached to the shoulder curves and cascades over the arm and all the way down the body. As the panel falls down the side of the body it extends well past the hem to create a training affect around you. You can also loop this panel more over your arm to bring it up and off the floor. You can see that in the runway photos.
- On one side of the skirt there is a high side slit so that when you move or sit you get a flash of bare leg and it also allows you to walk..
- The way that this is all laid out and attached is a nod to a sarong but at the same time it feel so elevated and chic. It is absolutely the most flattering dress once on the body. This is a true YSL masterpiece.
- The dress is fully lined in matching nude silk chiffon through the upper bodice and then the rest of the dress is lined in a deep blue silk chiffon. It closes with a hidden offset back zipper. The lining is partially set by hand. It appears to have been worn very little if at all.
- Tagged a vintage YSL 38
- 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 18" flat across from side seam to side seam
Total length: 58" from top of shoulder to hem and the slit is 23" from the hem up. The shoulder panel extends out another approx 12" beyond that.
Modern Sizing Equivalent: XS-MED
Item# DD5760
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.
bill blass
Beautiful Fall 1979 Bill Blass Couture Runway Silk Chiffon Dress w Gold Thread, Sequins & Mink Cuffs
I Have a Question
- The twin of this dress walked the runway for the Fall 1979 Bill Blass collection.
- It was made under the creative direction of Bill Blass.
- I have had the twin of this dress in the shop a few years ago and I was very pleased to find another.
- A similar version of this dress was worn by Slim Keith to attend the Met Museum Gala that year. We have also included a couple of shots of me in the one we had previously to give you an idea of how it is on.
- If you prefer not to wear fur you could easily remove the cuffs and replace them with a faux version, feathers or anything you could imagine, or leave them without and just store the cuffs for archival purposes.
- This dress is one of the best that he ever made and it is a wonderful example of just how sophisticated and glamorous he could be in his work.
- The silk chiffon is feather light and I love the fine metallic gold thread that is woven through the silk to create vertical stripes.
- Onto those tiny stripes of the skirt are hand applied gold sequins that catch the light beautifully to add extra texture and glamour to the dress. Worked into the silk chiffon itself is a subtle leaf print that also adds a beautiful visual texture.
- The bodice skims over you and crosses over itself with a built in brown silk camisole that acts as the lining.
- The shoulders are soft and the sleeves extend directly out from the bodice and narrow slightly as they reach the cuff. The cuffs are both finished with a seven inch band of mink.
- The upper part of the skirt is the same deep red as the bodice of the dress and then that leaf print gradually becomes more dense until it becomes more of a soft brown around the lower hem. A slit runs up the front for a little leg to show.
- The dress is fully lined in brown silk chiffon and closes with a hidden set back zipper. Hand finishes throughout and hand set sequins. The cuffs are soft and they have perhaps the very slightest of wear to the edges. This one does not have its Bill Blass tag present, but has the appropriate size tag and a Saks Fifth Avenue tag inside.
- Tagged a vintage Bill Blass 6
- Excellent condition
Sleeves: approximately 27"
Shoulders: no defined seam
Inner bust: to 16.5" flat across from side seam to side seam
Waist: to 12" flat across from side seam to side seam
Inner hips: to 18" flat across from side seam to side seam
Bodice: 15" from the top of the shoulder to waist
Total length: 57.5" from the top of the shoulder to hem and the front slit is 19" from the hem up
Modern Sizing Equivalent: XS-SML
Item# DD5762
Reference Photos: (1) Fall 1979 Bill Blass. / (2-3) Cherie, Owner of Shrimpton Couture, by Erin Leydon. / (4) Socialite Slim Keith in Bill Blass (left) at the Metropolitan Museum of Art Gala in New York City, 1979.
This garment has been professionally cleaned, pressed and is odor free. Thoroughly checked over before shipping, it will be ready to wear upon arrival.
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From its humble beginnings in 2006 with just a dozen or so vintage pieces, Shrimpton Couture has grown to be one of the most respected online shopping destinations for vintage shoppers world-wide.
It is our mission to find the timeliness and special pieces that are cherished and coveted by designers, museums, celebrities and countless fabulous women around the world.




