• This spectacular dress is a very rare piece from the Spring 1999 collection.
• It was made under the creative direction of John Galliano
• For this show the Dior Catwalk book noted that "Galliano took a trip on the Trans-Siberian railway and drew inspiration from Russian avant-garde as well as the Chinese red army."
• The dress was worn over an elaborate white top on the runway and I love that this shows how it can be styled and worn in different ways. It can be worn on its own as well.
• This is one of his signature bias cut dresses and it is absolutely stunning.
• The dress is made from a bias cut black synthetic that he used often during this time period. It is completely cut on the bias. When you put it on, it simply drapes over you and highlights every curve without ever being too tight anywhere.
• The dress falls from two wide straps that curve up and over the shoulders. The front falls in a soft curving drape. One side is slightly gathered just below the shoulder and I love how this gives it a slight asymmetrical feel. Incorporating a little bit of asymmetry in his designs is a Galliano signature.
• The back is scooped low to the waist to leave your entire upper back bare with only the wide straps that extend down from the shoulders and cross over each other adding minimal coverage.
• The draped front is a clever way to add shape while still keeping the entire dress soft and with little formal structure.
  
• Set just above the hip at the front is a jagged seam that attaches the skirt into the top of the dress. At the back there is a more simple downward pointed seam. A subtle detail that helps to shape the way the dress curves over you. 
  
• It skims over the bust, waist and hips and then comes in naturally just under the hips because of the bias cut. The very lower skirt flares out quite a bit under that. This is achieved by using that same jagged seam work all the way around the lower skirt to allow it to flare out beautifully.
• This gives you an incredible movement when you walk and finishes the dress beautifully. This flowing hourglass shape was a Galliano signature and this one is absolutely spectacular.
  
• The dress is an exceptional example from his very early days. A true piece of fashion history.
  
• The dress is unlined and closes at the side with a row of fabric covered tiny buttons. It is completely cut on the bias so there is a lot of movement and range to the fabric. It is an easy fit and the bias cut should allow it to fit a range of sizes. I have put the range when laying flat in the measurements below. On a smaller frame it will drape more. I see a small areas of thinning of the fabric on one button. Please see the photo after the label shot. It is very minor and mentioned for accuracy.
• Tagged a vintage Dior FR 36, GB eight, US2
• Excellent condition

Bust: 16-17" flat across from side seam to side seam
Waist: 12-12.5" flat across from side seam to side seam
Hips: 16-20" flat across from side seam to side seam
Total length: approx 50" from top of shoulder to hem. The length may come up a touch once on because of the bias cut.

Modern Sizing Equivalent: XS-SML

Item# DD5600

Reference Photos/Video: Spring 1999 John Galliano, Look 11. Model: Colette Pechekhonova.

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 is from the Fall 2015 collection.
• In 2015 Valentino was headed by both Maria Grazia Chiuri and PierPaolo Piccioli.
  
• The dress references pieces seen in both the ready-to-wear and Couture shows. We have included photos from both of those so you can see.
• The fabric is a heavier weighted black silk that is finished so that it has an almost fine wool feel to it. 
• The front is cut straight across the neckline and then it is brought straight down on each side. I love how it extends and attaches over the seam at the waist instead of inside the waist seam. Running down the back is a long open keyhole so you get a peak of bare skin from neck to waist.
• Having the front and back panels constructed like this leaves the sides open and bare. If you were to layer the dress over something else, you will see the full sides of whatever you have underneath it and the styling possibilities are endless.
• The waist is brought in for shape and and then the skirt falls from there. 
• The skirt has far more fabric in it than it first appears. The silk has been flat pleated and inserted into the waist. The top 3.5" of the pleats from the waist are sewn closed and then they open outwards at that point. Inside of each of the pleats under that point are four additional top stitched knife pleats that all gradually open more as they reach the hem. The detail that this creates all the way around the skirt when you move is amazing. When you stand still everything falls like a normal pleated skirt but when you move and the pleats open the entire thing just comes to life. It is beautifully executed and even better in person.
• The dress is fully lined in a black silk through the bodice and the skirt is unlined. It closes with a button and loop at the back of the neck and a hidden set zipper that starts at the waist. It appears to have been worn very little if at all.
• Tagged a modern Valentino 40.
  
• Excellent condition

Bust: the sides are open and the front panel is 11.25" flat across from side to side
Slightly dropped waist: 12.5" flat across from side seam to side seam
Hips: open
Bodice: 17" from top of shoulder to waist
Total length: 56" from top of shoulder to hem

Modern Sizing Equivalent: XS-SML

Item# DD5601

Reference Photos: (1) Fall 2014 Valentino Couture, Look 8. Model Malaika Firth.  /  (2) Fall 2015 Valentino, Look 40. Model Irina Djuranovic.

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 is an exquisite Haute Couture Valentino from the 1990s maybe 1980s.
• It was made under the creative direction of the original Mr. Valentino.
• It would have been made completely by hand in the Valentino ateliers.
• The dress is absolutely exquisite. It is a stunning example of Mr. Valentino's couture work during this time period. 
• The dress combines a high-end black silk with a handmade lace on a black netting base.
• The design is so simple but at the same time it has so much impact with its lace detailing and sexy feel created by the easy wrap design.
  
• The dress slips on and ties into place with two silk ties that extend out from both sides of the waist. One goes inside and slips through a notch along the waist seam at the side and then wraps around to meet the other and tie. Hidden set snaps on that side helping to hold everything perfectly in place.
  
• I love that the wrapping all happens at the back so you get an unbroken line at the front.
• The way that it wraps and secures into place keeps you fully covered but still allows for the skirt to open to show your legs when you walk.
• Tiny black piped silk straps curve up and over the shoulder and attach in behind the wide band of lace that details the top edge of the neckline. It has a slight V at the front and scoops at the back.
• The silk that sits between the top lace and the wide band that runs around the waist is pin tucked and this is all done by hand stitching the fabric into those little tucks.
• Under the band at the waist you have another series of hand done pin tucks that add subtle detail and allow the skirt a touch of fullness under that.
• The dress falls to just past the knee from the waist and the skirt widens out slightly as it nears the hem.
• The bottom portion of the skirt is spectacular. Here we see the lace placed by hand onto the skirt to show off how spectacular its pattern truly is.
• It runs a full 16.5 inches up from the hem in beautiful patterns that circle all the way around the skirt. The lace has all been carefully cut out and placed on a black net backing. 
• Between the floral parts of the lace you have a touch of transparency through the black net backing. You see that slight play on transparency around the neckline and all the way around the skirt. It is the perfect little bit of sexuality that the best of Valentino pieces have but done in the most elegant of ways.
• This is an outstanding and beautiful piece of Valentino Couture.
• The dress is fully lined and wraps and snaps to close as described above. The dress could be easily adjusted by moving the snaps at the waist if needed. The measurement below is where everything is when those are snapped closed. You could move them as needed or just tie it without doing up the snaps.
• There is no size tag present because it is true Couture. Please go by the measurements listed below.
• Excellent condition

Bust: approx 16-17.5" flat across from side seam to side seam
Waist: 13.5" flat across from side seam to side seam
Hips: to 22" flat across from side seam to side seam
Bodice: 17" from top of shoulder to waist including 4" band around the waist
Total length: 47" from top of shoulder to hem

Modern Sizing Equivalent: XS-MED

Item# DD5602

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.