John Bates founded the Jean Varon label in 1960 and it quickly became known for the futuristic designs and innovative use of fabrics. He dressed Dianna Rigg portraying Emma Peel in the 1965 season of the action TV series 'The Avengers' and that helped bring him even more commercial success. By the late sixties and into the seventies his work tended more towards more floating, feminine designs. Some of the very best pieces were made during this time period. His more caftan feeling dresses in particular are fabulous and they are some of my favourites to find. This one with its dramatic sleeves and plunge front is fantastic. 

The cut of this dress is spectacular. The fabric is a rust clay coloured silk that is very light in weight and drapes beautifully once on. There are two secondary patterns woven into the fabric and this gives it a little pop that I love. The border on the neck line, around the waist, the bottom of the sleeves, and all the way around the hem have a square check design worked into them, and then the bodice and skirt have stripes. I love how he has put the stripes horizontally on the bodice to really highlight and add to the feeling of width through the sleeves and then the skirt is done the opposite way. The dress feels very sexy but in an easy to wear kind of way. It slips on and zips at the back. The top is spectacular. It is cut to skim over you to the waist. The waist is set on an upward curve and sits slightly below the bust line. The front plunges to the waist band for a gorgeous expanse of skin to show. There is space left between the two sides of the plunge and I love that little detail. The sleeves extend out from the fabric on the bodice with no side seams at all. They come out from the waist and are cut wide and straight. That makes them very full and they just sit beautifully on the body. The dress falls to the floor from there and the skirt widens out slightly as it nears the floor. It is gorgeous. Excellent condition with a minor note below

Unlined and closes at the back with a zipper. I see some tiny areas where the fabric has changed colour just very slightly. It's so minor, but I mentioned for accuracy. I could not capture it on camera.

Shoulders: no defined seam
Bust: no true side seams
Seam under the bust: to 13" flat across from side seam to side seam
Hips: to 20" flat across from side seam to side seam
Bodice: 10" from top of the shoulder to seam under the bust
Total length: 57" from top of the shoulder with just about 2" turned under the hem

Modern Sizing Equivalent: XS-SML

Item# DD4920

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This Roberto Cavalli dress is from the recent Spring 2024 collection under the creative direction of Fausto Puglisi. A version that looks like it was cut shorter walked the runway for Look 12 on Adut. The exuberant feather print that you see on this dress in shades of pinks and coral was an integral part of the show and ran over several of the pieces. This is the kind of dress that you slip on when you want to make a statement.

The dress is easy-to-wear and very flattering once on the body. The stretch jersey fabric and brilliantly coloured feather print are the perfect combination. The lines are simple and it has that perfectly easy but very sexy feel. There is an inner body suit to hold the dress perfectly in place and you just slip it on, hook the band at the back of the waist and button the button at the top of the neck and walk out the door. Once it is on, it moves with you and highlights your curves. The dress has a deep front plunge that is held in place by that inner bodysuit. The sleeves are long and simple. When you turn there is a long open cut out for an expanse of bare skin to show. A band wraps around the waist and hooks into place at the back to hold that opening in place. Another cut out is done on each side of the dress to expose the skin above the waist band and the top of the hip. From there it falls to the floor in a column of jersey. The entire lower portion of the skirt has been set in so that it flares out and when you walk, you get a kick of fabric. You can see that in the runway video and because these were sent in a longer length to the stores, it is even better in my opinion. It is one of the dresses that you just slip into and walk out feeling like a million bucks. Very sexy on. It appears to have been worn very little at all. Excellent condition

Unlined and slips on with an inner bodysuit that hooks to close. The band at the back of the waist also hooks into place and it buttons to close at the back of the neck. The fabric has stretch and the measurements below are the comfortable range of that stretch when it's laying flat. 

Sleeves: approx 24"
Shoulders: no true shoulder seam
Bust: 17-21" flat across from side seam to side seam
Waist: 12.5-14" flat across from side seam to side seam
Hips: 16-21" flat across from side seam to side seam
Total length: 60" from top of shoulder to hem

Modern Sizing Equivalent: XS-MED

Item# DD4880

Reference Photos/Video: (1-3) Spring 2024 Roberto Cavalli, Look 12. Model Adut Akech.  /  (4-7) From the Roberto Cavalli website.  /  (8) Loujain Adada in Roberto Cavalli for Dubai Fashion Week, 2024.

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 wonderful dress is by Marc Bohan for Christian Dior and it is a wonderful example of his work during this time period. It is a very easy and comfortable dress to wear. His work was integral to the label's development over the decades that he headed the atelier and this is a stunning example of his vision. Beyond that it is just an extraordinarily beautiful dress.

The dress is super light and very easy to wear. The outer layer of it is a fine silk chiffon that has a deep rusty coral colour shot through with black to make an abstract pattern that covers the entire dress. The neckline is an elastic that sits wide across the top of the shoulders. I also shot it fully off the shoulder as an option and if you wanted it completely bare across the shoulder you could wear something different underneath. I love that this gives you multiple dresses in one by wearing it on or off the shoulder and then with or without the sash. There is a button closure above a keyhole and the dress is so well-made that you could wear that either way around to the front or the back. The dress billows out from there with an almost caftan feel to it. If you wish you can wear it in this very loose and easy way or you can use its matching silk sash belt to cinch it in and add shape through the waist. The softness of the body is balanced out by fabulously full sleeves. They billow out above their four silk covered buttons on the cuffs. The sleeves are not lined so you get this wonderful sense of transparency. The dress comes with a matching inner slip in a more pastel shade of the coral. There is an insert of the same printed chiffon at the front for a little added coverage on the inner slip. It is very easy-to-wear but packs a tremendous amount of style with the beautiful fabric and easy cut. It is spectacular. Excellent condition.

The dress comes with a separate silk slip that acts as the lining and the sleeves are unlined. The slip closes with a side zipper and the dress slips over the head to wear with elastic around the neck line and a button at the back. Each sleeve has four silk chiffon covered buttons at the cuff. The sash is a single layer of the chiffon with finished edges. The loose and easy cut should allow the outer dress to fit a range of sizes and you could easily change the separate half slip underneath if it did not fit perfectly. Small slits run up each side of the outer dress.

Dress
Sleeves: approx 28"
Shoulders: no true seams
Bust-hips: to 22" flat across from side seam to side seam
Length: 54" from top of shoulder to hem - it will hang longer if worn off the shoulder

Inner slip
Bust: to 17" flat across from side seam to side seam
Waist: 15" flat across from side seam to side seam
Hips: to 20" flat across from side seam to side seam
Length: 53"

Sash: 101" long from end to end and 7.5" wide

Modern Sizing Equivalent: SML-MED

Item# DD4882

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.

Here we have one of the most wanted pieces of vintage that you can find - one of Roberto Cavalli's iconic corsets. The ones from 2003 to 2005 seem to be the ones that everyone wants  the most and I love that I have this one in its coral and ivory print. Bella Hadid was recently spotted wearing a yellow one from this collection and versions were shown on the runway and for the ad campaign that season. I love how the print add a fantastic pop of colour and this coral print is especially fantastic. The corset has inner metal stays at the front where it hooks to close, down the sides, and on either side of the laces. These are encases in the same silk as the rest of the corset and I love how he set the pattern in a different direction where it goes over top of the inner boning. It gives it the perfect amount of emphasis to where the stays are placed. To wear it the corset, you hook it at the front and then you can adjust the laces at the back for the perfect fit. I love the way it is cut on a curve on both the top and the bottom so that it fits perfectly over you and creates that sexy hourglass shape. You can pop this over almost anything to add a little amazing bit of Cavalli sexiness. Excellent condition

Unlined and closes with the five metal hooks at the front and then you adjust the fit with the laces at the back. I see a touch of very minor wear to the fabric at the end of the stays here and there and there are two tiny areas that look like they added a couple of stitches along a seam. In addition to the Cavalli label there is a hand written tag inside.

Note that I have measured this one laying open from end with the laces tightened as you see it on the mannequin. It might be able to go down a touch more through the waist and you could open the laces as much as you needed.

Top seam: 25" flat across from end to end with the laces tightened to wear their it shown on the dress form. You can adjust upwards from there by loosening the laces as needed.
Waist: 22"flat across from end to end with the laces tightened to wear their it shown on the dress form. You can adjust upwards from there by loosening the laces as needed.
Bottom seam: 28.5" flat across from end to end with the laces tightened to wear their it shown on the dress form. You can adjust upwards from there by loosening the laces as needed.
Height: 10.25" at the laces, 11" at the hooks

Modern Sizing Equivalent: XS-MED

Item# DD4791

Reference Photos: (1-4) Spring 2003 Roberto Cavalli, Look 16 & 23.  /  (5) Kamila Szczawinska for Roberto Cavalli Spring 2003 Ad Campaign.  /  (6-7) Bella Hadid in Roberto Cavalli at her Orabella launch, May 2024.

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 such a beautiful dress from Alexander McQueen and I love how wonderfully romantic it feels. It is from his Spring 2010 collection and it is a dress that was produced for the shops. The dress does not have a single unnecessary seam and I think it is even prettier in person. Even with its simplicity it would still be a dress that is red carpet worthy or would make an amazing wedding dress for the bride looking for a non-traditional choice or as an alternative dress in a more extended wedding celebration. And of course it could also be worn to any other event. It is a fantastic example of his work.

The dress is made from a printed, soft liquid silk that is covered with one of the most beautiful and romantic floral prints I have ever seen on a dress. Oversized blossoms trail across the entire dress in a wonderful pale pastel design. The base colour is ivory and then the print is a soft wash of pink, pastel corals and soft taupe that cover the dress from shoulder to hem. Wide straps curved over the shoulders and extend down to form the halter feeling bust. The cut is very reminiscent of pieces from the 1920s and 1930s. The silk is all cut on the bias and the way that it falls over the body is beautiful to see. At the front there is a deep plunge and the fabric is gathered into a centre knot at the base of the plunge. Seams angle down from there across the hips and they actually hide little hidden slit pockets. A wonderful little detail. Those slanted seams are only on the front of the dress. At the back the dress falls in one swoop down from the shoulders. An extra panel of fabric is created from the front knot and then runs down the centre of the dress all the way down to the hem. It creates that beautiful draping and also gives the skirt incredible movement. There is actually a ton of silk through the skirt and the way that it is cut lets it billow and float around you when you move. It is in its original supermodel length and is unworn with its original hang tags attached. It is spectacularly beautiful. Excellent condition 

Fully lined in an ivory silk and closes with a hidden set side zipper. Tagged a McQueen 40. The bias cut should allow it to work on a range of sizes. I have put the comfortable range of measurements below when laying flat. Original hang tag attached. 

Bust: 15-17" flat across from side seam to side seam with a B-C cup
Waist: 12-13" flat across from side seam to side seam
Hips: to 18" flat across from side seam to side seam
Total length: 64" from top of bodice to hem

Modern Sizing Equivalent: XS-MED

Item# DD4777

Reference Photos: Allison Williams in "Girls" Season 1, Episode 10 (aired June 2012).

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 was designed by Belgian-born Jules-Francois Crahay, who headed the Lanvin ateliers from 1964-1984. He has been noted as one of fashion’s 'great colorists with his colorful patterns making his 1970s Lanvin designs hugel​y ​desirable and influential.' His time at the Lanvin label is one of my personal favourites for the house. I especially love the his work during the period through the late sixties and into the early 1970s. He was a genius at print and colour and he pushed the envelope in terms of using cutting edge fabrics available during this time period. He mainly used this type of fabric for his 1971-1972 collections and in the book on his work 'Jules Francois Crahay" by Lannoo there is a detail photo of a couture fabric noted as been most likely from the fall 1971 Couture collection and you can see it has the same weave as this one. I love it.

This Lanvin dress is gorgeous. I am in absolute love with it. The dress has a gorgeous bright colour and print combination. The cotton pique it is made of is light in weight and holds colour exceptionally well so the colours are still crisp, bright and true. It has a beautiful texture running through it that adds visual interest and structure to the fabric so that it holds the intended shape. The front halter is created by two triangles that extend and curve up and behind the neck. They meet at the top of a wide band that defines the waist starting just under the bust. This leaves the back completely bare and open for a bit of a sexy feel to the dress. The band that gives the dress the shape is a full 5 1/2 inches wide. From there the skirt falls to the floor and it widens as it nears the hem. I love how the pattern is laid out onto the dress to emphasize the different parts of it. The halter has the smaller floral pattern and then the waist has stripes that are set just under the bust. You see the smaller floral anchored with stripes around the hips and then a giant floral pattern wraps around your legs. A double stripe anchors the whole dress at the hem and ties everything together. The colour is a coral red with those pops of yellow, green and soft orange. The pattern is spectacular and it is an instantly recognizable piece of his work. The perfect finish is the top set pockets that sit on each hip. I love it. Excellent condition

Fully lined through the band of the waist and the skirt in an orange silk and the halter top is unlined. It closes with a low set back zipper. 

Bust: each halter covers approx 7" flat across from side to side
Seam at the top of the band: 16" flat across from side seam to side seam
Waist seam at the bottom of the band: 13.75" flat across from side seam to side seam
Hips: to 10" flat across from side seam to side seam
Bodice: approx 13" from neck to top of the band at the waist
Total length: 59" from neck to hem

Modern Sizing Equivalent: SML-MED

Item# DD4756

Reference Photo: From the book "Jules Francois Crahay" by Lannoo.

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.

Loris Azzaro launched his label in 1967 and quickly defined his trademark looks. Some of the most beautiful women in the world wore his clothing including Marisa Berenson, Raquel Welch, Jane Birkin, Sophia Loren, Brigitte Bardot and Tina Turner. It was a label that defined sexiness and had a certain French flare that women world-wide loved. 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 during this time period. This is a label that I really love and am always happy to find pieces of.

I absolutely love the cut of this dress. It is made out of a beautiful iridescent silk taffeta in a deep peach with coral undertones. The choice of this silk gives it enough structure to hold the shape but still keeps it fairly light in weight. That fabric choice mixed with that full on glamorous  cut that it has gives it feeling of high drama. The bodice is cut to hug the torso and the neckline is cut so that it is scooped in a sweetheart neckline at the front and then another scoop sits at the back. The sleeves are amazing. They are cut to wrap around your shoulders. Each extends out from the back and then wraps around the top of the shoulder before sweeping back in to be secured at the sides of the bust line. They are so pretty. You can adjust them a bit once on to wear more up on the shoulder or leave them draped more around the upper arm to leave a bare expanse of skin to show across the top of the shoulders. The bodice is intricately gathered and it angles down a touch where it meets the skirt. The skirt is very full. It flows to the floor in a massive cascade of the silk. There are no additional underskirts added for these shots. All of that incredible volume is built into the skirt. I love the rosettes that gather and pick up the skirt all the way around. It makes it so incredibly romantic in feel. The front is scooped up and the back is cut longer for a bit of a sweep behind you. It is gorgeous. A cluster of flowers sits at one side of the waist for the final perfect romantic touch. Excellent condition.

Fully lined in a hand set matching silk and closes with a back zipper. Inside the bust there is one of his signature strapless bras tacked into place. Hand finises. It appears to have been worn very little if at all.

Bust: 16-19" flat across from side seam to side seam
Waist: to 14.5" flat across from side seam to side seam
Hips at inner lining: open
Bodice: approx 12" from top of the bodice to shortest part of the side seam at the waist 
Total length: 33" from top of the bodice to the shortest part where it curve up at the front hem, 58" to the back hem

Modern Sizing Equivalent: SML-MED

Item# DD4644

Reference Photo: Fall 1995 Loris Azzaro Haute Couture. Photo by Alexander Ubeda.

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.

I love all of the pieces by Bill Tice that I bring into the shop. Most, including this one, were made in the 1980-1981 time period. His easy-to-wear and glamorous jersey pieces have been worn by countless celebrities for the red carpet and events. Every girl that has bought one of his pieces through me has absolutely loved it. This is the first time I have had one of these long open jackets in this peach the shop and I'm absolutely obsessed with it. And I just out a peach dress from the same label that would match this perfectly. You can see that here.

It is made of a soft peach jersey that is meant to mimic the feel of silk jersey. This is one of those things that is a fail-safe piece that you know is going to work every time you put it on. This fabric has the added bonus of traveling very well. It is the kind of piece you can throw into your suit case and slip on over just about anything upon arrival with either flats or heels and you are instantly ready to walk out the door. It is cut to feel long and slim with pleats running down its full length. It has gold cording that defines the collar, the bodice and back, around the arms and the cuffs. There's also a long stripe of the gold cording that follows the ties that close it at the neck. To wear it you just slip it on and tie it at the neck with those ties. The fabric is very light so when you move this has a ton of movement and will billow out around and behind you. It's fantastic. Excellent condition.

Unlined through the body and slips on to wear. The easy cut and open front should allow it to fit a range of sizes

Sleeves: 24"
Slightly inset shoulders: 14.5"
Bust: to 26" flat across from side seam to side seam
Waist-hips: 26"+ flat across from side seam to side seam
Length: 59" from neck to hem

Modern Sizing Equivalent: XS-MED

Item# DD4370

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.

Other then the colour this is the twin of the set that walked the runway for the Fall 2000 as Look 17. The set is incredibly beautiful and chic once on the body. I also have Look 11 from the show in the shop now that has a longer jacket from the same client. True Haute Couture pieces by Chanel are an extraordinary find as they are so very rare and hard to come by. It is an incredibly beautiful and historically important example of the work that Karl was doing for Chanel during this time period. It is absolutely gorgeous to see in person.

I love that this set has both the light car length coat and a chic inner dress. It makes it so versatile and you can mix and match both pieces and wear them in so many different ways. Both of the pieces are constructed from a stunning deep coral pink and moss green version of the Chanel signature boucle fabric. From a distance it combines to give a more rust coloured feel but as you get closer you see the two distinctive colours. It is absolutely beautiful. It is then edged with a fringe made of the two wools. On the jacket this fringing follows all of the edges of the coat and then also circles each cuff. On the dress it circles around the hem. When the two pieces are worn together this extra little detail softens the feel of the set and gives it a nice pretty and romantic touch. The inner dress is cut in the sleek and simple shift that skims over the body and flares out slightly as it nears the ham. Clever and subtle seams shape the dress around you so that it's very flattering. It is hand lined in a rich deep green silk. The jacket slips over that and has shoulder pads for a structure and  the sleeves are long. It has meticulous seaming set in curving lines to create the shape that you see. It has no closure except for a hook and eye at the neck. What really makes it exceptional is that ruffled piece that goes from the neck right to the hem. The ruffle gradually narrows down as it reaches the bottom hem. This adds an unexpected touch of detail and softness to the jacket. It also creates movement as it slightly moves as you move. The jacket is lined in that same extremely high-quality green silk and there is a signature Chanel chain set around the hem. This is a classic Chanel set that will never go out of style and it is exceptional. The fact that it is true Haute Couture is just the icing on the cake. It is meticulously made to the highest standards. It is a beautiful piece showcasing the work that the Chanel ateliers are capable of and of Karl's time there. Excellent condition.

Both the dress and the jacket are fully lined in a fine deep green silk. The dress closes with a back hidden set zipper. The jacket has a hook and eye at the top of the neck. It appears to have been worn very little if at all. Both pieces have an appropriate Haute Couture label and numbered tape present. Both pieces are completely made by hand

The Chanel boucle is created with their proprietary method of weaving that they themselves describe as "by weaving the warp and weft, using a variety of different kinds of threads which creates a unique and somewhat irregular appearance. The warp – vertically strung – is the background of the fabric, the base that will support the assembly of materials. There can be up to 12 different threads used for a single warp. The weft – woven horizontally – gives the fabric its unique character and can have an unlimited number of threads. Tight, perforated, textured, thick, with a relief, plaited, random, twill… the potential number of effects is endless". This technique gives you that classic Chanel look.

Jacket
Sleeve: 24"
Slightly inset shoulders: 14.5"
Bust: 19" flat across from side seam to side seam
Waist: 18" flat across from side seam to side seam
Hips: 20" flat across from side seam to side seam
Length: 39" from neck to hem

Waist: 17" flat across from side seam to side seam
Hips: to 19.5" flat across from side seam to side seam
Length: 38" from shoulder to hem

Modern Sizing Equivalent: SML-MED

Item# DD4142

Reference Photos: Fall 2000 Chanel Couture Runway, Look 17. Model: Tetyana Brazhnyk.

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.