This gorgeous little dress is the ready-to-wear version of the Spring 1987 Haute Couture version. We have included the runway photos of the couture version and the editorial photos to give you an idea of the dress on. This version is simplified version but still has very similar line. It is fascinating that he did this at times with a few select pieces from his collections so that his non-couture clients had access to his couture designs. The 1987 collection is a favourite and I love having this dress in the shop for you.

This is a dress that is not being done full justice on my dress form but it is gorgeous once on the body. The dress sits off the shoulders to leave a bare expanse of skin and the sleeves are cut to just past the elbow. A pretty chiffon ruffle runs around the neckline and then another ruffle wraps around each wrist. The bodice skims over the bust and comes in at the waist for shape. Under that the skirt flares out dramatically and is quite full. The front of the skirt is cut to the knee, or just above depending on your height, and then the edges of the skirt curve down and around to be full length at the back. The fullness and the length change give it a ton of movement when you move. The fabric is so unusual. It is made from a black silk net backed by a black silk tulle. Then onto the top net layer is a design made of black raffia. This gives the dress an incredible texture. The parts of the dress that are not lined have a touch of transparency which is very sexy. This is an incredible piece of Yve's history and an absolutely gorgeous dress. Excellent condition with a minor note below 

Lined in a layer of tulle as described above and then there is a inner lining though the bodice and to just past the hips made out of a gold nude toned silk chiffon covered in a layer of black silk chiffon. It closes with a side set zipper. The raffia has small breaks in it here and there that is inherent to the material and normal wear. 

Sleeves: 18"
Bust: 18" flat across from side seam to side seam
Waist: 12-13" flat across from side seam to side seam
Hips: 20" flat across from side seam to side seam before it flares out
Length: approx 35" from natural shoulder to front hem, 52" to lowest point of the back hem

Modern Sizing Equivalent: XS-SML

Item# DD3888

Reference Photos: (1-2) S/S 1987 Yves Saint Laurent Haute Couture Runway Show.  /  (3) Brynja Sverrisdottir in S/S 1987 Yves Saint Laurent Couture. Photo by David Bailey.

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 Spring 1982 collection marked the 20th anniversary of Yves' Couture house. In the book Yves Saint Laurent: Catwalk they note that the historical importance of his collection made him feel very anxious. He was quoted as saying "I am frightened of this collection. I am far more anxious than I was for my first collection. It is a reassessment of 20 years… It is the end of adolescence, the beginning of maturity. I really feel like a beginner." But of course, it was a masterpiece of a collection and raved about.

The collection was extravagant and was heavily influenced by India and the beautiful work done by Indian artisans. There was a play on proportions with wide shoulders and a narrowing at the hips. This tunic was one of the more simple pieces in the collection but it still has the touch of an oversized shoulder and the ease and elegance of a beautiful silk in its making.

I love that you can wear this as a tunic over something else. It was shown over a skirt and a modern girl could easily wear it on its own as a dress. It was shown belted with a silk sash in the advance photos for the collection and you could easily add a belt or ribbon if you wanted to have more shape. The shoulders are padded and set a little wide. The sleeves are cut wide through the upper arm and even as they narrow to the wrist, they are still wide set by the cuff. The cuffs and collar are done in a black silk and I love the contrast to the ivory of the body. It is meant to be worn fairly loose and easy to skim over your bust, waist and hips. It falls to about the knee or just above depending on your height. A slit runs up each side and you can see that he has lined the entire inside of the piece in that same black silk as the collar and cuffs. When you walk and move the slits let you to see that flash of black which ties the whole piece together perfectly. The silk is a rich and heavy weight that drapes beautifully over the body. This is a dress that really needs to come to life with a body in it and my dress form photos are nowhere near to doing it justice. It is completely made by hand and an absolutely beautiful, refined and easy piece of true Couture. Excellent condition with a small note below.

Fully lined in a handset black silk and closes at the back with a hand set zipper. Handmade padding in each shoulder. It is completely made by hand to Couture standards. Has it proper YSL numbered Couture label. There is one small mark near the elbow of one sleeve. Please see the photo after the label shot. The easy cut should allow it to fit a range of sizes. On a smaller frame, it will just feel more oversized.

Sleeves: 22.5" and each is 20" around the upper arm
Exaggerated shoulders: 16.5"
Bust: to 19" flat across from side seam to side seam
Waist: to 19" flat across from side seam to side seam
Hips: to 20" flat across from side seam to side seam
Total length: 39" from top of shoulder to hem
Slits: 11.5" from hem up

Modern Sizing Equivalent: SML-LRG

Item# DD4913

Reference Photos: Spring 1982 Yves Saint Laurent  Couture Advance Preview. Model Kirat Young.

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.

When dating this extraordinary Yves Saint Laurent dress, we found a photo of a piece with almost an identical cut bodice from 1972 along with several runway photos that show other pieces with that same cut to the bodice. I have included those here for you and it is interesting to note that the pleating technique that is used around the upper hip of the skirt was also done in a more intricate fashion for the 1974 Couture show. Yves often use ideas from both collections. - Rive Gauche and Couture - to build and develop ideas and it is fascinating to see the progression of his work from garment to garment. This is an incredibly beautiful example of his work from this time period.

This dress combines a floral silk chiffon with a muted red silk on the skirt. This combination is absolutely gorgeous. Is combination of silks give the dress just enough weight and structure to be able to create the impressive lines and volume that you see but while still making it feel soft and romantic. The colours are spectacular. The top is a printed silk chiffon, and it has a stunning floral pattern in red purples and greens that float over the entire bodice and the sleeves. The bodice is cut to skim over you and the waist nips in. It plunges at the front and crosses over itself, and the neckline has been detailed with ruffles that begin at the back of the neck and circle around to follow the V at the front and then run down to the waist. piping in the same fabric detail. The waste and ties have been left off to the side to hang down and create a pretty little detail. The skirt falls to the floor from there and it has yards and yards of fabric in it that creates the fullness and volume that you see. The skirt falls in a gently widening line and is quite full by the time it reaches the hem. I love the volume that this type of fabric creates and how it billows around you as you move but at the same time it is as light as a feather. Around the entire upper hip area, and starting at the waist or a series of tiny cleats that gradually open out to create the volume underneath. This intricate detail is a beautiful addition to the dress. The sleeves are outstanding. Each is a single layer of the silk chiffon and are wide and very full. They are caught up at the wrist with a circle full circle ruffle underneath. This creates a beautiful and dramatic finish to the top. I love everything about this dress. Excellent condition.

Fully lined in a red silk and closes at the back with a hidden set painted met zipper. Attached ties at the waist and elastic in each cuff. The silk skirt and the exterior layer is a tool ruffle that helps keep the volume through the skirt. Tagged a vintage YSL 38. I see some light marks around the hem of the skirt.

Sleeves: 24" and 14" around the upper arm
Slightly inset shoulders: 14.5"
Bust: to 18" flat across from side seam to side seam
Waist: 13" flat across from side seam to side seam
Hips: open
Bodice: 16" from neck to waist
Total length: 62" from neck to hem

Modern Sizing Equivalent: SML-MED

Item# DD4665

Reference Photos: Fall 1972 Yves Saint Laurent.

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 dress walk the runway for the Fall 1987 season. It is absolutely sensational and I am very pleased that we found photos of it on the runway so you can see how dramatic and amazing it is on the body. He could really push the envelope with some of his designs and this particular dress is a nod back to some of the work that he was doing in earlier decades but in that best of the 1980s kind of way. I love that about it.

This is not a dress for somebody who does not want to stand out. I think the person that will wear something like this has a certain way of moving through life and doing her own individual thing. The dress is utterly fantastic. It combines a brilliant pink silk that has a secondary pattern running through it that catches the light from every angle. Onto that is a black floral pattern that covers the pink. He has used this through the body of the dress and for the very bottom part of the skirt. The rest of the dress is made from a sequin detailed lace with black ribbon that has been applied over that for this wonderful layered effect. The texture that all these things together achieve is fantastic and I love the way it catches the light. The neckline is cut wide across and the shoulders are soft. The arms are unlined so you see a peak of skin between the net lace, sequins and ribbon detailing. More of the lace goes across the top of the bodice at the front and back. For this part of the dress he gave it a backing of black silk organza so you have just a touch of transparency. The pink is set in just at the top of the bust and it is gathered along that seam for extra detail. Those gathers also allow for the dramatic volume that you see through the body of the dress to the top of the hip. Under that is band of the black and there is elastic running through the top of the hip so that you can adjust it up or down and change the length of the dress. The very bottom part of the skirt is a little soft and flirty band of the pink silk. It is fantastic and a very rare and special piece of YSL history. Excellent condition.

Fully lined in a black silk through the body and the lower lace panel. There is black silk organza behind the upper bodice and then the lowest part of the skirt and the sleeves are unlined. It closes at the back with a zipper and each sleeve zips to close at the wrist. It appears to have been worn very little if at all. Tagged a vintage YSL 40.

Sleeves: 27" and they are 12" around the upper arm
Shoulders: 15"
Bust: 17.5" flat across from side seam to side seam
Waist: open
Hips: 16-19" flat across from side seam to side seam
Total length: 36" from top of shoulder to hem and can be adjusted to sit shorter

Modern Sizing Equivalent: SML-MED

Item# DD4874

Reference Photos: Fall 1987 Yves Saint Laurent.

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 incredible dress is from the Fall 1998 collection and it’s twin walked the runway that season. It is incredibly sexy and it feels very French. This one has the added modern provenance of being the actual dress worn Adria Arjona for the 2018 Gold Globes season. We have included a shot of her in the dress so you can see how it looks on the body.

The dress is gorgeous and the fabric itself is part of what makes it so fabulous. The top layer of fabric is a black lace that has a silk cord applied on top of it to follow the pattern of the lace underneath. This sits over an inner lace that has metallic gold metal thread woven over its surface. The effect of the gold peeking out from underneath is gorgeous and I love the depth and interest that this creates. The dress is strapless and meant to hug and fit over the body. Inside there is a built in corset with boning that holds the dress in place around you. It hugs the bust and is shaped so that it curves in at the waist. There is no waist seaming, it just curves in for shape and then it skims over the hips and has a more pencil shape that will sit above the knee. How short it sits depends on your height. The dress has three pretty bows down one side. The top lace and cord layer is attached and it closes over the inner gold layer to the third bow. From the third bow to the hem that top layer is open so that when you walk and move you get a stronger feel of the gold underneath. It is absolutely fantastic and an instantly recognizable piece of YSL. Excellent condition

Fully lined in a black silk and closes with a hidden set side set zipper and the top layer of lace hooks in place over the zipper. The inner bust is boned. Tagged a vintage YSL 38

Bust: 16" flat across from side seam to side seam
Waist: 12.5" flat across from side seam to side seam
Hips: to 17" flat across from side seam to side seam
Total length: 29" from top of bodice to hem

Modern Sizing Equivalent: XS-SML

Item# DD4827

Reference Photos: (1) Fall 1998 Yves Saint Laurent.  /  (2-3) Adria Arjona, wearing this dress, at the Vanity Fair x Instagram Golden Globes Party, January 2018.  

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 incredible dress is from the Fall 2004 Yves Saint Laurent collection and its twin walked the runway that season. With it's brilliant rose print the dress has such a joyful feel to it. And it feels very French. I am always excited to find examples of Yves' work from this time period and this one is extra special with the addition of its runway provenance. We also found video of the show so you can see how the dress moves. I love it.

The dress is exquisite and I love that you can see just how wonderful it is on the body from the runway reference photos and video that we have found for you. It is made from a light silk chiffon that weighs next to nothing. The sleeves are cut to be very full above their elastic ends and this adds to the flowing feel the dress has. I love that the sleeves are cut to sit fully off the shoulders. This allows your entire upper shoulders to show and the bare skin of your shoulders balances the length of the skirt. The bodice has a built in inner corset that holds the dress in place and gives it hidden structure. Over the inner bodice the fabric is draped into place in a series of gathers and soft pleats. This gives the illusion that the dress skims over the body rather then being so fitted underneath with the built in corseting. The very front is cut into a deep V for a little flash of skin and then he has partially hidden this with a velvet bow that joins the two sides together. The waist is nipped in and I have added a wide grosgrain ribbon for shape. If you wanted to wear it like it was shown on the runway you could easily add a more structured belt. The skirt under the waist seam is quite full and falls to the floor. It widens out as it near the ham and the soft gathers that set it around the waist give it movement as you move. Underneath the skirt is a silk chiffon underskirt in the same print and the under skirt goes to just about the knee or above depending on your height. Both that underskirt, the top printed layer and the sleeves, have a touch of transparency. It is a very subtle addition of sexiness to have these fabrics be so light and with that hint of transparency. The result is that you get a stunning bit of volume through the skirt as it flares out around you and moves when you move and then both the lower skirt and the sleeves have a touch of transparency to them so you get a suggestion of leg and arm showing. It is killer. The dress looks to have been unworn or worn very little. Excellent condition  

The built in corset acts as the lining through the bodice and it is boned and shaped. The skirt has a light silk chiffon lining in a matching fabric. The dress closes with a side set zipper on the inner corset and then the outer chiffon layer snaps into place over that. Elastic around the top of the shoulder and cuffs. The grosgrain ribbon belt is not original to the dress but will be included. It appears to have been unworn or worn very little. Tagged a YSL 42

Sleeves: approximately 25" from the drop
Inner bust: 16.5-18" flat across from side seam to side seam
Inner waist: 14" flat across from side seam to side seam
Inner hips: to 21.5 flat across from side seam to side seam
Bust: 14" from the top of the neckline to the waist
Total length: 59" from top of the neckline to hem

Modern Sizing Equivalent: SML-LRG

Item# DD4936

Reference Photo/Video: Fall 1994 Yves Saint Laurent.

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 recently had another of these Valentino dresses from the Spring 1993 show in the shop and I am very happy to find another twin from the group that walked the runway that season. 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. We have included photos of the runway and of video many of the pieces, including this one, so you can see how fantastic this is on the body.

The front of this dress is a solid black crepe that extends all the way down the length of the dress. Where the first one had the interest at the front, this one is all about the back. The dress is suspended from skinny straps that curve up and over the shoulders to meet at the middle of your back. The neckline plunges into a low V at the front and then it curves in at the waist. From there it falls to the floor, expanding out as it near the hem. The shape on this one is all created by long vertical seams and the bottom skirt is quite full and generous. This creates a beautiful movement as you walk. Where the straps meet at the back you have two triangles of mesh. These extend out from each side to the centre of your back. This leaves the entire back open above and below the mesh and of course you can see skin through the mesh as well. I love how this makes the body feel bare but you are still somewhat covered at the same time. At the centre of your back you see the first of the five rhinestone encrusted stars that the dress has. Another star sits at the top of each of the mesh panels and then you have the fourth and fifth star sitting at the base of each of those panels. I love that because of how the stars are placed you can clearly see them from the side as well as the back. The stars make this dress instantly recognizable as being from this collection. It is truly a fantastic piece of Valentino history. Excellent condition with a small note below.

The dress is fully lined in a black silk and closes with a side set zipper. We see a couple rhinestones missing off of the very tips of the stars. Please see the photo after the label shot for an example. Tagged a vintage Valentino 6

Bust: 16.5" flat across from side seam to side seam
Waist: 12.5" flat across from side seam to side seam
Hips: to 19" flat across from side seam to side seam
Total length: 60" from top of shoulder to hem

Modern Sizing Equivalent: XS-SML

Item# DD4929

Reference Photos: (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.

In the 1980s and 1990s Gianni Versace ruled the catwalks. He was the favourite of the Supermodels and they were featured predominately in his runway shows and his ad campaigns. Versace launched his label in 1978 and by 1989 he presented a couture collection. The days that Gianni headed the label were heady, glamorous ones and set the tone for the label as we know it today. He remained at the helm until his death by assignation in 1997. Everyone wanted to own and wear a Versace. When looking for the date of the show, we found pieces with similar straps in both the 1995 and 1996 seasons.

This is a dress that is extremely simple in cut but every line is done with purpose to highlight and shape to the body. It is also a dress that really needs a body in it to truly come to life. I think it looks pretty great on my dress form but it is going to be even better once it is on an actual body. The fabric that it is made out of is light in weight and holds its shape well. It is a stretch fabric that is going to mold and shape itself around the body. That fabulously fitted shape that you see is all constructed by the bare minimum of seams needed. There is a seam that is defined by a silk satin ribbon right under the bodice. Simple little darts help to shape the bodice. The rest of the dress is as minimal as possible. Seams have been set in a curving line down each side and then there is one that runs down the back to create an hourglass shape. The waist nips in and the hips curve out following the lines of the body. The skirt falls to the floor and there are high slits on both sides of the skirt so that you get a flash of leg when you walk. The bust is fabulous in its simplicity. Straps curve up and over your shoulder and each one has a silver metal Versace Medusa medallion at the front. A subtle nod that you are wearing a Versace. The front dips down into a shallow curved V and the upper back is left bare. It is the ultimate simple and sexy dress. Excellent condition

Unlined and slips on to wear with no closures. The fabric stretches into place around you. The stretch fabric will allow it to fit a range of sizes and I have put the comfortable range of measurements below.

Bust: 15-18" flat across from side seam to side seam 
Seam under the bust: 13-16" flat across from side seam to side seam
Natural waist: 11.5-15" flat across from side seam to side seam
Hips: 15-21" flat across from side seam to side seam
Bodice: 12" to the seam under the bust
Total length: 59" from top of shoulder to hem
Slits: 19" from hem up

Modern Sizing Equivalent: XS-MED

Item# DD4931

Reference Photos: (1) Spring 1995 Versace, Look 33. Model: Helena   /  (2) Spring 1996 Versace, Look 74. Model: Linda

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 spectacular dress is the twin of the dress that was worn on the runway for the Fall 1995 Karl Lagerfeld show. The dress is from Karl Lagerfeld's own label. He launched his self-named label in 1984 and by the 1990s it was firmly established. Pieces from his personal label were far edgier then the work he did for Chanel. It was a label where he explored a more avant garde feel with his designs and pushed the envelope more. This is a fantastic example of his work for that label and I love that you can see how it moves in the video we have. 

This is a fantastic dress that is made out of a mix of a light weight black net that is backed in more layers of netting and silk chiffon. Then onto that is a pattern made from black velvet fused onto the netting.  I love that the velvet is set to really highlight the cut and lines of the dress. It has a slightly more bare and fitted feel through the upper bodice and then flares and widens out very dramatically to the hem. The fabric is light in weight but the layering underneath the top layer of netting gives it enough weight and structure to hold the shape. The bust drops into a V and the velvet details on the bodice are set on angles to work into a centre vertical velvet line. This same striping runs horizontally all the way around the hem. The line that runs down the centre of the bodice extends all the way to the hem and then more vertical lines go all the way around the skirt to break up it up into panels. The waist comes in a touch, but has a more generous feel to it, and the skirt swings in a a wide A-line. At the back, the dress completely opens with a series of silk covered buttons that run from neck to just above the hem. I absolutely love this unexpected detail. I also love how he used those little bands of velvet to highlight where the buttons are set. The buttons become an integral design detail in themselves. It is a very collectible and rare dress from the earlier years of his self named label. Excellent condition.

The bodice is lined in another layer of the same netting and the skirt has three more layers of netting under the top layer and an inner nude silk chiffon layer under those. It closes at the back with the series of buttons that you see. 

Bust: to 16" flat across from side seam to side seam
Waist: to 13.5" flat across from side seam to side seam
Hips: to 22" flat across from side seam to side seam
Bodice: approx 15" from top of the shoulder to waist
Total length: 55" from top of the shoulder to hem

Modern Sizing Equivalent: XS-SML

Item# DD4926

Reference Photos/Video: Fall 1995 Karl Lagerfeld.

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 spectacular dress walk the runway for Fall 1998 and Mr. Valentino obviously thought it was one of the best pieces in the show as he also used it for the ad campaign that year. It is spectacularly beautiful and like many Valentino pieces, as you get closer to it you really start to see all of the incredible details it has. He was a man who lived in the fine details on even the simplest looking pieces and this dress is a beautiful example of what he could create. It is phenomenal and I love it.

The dress is suspended by two little lace covered straps that curve up and over your shoulders. The top of the bodice is cut straight across and that continues around to the back. The bodice is covered in a layer of fine black French lace that is layered over an inner ivory silk. and then that has a layer of fine ivory netting over that. This softens the black of the lace underneath and acts as a diffusion of the black colour underneath for a more romantic feel. The bodice is simple in feel and ends at a seam set just a touch above the natural waist. A dense one inch high band of the tiniest black seed beads are set just above the seam and then the beads continue up onto that top net layer. They are scattered over the bodice and getting more spaced apart as they go upwards over you. Under that band of bead work is a dense silk eyelash fringe that sits up and off of the dress from this incredible tactile effect. More of those tiny black seed beads have been scattered throughout the fringe. I have taken several close-ups so that you can see just how incredible this workmanship is. The skirt falls under that to the floor and it is made up of three more tiers of this same lace, silk fringe, silk net and bead work. Each tier overlaps the one below it. Each has that same net overlay as the bodice but he let it sit more as a separate layer rather than an attached one like it is on the bodice. So that softening effect is greater on the skirt and it also adds a little more volume than you see through the bodice. It is very subtle but this is where he just excels in the detailing. The edge of each layer is finished in the same manner of bead work, and that ivory silk fringe. When you move all of the layers softly move around you. It is very beautiful and an exceptional piece of Valentino history. Excellent condition.

Fully lined in a white silk through the bodice and a silk crêpe through the skirt. I see a couple small layers where the lace has broken on the straps, but it's minor. Some very minor grubbiness to the edge of the inner hem. It otherwise appears to have been worn very little if at all. Tagged a vintage Valentino 8.

Bust: 17.5" flat across from side seam to side seam
Waist: 15" flat across from side seam to side seam
Hips: to 21" flat across from side seam to side seam
Bodice: 15" from top of shoulder to waist
Total length: 65" from top of shoulder to hem

Modern Sizing Equivalent: MED-LRG

Item# DD4924

Reference Photos: (1-3) Fall 1998 Valentino Runway Collection.  /  (4) Fall 1998 Valentino Ad Campaign.

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.