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 remarkable dress is the twin of the one that walked the runway for the Fall 1986 Rive Gauche collection by Yves Saint Laurent. I was so pleased to find a shot of it on because it really shows you just how much it comes to life when worn. He did several variations of this look for that season and this deep brown velvet with its leopard print within the velvet is one of my favourites. I am obsessed with his work and this one is so well known, especially since other designers have copied it (most notably Gucci when they did a green version of this dress). It is a pleasure to have it in the shop.You can see that they belted it on the runway and you could certainly add a belt to add more shape to this one as well.

This gorgeous dress is made out of a brown silk velvet with a leopard print done in a different finish of velvet within the fabric. This pattern gives the velvet an extra depth and richness, and also catches the light as you move. It is stunning. It drapes absolutely beautifully over the body. It is really an outstanding fabric. The bodice is set into a deep V that crosses over itself where it is set into the waist. Without a belt it has a more deeply plunged feel but you could cross it over a bit more and have a sash or belt hold it more closed if you wished. In a classic Yves shape, it drapes loosely over you at the front with a touch of extra fullness. The waist is seamed and cut slightly on the more generous side. The top of each shoulder is gathered and the sleeves start out very wide and then narrow down to a zippered cuff. The skirt falls to the floor in a pretty sweep of fabric. Extra fabric has been gathered down the centre of the front for a little added detail. It makes it so glamorous and it gives the dress a bit of a wonderful 1940s feel too. It is a gorgeous dress and a wonderful piece of his fashion history. Excellent condition

Unlined and closes with a side set zipper. Each shoulder has very light padding and each cuff has a hidden set zipper. It appears to have been worn very little if at all. Tagged a vintage YSL 42. 

Sleeves: 23.5"
Slightly inset shoulders: 14.5"
Bust: 16-20" flat across from side seam to side seam
Waist: to 15" flat across from side seam to side seam
Hips: to 24" across lowest seam at very top of hips, open under that
Bodice: 17" from top of shoulder to slightly dropped waist
Total length: 59" from top of shoulder to hem

Modern Sizing Equivalent: SML-MED

Item# DD4855

Reference Photo: Fall 1986 Yves Saint Laurent Runway.

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 the Rive Gauche shorter version of the Fall 1994 famous Couture side bow dress. 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 along with the Couture dress that was the inspiration for this dress.

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: (1-2) Adria Arjona, wearing this dress, at the Vanity Fair x Instagram Golden Globes Party, January 2018.  /  (3) Fall 1994 Yves Saint Laurent Couture.  /  (4) Fall 1994 Yves Saint Laurent Haute Couture n° 67976 from Gros & Delettrez.

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 a superb Christian Dior dress from the Marc Bohan years. It is a wonderful example of the work being done during this time period and shows how well the label could be when it delved into a more minimal cut combined with that full out glamour. The dress has classic feel of the best of Old Hollywood. Don't let the simplicity of the cut fool you. The closer you get to it the more you see the incredible and elaborate amount of detail that has been put into this fabric. This is a dream to wear and no matter how good you think it looks in these photos to see this one in person will make your jaw drop.

The dress is made from a black silk net that has an incredible lace floral pattern. The flowers in the pattern are edged in black silk cording that is worked throughout the lace. It is made from three layers. The top beaded layer, a black silk chiffon layer under that and then a nude silk chiffon inner layer that is itself backed in a black silk. Adding that nude layer gives the dress a bit of an illusion of wearing next to nothing underneath. The dress is suspended from two beaded straps that curve over each shoulder. The front neckline dips into a slight V and the back is a simple scoop. It is cut to skim over the body from bust to hips with no seaming to break the eye or the design created by the bead work. The shape of the dress is created by vertical seaming on the inner layers and then the top layer is shaped to follow. The skirt and widens out gradually as it nears the hem. The lace netting is covered with an elaborate design made of glossy black beads in various sized and black sequins. The design is heavier around the top the bodice, lightens in coverage as it goes over the hips and then becomes dense and heavy again at the hem. Glossy black sequins curve over the underlying floral pattern. The sequins are applied so that they are stacked and layered over each other to give a slight 3D feel. Small faceted beads follow other parts of the pattern and these are the same beads that are used to cover the straps. Tiny little seed beads are thrown into the mix and then there are square pailettes and oval faceted beads on a much larger scale to really create impact. The beads are all applied by hand and catch the light from every angle. It is an incredible thing to see and even better once on the body. The label on the dress is numbered and when you see that in a Dior Boutique label it most often meant that the piece was a special order or was a custom made order for a client in the atelier but fitted at the boutique store rather then in Paris. This is a dress that you just slip on and it is perfection. Excellent condition.

Fully lined as per the description above. It closes with a hidden set side zipper. Numbered tag. Perhaps the occasional bead missing but you would never tell because of the extent of the pattern. The slight bias cut will allow for a bit of movement in the measurements. The comfortable range is listed below

Bust: 16-18" 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
Length: 60" from top of shoulder to hem

Modern Sizing Equivalent: SML-MED

Item# DD4909

This garment has been professionally cleaned, pressed and is odor free. Thoroughly checked over before shipping, it will be ready to wear upon arrival.

The pair behind the La Mendola label met in Rome in 1960 and started their business making dresses and selling them one by one, piece by piece. In 1967 they opened a shop. They soon had a Hollywood following and mega stars like Elizabeth Taylor and Rita Hayworth become regular clients who were buying and even wait-listing for pieces as they were produced. They made all of the pieces in their ateliers and designed their own prints. Clients would be sent swatches of the season's available prints and then they would place their orders. They were highly sought after by the jet set crowd. Their pieces travelled extremely well and the colours they used were beautiful. Their atelier closed in 1974.

In the past I had one of their dresses come into the shop and the original owner of that dress had kept the fabric swatch options for the 1972 season along with her correspondence with the atelier. They named all of their prints. I kept a digital copy of it so I know that this dress is a version of their Paridiso print. The fabric that they used for their pieces were very high end chiffons and jerseys and this dress is made from one of those silk jerseys. It is beautifully light in weight. This fabric was prized for its ability to take colour and print. The dress is as bright and vibrant as when it was first made. The pinks used in the print are gorgeous and it is even better in person then how it photoed. The dress has a high neck that extends out from the dress without any seam. I love this small detail because it shows the attention to detail this takes and the masterful cutting the dress has to achieve this without seam work. The sleeves are long and easy. The cut through the bodice is simple and it skims over you, past the waist and over the hips. The skirt widens out just a touch as it nears the hem but still keeps that long column feel it has. At the back it closes with a row of tightly spaced silk jersey covered buttons, a finish that was a signature of the house. The jersey has some stretch and is very light in weight so wearing this is a dream. It is stunning. Excellent condition

Unlined and closes at the back with that row of tightly spaced silk jersey covered buttons. The fabric the dress has stretch and this combined with the easy design of the dress should allow it to work on a variety of sizes. Hand finished throughout. The measurements given are the comfortable stretch when laid out flat. The photo of the swatches is from that previous dress. The actual swatch card is not included. 

Sleeves: 23.5"
Slightly dropped shoulders: 16.5"
Bust: 18-22" flat across from side seam to side seam
Waist: 16.5-20" flat across from side seam to side seam
Hips: 18-23" flat across from side seam to side seam
Total length: 59" from neck to hem with 2.5" turned under the hem

Modern Sizing Equivalent: SML-LRG

Item# DD4908

This garment has been professionally cleaned, pressed and is odor free. Thoroughly checked over before shipping, it will be ready to wear upon arrival.

This YSL coat is from the 1970s and it is a great example of the easy kind of work that he was doing in suede for this time period. It is a soft brown and the suede is soft. The collar and cuffs are a coyote and if wearing fur bothers you, you could remove them and wear it without, or replace it with a faux and just keep the original for historical purposes. The shoulders are soft and the sleeves long and easy with the fur cuff adding detail at each end. The collar is wide to make a fabulous statement. It comes in slightly at the waist and then flares out at the bottom. There are five braided suede straps that cross over the opening at the front and loop into place with horn feeling toggle buttons at each end. Pockets at each hip to slip your hands into. It is a coat that was worn and loved which has given it a fabulous vintage patina. Great condition with a note below. 

Fully lined in a brown silky rayon and closes with the toggles at the front. Slight stiffening to the suede through the body and slight wear to the edges of the cuffs. Small marks and scuffs in the suede here and there. 

Sleeves: 23" and are 15" around the upper arm
Shoulders: 16"
Bust: 18.5" flat across from side seam to side seam
Waist: 18" flat across from side seam to side seam
Hips: to 23" flat across from side seam to side seam
Total length: 41" from neck to hem

Modern Sizing Equivalent: SML-MED

Item# DD4904

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 have a small collection of historically important, key designer labelled vintage furs and fur trimmed pieces stored away in my archives that I will be slowly posting on the site over the next couple of years until I have none left. I will no longer be buying furs for the shop moving forward and have not purchased anything for several years now. I feel like times have changed and while there still is a place for vintage furs for some, including collectors and historians, many modern girls are choosing other options. Many of the pieces in my collection are representative of the designer during a set time period in history that was different then our modern outlook. I have decided that the best course to handle this controversial issue is to let the pieces I have go rather then sit in a cold storage unit. Fur coats are final sale.

Loris Azzaro launched his label in 1967 and quickly defined his trademark looks by his avant garde way of defining the body. His work was shockingly sexy for the times. 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. The label 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 the mid-seventies. I love this one. 

This is a gorgeous dress and it is a dress that will really come to life once on an actual body. The body of the dress mixes a black jersey with a black sequin fabric that has densely applied sequins covering its surface. These make the dress shimmer beautifully as they catch the light. On one side the sequins start at the shoulder and run down the sleeve on that side. They continue in a jagged pattern down the front and all the way around the back. The entire lower skirt is also made from the sequins and I love this because when you walk, they catch the light fantastically. On the other side the front panel is a black jersey that is gathered and is set in the opposite points to intercept with the sequin side. The sleeve on that side is the same gathered jersey. When the dress is off the body, that sleeve is cut longer than the sequin sleeve and that is because once it is on, you are meant to push it up so you get even more gathers all the way down your arm. The front neck line is a wide set scoop across the front and then the back plunges into a deep V to leave a bare expanse of skin showing. It is incredibly sexy. This is an amazing example of his work and it is fantastic once on. Excellent condition

Fully lined through the body in a black silky rayon. It closes with a zipper down the back and each sleeve has a zipper at the wrist. Hand finishes. 

Sequin sleeve: approx 24" and are 15" around the upper arm
Shoulders: approx 15.5"
Bust: 17-19.5" flat across from side seam to side seam
Waist: 13-14" flat across from side seam to side seam
Hips: to 18" flat across from side seam to side seam
Length: 61" from top of shoulder to hem

Modern Sizing Equivalent: SML-MED

Item# DD4902

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 one of Ossie's most recognizable designs and this is a version that was done in collaboration with Radley. It is a jersey version of his famous Moss Crepe dress and we have seen it done in this fabric in a green, red and black. We have added an editorial photo of a dress with the same sleeves and I have photo of myself in my own similar dress just to give you a bit of an idea of how this would look like on. It is a great classic Ossie that you will wear over and over.

The design of this dress has all of the flow and drape that he was known for combined with the ease of wearing a jersey. The front is plunged to the top of the empire set waist band. Panels of jersey angle down from the shoulder and are set into a horizontal panel of gathered jersey at the front for a little extra detail. Attached ties wrap around to the back and tie to give some the shape. This also keeps the plunge from moving too much at the front. The skirt flows to the floor from there and is very wide by the time it reaches its hem. The expanse of the skirt is balanced by huge sleeves that puff up above each cinched elastic wrist. The sleeves come directly out of the waistline, which gives them their immense volume. This dress is made out of a light synthetic jersey. This makes it very easy to wear and travel with. It is a very flattering shape and I own a version of this one myself so I can tell you from personal experience that it is a dress that you will wear over and over. I also love how easily it can go from day to night. Excellent condition.

Unlined and closes with a zipper at the back. Each cuff has elastic at the wrist. The easy cut and ability to tie or leave the waist looser should allow it to fit a range of sizes. Tagged a vintage Ossie Clark 12 UK. 

Sleeves: approx 25" with full and open upper arms
Shoulders: no defined seam
Bust: no true side seams
Waist: 13-15" flat across from side seam to side seam and can be cinched in with the attached ties
Hips: to 26" flat across from side seam to side seam
Total length: 59" from shoulder to hem

Modern Sizing Equivalent: SML-LRG

Item# DD4900

Reference Photos: (1) Ann Schaufuss in Ossie Clark, photo by Clive Arrowsmith, Vogue UK January 1971.  /  (3) Cherie, Owner of Shrimpton Couture, by Erin Leydon

This garment has been professionally cleaned, pressed and is odor free. Thoroughly checked over before shipping, it will be ready to wear upon arrival.