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Exquisite Fall 2003 Valentino Beaded Floral Bodice Dress w Ruffled Silk Chiffon Skirting

When searching for the date of this dress, we found a runway piece from Fall 2003 that has very similar ribbon edged detailing through the skirt. A dress from the Haute Couture collection that season also had a bodice with a similar feel that this dress has. We have included both of those references for you here. I love that you can get an idea of how well it moves by the runway video and I think that this dress is even better than the one that walked the runway that season. It is truly a beautiful and extraordinary dress and a gorgeous example of the work the original Mr. Valentino was doing for his label.

This is one of the most beautiful Valentino dresses I have ever seen in all of my years of doing this. It is very light in weight and feels like a dream on the body. The dress is suspended from silk straps that have rows of tiny black seed beads covering them. More seed beads detail the upper and lower edges of the bodice. Between those are an extraordinarily beautiful floral pattern that combines a dense design of sequins and beads. These are set on a black net so all of the space is between the floral pattern has a slight transparency once it is on the body. The way that the beads and sequins have been applied give it a slight 3D feel that I love. The waist is detailed with a gathered panel of silk chiffon and he has added a little band of silk ribbon over that that ties in a sweet little knot at the front. The skirt falls from under the bottom of the band at the waist and it is a work of art. Six tiers of silk chiffon cascade down the skirt to the floor. Each tier gets wider as it near the bottom of the dress and each tier is finished with a black silk border that has been set along the edge of each ruffle. The way that the edging has been sewn onto the silk chiffon is what creates these beautiful little ruffles all the way around you. It is genius. The movement that this gives when the dress is on the body and you move is magical to see. It is just one of those dresses that when you see it, you know it is so very special. I can't rave about it enough. Excellent condition.

The bodice is lined in a black silk chiffon skirt has inner lining of black silk organza. It closes with a hidden set side zipper. It appears to have been worn very little if at all. Hand finishes

Bust: 16-17" flat across from side seam to side seam
Waist: 13-14" flat across from side seam to side seam
Hips: to 19" flat across from side seam to side seam
Bodice: 17" from top of shoulders to top of the 5" band at the waist
Total length: 61" from top of shoulders to hem

Modern Sizing Equivalent: XS-MED

Item# DD4910

Reference Photos/Video: (1-2) Fall 2003 Valentino, Look 71.  /  (3) Fall 2003 Couture Valentino, Look 49.

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