• This dress was one that was produced for the shops
• Made under the creative direction of Clare Wright Keller
• Easy to wear while still being incredibly sexy. It is made out of a thicker jersey that is cut on the bias and this lets it drape beautifully over you and still be completely opaque.
• The plunge at the front gives it a very edgy and sexy feel while the jersey keeps it feeling comfortable to wear.
• The dress is made to be one long tube with a seam at the waist on the front of the dress only.
• The dress has no collar and plunges down at the front to the waist. Two long ties extend out from the base of the front plunge. You can loop or knot them and then they fall almost to the floor at the front.
• The sleeves are long and simple and the shoulders are soft.
• The skirt flares out at it reaches the floor with a high slit runs up the front so you get a flash of leg when you move
• The dress is in its original uncut supermodel length and it closes with a back hidden set zipper.
• Tagged a modern Givenchy 36
• Excellent condition with some minor grubbiness around the hem
  

Sleeves: 25" and are 10-12.5" around the upper arms
Shoulders: 15"
Bust: 16-18" flat across from side seam to side seam
Waist: 12-14" flat across from side seam to side seam
Hips: 16-18" flat across from side seam to side seam
Bodice: 16" from neck to waist
Total length: 62" from neck to hem
Slit: 32"

Modern Sizing Equivalent: XS-SML

Item# DD5102

Reference Photos: (1) Melanie Hamrick at the American Ballet Theater Spring Gala, 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.

• From the Fall 1985 Givenchy Haute Couture collection and we have included some photos showing the extensive use of this particular fabric for pieces shown on the runway.
  
• Under the creative direction of Hubert de Givenchy
  
• Completely made by hand in the Paris atelier to Haute Couture standards.
• This gorgeous dress is made out of a black 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 V that crosses over itself where it is set into the waist. The bodice drapes more loosely over you at the front. 
• The waist is seamed and cut slightly on the more generous side. I have added a ribbon and if you wanted more shape, you could have it cinched and even more with a belt or it also works perfectly well without.
• The sleeves narrow down to a hand set zippered cuff.
• The skirt falls to the floor in a pretty sweep of fabric that is at the front. This lets the front hem curve up slightly.
• It is a gorgeous dress and a wonderful piece of his fashion history.
• Fully lined in a black silk. There's a inner built-in half skirt. It closes with an inner side set zipper and the outside snapped into place with a series of hidden set, snapped around the waist. And inner waist state hooks to close. Each cuff has a hidden set zipper. It appears to have been worn very little if at all. 
  
• There is no size tag present so please check the listed measurements below
• Excellent condition

Sleeves: 23.5"
Shoulders: 15"
Bust: 16-19" flat across from side seam to side seam
Waist: 13.5" flat across from side seam to side seam
Inner hips: to 22" flat across from side seam to side seam
Bodice: 17" from top of shoulder to slightly dropped waist
Total length: 55" from top of shoulder to hem

Modern Sizing Equivalent: SML-MED

Item# DD5100

Reference Photos: Fall 1985 Givenchy Haute Couture.

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 was presented as Look 5 for the Resort Givenchy collection.
• Made under the creative direction of Ricardo Tisci
  
• This was his fifth year at the label and in the Vogue review of the show they noted that Tisci told them that the colour palette of black, red and white mixed with the occasional leopard was inspired by Frida Kahlo and her animal-filled paintings.
• The dress was shown over a hot pant two-piece inner set but was shipped to the stores with the black half slip you see here. If you prefer the runway version you could of course easily re-create a more bare feel.
• The dress is made out of a black net with little silk insects, emphasizing the darts. It is set in with a seam under the bust that is angled upwards to the centre. It is suspended from two tiny straps that curve up and over the shoulder. The very upper edge of the bodice is finished with leather piping.
• It skims over the waist and then the skirt cascades outward from there to the floor.
• Red lace and red netting have been applied over the dress to create the striking pattern that you see. This pop of red against the transparent black net is even more striking once on the body and you see the transparency through it that contrast against the red lace and netting.
• It widen out quite a bit by the hem and the width of the lower skirt allows the dress to move beautifully around you as you move.
• The inner black silk chiffon slip acts as the lining and it slips on to wear for an easy fit.
• The net dress slips on over that with no closures.
• Tagged a Givenchy 40
• I see a couple of tiny repairs in the net near the raw edge finish of the skirt. Very minor but mention for accuracy.
• Excellent condition

Dress
Bust: 16-17" flat across from side seam to side seam
Seam under the bust: 15-16" flat across from side seam to side seam 
Waist: 14.5-15.5" flat across from side seam to side seam
Hips: to 24" flat across from side seam to side seam
Bodice: 14" from top of shoulder to lowest part of the seam under the bust at the sides
Total length: 67" from top of shoulder to hem

Inner slip
Bust: 15.5-17" flat across from side seam to side seam
Waist: 15.5" flat across from side seam to side seam
Hips: to 18" flat across from side seam to side seam
Total length: 36" from top of shoulder to hem

Modern Sizing Equivalent: XS-SML

Item# DD5087

Reference Photo: (1) Resort 2011 Givenchy, Look 5. Model Daphne Groeneveld.  /  (2) Ciara in Givenchy by Cameron Smith for Wonderland Magazine, Nov 2010.

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.

Hubert de Givenchy moved to Paris in 1942 where he worked for Jacques Fath, then Elsa Schiaparelli, and eventually Cristobal Balenciaga. Givenchy often attributed much of his later success to the years with to Mr Balenciaga and what he learned while there. In 1952, Givenchy founded his namesake house in Paris and quickly rose to fame as one of the great couturiers of our time. I am always pleased to find any of his Haute Couture work as it is so rare. This particular dress is exceptional with every detail on it finished to Haute Couture standards.

This is an amazing true Haute Couture Givenchy dress that is a very rare and special find. Two things of immediate note for this dress. First is the absolutely beautiful fabric combination. The bodice and sleeves are an inky black silk velvet and then the ruffles on the neckline, end of each sleeve, and the entire top layer of the skirt is a starched cotton and silk mix netting that has beautiful little gold metal thread flowers hand embroidered over the netting. I took closeups of both the front of these flowers and also their backs so that you can see the beautiful workmanship put into each individual flower. I also included close ups of the hand finished seams on the interior of the dress. The time and technique to complete this dress would have been astounding and I cannot even imagine how many hours this would have taken. The second thing of note is that stunning cut through the neckline. It is tremendously flattering to have that bare expanse of skin across the top of the shoulder like that. It feels a little bit sexy with the way the top sits off the shoulder to leave that expanse of bare skin. You could also wear it on the shoulder but I chose to show it off. I love that you have the versatility of the two different ways to wear it. A ruffle goes all the way around the neckline and around the end of each sleeve. It is shaped to come in at the waist and then curves out over the hips. The skirt is set into a seam that sits at the top of the hips and the netting is softly gathered into that seam so you get a touch of fullness. As the skirt flows down to the hem it expands outwards to give you pretty movement as you walk. There is a full black silk organza inner skirt under the top layer of the skirt so that it is opaque enough to wear. It is spectacular. This is a very beautiful example of Givenchy from this time period and an amazing example of the technical skills that can be achieved in Haute Couture. It is easy to see why his work is the subject of so many books and retrospective shows at museums worldwide. Excellent condition

The dress is fully lined in a matching hand set black silk. It zips to close and an inner waist stay hooks to close. Completely made by hand throughout to Haute Couture standards. It appears to have been worn very little if at all. Proper couture tag and numbered tape present. 

Sleeves: 26" and are 11.5" around the upper arm
The opening across the neckline is 18" flat across from side to side
Bust: 16" flat across from side seam to side seam
Waist: 12.5" flat across from side seam to side seam
Seam at top of hip: 16.5" flat across from side to side
Hips: open
Bodice: 19" from top of natural shoulder to seam at the top of the hip
Total length: 61.5" from top of natural shoulder to hem

Modern Sizing Equivalent: XS-SML

Item# DD4975

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 1952, Givenchy founded his namesake house on Rue Alfred de Vigny in Paris and quickly rose to fame as one of the grand couturiers. 16 years later for the 1968-69 season, he added a ready-to-wear line of clothing and accessories called 'Givenchy Nouvelle Boutique'. The line was initially sold in the United States exclusively through Bergdorf Goodman stores and was eventually available at other retailers as well. The line was high end and extremely well made. He launched this line to expand his customer base and it made to appeal specifically to his non-couture clients. This label continued until 1992. This dress is a gorgeous example from the time period. I love it. 

The dress is a fantastical confection of dotted silk organza tiers that run from the top of the dress to the hem. The bodice is suspended from the shoulder with straps made of the same silk. Each strap curves over the shoulder and then the first ruffle of silk starts from around the top edge of the top. The neckline is cut fairly straight across on both the front and back. The ruffles continue down the entire length of the dress and each one gets wider than the one above it. There are eight ruffles in total and it is just spectacular. The movement that the ruffles create as you move is fantastic. The dress underneath is made from the same dotted fabric and it also follows that widening line of the dress all the way to the hem. The skirt falls to the floor in a dramatic sweep that widens out as it near the floor. This cut is incredibly easy to wear and flattering. I love how the silk ruffles move around you beautifully with the slightest movement. There is a little silk flower attached at the base of one strap that gives the dress a little extra pop of colour for the perfect finishing touch. Tons of hand finishing throughout. It is truly magical. Excellent condition with a minor note below.

Fully lined in a red silk and closes with a back set zipper and then each tier has tiny snaps to close each of the ruffles over the zipper to hide it. Tagged a vintage Givenchy 8. I see one tiny hole near the hem of one ruffle near the bottom. It otherwise appears to have been worn very little if at all. Hand finishes throughout. 

Bust: to 17" flat across from side seam to side seam
Inner seam under the bust: 15.5" flat across from side seam to side seam
Waist: to 15" flat across from side seam to side seam
Inner hips: to 17.5" flat across from side seam to side seam
Total length: 58" from top of shoulder to hem

Modern Sizing Equivalent: XS-SML

Item# DD4935

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.

• Mary McFadden patented her Fortuny inspired pleating technique just a couple of years after launching her label in 1973.
• By the eighties she had many licensing agreements and her dresses were being made on a larger scale. Mary was known to say frequently that there was no greater beauty than pleated cloth on the human body and she said then when she developed her 'marii' fabric her aim was to have it 'fall like liquid gold on the body, like Chinese silk.' 
• Once on this looks like a true dress but it is actually a separate top and skirt. I love that because it means that you can mix and match the pieces with other things you already own.
• Both pieces are made from a beautiful green silk feeling synthetic that has been pleated in McFadden's signature pleating technique.
  
• The top slips over the head to wear and is cut in an easy one shoulder silhouette. Is cut wide and open through the body and then you use the matching belt to cinch it in around you. The hem of the top is set on an angle and I love the effect this creates once it is layered over the skirt.
• The skirt falls to the floor from the elastic waist and I love how the bottom hem has a slightly ruffled feel. This picks up on the same slightly ruffled feel of the hem of the top.
• I also love that the skirt is cut very long which is a rare thing to find in her work. As she progressed in her career she preferred to design pieces that ended at the ankle so you could see the shoe underneath so the full length pieces are a bit rarer.
• The set comes with its original extra extra long braided belt that was another of Mary's signatures. This one is spectacular with a thick braided finish and long dangling ends. These are really what gave her pieces such impact.
• Both pieces are unlined and slip on to wear. The waist has elastic so is an easy fit. The belt is original to the dress and is just over eleven and a half feet long.
• Tagged a vintage McFadden Medium. The cut is loose and easy but could still be worn on a smaller frame because of the belt that you can cinch the top in with. The fabric has a lot of stretch. One small mark on the belt.
• Excellent condition

Top
Bust: 16.5-21" flat across from side seam to side seam
Waist-hips: open
Total Length: 33" from top of shoulder to the shortest part of the hem, 41.5" to the longest

Skirt
Elastic waist: 12-19" flat across from side seam to side seam
Hips: open
Total Length: 43" from waist to hem

Modern Sizing Equivalent: SML-LRG

Item# DD5103

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.

• Arnold Scassi launched  his boutique line in 1984 and it was high end ready-to-wear and very expensive.
• Arnold Scaasi was born Arnold Isaacs in Montreal and the name Scassi is simply his own surname in reverse. He studied in Montreal and in Paris, apprenticed at the house of Paquin and then worked with the legendary Charles James. In 1964 he opened own couture salon.
• The sleeved version of this dress walk the runway for the Fall 1987 collection. It's very rare to find documentation from this time period and I love having that say that you can see how amazing it is on. I think this strapless one is even better.
• You can easily see the influence of Arnold having worked for Charles James in this piece. The lines are dramatic and yet elegant. 
• The dress is strapless and the top portion of the dress is made from an inky black velvet. It is dramatically shaped at the front with wired peaks and a V plunge at the front. 
• It nips in at the waist and then angles down from one side low on the hip on the other. On the side that sits higher up, there is a large bow detail that gives the effect of holding all the gathers of the skirt in place.
• The skirt is set under that and the long angling seam on the opposite hip adds visual length to the dress as it extends down and into a deep point. The skirt is quite full and the shape and volume that you see is held by the inner construction which is quite amazing.
• Layers of tulle netting set underneath the outermost layer of silk. The green of the skirt is a true brilliant emerald. This unexpected shock of colour is fantastic.
• Fully lined in a green silky rayon. The bodice is lightly boned and it closes with a hidden set side zipper. Built in stiff tulle under skirts and the skirt is interlined in a green organza. 
• There is no size tag present so please go by the measurements listed below.
• Excellent condition

Bust: to 17" flat across from side seam to side seam
Waist: 13.4" flat across from side seam to side seam
Hips: open
Length: 51" from top of peaks on bodice to hem with 3" turned under the top layer

Modern Sizing Equivalent: SML-MED

Item# DD5101

Reference Photos: Fall 1987 Arnold Scaasi.

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.

• From the Fall 1985 Givenchy Haute Couture collection and we have included some photos showing the extensive use of this particular fabric for pieces shown on the runway.
  
• Under the creative direction of Hubert de Givenchy
  
• Completely made by hand in the Paris atelier to Haute Couture standards.
• This gorgeous dress is made out of a black 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 V that crosses over itself where it is set into the waist. The bodice drapes more loosely over you at the front. 
• The waist is seamed and cut slightly on the more generous side. I have added a ribbon and if you wanted more shape, you could have it cinched and even more with a belt or it also works perfectly well without.
• The sleeves narrow down to a hand set zippered cuff.
• The skirt falls to the floor in a pretty sweep of fabric that is at the front. This lets the front hem curve up slightly.
• It is a gorgeous dress and a wonderful piece of his fashion history.
• Fully lined in a black silk. There's a inner built-in half skirt. It closes with an inner side set zipper and the outside snapped into place with a series of hidden set, snapped around the waist. And inner waist state hooks to close. Each cuff has a hidden set zipper. It appears to have been worn very little if at all. 
  
• There is no size tag present so please check the listed measurements below
• Excellent condition

Sleeves: 23.5"
Shoulders: 15"
Bust: 16-19" flat across from side seam to side seam
Waist: 13.5" flat across from side seam to side seam
Inner hips: to 22" flat across from side seam to side seam
Bodice: 17" from top of shoulder to slightly dropped waist
Total length: 55" from top of shoulder to hem

Modern Sizing Equivalent: SML-MED

Item# DD5100

Reference Photos: Fall 1985 Givenchy Haute Couture.

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 walked the runway for the Spring 1987 collection.
• Made under the creative direction of Yves Saint Laurent.
• The dress is made from a black silk faille base and then the upper part of the dress is covered in a layer of black net detailed with little dots.
• The ruffle that goes around the hip is in the same fabric as the base and then it was dyed to the coral orange colour that you see. The inner skirt under the ruffle is made from the black silk faille.
• This choice in fabric gives the dress its structure and shape and also allows for the volume that you see in the ruffle detailing that wraps around the waist and hips.
• The bodice is strapless and is lightly boned on the inside for shape. It skims over the waist and curves back out for the hips.
• The ruffle is the star of the show and makes a wonderful impact. The ruffle flare outwards from the body to create a more full shape.
• Fully lined in a black silk and closes with a side set zipper. The bodice is lightly boned and shaped. An inner waist stay hooks to close. 
  
• Tagged a vintage YSL 38
• There is a bit of fading along the fold lines on the skirt and a couple of minor areas where it has lightened. Please review the photos after the label shot.
• Excellent condition otherwise

Bust: 16" flat across from side seam to side seam
Waist: 12-13" flat across from side seam to side seam
Hips: to 18" flat across from side seam to side seam
Total length: 27" from top of bodice to hem

Modern Sizing Equivalent: XS-SML

Item# DD5082

Reference Video/Photo: Spring 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.

• Note that due to new regulations this coat can only ship to a Canadian address 
  
• This appears to be the actual Haute Couture sample coat that walked the runway for the Fall 1985 Jean Patou collection for Look 12
• Made under the creative direction of Christian Lacroix 
  
• This is an extremely rare and important piece of fashion history. Very few pieces of his work at Patou come up for sale and this is more then likely the only piece to exist.
• Made in the Paris atelier
• Made of a soft orange wool shaped in an enveloping cocoon shape highly reminiscent of a 1920s flapper coat.
• It is all cut on the bias so once it is on the body it wraps around you beautifully. It is extraordinary. 
  
• The sleeves are quite extremely wide and they have a long wide cuff that flips up and over the sleeve. The cuff is completely covered in hand dyed feathers.
• More of the same hand dyed feathers are used to create a huge shawl collar that drapes down and over the shoulders. It continues to run all the way to the hem and circles around to the back hem.
• The coat narrows in as it reaches its bottom. This is a classic cut for this style of cocoon coat
• It feels wonderfully decadent and opulent, both key design elements in Lacroix's work. It is literally like wearing a work of art.
• Partially lined in a silk through the upper body of the coat and through the sleeves. The rest is unlined.
• Has its hand written Haute Couture sample label in place and attached metal couture tag
• Excellent condition

It is very full and open and has no closures so should fit almost any size. It is approximately 52 inches from neck to hem but that will come up a bit once it is on the body.

Modern Sizing Equivalent: OSFA

Item# DD5048

Reference Photo: Fall 1985 Christian Lacroix Haute Couture.

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.