• This is a rare dress by the designer LaVetta who at the time was noted for being "the only black person designing and marketing her own line" according to a 1979 Ebony article. They also noted that her dresses were over $10,000 in 1979 which was a remarkable number for any designer at that time period.
• Legend has it that it was the scarf dress that relaunched her business after the heyday of the sixties and  Hollywood glamour had ended. Her initial business had died out by 1970. One day a friend showed up in a thrifted dress made out of scarves that she had found in Europe. LaVetta made her own version, a buyer from Neiman Marcus snapped it up, she begged and borrowed money to meet the order and she was back in business. 
• The sleeves are cut wide and full in a way that gives a nod to the kimono sleeve. They are cut to be at the extra full width all the way to their ends.
• Both the back and the front plunge to the seam that sits just under the bust.
  
• The skirt has a full 360 degree sweep. This gives it incredible volume and movement once on.
  
• The scarf printed silk that is used for the dress is very light in weight and the entire dress has the most amazing drape and movement as a result.
• Each of these dresses were unique with no two having the same mix of patterns and colours.
• The bodice is unlined and the skirt has a black inner stretch nylon lining.
• Tagged a medium
• Excellent condition with a couple of tiny pinholes at the base of the blue silk at the front plunge. Extremely minor.

Sleeves: approx 23"
Shoulders: no defined seam
Bust: variable as there are no defined side seams
Seam under the bust: to 17" flat across from side seam to side seam
Inner hips: 20-23" flat across from side seam to side seam
Bodice: 11.5" from top of the shoulder to the highest point of the seam under the bust
Total length: 59" from top of the shoulder to hem

Modern Sizing Equivalent: XS-MED

Item# DD5067

Reference Photo: Cherie, Owner of Shrimpton Couture, by Erin Leydon.

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 exceptional dress is by Marc Bohan for Christian Dior and it is a wonderful example of his work during this time period.
• This best matches the work that he was doing from about 1969 to 1972 when he was doing these wonderful dresses. We found a similar one to this with variations on the print that this dress has and I have included it so that you can see how perfectly this will drape and fall on the body.
• It is a very easy and comfortable dress to wear
• The dress is made from a cotton that has a pretty floral print that covers the entire dress.
• The neckline is set high and detailed with a black cotton collar that extends down the front and buttons to about the waist area.
• Under that the bodice is meant to skim over you to fall loose and easy over the natural waist and then the skirt billows out from under that to the floor.
• The sleeves are set into the shoulder with slight gathers and they have a more full cut that balloons out over the wrists. At their ends they are edged with that same black fabric that sits around the collar and this extends out and tie into pretty bows around the wrist. 
• The dress comes with its matching tie belt in the same fabric so you can wear it loose and easy or cinch in the waist for shape.
• Once on the body the entire dress has this stunning movement and yet feels minimalist and elegant.
  
• Unlined and slips over the head to wear. The front buttons up to about the waist and each sleeve ties with attached ties. The belt is original to the dress.
• Tagged a vintage Dior 12 and the easy cut should allow it to fit a range of sizes.
• Excellent condition

Sleeves: 25" and are 13" around the upper arm
Slightly inset shoulders: 14.5"
Bust: to 20" flat across from side seam to side seam
Waist: to 17" flat across from side seam to side seam and then you use the tie belt to cinch it in as much as you need
Hips: to 23" flat across from side seam to side seam
Total length: 61" from neck to hem

Modern Sizing Equivalent: SML-LRG

Item# DD5057

Reference Photos: (1) Model in Dior for British Vogue, March 1969.  /  (2) Model Kellie Wilson in gypsy-style Dior, wearing a long chiffon dress in lilac with white batik print, a ribbon belt and massive gold pendant Vogue October 01, 1969. Photo by Bert Stern.

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 Valentina Ltd label was a high end knit wear company that flourished through the 1950s to the 1970s and were known for the elaborate bead and sequin work on soft knits and knit jerseys. They had the bead and sequin work done in Hong Kong where the best sequin and bead work in the world outside of the specialty ateliers in Paris was being done.
• The base fabric is a black felted wool and this gives it a soft artisanal feel.
• This was printed in a design using a bright rainbow of colours that run down the dress. This gives the fabric a touch of added texture and it is also soft to the touch.
• The print covers every inch of the dress including the 'ribbons' at the bottom hem. To construct this so that the pattern perfectly lines up like this means that the pattern would have had to be all pre-thought out and laid out onto the fabric before cutting.
• The bead and sequin work is all done by hand and it is added to the fabric to follow and highlight the design underneath.
• I especially love the elaborate work around the waist band where large turquoise coloured discs and rhinestones create a stunning jewelled effect all the way around the waist.
• The neckline is scooped and the sleeves are long. The skirt falls from below the elaborate sequin belt detail and gently widens out a touch as it nears the floor.
• It is truly a very special dress. You just don't see this level of elaborate work on pieces anymore.
• Fully lined in a black silk and closes with a back zipper. Each cuff closes with two hidden set snaps.
• Excellent condition

Sleeves: 23" and are 12" around the upper arm
Shoulders: 15"
Bust: to 19" flat across from side seam to side seam
Waist: 14" flat across from side seam to side seam
Hips: open
Bodice: 14" from top of shoulder to the top of the 2" band at the waist
Total length: 59" from top of the shoulder to hem

Modern Sizing Equivalent: SML-MED

Item# DD5055

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.

• Late 60s maybe the first couple years of the 1970s and it seems similar to some of the pieces I've seen from the 1970 season. 
• Under the creative direction of Oscar de la Renta 
  
• The dress is made from a beautiful black silk taffeta that holds the shape and volume that this dress has perfectly.
• The fabric choice also keeps the dress fairly light in weight while giving the dress some structure and shape.
• Two shaped triangles cover the front of the bodice and there is a deep V for the neckline. The triangles extend all the way to the top of the neck and they are finished with a ruffle in the same fabric.
• Ties extend from just behind the peak of each triangle to tie behind the neck.
• It wraps around the waist and scoops low there. This leaves your entire back open and bare above that.
• The waist nips in and we have added a wide grosgrain ribbon to add a little more shape.
• The skirt is made out of the same silk taffeta and it is incredibly full by the time it reaches the hem. Tiers of silk allow this expansion and there are five tiers in total. Each tier is finished with that same ruffled detail that you see around the halter neck
• Inside there is a silk lining and then another netted lining sits between the outer skirt and that inner layer. This helps to hold the volume that you see.
• Fully lined in a layer of silk taffeta and the skirt is lined as described above.
• The dress closes with a low set zipper at the back. Hand finished throughout
• The ribbon at the waist is not original to the dress but will be sent with it
• Excellent condition

Bust: each triangle covers 8" plus there is an inch and a half a ruffle on each side. 
Waist: 12.5-13.5" flat across from side seam to side seam
Hips: open
Bodice: approx 15" from top of shoulder to waist
Total length: 59" from neck to hem and can be adjusted a bit depending on were you tie the neck

Modern Sizing Equivalent: SML-MED

Item# DD4633

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.

• Unlabeled and came from the estate of a woman bought a lot of Oscar de la Renta, Fath, Versace and other high end labels and you can tell that this a dress of quality even without knowing its label.
• It is made out of a beautiful clear and true red silk
• The bodice is strapless and is fitted and shaped to accentuate your curves. The waist nips in and then it extends down one side into a sharp angle. I love how this lengthens the body and gives shape around the hip.
• Below that the skirt is very full and billows out and around you beautifully. The way it is set into the angle of the skirt in soft gathers gives it its fullness. From the side this creates a beautiful angle from the waist to hem.
• Fully lined in a red silk through the bodice and the skirt is lined in two layers of red silk
• It closes with a side set zipper and has light boning through the bodice
• Excellent condition

Bust: 17" flat across from side seam to side seam
Waist: 13" flat across from side seam to side seam
Inner hips: 20" flat across from side seam to side seam
Bodice: 10" from top of bodice to waist
Total length: 54" from top of bodice to hem with 3.5" turned under the hem

Modern Sizing Equivalent: SML-MED

Item# DD5042

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.