Anna Molinari and husband Gianpaolo Tarabini launched the Blumarine label in 1977 out of Capri and had their first catwalk show in 1980. By the 1990s they had opened their first stand alone shop. This is from the 2000s Sposa wedding collection and it is a really pretty dress.

This dress is so romantic feeling. It has a V at the front and the back and there are panels of chiffon that angle over the bust. At the sides the chiffon extends out into little cape sleeves that draped down and over the upper arm. This continues around to the back so you get this pretty soft feel all the way around. The edges are embroidered with ivory ribbon and blue thread to form little bows and flowers. The body of the dress skims over you from the bodice to the hips with a touch of shape near the waist area. It falls to the floor from there and gradually widens out as it hears the hem. The back is cut longer than the front so that it trails out behind you and gives you that beautiful sweeping trained skirt. More of the same embroidery runs around the hem with pretty little ribbon bows set around the skirt for the final perfect touch. It still has its original tag and appears to have never been worn. Excellent condition with a minor note below. 

Fully lined in a silky feeling ivory rayon and closes at the back with a hidden set zipper. Original hang tag attached. Some of the little organza flowers within the embroidery have darkened with time and oxidization. The dress appears to have been worn very little if at all. Tagged a 44

Bust: to 18" flat across from side seam to side seam
Seam under the bust: 15.5" flat across from side seam to side seam
Natural waist: to 14.5" flat across from side seam to side seam
Hips: to 19" flat across from side seam to side seam
Bodice: approx 13.5" from top of shoulder to the seam under the bust
Total length: 60" from top of shoulder to front hem and extends another 18" beyond that at the back hem

Modern Sizing Equivalent: SML-MED

Item# DD5001

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 two piece set is from the Spring 2004 season at McQueen and it is fantastic. In the show, he did a dress in the same print. This set version would have been produced for the shops in limited quantities. The FIDM Museum said of the show; "Deliverance, Alexander McQueen’s Spring/Summer 2004 fashion show was the hit of the season. Based on the 1969 film, "They Shoot Horses, Don’t They?" Deliverance subverted the typical fashion show narrative by reversing the order of presentation; evening gowns kicked off the extravaganza while faux-homespun daywear and a tarnished evening gown concluded the show. This narrative mirrored the film, which documents a Depression-era dance marathon. In order to earn a cash prize the hopeful participants must dance for days with only brief breaks for food and short naps. Lack of sleep and food, paired with non-stop dancing, drives the dancers to the point of emotional and physical collapse and ends in tragedy... 20 trained dancers paired with 20 models, all of whom rehearsed for two weeks. Deliverance began with models and dancers moving about the dance floor with a sense of eagerness and purpose, dressed in delicate gowns. By the end of the show, the dancer/models struggle to stay upright while dressed in patchwork garments representative of their overall decline.The emotional and physical deterioration in Deliverance is typical of McQueen’s work, which frequently explores themes related to violence and decay. Garments, particularly in his early collections, are often intentionally cut and torn and his fashion shows have been called a “theatrical staging of cruelty.”Though it almost seems counterintuitive, McQueen has expressed a strong interest in creating a feminine persona that is intimidating in its visual power."

I love the strong nod to the bias cut pieces of the 1920s and 1930s that this set has and how once you tuck in the top it has that feel of dress. It glides over the body spectacularly. The fabric is fantastically light and easy against the skin. It is a bias cut silk chiffon backed in a nude pink silk organza for the skirt and an ivory silk chiffon on the top. Even with a double layer of silk both pieces weigh ounces. Onto it is a beautiful floral pattern that covers the entire set. It is impossible to convey the lightness and movement that this has in person. The neckline of the top falls into a shallow V at the front and the silk is meant to just skim over the bust and waist. Straps curve over the shoulders and there is a soft little knot at the front for details. The bottom flares out just a touch and it's cut extra long so once you tuck it into the skirt, it stays in place. The skirt is cut with a wider more generous waist. The top portion of the skirt is a wide band of silk and I think once this is on a proper body, it will either sit on the top of your hips, slung a little low, or you could wear it higher up on the waist. A tiny row of hand set mother-of-pearl buttons runs down on an angle at the back, adding a sweet little detail. Below that the skirt flares out quite dramatically. The front is cut a bit shorter and then it hangs far longer down the back. The inner organza is left to float separately from the top layer so as you move, you get the sense of the two layers. When you move the skirt swoops out with a ton of fabric and then falls in soft folds all the way around you when you stand. It is breathtaking. This is a stunning and rare McQueen and showcases just what a master cutter he was. Excellent condition. 

The top has a lining of a pale ivory, silk chiffon, and the skirt is lined with a pale nude, pink silk organza. The top closes with a hidden set side zipper, and the skirt has buttons angled down the back from the waist. Both pieces are tagged a vintage MCQueen 44. They appear to have been worn very little if at all. The bias cut allows it some give and I have given the comfortable range of measurements below.

Top
Bust: 16-19" flat across from side seam to side seam
Waist: 12-17" flat across from side seam to side seam
Hips: 17-20" flat across from side seam to side seam
Total length: 23.5" from top of shoulder to hem

Skirt
Waist: 15 cancel" flat across from side seam to side seam
Hips: 17-19 cancel cancel" flat across from side seam to side seam
Total length: 24" from waist to shortest part of the front hem, 46" to the longest point of the hem

Modern Sizing Equivalent: SML-MED

Item# DD4998

Reference Photos: Spring 2004 Alexander McQueen. Model Karen Elson.

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 gorgeous little dress was a dress was based on a combination of Looks 10 and Look 52. This version has been done in all black, it has the one shoulder cut of Look 10 combined with the bead work and embellishments that you see on look 52. Vogue said that the collection was done "in an electric-bright palette.. and channelled Barbara Hutton's sixties—a glittery, lame, paisley, and leopard-print world of muumuus, bikinis, capri pants, trapeze dresses, cat-eye sunglasses, and scarf-wrapped hats. It bordered on camp... and Kitschy or not, there was no denying the workmanship that went into crafting the large collection." I love that the photo of the blue dress still shows you how fantastic this is on the body.

The dress is made out of a black silk chiffon that has a slight bit of texture to it. It is cut on the bias with seaming at the waist for a bit of structure. The wide shoulder panel curves over to the back and at the front it drapes across the bust. On both sides of the bodice there is a spray of intricate floral appliques detailed with black jet beads and sequins. These catch the light beautifully as you move. The waist nips in and the dress comes with its original belt that lets you cinch the waist in as much as you like. I love the big jewel buckle of the belt. The skirt flares out under that to the hem. There is a good amount of silk chiffon through the skirt which gives you gorgeous movement when you move. It is stunning. A signature row of tightly spaced buttons run up one side. A very pretty and wearable example of his work. Excellent condition with a small note below

Fully lined in a black silk and closes at the side with a series of silk covered buttons. The belt comes in its original Dior pouch. I see one tiny hole near the hem. Please see the photo after the label shot. Tagged a FR42, GB14, IT46, US10.

Inner bust: 18.25" flat across from side seam to side seam
Waist: 14.75" flat across from side seam to side seam
Hips: open
Bodice: 18" from the top of the shoulder to the waist and meant to blouse over the waist a bit
Total length: 42" from top of shoulder to hem

Modern Sizing Equivalent: MED-LRG

Item# DD4800

Reference Photos: Cruise 2008 Christian Dior. (1) Look 10. Model Chanel Iman.  /  (2) Look 52. Model Mariya Markina.

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 the twin of Look 27 from the runway and it is an exceptional piece of Gucci history. It was featured in Vogue that season on Natalia Vodianova and I love that these show you how great this is on the body. The Vogue review said 'The Gucci girl’s got legs—long, tan, flawless ones striding along on silver peep-toe sling-back pumps. Follow them all the way up, and around two weeks later, they eventually meet the hem of the minutest piece of clothing that was ever called a skirt or dress. For spring, in a word, Tom Ford says short. Using lustrous fabrics in subtle makeup colors from blush to tawny brown, pearly gray and silver, Ford draped and wrapped his gorgeous girls in clothes that navigated that dangerous Gucci line between innovation and vulgarity. The tousled hair, the jackets and tops poised to fall off shoulders—the whole presentation stirred sensations that fashion hasn’t felt since the last days of the great supermodels. Still, don’t think tacky. Ford’s obsession now is integrating fine workmanship into abbreviated silhouettes." The feather dresses were mentioned specifically; "He brought couture finesse to racer-back feathered dresses with the merest flip of a skirt....it was a confident statement in the power of glamour. And fashion needs that.' To this day this is one of the most recognizable of his pieces. 

This dress is thought of as one of the top ten Gucci pieces that Tom Ford designed. The dress is meant to be worn very short and daring. It shows off miles of legs. The top plunges low at the front and the back curves in to create a racer-back leaving your back bare on either side. It skims over the waist and hips and then flares out at the skirt. The skirt has two tiers of feather detailed ruffles and this extra little flounce gives it movement when you move. It is made from two layers of weightless silk with a silk grosgrain ribbon edging. The feathers are a mix of a dyed soft pale yellow mixed with some soft light taupe natural feathers for depth and interest. I took a photo of the back of the silk of the skirt and you can see that each feather was hand placed onto the silk  Vogue referenced couture in the review I added above. It snaps to close under the ribbon at the side so there is no break anywhere with a zipper. It just looks like it somehow magically formed it on you. It is an incredible piece of Tom's history with the brand. Excellent condition. 

Fully lined in a pale taupe nude silk chiffon and has hidden set snaps at the  side to close. Tagged a YSL 42. Some of the ends of the feathers have separated a bit on the natural spots it curves but this is just part of aging for a piece like this. I don't consider this a flaw but its mentioned for accuracy.

Bust: approx 16" flat across from side seam to side seam with open sides. each halter is 6" wide at its widest point
Under-bust to waist: 13.5" flat across from side seam to side seam
Seam at top of hips: 16.5" flat across from side seam to side seam
Length: 30" from neck to hem but can be pulled up as short as you want

Modern Sizing Equivalent: XXS-XS

Item# DD4001

Reference Photos/Video: (1-8) Spring 2003 Gucci Runway Collection, Look 27. Model: Louise Pedersen.  /  (9) Natalia Vodianova, wearing Gucci, Vogue, February 2003. Photo by Steven Klein.

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 program notes told the audience of the Spring 2009 runway show that Mcqueen had been thinking of Charles Darwin's theory of the survival of the fittest and 'the deleterious results of industrialization on the natural world'. The show was title 'Natural Dis-tinctions, Un-Natural Selection' and the McQueen book notes that 'the cat walk was filled with antique taxidermy, including an elephant giraffe tagger zebra and polar bear, in an art space that was formally of Paris morgue.' The twin of the dress was a part of the second portion of the show that was meant to 'continue to draw inspiration from natural forms, flowers, crystals and minerals, but here they were engineer with a hard as an enhanced to convey the synthetic qualities associated with modernity and human touch. Prints were angular and invoked crushed crystal, metallic structures such as the Eiffel tower and a granite mountain that was borrowed from a Dan Holdsworth triptych.' This collection was noted as being one of his most commercial to date during this time period and these print pieces especially had instant appeal.

This is a very recognizable piece that can instantly  identify as being a McQueen. The colours are amazing. The fabric is almost like a neoprene in the way it looks and feels and yet it is not a true neoprene. It is lighter and thinner with just enough weight to it to hold the shape but without it feeling restrictive on the body. The shape is built into the dress beginning at the shoulders. Each is lightly padded so that they sit up on top of the shoulders. It skims over the bust, nips in at the waist and then curves out at the hips. Even when laying flat you can see the shape built into the dress. At the neckline there is a keyhole that has a nude netting in behind it. I love the way that the seams at the hip curve in and over the waist to just under the bust. This precise seaming and cut are all done to give that exact shape that he wished the piece to have. When styled on the runway with the plastered hair around the face it had an almost alien feel to it that was fantastic. The dress looks to have never been worn and is in mint condition. It is an extraordinary piece of Alexander McQueen history and having a runaway pieces from him in the shop are always an exceptional thing. Excellent condition

Fully lined in a ivory tissue silk and it closes at the back with a hidden set zipper. Tagged a McQueen 38. It appears to have been worn very little if at all. 

Bust: 15.5" flat across from side seam to side seam with room for an A-small B cut at the front
Waist: 12" flat across from side seam to side seam
Hips: 17" flat across from side seam to side seam
Length: 32" from neck to hem

Modern Sizing Equivalent: XS-SML

Item# DD4360

Reference Photos/Video: (1-2) Spring 2009 Alexander McQueen Runway, Look 24. Model Alex Sandor.  /  (3) Page from the book 'Alexander McQueen' edited by Claire Wilcox.

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.