Museum Collection
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[ORDER ITEM - #5707]
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# 5707 - c. 1965 EXTREMELY RARE Iconic André Courrèges Lunette "Eskimo" (or "Eclipse" or Slit") White Sunglasses! Museum Worthy! Unbelievable!!! NOTE: I've contacted a few museums to check on the authenticity of these glasses, and have found that there were a few slightly different versions (in various museums), some with the grommets, some without. So I went on a hunt for photos to PROVE the ones with grommets are just as Original! Check out the photos of 1960's top model Jean Shrimpton in these glasses... and, oh my GOD... artist Salvatore Dali wearing these Courreges glasses with grommets!!!! FANTASTIC!!!!! I had not one, not two or even three... but 8 pairs of these extremely rare sunglasses of old store stock left in a box - untouched in over 40+ years!!!! (OK, I touched one just to take the photograph and to look it over... and yes, try it on - who could resist!). Mint condition! IN THE ORIGINAL BOX which stamped with "Made in France" and handwritten in pencil, "8 pieces Courreges". The glasses are each still wrapped in a plastic wrap, and laying in waiting. Who knew they'd be waiting so long!!! A lightweight, softish white plastic with writing on the inside of the glasses (or at least the one I opened) with a Patent number and the word "Depose" embossed in the plastic and the word "Courreges" in silver on the exterior earpiece. I WAS selling these glasses complete in the box for one price... or each separately (as I know there will be many who don't need/want all 8 pair). But one pair has already SOLD, so the complete box is no longer available. But as you purchase each separately, at least you know they came from ONE previous owner and are all original to this one store stock box! I will give you a COA from Antiquedress.com stating that with a photo of the original box on that COA.
$ 975. each pair
3 Pairs Still Available.
[ORDER ITEM - #6953]
Click on image for additional photos!# 6953 - RARE c. 18th Century Alsace or German Lavish Gold Metallic Embroidered Child's Cap or Bonnet! Museum Deaccession! Items like this extraordinary, intricately embroidered cap (or bonnet) are rarely seen outside of museums! From my research, these were actually referred to as "gold caps", and this type of headwear was common in Germany and surrounds. This ornately decorated cap is embroidered in gold foil, metallic thread, cord, sequins, teeny seed beads, surprising blue glass jewels, etc. creating an overall gold appearance. This example would have been considerably time-consuming, and for it to have been created for a CHILD (it is child sized), this would have to have been quite a wealthy family. The front is edged in gold metallic bobbin lace. The cap has been professionally re-lined in fine linen by the museum. As I'm not a regional scholar, if anyone out there has more info on these gold caps, I would love to know more! In Near Mint condition.. especially for something this intricate and of this age!! Also Listed in the 1750-1840's Category. $ 2,850.
[ORDER ITEM - #4649]
Click on image for additional photos!# 4649 - c. 1920's MARGAINE LACROIX, 29 Avenue de Marigny, Paris Black Silk Patterned Velvet Evening Coat with Ermine Fur Trim! First things first, the white ermine fur on this coat needs to be replaced. It's very dry and no longer viable, but I'm leaving it on the coat so your furrier can use as a pattern. The black silk thin patterned velvet coat is in great condition! The pattern in the velvet can only be seen under certain lights, otherwise it just looks like a solid black velvet. It's fairly lightweight, so not a winter coat, but rather an evening coat. There are no closures. The beauty (beside the velvet) is in the swing of the design at the lower back. This is easily seen by looking at the photo of the interior to see the seaming and then volume of the lower back skirt. The lining is original and has a few minor spots here and there... nothing important. The label is off on one side, so will need a stitch or two. I will leave as I found it. Who was Jeanne Margaine-Lacroix? Here's an interesting article to give you some idea of how important she was to fashion of the era! 44" long from shoulder to hem. https://rbkclibraries.wordpress.com/2013/07/12/margaine-lacroix-and-the-dresses-that-shocked-paris/ Also listed in the Furs, etc and 1850-1920s sections. $ 465.
Approx. - SIZE 0-4
SOLD# 7787 - c. later 1800's 2-piece Side Saddle Riding Habit with Silvertone Skirt Lifter! I'm ALWAYS on the hunt for Victorian sidesaddle habits! This one is a riding habit with the skirt that can be worn down as a skirt, or hiked up (as you see) with the silvertone skirt lifter (that came with it). The outfit is in great condition (whoo whoo!)... just two areas of small holes (one lost in folds, the other at the hemline - see photos) and a bit of lining tearing inside skirt hemline. There is one button missing as well (so I would move the top button down and wear a large pin (cameo) at the top buttonhole.... you know... like Scarlett O'Hara)! Even the satin INTERIOR of the bodice is gorgeous!! There is a handwritten tag inside that reads "Lepper Gardner". If you google that, there was a well-known artist and mapmaker in Maine with that name, so perhaps it came from her estate? She wasn't old enough for it to be hers, but may have been collected by her? Just a guess. No other idea for the Lepper Gardner. The BOOTS will be sold SEPARATELY as they are quite special, would have been quite expensive when new and are certainly collectable. They came with the outfit, so you may want to purchase them with the habit. But I've giving you the choice. MEASUREMENTS: Bodice measures 32" bust, 12" across back, 24" waist. Skirt measures: 26" waist, 38" long from waist to hem in front, 46" long in back. Also Listed in the 1850-1920s Category.
$ 1,765. SOLD (Does NOT include the boots!)Approx. - SIZE 0
(check measurements above)
[ORDER ITEM - #179]
Click on image for additional photos!# 179 - c. early 1920's RARE NUMBERED HOUSE OF REVILLE, Paris, London Flapper Dress of Gold Lame Lace and Beaded with Faux Pearls, Beads and Rhinestones with Huge Original Silk Flowers and Gold Lame Ribbons! London Court Dressmaker for Queen Mary and Many Society Women! EXCELLENT CONDITION! The House of Reville was started in 1906 by William Reville Terry and his partner, a Miss Rossiter. By 1910, Reville was the London court dressmaker and it was he who designed the coronation robe for Queen Mary in 1911. In previous and subsequent years, the design house was also known as Reville & Rossiter and Reville-Terry. I believe the single "REVILLE" label dates to 1919-1929. The photos will show all you need to know.... it's in great condition inside and out with the only issue to mention is the slight oxidation of the ribbon (mostly at the back) and ever so slightly onto the back gold lace, but as the lace is moddled in design, you hardly see an issue. I have owned this dress in my private collection for over 20 years. When I purchased, it was said to have been worn by Mrs. Stanton and there was a handwritten name inside, but that is now in tatters (still sewn into the seam, but not sure that Mrs. Stanton name is still readable). The numbered tag inside the seam is also starting to tatter, so you will want to stabilize that small piece of silk paper. Overall, the dress is slightly less shiny than it may have been originally, but still one of the best conditions I've seen of this quality gold lame lace! It's a wearable size, and could be worn, but I would certainly rather see it displayed to keep the condition as pristine as it is. Also Listed in the 1850-1920s Category. To read about another Reville dress from 1925, here's an interesting article. This museum spent nearly $6,000 just in the restoration of their Reville dress! http://www.theridgefieldpress.com/33502/julias-gown-fit-or-a-queen-or-meeting-one/
$ 9,500.Approx. - SIZE 2-6
(check measurements above)
[ORDER ITEM - #11385]
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# 11385 - RARE c. 1837 Gown (as dated by Nancy Rexford, costume historian and author) Museum Deaccessioned Ivory Silk Satin Embroidered Floral Gown! From the Wadsworth Athneneum's Costume and Textile collection... this gown has been in a personal collection for about 30 years. She was carefully stored and treated like a member of the family.... but it's now time for her to go to a new home. I have been in this business for well over 25 years myself, and it's rare now that a gown takes my breath away when I see it. This is one of those. It's perfection. Simple shape, off the shoulder wide "v" neckline, "v" waist at front, cap sleeves with matching "v" shape and simple ecru netting lace, beautiful seaming, gorgeous ivory silk satin. OK.. so that would be a nice c. late 1830's-early 1840's dress... but then.... (drum roll)... you have the entire dress covered with embroidered multicolored flowers on vines. Achingly beautiful in person. The photos hardly do it justice. Sadly, I couldn't close it on my smallest dressform (it measures 30" bust, 22" waist), but you'd want a smaller dressform as the off-the-shoulder shape shouldn't be stressed. The material is perfectly strong and nearly like new (even the underarms are clean!!!) with the few exceptions of the minor spots that blend in with the design (but look at the close up photos to see the ones at upper bust and one a side front waist that are the worst... and not all that bad... and one has to assume these were from the original woman wearing flowers as was done, so the spots are historic) and one tiny break in the netting on one sleeve (see photo). All other issues are so minor as not to mention. Might want a couple more petticoats under for proper shape if you display. What more can I say????? I adore it! Also Listed in the 1750-1840s Category.
SPECIAL SALE PRICE! $4,750. (was $7,500)Approx. - SIZE 000
(check measurements above)
[ORDER ITEM - #11386]
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# 11386 - RARE c. early 1840's Gown (as dated by Nancy Rexford, costume historian and author) Museum Deaccessioned Gold Jacquard Silk Embroidered Floral Gown! Complete with Original and Separate Long Under Sleeves!! From the Wadsworth Athneneum's Costume and Textile collection... this gown has been in a personal collection for about 30 years. She was carefully stored and treated like a member of the family.... but it's now time for her to go to a new home. I have been in this business for well over 25 years myself, and it's rare now that a gown takes my breath away when I see it. This gown (and the other gown from the same collection) are just EXTRAORDINARY! Sadly, the photos don't do it justice. PLEASE look at the close-up photos to see the exquisite detail of the jacquard and embroidered silk fabric. These were, without a doubt, the finest fabrics of the time. I would have to assume they were of French origin. The gowns were possibly made in America of the imported fabric. Sheer perfection. Simple shape, off the shoulder wide "v" neckline, "v" waist at front, cap sleeves with detailing and spiderweb lace, beautiful seaming, and with the original long under sleeves to be worn with and without. The material is perfectly strong and nearly like new with the few exceptions of the extreme minor spots that blend in with the design (hardly worth mentioning at all, breaks in the spider lace on the sleeves, and very minor underarm stains. Might want a couple more petticoats under for proper shape if you display. What more can I say????? I adore it! Just slightly smaller than this dressform, so the hook at the waist isn't hooked (didn't want to stress the fabric), yet the waistband inside did fasten. Also Listed in the 1750-1840s Category.
SPECIAL SALE PRICE! $4,750. (was $7,500)Approx. - SIZE 000
(check measurements above)
SOLD ON LAYAWAY# 11430 - c. 1900 MAURICE MEYER, Paris Art Lace Opera Coat! WEARABLE!
I have been lucky enough to have found and sold a few other lace items from Maurice-Mayer, Paris, including a lace gown (which you can still see from my museum archive pages at: http://www.antiquedress.com/item2839.htm), and a lace and ermine jacket (http://www.antiquedress.com/item6066.htm). They are all exquisite!! And not surprisingly, I found an article in a 1912 newspaper that lists a Maurice Meyer blue velvet wrap for $350 (which is nearly $5,000 in today's dollars)!!! Obviously, this was top-of-the-line then... and still is now. This coat is just FABULOUS... AND WEARABLE! The lining is a linen in mint condition. Whether this is original or it was originally silk lined, I'm not absolutely sure. This same linen is even found under the cuffs. however, the sleeves aren't lined, so it's possible that the sleeves were originally silk lined, or chiffon lined, but no lining in the sleeves remains. Hard to know for sure... but whatever, it's great as the linen lining allows this coat to be worn without much worry (except for catching the lace on something). There are some very very minor darkening in some areas (see the collar photos), but there is also slightly darker lace insets that are original. There is a heavy macrame ties hanging down at front, and the original hooks/eyes close the top half of the coat. There are wool areas at the shoulders and down the back and front as well. Will fit a size 4-6 best. Also Listed in the 1850-1920's and Furs, etc Categories.$ 2,450. SOLD ON LAYAWAY
Approx. - SIZE 4/6
(check measurements above)
[ORDER ITEM - #6173]
Click on image for additional photos!# 6173 - Antique Japanese Maiko Geisha Wig with Flower and Silver Ornaments! I sold one other antique Japanese Geisha Wig recently, and even though they are rare, I had this ONE other one to sell. But this is the last of them... at least the last I have now. This one has no case, but it's likely human hair with fine lace front, has the original ornaments and I believe it's older than the last one I sold. The metal interior is a wonderment! And I believe that's the maker's mark inside (the stylized bird). I wish I could give you more information on this piece. It's old. I would say definitely pre-1940s... but really I don't know. It's certainly not newer than that... even though I've seen others that look similar that are newer... it's the interior of the wig that shows it's age. METAL interior. Some of these wigs are coated with a heavy wax substance to keep it's shape... this one doesn't have that thick stiff wax so looks a lot more natural. I have read that brand new top quality Katsura (Geisha) wigs can sell for up to $4,000. There is some Japanese writing inside the wig. I have no idea what it reads.. . but it's hard to read anyway. I would call this a wig for a Maiko. A Maiko is an apprentice geisha in western Japan, especially Kyoto. Maiko are usually aged 15 to 20 years old and become geisha after learning how to dance, play the shamizen, and learning Kyō-kotoba (dialect of Kyoto). A maiko's hairstyle is called nihongami (a Japanese traditional hairstyle from Edo Period). Also Listed in the Hats, Etc. Category. $ 745.
[ORDER ITEM - #7365]
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# 7365 - c. 1980's VICTOR EDELSTEIN, London Black Velvet Gown with Champagne Colored Duchess Satin Swing Jacket Trimmed and Lined in Black Velvet! I'm sure you've seen or heard of the Victor Edelstein midnight blue velvet gown worn by Princess Diana when dancing at the White House with John Travolta in 1985. You know, the gown that sold for (at the time) a record price. Well, this is not that gown, but this one is similar, and from the same era.... but this one comes with a KILLER evening swing jacket to make a great entrance!! Under is a gown equally as beautiful as Diana's... perhaps even more so due to the draped neckline at back. PLEASE look at all the photos. The gown has a slight fishtail, fitted drop waistline, wide nearly off the shoulder neckline. and the only other detail is at the shoulders, with a satin trim. There is no closure on the jacket, it's just meant to be worn as you see. I'm sure this was incredible expensive when new, and it doesn't look like it was ever worn. Excellent condition!!! Measures: up to 36" bust, up to 28" waist, up to 38" hips, 44" long from natural waist to hem in front, 46" long in back. 32" long jacket. So... Diana's gown sold again for over $362,000 in 2013. This one is less. :)
$ 3,250.Approx. - SIZE 6/8
(check measurements above)
[ORDER ITEM #4180]
Click on image for additional photos!# 4180 - c. 1869 EXTREMELY RARE Warp Print Silk 3-piece Trained Ballgown!! MUSEUM QUALITY AND DESIGN! I confess...I've been holding on to this gown for years now.... One of My PERSONAL favorites!! I'm told it's a warp silk print.. though I'm not an expert on textiles, so I will just have to go with it. I'm an expert on BEAUTY, and this has all the "bells and whistles" you could possibly want in a 1860s gown! Fantastic floral silk fabric. Unique and Incredible PANSY flower lace trim!!!!! Spring green silk ribbons and bows. Sweet short puffy sleeves. Train (every fancy gown should have one in my book!). The original "apron" belt with rosette bow at front, large bow at back and inside lining pocket! This piece could COULD be worn as a fichu (if you want to change up the style for the times... just sayin'!). All in all... this is one of the MOST wonderful summer fancy ballgowns from the era you will see outside of a museum. Shown on my size 2 mannequin and fits her. I can get measurements, but really this is one that belongs on display and not worn. It's in NEAR MINT condition other than a spot on the front skirt (see last 2 photos) that blend in with the print, but certainly there. It's in very wearable condition, I just prefer you don't "hurt" her! She is 143 years old after all... and still looks fresh as a daisy!!! Also Listed in the 1850-1920s Category. $ 7,500.
Approx. - SIZE: 2
(check measurements above)
[ORDER ITEM - #11112]
Click on image for additional photos!# 11112 - c. 1905 Battenburg Lace Coat with Velvet, Pleated Chiffon and Patterned Silk Lining! This is one of those antique pieces that you have to see in person to believe!!! You get LOST in the detail as it's layer upon layer of gorgeousness. It stars with an ecru Battenburg coat with slightly bell sleeves with matching ecru velvet cloud-shape outlined inserts here and there and a few grape clusters. That alone is gorgeous enough, however, under that is a thin layer of pleated chiffon at front and under that, another flat layer of chiffon. Under THAT, or actually the lining, is an ecru and pink patterned silk of wheat sheaths design. The incredible beauty here is that the opposite side of the lining shows as pink and white through the sheer chiffon!!! And this shows though as a muted patterned pink through the Battenburg lace!! Seen especially at the cuffs. The inside is all trimmed in a daisy embroidered edge. I could spend hours just looking at this piece! Condition is Excellent for the exterior, and just fair/good interior... still great for something this fragile to have survived at all. There are a few leg breaks in the Battenburg lace (easy fix for a seamstress). Inside, there are some tears in the chiffon pleating, but not terrible. The worst part is the shattering of the pink silk lining (see photos) at the top of the lining and throughout there are vertical slits/shatter. I'd love to see this go to a museum, or to someone who will stabilize the lining to keep this coat from being destroyed. It's just too fabulous to lose!! If perfect, this is worth SO much more! Measures: 44" long from shoulder to hem. Also Listed in the 1850-1920s Section.
$ 1,645.Approx. - SIZE should fit anyone
(check measurements above)
[ORDER ITEM #1715]
Click on image for additional photos!# 1715 - EXTREMELY RARE c. 1912-1919 KAPO Life-Saving Ocean Waistcoat! Made by the Kapo Manufacturing Co, 114 Bedford Street, Boston, Massachusetts! Also called "Kapo Kantsink (or Neversink) Garments"! THINK TITANIC! I have been holding on to this for 12 years now... as it's just so incredibly rare and special. Original came to me from a Maritime Collection estate sale. In researching, I found this original advertisement showing the exact time I have from a 1915 publication. This gray pinstripe (cotton canvas?) was meant to be worn by a well-dressed gentleman under his jacket while on-board... just in case! You have to understand... this was designed soon after the sinking of the Titanic... where only 338 of the 1690 adult male passengers and crew survived as it was "Women and Children first" into the lifeboats. The material is used all the way around (no satin back) with back adjustable belt buckle and buttons down the front.. even comes with two pockets at front. It's filled with vertical channels of "kapok", a specially treated vegetable fibre that can't puncture (!)... this according to the articles I've researched about this waistcoat and manufacturing company. Excellent condition with just the tiniest issues. I found yet another ad that gave the original price as $12 back in 1918... quite affordable for the time! An original Titanic lifevest sold for $60,000+ a few years ago. Just FYI! This is a wearable men's size... probably about a 42. Also Listed in the 1850-1920's Section. $ 2,500.
Approx. - SIZE 42 Men's
(check measurements above)
[ORDER ITEM #7294]
Click on image for additional photos!# 7294 - c. 1960's MAINBOCHER Suit! 3 Pieces! Linen Blend Suit with Matching Original Beaded Blouse! Mainbocher dressed some of the world's most famous women, ALL MUSEUM ITEMS BELOW AND ON NEXT PAGES ARE SOLD!
SOLD# 11780 - c. 1920's RARE Parisian R. CHIGOT Flapper "Hair" Evening Cloche or Wig! Of all the things I sell, I think 1920s flapper headpieces are my favorite. I still have a few rhinestone tiaras that are in my private collection, and I am close to adding this to my own collection as well, so think fast. :) These hair flapper cloches are quite rare... especially this one signed "R. Chigot" complete with the original silk lining and a small piece of the original price tag attached. There is nothing I can find to tell me who R. Chigot was, but there are still a few of his signed pieces found when googling. He must have been the king of these fashionable cloches! These cloches were created either with various color bullion threads or for a more natural look... with platinum blonde soft raffia threads. Middle part with lovely twisted braided hairdo decorated with silk flowers, stems, leaves. This piece is in EXCELLENT CONDITION with just a few minor threads out of place, and just a few minor tears to the silk lining (a lining that is SO rare to find in place at all!). ONE OF THE BEST!! Also Listed in the 1850-1920s and Hats, etc. Categories '
$ 2,250. SOLD
SOLD# 4502 - c. 1950's OLEG CASSINI Russet Colored Lace Dress with Original Design Patent Tag! For those of you who have vintage clothing worthy of a museum, this dress should be added to your collection! The design itself is, of course as you can see, fabulous... but it's the original Design Patent tag inside that is so unique! Frankly I've not seen a tag like this on any dress before. Perhaps it's that rare, or perhaps I'm just not looking hard enough. I know of two other black lace Cassini dresses of the same design, so obviously the dress was produced, but perhaps this could be the original sample? Seems slightly better as the others with the bows at straps, and the shape seems a bit more elegant. You know Oleg Cassini as the official couturier for Jackie Kennedy during her White House years. I'm sure this design was a bit too sexy for her, but would have worked beautifully on his finance, Grace Kelly. Russet color lace in "sunburst" design skimming over a more fitted sexy russet sheathe dress with plunging bodice of nude fabric. Tie bows at shoulders and back. The condition looks Excellent in the photo, but is only Good condition, as there are small breaks in the lace under the arms (see photos) and one short lace line break on the bodice near front/side, and just "tired" overall. Still a wonderful museum quality early Oleg Cassini dress with great tag! Measures: 34" bust, 24/25" waist, up to 36" hips, 26" long from waist to hem. NOTE: To keep dress is best condition, Final Sale Item! Also listed in the 1920-Today Category. $ 585. SOLD
Approx. - SIZE 2/4
(check measurements above)
SOLD# 11708 - c. 1970's EXTREMELY RARE BACKLESS RUDI GERNREICH design for Harmon Knitwear Black Wool Knit Bathing Suit (Swimsuit) with Panel Front, MOP Buckle, with EXTREME Low Back!! Same suit as worn in advertisment as seen on supermodels JERRY HALL and LISA TAYLOR!! Be still my heart! One woman had both these Rudi Gernreich bathing suits in her closet(!) and finally decided she wasn't gonna wear them (having bought them in the 1960s and perhaps 1970s!). Gotta give this woman credit for her daring... even for just buying them! These are both EXTREMELY RARE! Where the heck are you gonna find one????? You likely won't. This is probably your ONLY opportunity to add these to your collection. NOTE: The Rudi Gernreich iconic topless black wool bathing suit from 1964 currently sells in the $7,000-$8,000 USD range These two bathing suits are nearly as important for ANY Gernreich collection! EXCELLENT CONDITION ... I see nothing wrong with this suit!! There is some question as to the date on this suit... I've seen this photo dated as late as 1975, yet other info states likely earlier, so it's somewhere between 1968-1975. The suit is a bit large for my dressform so the back is even lower when worn (as seen in the ad. ATTENTION MUSEUMS and MUSEUM QUALITY COLLECTORS!!!
$ 5,000. SOLD
Approx. - SIZE 10 (old sizing... best for a small/small medium)
(check measurements above)
SOLD# 11707 - c. 1968 EXTREMELY RARE BACKLESS RUDI GERNREICH design for Harmon Knitwear Black Wool Knit Bathing Suit (Swimsuit) Maillot with Two Large Cutouts at Hipbones and Tied Together with Off-White Knit Tie with EXTREME Low Back with Plastic Strap!! Same suit as worn in famous photographs of SHARON TATE and VERUSCHKA!! Be still my heart! One woman had both these Rudi Gernreich bathing suits in her closet(!) and finally decided she wasn't gonna wear them (having bought them in the 1960s!). Gotta give this woman credit for her daring... even for just buying them! These are both EXTREMELY RARE! Even a well-known fashion blog stated in 2013, "This suit sold for $40 in 1968 (about $268 in today's dollar), but likely with a whole heckuva lot more as a collectible or museum piece... if you can find one." Yes... where the heck are you gonna find one????? You likely won't. This is probably your ONLY opportunity to add these to your collection. NOTE: The Rudi Gernreich iconic topless black wool bathing suit from 1964 currently sells in the $7,000-$8,000 USD range These two bathing suits are nearly as important for ANY Gernreich collection! WONDERFUL CONDITION with the only issues in the plastic strap at back (discolored, an extreme minor tiny tear at left, and possible stitched repair - or not???) (see photos). NOTE: Sadly the beautiful Sharon Tate was murdered by Charles Manson the following year in 1969. 1968/69 Rolex ad featured this bathing suit in white. Also Listed in the 1930-Today Category.
$ 5,000. SOLDApprox. - SIZE 12 (old sizing... best for a small/small medium)
(check measurements above)
SOLD# 9346 - c. 1980's RARE MICHAELE VOLLBRACH Gold Lame and Soft Green Wool Felt Kimono Shaped Evening Coat Trimmed in Peacock Feathers! Former Coty Fashion Design Winner! Attention all wall flowers!!!! You do NOT want this coat! However, if you have always craved attention, and you have a flamboyant style.. or if you are a couture collector... well then... you have just found the holy grail! :) Amazing piece.. part fashion, part sculpture.. by the incomparable Michaele Vollbrach (or Michael Vollbracht for all those who spell it this way)! Just so you know... a quilted kimono jacket sold for $2900+ at Doyle's Auction House, so the prices for these extraordinary pieces are high.. for good reason! No museum textile collection should be without Vollbrach! FYI, "Michael" Vollbrach was recently wooed out of retirement to head the house of Bill Blass, but he's had to tame his wild streak, so it's not the same. Originally purchased in mid-1980's for $2,000 at a trunk show. No question this is a limited production couture, or one-of-a-kind piece. Unlined felt (see inside photo). Not for warmth! :) The peacock feathers are beautifully iridescent! The gold lame is shiny! Measures: 46" long from shoulder to hem. No closures, so will fit a variety of sizes.. just not small/short please! This will overwhelm you! Excellent, near mint condition. Also Listed in the 1930-Today Category. Approx. - SIZE Medium-Large (sizes 10-14, perhaps 16)
(check measurements above)
SOLD# 4331 - c. 1891 Maison Lipman, 2, Rue de la Paix, 2, PARIS, France 2-piece Trained Dinner Gown of Ivory Brocade of Pastel Flower Sprigs! NEAR MINT Exterior!! Though Maison Lipman is not a well-known label, in researching, I read this from the 1889 "Woman's World" book, Volume II, edited by Oscar Wilde: "The illustration... represents a gown made for the Queen of Portugal by the Maison Lipman, 2 Rue de la Paix - a rich and delicate creation in lace and soft textures." And in the 1890 Volume III: "The Maison Lipman has not been behindhand in making up the dresses that have been seen at every fashionable gathering." And you likely know that Rue de la Paix was THE great couture dress designers street (with Paquin at #3, Worth at #7, Doucet at #21 and Cartier at Cartier at #13). So if you want a great Parisian Couture Victorian Gown in NEAR MINT condition (there are imperfections in the bodice lining - just a little lining taffeta replacement under the collar is all that is really needed - and there is slight tearing of embroidered chiffon gauze on one cuff) of LOVELY pastel floral brocade ivory silk satin fabric ... from a label good enough for A QUEEN!!!!!!!.....look no further. Not to mention the fact that 1891 shape of the high puff sleeves is just too fabulous! Tiny size at 30" bust, 21" waist bodice, 24" waist skirt, 40" long skirt from waist to hem in front, 60" long in back makes it a wonderful display gown. PLEASE look at the close-up photos to see the fabric. Even the teeny 5 buttons on the sleeves are brocaded in the pink, yellow, gold and white on ivory! Also Listed in the 1850-1920s Category. $ 3,285. SOLD
Approx. - SIZE 000
check measurements above)
SOLD
# 7545 - c. 1925/1926 HOUSE OF BABANI, 98 bd Haussmann, Paris Rose Silk Velvet Dress with Braided Metallic Embroidery and Gold Lame Lined Bell Sleeves! NOTE: Matching Dress (different color) was worn by Lady Sybil on Downton Abbey, Season 3! I'd love to give you a history of Babani... but beside obscure beginnings, there is even a question of whether Vitaldi Babani was male or female! If you research, you will find both "him" and "her" pronouns. Sad. We should know more about Babani. I mean, even Katharine Hepburn chose to wear a crushed white velvet Babani gown with antique gold embroidery for her 1928 wedding to Ludlow Ogden Smith... oh, and that gown sold at auction in 2004 for hammered price of $27,000. Babani was known for their embroidered silk velvets, which look to be a variation on the stenciled silks that were produced by Fortuny around the same time. The Babani brand was marketed as the perfect marriage of French style with the exotic East. This dress belongs in a museum worthy collection... as a matter of fact it matches a Babani coat owned by The Metropolitan Museum of Art, New York (The Met) AND if you are a devotee of Downton Abbey, you will perhaps recognize the dress, as the SAME dress in a different color was worn by Lady Sybil in Season 3. That dress was so fragile that the costumer designers could only use the original embroidery, and then re-created the shift portion of the dress in matching antique velvet. The condition of this dress is fragile, but other than a few issues, it's in remarkable condition for such a fragile fabric. Look at the close-up photos to see the old repair on the shoulder, a pull away of braid at the neckline, a couple extremely tiny pinholes, and repairs under the arms at the seams. The dress is fully lined in a red china silk fabric that has torn away at the neckline, but is otherwise in great condition. The simple shift velvet dress with braided metallic embroidery (tarnished) has a hidden highlight... the still perfect shiny gold lame lining in the slit bell sleeves! Fabulous!! This dress shouldn't be worn, but is shown on the 35" bust mannequin and measures 37" long from shoulder to hem. Belongs in a museum!!!! Or in a major collection!! OR in YOUR collection. I have always wanted to have a Babani to sell.... I'm happy to offer this one. NOTE: It was brought to my attention that the dress may have been shortened, so the price has been greatly reduced to reflect. NEW LISTING! Also Listed in the 1850-1920s Category.
$ 2,250. SOLD
SOLD on LAYAWAY# 7580 - c. 1881 FIELD LEITER & CO, Chicago Beaded and Brocaded Ivory Wedding Gown (Attributed to) ALICE SHELDON MATHEWS married to Mr. ALBERT BLAKE DICK of the AB Dick Company on January 25, 1881! NEAR MINT CONDITION! So first... Let's discuss Field Leiter & Co of Chicago. A high end early department store (dry goods) where Mr. Selfridge began his career as a salesman and rose up the ranks to President just prior to opening his fine establishment in London (because Marshall Fields refused to add his name to theirs!) As it's written in a book about Mr. Selfridge, "By 1877, Bertha had only to step over to Field & Leiter to buy a new gown by WORTH, the store's Paris agent having bought twelve models for Chicago's first private orders from the great man." So although I doubt this gown is a Worth original, that's the quality that was sold at Field Leiter & Co! OK... So... now who was Albert Blake (A.B.) Dick? A major American manufacturer of copy machines and office supplies in the late 19th Century and the 20th Century. Mr. Dick purchased the patent from his friend Thomas Edison. So was he wealthy??? YUP! This gown came from an auction lot at Leslie Hindman Auctioneers in Chicago in the late 1980's. Incredibly the buyer purchased this wedding gown at the auction. When they went to the cashier to pay, they were told that a steamer trunk came with the lot. That trunk was labeled A.B. Dick! Mr. Dick lived in Lake Forest, IL (the wealthy town just north of Chicago) and is buried in Chicago. From the label which needs to be dated to January 1881 or prior (as that was the date that Field Leiter & Co merged into Marshall Fields & Co) and the fact that AB Dick married his first wife, the wealthy Alice S. Mathews on January 25, 1881, it is presumed that this is the wedding gown from that wedding. Alice's father was Charles H. Mathews who had amassed a fortune and had become the richest man in Galesburg, IL at the time of his death in 1883. So Alice could afford the very best in wedding gowns! Alice passed away in 1885 and AB Dick married Alice's sister (!) Mary Henrietta Mathews in 1892. SO... the second wife was the sister of the first wife which is WHY you will find this wedding gown well preserved. And indeed it is... in NEAR MINT CONDITION! It's a one-piece ivory silk brocade gown with long ruffle edged train, bustle back, "v" attached bodice, beaded netting adorning bodice and sleeves, "leaf" patter brocade, ribbons down front, low cut bodice with chiffon interior, bust pads(!) inside for enhancement. Just fantastic! The only issues to report are small stains down the front plain skirt panel (very likely from the water of the bouquet) and one tiny "L" tear at the back (might have caught her gown on a chair). Measures: 30" bust, 23" waist, 42" long from waist to hem in front, 84" in back. I can't absolutely confirm that this is Alice's wedding gown, but all my research leads to that fact! I guarantee it's from the AB Dick family trunk! Also Listed in the 1850-1920s and Wedding Categories. $ 4,750. SOLD on LAYAWAY
Approx. - SIZE 000 (due to small Victorian back and ribcage)
(check measurements above)
SOLD# 7870 - c. 1950's RARE JEANNE LANVIN CASTILLO, 22 rue du Faubourg Sain-Honore, Paris, Made in France Tomato Red Textured Heavy Wool Swing Coat of EXTRAORDINARY DESIGN! If you look about, you will find some Lanvin-Castillo coats for sale, but if you look closely, you will see that those are NOT the originals, they are authorized reproductions. This is the real thing. An original Jeanne Lanvin / Antonio del Castillo MUSEUM QUALITY and DESIGN heavy (very heavy!) wool coat in a deep tomato red color with black silk lining. Castillo designed for the House of Lanvin from 1950-1962. Three large black buttons close the coat at the high empire seaming. The swing sleeves are the special design element here! Achingly fabulous! Only wish I could find an advertisement or fashion layout for this coat. She would be glorious with long black gloves and perhaps a smashing red hat. This coat will go to auction if it doesn't sell on this website... and you can just imagine what it will fetch then! Condition is excellent with a few minor issues... there are just a couple moth nips and just one tiny moth hole in front (see photos). There are textile weavers who can repair tiny holes like this so they become invisible. Measures: 46" across bustline, 40" long from shoulder to hem.
$ 2,850. SOLD
Approx. - SIZE 0-8 (depends what you wear under)
(check measurements above)
SOLD# 7292 - c. 1950's/1960's MAINBOCHER Green Wool Tent Coat! From the Estate of Actress Edie Adams! Hmmmm... I think Alaia might have been stealing a bit from Mainbocher. I sold a green Alaia jacket with similarilies in design between this 1960s Mainbocher coat and the Alaia jacket, including the "v" cut just below the large collar lapels in the Alaia, echoing the "v" cuts in the Mainbocher. I mean they are certainly different, but... I'm just sayin'... This coat came from the estate of sexy Muriel Cigar Spokeswoman and Actress, Edie Adams. There is little to confirm that other than from the COA from Heritage Auction from whence it came. Oh... and MAINBOCHER? From the Modern Fashion Encyclopedia: In 1937, when the Duchess of Windsor purchased her wedding gown and trousseau, it was designed by Mainbocher. From the start, Mainbocher specialized in simple, conservative, elegant, and extremely expensive fashions, the luxury of cut, materials, and workmanship that could only be recognized by those in the know. As the years progressed, Mainbocher continued to design exclusively on a made-to-order basis, refusing to license his name. By the 1950s and 1960s, old guard Mainbocher customers enjoyed wearing impeccably made classic coats and suits of wool in the midst of nouveau-riche ostentation. The typical ladylike daytime Mainbocher look was accessorized with a choker of several strands of real pearls, white gloves, and plain pumps with matching handbag. The integrity of luxurious fabrics, intricate cut, quality workmanship and materials, elegance and classicism, were cherished and worn for years by Mainbocher's upper crust customers. And now you can be one! :) Condition is very good, however there is some slight fading and one button ( insert sad face here) is missing. Nicer looking (at least I think so!) than some of the Mainbocher 1950/60's coats in the Metropolitan Museum of Art - http://goo.gl/1lL7m / http://goo.gl/FhTw8 / http://goo.gl/izvyY This coat measures extraordinary tent dimensions! Up to 50" bust, up to 52" waist, up to 60" hips. 42" long from shoulder to hem, and 22" across the back from underarm to underarm. Also Listed in the 1930's-Today and Furs, etc Sections. $ 885. SOLD
Approx. - SIZE: 10-16
(check measurements above)
SOLD# 9627 - c. 1950's Mary Sachs Black Silk Taffeta Ballgown with Separate Crinoline! I tried to convince myself that I would have someplace to wear this gown at some point... and I've kept it in my private collection for years. But, alas.... I now realize that "she" deserves to be seen and appreciated, and not just tucked away by me. I normally decide if I prefer the front or the back of a dress and show you that photo, but it's like Sophie's Choice... I just can't choose which side is better... front or back! LOVE the sweetheart neckline in front and the low "v" at back. I adore the long torso shape at the front and the low "v" skirt at the back with large bow. I have always loved the covered decorative buttons down the front of dresses and gowns, and yet the very gathered lower skirt at back is killer. The more I type, the more I want to remove this gown and put her back in my closet. I hope she goes to a good home!!! I may want to have visiting rights... just a head's up. Oh, and this gown comes with the original and separate crinoline. Just another reason to believe this to be a true designer gown, but only has the Mary Sachs high-end department store label. Metal zipper at back. Measures: 35/36" bust, 26" waist, 43" long from waist to hem. $ 2,145. SOLD
Approx. - SIZE 4, small waisted 6
(check measurements above)
FROM MUSEUM QUALITY ESTATE
SOLD# 5094 - EXTREMELY RARE (outside of the World's Top Museums) c. 1770-1790's (late 18th Century) "Habit a la Francaise" French Frock Coat of Dark Taupe Cut Velvet with Magnificent Polychrome Floral Silk Embroidery... Along with Ivory Silk Embroidered Waistcoat! From large estate of early Museum Quality clothing comes this extraordinary French highly embroidered velvet frock coat with silk faille embroidered waistcoat under. I still have these pieces displayed on my mannequin as I can't bear to take them away!! Even better in person... you will just totally lost in the embroidery!!! It's mesmerizing!!! This would have been a court suit and worn with matching velvet breeches and a lace jabot at neck. The most intricate polychrome silk embroidery of flowers and leaves and embroidered ivory ovals creating what is meant to look like lace at the edges. Coordinating ivory simple lace at cuffs. The ivory silk faille waistcoat is equally impressive and beautifully embroidered with bright silk in a complementary floral design. I have seen embroidered frock coats and waistcoats for sale on the open market, but never have I seen any more extraordinary! Most are in the top international museums. Both pieces in Excellent condition and all original. There are extreme minor issues... a bit of discoloration under the arm (see photos) and the netting is gone from much of the "lace" embroidery on the frock coat (hardly worth a mention!!!), minor tears in the lining. The waistcoat is near mint. Simply in RARE FINE CONDITION! Also Listed in the 1700-1840s Category. SOLD
FROM MUSEUM QUALITY ESTATE
SOLD# 5092 - RARE c. 1770's Polonaise of Museum Quality Floral and Striped Brocaded Silk Polonaise with Original internal Drawstrings! From large estate of early Museum Quality clothing... comes this gorgeous open front polonaise gown! Exquisite embroidered striped silk satin of champagne and coral with green and ivory embroidered flowers and buds all over. Wonderful detailing including self-covered decorative buttons on front bodice, banded slit in the pocket of the skirt to allow for accessing pocket of underskirt, slightly curved sleeves to follow the crook of the arms, original gathered string for the top of the bodice (one side only still exists), fine muslin lining in bodice. One of the most exciting features is that the interior rope cords and loops are still intact for gathering up the back gown! See the additional photos showing the gown gathered up at back and down as you see to the left. I photographed this gown over a simple white petticoat at front and panniers (neither come with the gown). The condition is REMARKABLE! Clean underarms, like new! Strong silk fabric with only a bit of edge wear on front of skirt. Only one tiny hole found (only by holding up to light) half the size of eraser head. Otherwise only minor small areas of discolorations (lost in folds). Simply RARE FINE CONDITION! Shown on a 30" bust, 23" waist mannequin. Also Listed in the 1700-1840s Category. SOLD
SOLD# 6321 - RARE c. 1930's MADELINE VIONNET Gown of Black Crepe-Satin with Rhinestone Clips and Chain Down Back and Slightly Trained! I was told by an expert (more expert than I) that this gown is from Spring, 1938. And even though he is the expert, he had determined that this gown had been tied with the bow in the front. However, I believe it might have been tied as you see it in the low slung back. I could certainly be wrong... but I like it! And I have a line drawing from c. 1932 that shows a gown worn like this, so... whether I'm right, or whether I'm wrong (isn't there a song like that??), I will let all the other experts fight it out and I will assume I'm right. ;) OK... now you HAVE to go look at the close up photos to see the most thrilling part of this gown that doesn't show up in the lightened photos... the rhinestone chain that hangs down the middle of the low "v" back!!!! This is why I wish I had lived through the 1930s. Fashion as just SOOO damn sexy! Hidden closures at the front are covered by the sash. The rhinestone clip at front is on a hinge so it opens to hold the separate extremely long matching satin sash at the mid-front.. then you wrap that sash around the gown however you wish... follow me or not! :) Gathered material at the bodice sides, great shaping at the armholes, and material like liquid. This gown is in remarkably EXCELLENT condition.... the material is like new... so the only issue is that many of the rhinestones have fallen out or discolored, so they will need to be replaced if you wish. The tiny ones are easy, but there are half-moon shaped ones that will be harder to find. I have 4 of the 9 that are out, so 5 are missing. NOTE: A 1920s embroidered Vionnet dress recently sold at auction for $70,000, so... just sayin'. This gown is shown on my size 2 mannequin and it fits her great. Also listed in the 1850-1930s section. SOLD
SOLD# 6730 - c. 1958 Attibuted to BALENCIAGA Brown Silk Floral Dress with Gathered Back and Matching Silk Overcoat! Direct from Zurich, Switzerland! I sold another labeled Balenciaga dress with a similar gathered extraordinary back. That dress was spectacular on its own, but this dress has the additional matching printed silk coat with hugely oversized collar that comes with it. Please look at the additional photos to see the coat! This ensemble came from the same estate as the other "attributed to Balenciaga" dress and sheer coat ensemble, and was likely made to order in the salon as her measurements are a bit on the busty size at: 37" bust, up to 30" waist, up to 40" hips, 43" long in front and what seems to be 42" long in the back? This dress and coat have all the exquisite tailoring details you would expect from Balenciaga, including the classic Balenciaga seaming, the fastidious hand-stitiched seams, the awesome finishing details (including weighting in the dress hemline), the matching overcoat, the mid-seam down front, the coloration in various tones of a single color in a floral pattern, etc., etc. Near Mint condition. Also Listed in the 1930-Today Category. $ 2,850. SOLD
Approx. - SIZE 8/10
(check measurements above)
SOLD ON LAYAWAY# 6729 - c. 1958 Attibuted to BALENCIAGA Golden Floral Empire Dress with Watteau Back and Sheer Overcoat! Direct from Zurich, Switzerland! I've seen enough couture and not couture clothing in my life to know that "attributing this to Balenciaga" seems a no brainer! All the detailing of the design, the fabrication (I believe a warp printed brocade), the classic Balenciaga seaming, the fastidious hand-stitiched seams, the awesome finishing details (including beaded weighting in the dress back hemline), the sheer harmonizing overcoat, the slight slope in the hemline at the front of the dress, the mid-seam down front, the coloration in various tones of a single color in a floral pattern, etc., etc. Near pristine condition (except for one spot found on one sleeve - see photos). Museum quality in condition, design, and colorations! This may have been custom-made at Balenciaga as it has no label, and it seems to be sized exactly to fit a somewhat busty client. I have another dress from the same estate, also attributed to Balenciaga (see below). Same measurements. To those of you "in the know", you will understand just how extraordinary this piece. Measures: 40" bust, up to 31" waist, up to 40" hips, 40" long from shoulder to hem. Also Listed in the 1930-Today Category. $ 2,850. SOLD ON LAYAWAY
Approx. - SIZE 10/12
(check measurements above)
SOLD# 11427 - c. 1926 INCREDIBLE Gold Sequin Flapper Dress on Cotton Netting! Although there are no tags, I am quite sure that this would have originally had the "Made in France" small tag attached as most all of these extraordinary beaded and sequin flapper dresses on cotton netting were made in France (though I have seen a few as "Made in Belgium"). Also, this came direct from the estate of a woman who lived in Europe, so... Family recollection is that "Grandma wore this at Mom's wedding in 1928". Would have been one fancy wedding!!!! :) This dress is the BRIGHTEST I have EVER SEEN!!! Near MINT condition!! Just unbelievable ... looks like you went back in time to buy this dress new. These are ALL gold sequins in various sizes, configurations, direction and slight opaqueness. Measures: up to 40" bust/waist/hips, and 42" long from shoulder to hem. Meant to be worn slightly large, so looks great on the 35/25/36" mannequin. One of the BEST Downton Abbey / Great Gatsby / Flapper / 1920's dress you will ever find!!!! These cotton net dresses are very strong, so you can easily wear with confidence. Also Listed in the 1850-1920s Category.
$ 4,285. SOLDApprox. - SIZE 4-8
(check measurements above)
FROM MUSEUM QUALITY ESTATE
SOLD on LAYAWAY# 5091 - RARE c. mid 1700's or mid-18th Century Shoes! Watered Silk Faille Light Tan Fabric! PLEASE NOTE: the Buckles are for Show only. I'm showing these early shoes with buckles (that aren't of the correct era, but somewhat of the right look) just to give you an idea of what they would have looked like when worn. The rest of the photos show the shoes as they are. The watered silk faille is all trimmed in a matching silk braid. Hard to describe the condition. For the age they are Excellent, with just extremely minor issues of wear - mostly at the edges. The photos will really describe the condition better than words. There are pinholes on the tabs where the buckles would have been attached over the years. They are 99% intact..... and structurally very sound! Interior sole is brown leather in fabulous condition. Bottom leather sole is mostly sueded now having lost the top layer, but still in great condition. An amazingly early pair of shoes not often found on the open market! Measure: 3" wide x 9" long Also Listed in the 1700-1840s Category. $ 3,450. SOLD on LAYAWAY
SOLD# 4321 - c. 1909-1914 JEANNE LANVIN, Paris Black Cotton Velvet Walking Suit with Separate Original Tasseled Sash! Very Old Label! Labeled in hard-to-read woven gold: Jeanne Lanvin, 22, Rue du Faubourg, Paris. Jeanne Lanvin started her own line in 1909, so this could be one of the earliest known pieces! Due to the surprising short bolero shaped jacket, I'm having a bit of trouble dating it specifically to year. Purchased at an estate sale from a wealthy New Jersey estate. An obviously fashion forward, very tailored Parisian Couture skirt suit in black cotton velvet. The bodice jacket has a lovely rope frog closure and black silk, nicely shaped collar. The sleeves are long and each ornamented with 7 working velvet buttons. The back waistline of the jacket has embedded elastic and ornamental tabs with buttons on either side. The skirt is ornamented with 37 or 38 working velvet covered buttons down each side of the lower skirt. The hemline is surrounded with a box pleated "ruffle". The skirt is a hidden built-in inner wide waistband with hook/eye closures. There is a separate (I can't believe this remained with the suit all these years!!) black silk sash belt with an amazingly wonderful long green passementarie and huge, long black silk tassel!!! Measures: 34/35" bust, 28.5" waist skirt, 40" long from waist to hem in front skirt (may have been shortened), and 44" long from waist to hem in back. The condition is Quite Good with a few fairly minor issues. The black silk collar is delicate and tearing at back fold, there are 2 covered buttons missing from each skirt side, and 2 missing from back. Extreme minor wear at hemline and some re-tacking needed. All these issues are nit-picky for such an historic piece! The only real issue is the silk sash which has fairly large holes and pinholes and is delicate. But the fact that it exists at all is incredible!! Also Listed in the 1850-1920s Category. SOLD
Approx. - SIZE 6
(check measurements above)
SOLD# 5995 - c. 1926 HOUSE OF WEEKS, Paris Silver Sequin and Beaded Crepe Chiffon and Silver Lame Flapper Dress!! MUSEUM QUALITY AND DESIGN! I just found this dress hiding in the community theater costume department of a well-to-do Connecticut town. The same place I happened to find a Worth 1920s coat!! I knew it was gorgeous, but looking inside and finding the Weeks, Paris label I nearly fell off my feet. Not only that, but the still attached original interior silver lame lace-trimmed slip is as bright as I have ever seen antique lame!!! The vintage gods must have been kind in saving this Museum Quality dress in this condition!! There is very little information about the House of Weeks, however, the few pieces I have found (mostly from the 1910s) currently reside in the famed Museum of Metropolitan Art (MET) in New York City (see photos of those gowns, etc by clicking on the flapper dress!) In addition, the Chicago History Museum has the House of Weeks trained, embroidered gown commissioned by Mrs. Bertha Honore Palmer (wife of Chicago Millionaire Potter Palmer who founded Marshall Field and Company Department Stores) to be worn to the Coronation of King George V in London in 1911. The embroidery on her gown was similar to the embroidery on the gown worn by Queen Mary at that Coronation! This is all just to give you a clue as to just how special this label is!! As good as all those other more well-known designer labels of the era. The dress is covered with unique silver sparkle dusted sequins and silver beading in an organic design all over front and back. The chiffon scarves start the trend which got longer and longer from the short flapper dresses to the long 1930s gowns. The dress measures 42" around bust, waist and hips, 46" long from shoulder to hem. These dresses were meant to be worn large to hide curves and create the "boy" shape, but it still might need at least a size current size 8/10 to look it's best. The only thing wrong to mention is the few sequins/beads missing or loose (so few you will be astounded but I have to mention it to be totally accurate), but really the only issue are the few rust spots at the front bodice (see the close-up photos). They will be seen close-up, but from a far (as you can see from the photo to the left), barely seen. If you care, you can cover with silk flowers (as she might have worn anyway). But I'm hoping this dress ends up in a museum as it deserves that fate! Also Listed in the 1850-1920s Category. SOLD
Approx. - SIZE: 8/10-12
(check measurements above)M.A. CONNELLY - DRESSMAKER
Frequented by LUCY HAYES, wife of
Wife of US President Rutherford B. Hayes
SOLD on LAYAWAY# 5877 - c. 1880 M.A. CONNELLY, 7 East 16th Street, New York Ivory Silk Satin Bustle Wedding Gown Ensemble! With Wax Headpiece, Bustle Cage, 2 Petticoats, New Bustle Pad and Veil! Museum Quality Piece! WEARABLE SIZE! Oh yeah....SO nice for me when these magnificent pieces just come to me from long-time collectors!! So they are "new to the market" from years of storage. I must confess, I knew just by looking at this gown that it was special, but it wasn't until I researched "M.A. Connelly" that I found just how special! Sure, there is one M.A. Connelly gown in the Boston Museum of Fine Art, but it's the discovery that our 19th President, Rutherford B. Hayes' wife, Lucy Hayes wore a gold damask and cream satin gown to the White House New Year’s reception in 1880!!!! Yup! And not only that, but this was her dressmaker of choice (per Feb. 2009 issue of "Past Times", a publication produced by the Rutherford B. Hayes Presidential Center). The article reads: "In January 1880, 'Mrs. R. B. Hayes went shopping at M.A. Connelly in New York. There she ordered three new gowns for White House functions. The receipt shows Lucy paid $300 for a 'green striped velvet' dress, $225 for a 'black brocade velvet' dress, $350 for a 'white brocade satin' dress, $12 for a pair of corsets and $49.50 for lace. Totaling $936.50 which would be $21,000 today. More information from M.A. Connelly is that she moved her business to 331 5th Ave. sometime between 1880-1892, and according to the NYC Real Estate Records of Dec 4th, 1897, she moved her dressmaking and importer business to 9 West 34th Street. SO.... This gown is exactly at what it would have cost new in 1880 at $350 (1880 price)! And then you are getting the additional ensemble pieces for free!! And the condition is just about that good... nearly like new. There are a few slight issues (likely replaced waistband, but that's just about the only issue! Even a WEARABLE size! Measures: 34" bust, 25" waist, 12.5" across back, 40" long skirt from waist to hem, 76" long in back. I can get the bodice on me at size 4/6, so the back isn't too small as are most of these Victorian gowns. I could detail all the details, but I've written too much already, so the photos will tell you all you need to know. Note: there is a lace trimmed veil that will come with this that isn't original but matches beautifully. If you want a Victorian Wedding Gown, look no further! Good enough for the US President's wife on New Years Eve!!! Also Listed in the 1850-1920s and Wedding Categories. $ 7,850. SOLD on LAYAWAY
Approx. - SIZE 2/4
(check measurements above)AUTHENTIC - MELANIE GRIFFITH
Worn - Goya Cinema Awards in 2012
SOLD# 7759 - c. 2012 MELANIE GRIFFITH Worn Trained Garnet Colored Silk Coat from Les Habitudes, Beverly Hills Studded with Silk Flowers! Worn at the February 19, 2012 Goya Cinema Awards with then Husband Antonio Banderas in Madrid, Spain! Oh my LORD... this is fabulous!! Even if it wasn't worn by Hollywood royalty (I say that because it's now 3 generations of talented women from this family... Tippi Hedren (of Alfred Hitchcock fame), Melanie Griffith (of Working Girl fame) and now Dakota Johnson (of Fifty Shades of Grey fame). Turn heads!! Melanie wore with matching color dress under, but you can wear with everything from that to skinny pants and white shirt, to mini skirt (for that high-low look). The coat is meant to stay on.... you don't want this hung in the coat check all night. This is the STAR, not whatever is under. Even though it's trained for your entrance, there are two buttons inside that scrunch up the train to walk around with ease. From the prestigious boutique Les Habitudes, Beverly Hills... a store that caters to many stars with special custom pieces. This certainly MAY be one-of-a-kind... and likely is. Wired collar, wide cuffed sleeves, self-covered button front at waist, intricately gathered "corset" back. Top quality construction and Excellent condition. Measures: up to 35" bust (perhaps 36"... as it's open... but no wide backs), up to 27" waist (could be more if you create "frog" closures for the front), 60" long from shoulder to hem in front, 66" long in back. This was the color of the 2011 season from Christian Dior, Gucci, Alexander McQueen. Also Listed in the 1930-Today Category. Final Sale Movie/Memorabilia piece SOLD
Approx. - SIZE 2-4, perhaps 6 TALL
(check measurements above)
SOLD on LAYAWAY# 3867 - Dated 1950's Selincourt Couture, London Green/Blue Changeable Taffeta Hooped Ballgown! So hard to find information on Selincourt even though the company as been around since the mid-1800s!! According to "History of 20th Century Fashion" by Elizabeth Ewing, Selincourt was originally Selincourt & Colman, founded in 1857. They began making coats, mantles and fur garments. A dress business was added later. The gowns were very high quality ready-to-wear, manufactured in limited editions. Eventually, Selincourt absorbed a number of other dress businesses, and as of 1987, they had fifteen subsidiaries, including three couture houses. They are considered a powerhouse fashion firm. They even created the furs for Diana Rigg in "The Avengers" TV Show in the 60s (one of my favorites!!). This gown is just killer fabulous. The entire tulip shaped skirt is hooped to stand out as you see it. (Shipping may be extra to accommodate it). Gathered bodice and gathered skirt with two silk matching flowers. Back metal zipper. Sadly the gown is a small waist size, and it's not perfect... if you look at the lower back skirt you will see the spotting and light water spot at hemline.. Measures: 34" bust, 24" waist, 29" long in front from waist to hem, 47" long in back. Boned bodice. Also Listed in the 1930s-Today Section. $ 1,485. SOLD on LAYAWAY
Approx. - SIZE 0/2
(check measurements above)
SOLD# 7714 - c. RARE 1920's Platinum Blonde Floss "Hair" Cloche! Most Likely Parisian! If you are one of my website groupies, you might have seen the few other "hair" cloches I have sold in the past. I ADORE these!!!! Perhaps my favorite thing are elaborate flapper headpieces. (People ask me what I like the best... so now you finally know!) So, I search for these everywhere. Rarely do I find them. And even more rarely am I first in line to purchase them for you! I can only assume that these extremely rare high-style wig cloches were a mark of sophistication. The cloche is woven into the shape of a classic 1920's hairdo - complete with the finger wavy hairs all over and the pinned up "longer" hair at the back and coiled at the sides in curls (or others have braids). This one has the addition of the original attached thin rhinestone headband!! Those rhinestones have darkened over the years, and I suppose they could be replaced if you are so inclined, but I sell as found for historic value. The floss is likely the "new" rage of artificial silk called "rayon". There are only a few flossed strands that are out of place and stick out slightly. Net lining with writing I can't read. Absolutely a museum quality piece! This will fit a 22" head, or as you see with her her hair showing under. God I love these!!! Actual photo of a 1920s gal wearing a similar headpiece!!! Also listed in the 1850-1920s and Hats section. $ 2,750. SOLD
SOLD on LAYAWAY#7042 - Dated October 5, 1880 Complete Beaded Victorian Wedding Gown Outfit with Original Wedding License and Invitations and Complete Accessories with Provenance! Includes Shoes, Stockings, Gloves, Photos, Books, Papers, Silver Spoon, Wax Headpiece, Wax Ornaments, and Large Framed Portrait of the Bride, Corrie Emma Lacy who wedded Dr. Lee Herbert Smith in Buffalo, New York. I've never seen a more complete wedding outfit! And it's not like this is just a run-of-the-mill bride or gown. Nope, this bride's genealogy can be quickly traced back to the Huguenots in France and specifically to the family of Pierre Fauconnier (his family dating back to the 11th Century at least, and which is said to be "the most ancient and honorable in France). Corrie Emma Lacy (the child of Clark B. Lacy and Emma Sleeper) was born in Buffalo on Dec. 5, 1858 and had one child, Herbert Lacy, born on May 10, 1886. Her husband, Dr. Lee H. Smith graduated from the medical dept. of the University of Buffalo in 1877, and from the College of Physicians and Surgeons, NYC in 1881 and was the vice-president of the World's Dispensary Medical Association. Obviously the families were wealthy, as this gorgeous white beaded, golden brocaded 2-piece gown will attest. The gown is in Excellent condition with just the most minor bead loss. The wax ornaments you see on the front bodice are separate, but were worn on the gown as per the bride's portrait. All the other accessories are included... the ivory wedding slippers, the white gloves, the silk stockings and the wax headpiece, along with photographs, papers, books, a silver spoon, the original wedding invitations and wedding license as well as the large framed portrait of the bride! Fabulous for a wedding museum!!! The only thing missing is the lacings for the back of the bodice (obviously new lacings can be found). The size of the gown is tiny and short... too tiny for my mannequin (although I photoshopped the back in one photo so you can see how it will look when correctly mounted). Also Listed in the Wedding and 1850-1920s Categories. Shipping costs will be extra due to the large Framed Portrait. $ 5,850. SOLD on LAYAWAY
Approx. - SIZE 000
(check measurements above)
SOLD
# 11109 - c. 1928/1929 Unlabeled JEANNE LANVIN Black Silk Taffeta Asymmetrical Evening Gown with Rhinestone and Beaded Wraparound Bird! Found in the wealthy town of New Canaan, CT (this town ranks 19th in America's Richest Zip Codes.. just to give you some idea of why a dress like this ended up there!). There is no label on this gown, but as soon as I saw it and touched it, I KNEW it was a 1920's Jeanne Lanvin... and dated it to either 1928 or 1929. So then I went on a Google hunt.... and VOILA! This dress is indeed a Jeanne Lanvin c. 1928/1929 and there is an original Lanvin archive design drawing of this very dress!! There is also another one of these dresses in the museum collection of the Musée Galliera, City of Paris (though I think my gown is better as there seems to have possibly been some tampering with their dress' waistline!!). Their dress is on display at the Swarovski presented "Spectacular Paris Haute Couture retrospective exhibition at Musee Galliera". Curated by Musée Galliera’s director, Olivier Saillard, the Paris Haute Couture retrospective exhibition includes 100 of the most spectacular haute couture dresses, comprising a visual survey spanning 150 years of singularly-minded design by the likes of Worth, Chanel, Vionnet, Schiaparelli, Balenciaga, Courrèges and, of course, Lanvin. This dress is highlighted in the listing of this exhibit at: http://www.cpp-luxury.com/spectacular-paris-haute-couture-retrospective-exhibition-at-musee-galliera/. Or at Vogue/UK news at: http://www.vogue.co.uk/news/2013/02/28/swarovski-paris-haute-couture-exhibition---paris-fashion-week-dior-ysl-lanvin Excellent condition with just a few minor issues... the original bow (as shown) is missing. I just added a sample bow. There is also a repair needed at one shoulder and at one section of the hemline (see photos). Otherwise, other than barely worth a mention pinholes seen from the inside, and somc clouding of the rhinestones, it's in remarkable condition! Especially for this paper-thin silk taffeta! I keep hoping if I keep turning this dress inside out, the label will miraculously appear, but it's really unnecessary. I'd stake my career on the fact that this is, indeed, a Jeanne Lanvin! SOLD
Approx. - SIZE 4
(check measurements above)
SOLD# 11108 - c. 1922-1928 Probable "Jeanne Lanvin" Black Silk Taffeta Pannier Robe de Style Dress with Lace Trim! If you click on the photo of this dress, you will see at the bottom of the next page 9 similar dresses designed by Jeanne Lanvin from the mid-1920s. Many are surprisingly similar with the lace or sheer wide hemline and the scalloped design just above, dropped waistline and pannier shape skirt (yes, perhaps I stuffed the panniers WAY too much for my photos, but I wanted you to see the extreme shape of this skirt!! The front is decorated with silk flowers (original to the dress) as well as a pink bow sash at the back. The front "v" is VERY low and slightly off-centered, so may have had a modesty panel (as you see in two of the other examples). There are no labels in this dress, sadly, but it's certainly a 1920s piece, and it just seems quite likely that this is, indeed, a Jeanne Lanvin. I feel like I've seen this design before in some book or fashion print, but cannot find it. I'm hoping someone out there can indeed confirm this to be a Lanvin... as I want this dress to have its proper respect! Excellent condition with just a few minor issues... a tiny bit of lace damage and/or repair at the hem, a bit of wear on the pink crepe trim, and minor pinholes (a few) in the taffeta (two sewn up so you will notice all the issues only on close inspection). No closures. Goes on over the head. May have had snap closure at side seam originally that was sewn up. Perhaps. Measures: up to 38" bust, up to 32" waist, up to 40" hips. I keep hoping if I keep turning this dress inside out, the label will miraculously appear! But it came to me from the same estate as the other unlabeled Jeanne Lanvin dress above, and that one matches a design from the Jeanne Lanvin archives so... SOLD
Approx. - SIZE 6
(check measurements above)AUTHENTIC - BARBRA STREISAND Owned
and CECIL BEATON Designed Gown
SOLD# 4343 - c. 1970 Extremely Rare CECIL BEATON Designed Gown and Shawl for "On A Clear Day You Can See Forever" Purchased from the Collection of BARBRA STREISAND! The Paramount movie was released in 1970, starring Barbra Streisand with costumes designed by the legendary Cecil Beaton. Deep red silk velvet full length empire style gown with train, having attached nude silk under dress, featuring seven oval shaped cutouts revealing underdress, edged with gold bugle beading and decorative gold metallic thread flowers. "Paramount" label with handwritten notation "Barbra Streisand". The gown is accompanied by a matching long velvet shawl, ends featuring large, full double tassels. Snap hook and eye closures. Built in bra label reads "Saks Fifth Avenue". The photos of Barbra wearing this gown were taken by Cecil Beaton! A postcard of the photo accompanies this gown, as well as the COA. Very Good Condition with occasional loose threading, a few tiny holes at lower front. Cape is Excellent condition. Measures: 33/34" bust (A cup bra), up to 32" waist, 58" long from shoulder to hem, 110" x 22" long scarf with 7" tassles. NOTE: the Cecil Beaton Audrey Hepburn ascot gown from "My Fair Lady" sold recently for $110,000! Oh, and Barbra Streisand's Superman T-shirt (yes folks... a T-shirt!) sold for $6,000, her "Owl and the Pussycat" outfit sold for $15,600, and her signature sailor top sold for $28,800!! Also Listed in the Memorabilia Category. SOLD
Approx. - SIZE 4/6
(check measurements above
SOLD# 5436 - RARE c. 1950's TRAINA NORELL, New York from Julius Garfinklel & Co, Washington DC, Black Lace Hoop Skirt Dress with Black Satin Waistband! Do you want the good news or the bad news first? The back news is that I can't find anything comparable to give you an absolute dating of this dress. The good news is that I can't find anything comparable at all!! That means this is as unique as I think it is!! Really. This is certainly worthy of a museum collection. A simple bones strapless black silk charmeuse sheath dress ... of the finest silk with double side zipper. Over that is the incredible black lace dress with the inset oval shaped hoop!! The black satin wide waistband is attached and has a lovely sharp sunburst / sunflower design at back. As least I'm assuming I have this on the correct way... hard to tell, the front and back look so similar other than that waist design element. I was told that this dress was $400 when new.....back in the 1950s so that's $3,000+ now. Measures: up to 33/34" bust, up to 25" waist, up to 37" hips. Excellent condition, especially being such a difficult dress to store for over 50 years... however, there are about 9 small lace breaks mostly on the shoulder and underarms (see photos for examples. As I said, they are small and can be repaired by a professional). Lace overdress closes with buttons at the side (see photo). Absolutely the MOST fabulous 1950s black lace dress....ever! Also Listed in the 1930-Today Category. $ 945. SOLD
Approx. - SIZE 2/4
(check measurements above)
SOLD# 7193 - RARE c. early 1920's Mohair Flapper "Hair" Cloche with Rhinestone "Barrette"! I've been selling on this website for 14 years now, and I've only found 3 other 1920s "hair" cloches. Two metallics (one gold, one silver) and one PINK! These are quite rare as that means I only find one every 3.5 years! :) This is the first one I found in a hair color and sort of hair texture... actually a mohair!! Designed as the others with tight curls at back and a "hair part" at the top. This one has the addition of a large rhinestone "barrette" which is attached to the cloche!!! Wow! These are usually quite large sized... why? you ask?? Because I believe they were for those gals with long Edwardian hair who weren't ready, or brave enough, to cut off their long locks to have the "new" short flapper bob cut. So, they used these instead.... and all that hair had to be tucked into the piece, so.. they are large for the normal sized head. This one looks like it was relined at some point in time, as the white gauzy material inside isn't original... but hey.... not really a huge deal, is it?? The rhinestone ornament has a few rhinestones missing that can easily be replaced if you care. I'll look to see if I have any replacement stones that fit. I can't be sure I will, so ... For all your gals (and I know there are many) who collect fantastic flapper headpieces.... don't hesitate! Excellent condition (other than the rhinestones missing and interior replacement). FYI, the last two sold for $2,850 and $3,450., so this is a no-brainer!! Also Listed in the Hats, etc. and 1850-1920s Sections. SOLD
SOLD#6280 - c. 1920's Amazingly RARE B. ALTMAN, Made in France Gold Sequin Evening Cloche! I'm sure you know what it feels like when you first see that one piece of antique/vintage clothing that you have been seeking for years... or something that just immediately grabs your heart - your pulse races, you begin to sweat, and you feel if you don't own it, you might just die. Yup, that's what happened to me when I first spotted these two sequined cloches!!! I felt faint from the hyperventilating! Breathe... breathe... breathe.... Now pick yourself off the floor and email me so you can add these (or this) to your collection! It may be a long time before you find another. Totally sequined onto net base with bright, shiny gold sequins. Unlined with original Made in France tag attached. Excellent condition... really like new! Very sparkly! Will fit a normal sized head... to be worn with care so as not to ruin this fabulous original rare piece. I know there are quite a few of you out there with flapper headpiece and cloche collections.... and I wish I could find more of these to make all of you happy, but I'm afraid it will just have to be "first come, first serve" and hope that whoever wants this the most will get it! Also Listed in the Hats Category. $ 1,845. SOLD
SOLD
# 3131 - Antique Japanese Geisha Wig in Original Box! I wish I could give you more information on this piece. It's old. I would say about pre-1940s... but really I don't know. It's certainly not newer than that... even though I've seen others that look similar that are newer... it's the interior of the wig that shows it's age. METAL interior. These wigs are made of human hair but coated with a heavy wax substance to keep it's shape. I have read that brand new top quality Katsura (Geisha) wigs can sell for up to $4,000. There is some Japanese writing on the handle of the box (see photos). I have no idea what it reads.. would love to know, so if you know anyone who reads Japanese, please email me at: antiquedress@yahoo.com with the translation!! I'm damn curious! Also Listed in the Hats, Etc. Category. $ 525. SOLD
SOLD#6157 - c. 1895 A. WALLES, 15 Rue Auber 15, Paris Deep Ruby Velvet, Lace and Jet Beaded Caplet! Ah... you should know this label! First off, this came from a collection that included an exquisite Emile Pingat outfit that was also labeled "A. Walles". Seems that in 1896 Pingat grew tired and relinquished his business to the well-established dressmaking firm, A. Walles - who apparently by 1892 specialized in court dresses, including clothing for the Austrian court. This fabulous capelet certainly could have been worn by royalty! Deep ruby velvet adorned with elaborate design of sequins and jet beads surrounded in a heavy ecru lace and topped off with large black silk bows. Lined in an iridescent burgundy silk with scalloped edges. A few minor marks in the velvet, but basically Near Mint condition. This is one for the museum collection! Check out the photo of the signed Pingat cape from the Costume Institute of The Metropolitan Museum of Art (under all the rest of the photos of this capelet)... I think you'll agree.... this A. Walles is even nicer! :)
$ 2,485. SOLD
AUTHENTIC - BARBRA STREISAND
Owned and Worn at 1968 Oscars
SOLD#7265 - c. 1968 BARBRA STREISAND Worn at the Oscars! This is the ACTUAL AUTHENTIC (and likely one-of-a-kind) gown worn by Barbra Streisand on April 10, 1968 at the Oscars Academy Awards Ceremony, at the Santa Monica Civic Auditorium, Santa Monica, California. Ms. Streisand presented the Oscar award for Best Song. American singer and actor Sammy Davis Jr. (1925-1990) posed with Barbra as he accepted the Oscar on behalf of Leslie Bricusse, who received the award for the song 'Talk to The Animals' from the film, 'Doctor Doolittle.' I'm not sure who the designer was... there is no label as it was custom made, but I have to assume it was Arnold Scaasi as Barbra wore many of his pieces and this has that Scaasi look. It's a black velvet horizontal stripes on netting with rhinestones of various sizes scattered all over. You can see that all the rhinestones are placed exactly where they are in the photos of Barbra's dress.... which is just an additional confirmation that this is "the" dress. There is also an attached numbered tag... presumed from an old auction. The dress is sheer, and has a nude lining attached underneath. The gown is quite structured, and as you can see... quite low cut at the bustline and underarms. Measures: 32" bust, up to 27" waist, up to 37" hips, 58" long from shoulder to hem. Excellent condition with just a pulling of the dress away from the zipper at the back waist... a simple fix! Inside you can see a light "B. Streis" hand-written on the upper back lining. Also Listed in the Memorabilia Category. $ 25,000. SOLD
Approx. - SIZE 2/4
(check measurements above)
SOLD#7354 - c. 1991 ANN MARGRET Incredible Stage Worn Red Velvet and Red Satin Rhinestoned Grand Entrance Trained "Robe" by NOLAN MILLER COUTURE! Lined in Silver Lame! Designed and Worn for her 1991 Radio City Music Hall Performance! This is the ACTUAL AUTHENTIC (and likely one-of-a-kind) entrance "showgirl" robe worn by the legendary Ann Margret on stage. This piece weighs an amazing (yes, I can use that word for this!) 13 POUNDS! You gotta look at all the photos (click on photo at left). This thing is FANTASTIC! Measures: 60" long from shoulder to hem in front, 120" long from shoulder to hem in back (with additional rhinestoned tassel at the very tip of the train (which is worn held as you see). Excellent condition (with just two repairs found from heels stepping on train/hem (see photos)... you won't notice unless inspecting. The massive collar is held up with a metal rod up the back! Yup! You think it's easy being a showgirl???? :) I contacted Nolan Miller's company to discuss this piece. There was only one made, and the design was based on an Erte painting (so they nicknamed it "the Erte"). SOLD
Approx. - SIZE 4/6
(check measurements above)
SOLD#7066 - c. 1953 CHRISTIAN DIOR, Paris White Bengaline Black Label Dress! Ah, a TRUE Dior dress... designed when it was still Christian Dior designing for his own label (until 1958). Just the kind of dress you would expect to be worn by the Hollywood elite... Grace Kelly or a very young Audrey Hepburn. As simple as you can find, and as beautiful as you can find! Sleeveless white cotton bengaline dress with deep "V" neck front. Front center seam ending in a large bow midway down skirt. Deep inverted black pleat. Lovely back shoulder straps. Back metal zipper. Measures: 32" bust, 25" waist, 40" long from shoulder to hem. Near Mint condition (for a white dress it's incredible!). It was shortened, but wasn't cut so there is up to 4" hem and can be let back down as there are no marks for the proper "ballerina" skirt length of 1953. There is the smallest light spot of the skirt front, but again, for a white dress, you won't find better condition.
$ 2,850. SOLD
Approx. - SIZE 2
(check measurements above)
SOLD#1766 - c. 1950's CLAIRE McCARDELL Clothes by Townley, Bettmann Fabric Striped Wool Jersey Knit Dress! Museum Quality! I sold this dress 11 years ago, and I was STILL dreaming about it! So I was so excited to see it again... like an old friend!! I sell so few McCardell's (because there are so few fantastic ones still available)so I suppose we start with a quick Claire McCardell bio. Only a few years out of school, Claire went to work at Townley with designer Richard Turk who died soon after which basically left her with the head designer position! (There's a quick way up the ladder!) Anyway, she stayed for a few years, went to Hattie Carnegie for two years and then back to Townley in 1940 to design under her own label. Ms. McCardell is credited with developing the blueprint for American sportswear...practical clothing, simple fabrics, clean purposeful shapes. Her innovations were the "popover" wraparound dress, soft empire dresses, bloomer-like playsuits, dirndl skirts, tube tops(eek!) and bareback summer dresses. She is considered to have been one of America's most influential designers. So... her dresses are becoming more and more prized. You have to remember how highly structured the clothing was at the time to know how innovative this dress was for the time. Very soft, comfortable knitted "sweater" jersey designed into a wonderfully shaped dress. Her signature brass round hook and-eye closures at the front. A real gem of a dress in Excellent Condition/Near Mint... can't find anything wrong with it! Sort of reds and greens and blacks (look at the close-up photos for true fabric colors). Measures: 36-38" bust, up to 29/30" waist, 49" long from shoulder to hem. Also Listed in the 1930-Today Category. $ 1,285. SOLD
Approx. - SIZE 6/8
(check measurements above)
SOLD#5947 - c. 1940's GILBERT ADRIAN ORIGINAL Black Wool 2-piece Suit with Intense Purple Wool Trim and Large Double Tassel on Attached Belt! Sold at Halle Bros. Specialty Shop! Oh yeah! Just what you want from Gilbert Adrian! Unique design, eye-catching, dramatic, and with tassels! :) This suit came from a collection of Adrian, Lilli Ann and Irene pieces, but sadly many of the Lilli Ann suits were attacked by a few moths. However, the moths must have read the label on this suit which reads: "This article BERLOU moth proofed - 5 year guarantee" !! This moth proofing lasted a heck of a lot longer than 5 years!!! Fantastic condition with just a bit of discoloration of the lining! What else can I say except I love it. Closes up the front with hooks/eyes so wears more like a dress than a suit... no blouse needed. Measures: 36/37" bust, 28" waist skirt, 29" long skirt from waist to hem with 2.5" hem. Heavy metal zipper at skirt side. Skirt is unlined (as it was originally). If you don't know Gilbert Adrian, just Google search him and you will get the lowdown. TOP American Hollywood Designer! $ 1,865. SOLD
Approx. - SIZE 6/8
(check measurements above)
SOLDDebbie Reynolds:
"What I remember most from this party
is how much I loved my dress. Helen
Rose did this outfit for me. It's pale green,
and the coat is lined with the same
beading as the dress. We had to pay
for those dresses back then. The $7,000
cost was steep."
—at the Governors Ball, 1964#6905 - c. 1960's HELEN ROSE Couture Gold Beaded Gown with Crystal Drops! Helen Rose was one of the few top Hollywood Designers from the 1940s-60s. She costumed over 200 films for MGM, was honored with 10 Oscar nominations and two Oscar wins! She designed wardrobe for a long list of stars. And her designs are memorable...such as Elizabeth Taylor's famous white wrap dress and slip from "Cat on a Hot Tin Roof". She was Grace Kelly's favorite, designing her wardrobe for "The Swan" and "High Society" AND her personal wedding gown... as well as Elizabeth Taylor's first wedding gown to Nicky Hilton, a white satin gown embellished with seed pearls and beading which had taken a number of beaders two months to complete! Helen's consumer line, "Helen Rose Couture", existed from 1957-1972. In 1957, the price for her retail version of the Liz Taylor "Cat" short chiffon dress was $250! So you can just imagine the original price of this beaded gown! Easily $5,000+ in the 60s! Fitted, fully beaded gown with extremely flattering low "v" neckline both front and back. Fabulous rows of beaded fringe and crystal drops on the skirt, at hemline, at bodice and armholes... even the underdress is beaded at the underarms! Awesome! If Helen Rose was good enough for Grace Kelly and Liz Taylor for their wedding gowns, well... By the way, don't forget to mention the Grace Kelly / Liz Taylor connection to every woman in the room! Measures tops: 36/37" bust, 28/29" waist (27" inner band), up to 39" hips, 56/57" long from shoulder to hem. This is an opportunity to experience the luxury and glamour that was reserved for filmland's most beautiful women. Excellent condition! SOLD
Approx. - SIZE 8
(check measurements above)
SOLD on LAYAWAY
#4743 - c. 1960's SORELLE FONTANA Export, Made in Italy Raw Silk/Linen Wiggle Dress with Jacket! Museum Deaccession! Quite rare to find a 60's Sorelle Fontana suit! FYI, according to the Life in Italy website, Sorelle Fontana is Rome's "Prominent and Oldest Fashion House - and is known as Couturiers to the Stars. Their beautiful designs became highly sought-after by Hollywood stars, famous women and the Italian aristocracy. Ava Gardner wore Fontana on and off the set. And Sorelle Fontana even designed for the movies, including dressing the young Audrey Hepburn in "Roman Holiday". Many others such as Princess Grace Kelly, Jacqueline Kennedy and Elizabeth Taylor wore their designs. They designed their first ready-to-wear collection in 1960. AND, according to the museum hangtag on this suit, they date it to 1960, and the label indicates "export", so... I have to assume that this is a wonderful museum example of possibly the first collection of RTW by Sorelle Fontana! Excellent condition. The exquisite art noveau print dress bodice is the same material lining the boxy jacket! So beautifully tailored, it could nearly be worn inside out! The tie on the dress can be worn showing the print side out, or solid side, depending on the look you want. Back metal zipper. No skirt slit, so you will wiggle! Measures: 36" bust, 25" waist, up to 35" hips, 20" long jacket. Also Listed in the 1930-Today Category. $ 1,285. SOLD on LAYAWAY
Approx. - SIZE 10
(all measurements are maximum, slightly smaller is OK!)
SOLD on LAYAWAY# 7458 - c. 1911/1912 Exquisite Black Jet Beaded "Titanic" Edwardian Gown! Extremely rare fully jet black beaded Edwardian gown over green silk with gold lame lace trim! Come on... when was the last time you saw a gown as beautiful as what Rose wore onboard the Titanic in the movie.. you know, her "jump" dress of black beading over red?? Well, now you have! The gown isn't perfect, but still in remarkable condition as most of these colored silk linings from this era are in tatters. There is just a bit of discoloration of the green silk (seen when lifting up the black beaded overdress), and there is a bit of messiness at mid upper back ecru lace, and some tearing of the lace under one sleeve at back (see photos). Although this is in a wearable size, I would hope that this gown is purchased to be displayed rather than destroyed. Just too rarely beautiful! I can't tell you what to do once you buy it, but just my hope. Measures: 35" bust, up to 29" slightly empire waist, up to 38" hips (39" if you don't want to sit). Doesn't come with a belt, but probably was worn with something like you see I added in the photos. Might have been black velvet or black satin. I just used a satin sash (doesn't come with it) Also Listed in the 1850-1920s Category. FINAL SALE ITEM! $ 3,450. SOLD on LAYAWAY
Approx. - SIZE: 4/6
(check measurements above)
SOLD on LAYAWAY# 4675 - c. 1860 Evening Gown of Graige Color Shot Taffetas and Brocade with Detachable Pagoda Sleeves and Original Pelerine! FIVE Pieces! Nearly impossible these days to find extraordinary 1860's gowns outside of museums. I just happen to have a couple that I was lucky enough to get years ago... and I am finally ready to part with them. Though it ain't easy. This one has 4 different looks!! The ballgown short sleeved bodice comes with the original detachable pagoda sleeves, and then the additional original matching pelerine worn over the bodice with the short or long sleeves. A KILLER GOWN! The short and long sleeves and pelerine are all edged in silk floss fringe, and embellished with an incredible brown and graige brocade. This brocade is then used in wide double panels on both sides of the skirt as faux sashes!!! Awesome!! Has all the other details you want.... deep "v" at front of bodice, cartridge pleats, padded bosom (!), button front pelerine, off-the-shoulder bodice, corseted back with what looks to be original ties. This gown is is very strong condition. The only issues are underarm stains (see photos) and sadly a section on the front of the skirt that is water stained (quite possibly used as a wedding gown and the flower bouquet leaked.... that's about where you'll find the problem (see photos). It just has to be forgiven to have such a killer all original gown. Measures: 33" bust (but all in front), 23" waist, 14" across back, 44" long from waist to hem (shown on the 30" bust, 22" waist mannequin and it fits her, so you won't want to be larger than her). NOTE: I didn't tie up the corset back on this piece because the less I worked with the corset ties, the better, so ... the photos of the upper back don't look as beautiful as it might. Sorry about that... I thought it was more important to baby this beauty. Once she is yours, you will be happy I was so thoughtful! :) $ 2,650. SOLD on LAYAWAY
Approx. - SIZE: 00
(check measurements above)
SOLD#5968 - c. 1930's The Liberty Shop, New Orleans, LA Magnificent Satin Rhinestone and Beaded Trained Gown with Original Matching Belt! I nearly fell off my chair when photos of this gown were send to me!!! It was SO spectacular that I was afraid that when it arrived in the mail that it wasn't going to be an actual 1930s gown.... but I'm happy to report... it is!!!! As fantastic as any gown you would have seen on the silver screen movie stars of the era. There is limited information I've found on The Liberty Shop, 2220 St. Charles Avenue, New Orleans, but it was founded by two Southern ladies Mrs. E.M. Ragan and Miss Emily Guelton in 1920, and headquartered in a mansion that still stands (currently a bridal shop). In the 20's and 30's "Customers were required to make appointments in advance and when they arrived sent their cards via a parlor maid. They were shown to rosewood sofas and chairs in the beautifully appointed rooms with the elaborate cornices, tall pier glasses, mantelpieces and glittering crystal chandeliers." The shop imported gowns (that usually means from Paris) as well as designed and created their own couture creations for the wealthy patrons and elaborate gowns and costumes for Mardi Gras parties! I even found Mrs. E.M. Ragan on a passenger list on the famed Cunard oceanliner Aquitania (New York Times dated August 22, 1924) traveling from Southampton, England and Cherbourg, France! Probably returning from France with her imported gowns!! :) Both women passed away in the late 1930's, early 1940's and the shop continued under other proprietors in the same tradition, with the same painstaking attention to detail. I doubt this was originally a wedding gown, but it it certainly could be, so it's included in this wedding section for those of you who have been WAITING for the gown that was going to WOW!! Can't get much more WOW than this!!!! There are minor spots mostly at the hemline, and a few minor ones here and there, but in the evening light you should be wearing this gown, they will hardly be an issue. Measures up to a 29" waist (tight, but can squeeze into that) though the inner waistband is 26" (you don't need to use that), up to 37" hips. Bust is hard to measure as the back is open... but you can see it fits 35" bust mannequin... perhaps a bit larger as well. Yes, the price is high... because I don't think in my life I will ever find another 1930s gown this special.... and being an import shop, who knows... could be from one of the top Parisian designers of the time!!! We'll never know. :( Also Listed in the Wedding and 1930s-Today Categories. $ 15,000. SOLD
Approx. - SIZE 6, small 8
(check measurements above)
SOLD#5879 - c. 1905/1906 House of BEER, 7 Place Vendome, Paris Black Silk Chiffon Trained Gown with Gold Sequins! Belongs in Museum! Gustav Beer opened his Parisian Couture House in 1905 (after years of designing in his native Germany), so this is one of his first gowns from Paris! I'm speechless (and that doesn't happen often!). I can't believe this gown just came to me out of the blue... not from a museum deaccession, but from an individual collector who purchased this "many moons ago" when gowns of this quality were still found outside of museums. Trust me... it rarely happens these days. As fabulous as any of the gowns you'd see in the museum photo books (see the gown photo from the New York Metropolitan Costume Institute! I like this one lot better!! :). The kind of piece I never thought I would ever find... and then.... well... TA DA! Even the condition is fantastic! Sure, the inner chiffon lining is going badly from the inner puff sleeves, and there is just a bit of pulling of the material off the waistband (from the weight), but other than those minor issues, it's nearly mint! Love the gold sequins in the standard round shape, but also in a open pointed oval shape on ecru lace appliqued with black chenille. Please don't wear this, as it really is an important enough piece that it should be babied. But for mannequin purposes, it Measures: 32" bust (most upfront... she was well-endowed!), 25" under bust, 22" waist, 42" long from waist to hem in front, 54" long in back. I've taken loads of photos so you can see all the details... including the very wide black velvet attached waistband, the design on the sides of the puffy sleeves, the pretty metallic tie at front bodice, even the interior bodice thin ribbon, the two gold and rhinestone buttons at back, and the surprising purple chiffon ruffle at lining hemline!! Also Listed in the 1850-1920s Category. $ 8,500. SOLD
Approx. - SIZE 00
(check measurements above)
SOLD on LAYAWAY#5800 - 1930's Extraordinary Beaded Velvet Wedding Gown with Long Beaded Train! Kate Middleton's Alexander McQueen wedding gown cost a reported £250,000 (just over $400,000!!) and Pippa's simple McQueen gown was £20,000 (or $32,500).... and if you ask me... this gown is much more extraordinary than either of those "shmatas". (if you don't know this word... look it up! :) This is what Kate SHOULD have worn to compete with her sister. But alas, she didn't, so if you have the body, you can walk down the aisle like the Princess you are. I have NEVER seen anything like this... other than in the 1930's movies. Ivory crushed velvet gown with beaded wide sleeves and upper bodice, and then the beading follows through to the long train!! The long velvet ropes at the neckline with wax blossoms "tassels" complete the look. This gown was so much nicer on the body than then mannequin, so ... on the body it is. As it's a bias cut, it will fit a variety of bodies, but it is small, so best for size 0-4. The model is 31.5" bust, 25" waist, 31.5" hips and it's too large in the bust and hips on her, but your waist will need to be small, or you will need to add a bit at the side closures. Email me your measurements (no cheating) to make sure it will fit you, as this is going to be a final sale item due to the uniqueness. Although there is no label in this gown, it was found in a box with a little silk pillow (ruined now) that read: Valentin Elgoibar, Bilbao, Spain. Unlike a new wedding gown, this is an investment as it will always keep it's value. Museum Worthy. Also Listed in the 1930-Today and Wedding Categories. $ 12,500. SOLD on LAYAWAY
Approx. - SIZE 0-4
(check measurements above)
SOLD#7064 - EXTREMELY RARE c. 1950's GENEVIEVE D'ARIAUX, P.A.P, Paris, Made in France Dress with Short Jacket of Black Faille and Velvet! First off, FYI, the P.A.P means Pret-a-Porter (or "ready-to-wear" as opposed to "made-to-measure" Couture). That was your first lesson today. Your second lesson is to introduce you to Genevieve Antoine d'Ariaux who wrote the book on fashion... literally! In 1964, she wrote: "A Guide to Elegance: For Every Woman Who Wants to Be Well and Properly Dressed on All Occasions", which has become a cult classic. There was even a 2004 novel, "Elegance", by Kathleen Tessaro, that tells the story of a frumpy middle-aged woman who transforms her life after finding a 40-year old copy of d'Ariaux's book! In her own words from the book, Madame d'Ariaux writes: "After earning the professional title of Paruriere (Accessorist) to the Haute Couture, which meant that more than half of my annual trade was with the haute couture (...the important Paris designers who sell original custom-made fashions in their own salons), I became a designer for a small knitwear firm. My own couture house, Genevieve d'Ariaux was doing very well at the time, with a clientele of fashionable women who... couldn't pay the prices I asked. Being a fanatic about quality, I would refuse to deliver a garment unless I was entirely satisfied with it, and the costs were soaring". So seems Mme. d'Ariaux decided instead to became directress of the Nina Ricci salons. So you can imagine her clothing is quite rare! I don't know the original prices, and haven't found other pieces of hers, but I did find someone asking $900 for her autographed notes!! In addition to her books, she was given the title of French fashion editor. Obviously a great sense of humor, one favorite quote in her book reads: "Be careful of reading health books; you may die of a misprint." :) Measures: Dress: 37" bust, up to 30" waist, 38" long from shoulder to hem. Jacket: 34/35" bust (depending where the button is placed... it was moved 1"). Dress has a 5" hem and looks to have been taken up 2". The dress has some seam tracks to show it was taken out a bit, so you just sew everything back to the original placement for the original dress/jacket.... however, the way it is now is perfectly fine to wear. There is no crinoline under, but I photographed with one (not included). Metal zipper at back of dress. The jacket fits tightly, so you should have a smallish back, and the 3/4 length sleeves are tight at the cuffs.
$ 3,850. SOLD
Approx. - SIZE 4
(check measurements above)
SOLD on LAYAWAY#7352 - c. 1980's BOB MACKIE Fully Beaded Fringe Dress! Think this looks slightly familiar?? Well, I already sold the gold version of this dress. That dress had the original Saks Fifth Avenue price tag of $7,000!! Check that one out at: http://www.antiquedress.com/item4315.htm (sold on the website for $5,000) However, being the Bob Mackie aficionado that I am, I would say that this dress is the 2nd incarnation of this dress and it might have sold for slightly less, but only slightly! This is still one of the early Mackie's. DON'T confuse it with the more modern stuff. Love the details... the scalloped hemline even though it's hidden under the beaded fringe. The faux wrap bodice with LOW back. I tried to capture a photo of the dress in motion. Spectacular to see this shimmy and shake... probably should have made a video! :) The color is a blue-ish green. Also fabulous. And black bugle beads cover the bodice as well. This dress screams Cher during her Sonny & Cher days. Measures: 33" bust, up to 29" waist, up to 36" hips (37" tight), 34" long from shoulder to hem of underskirt with additional 6" beaded fringe. Excellent condition... like new! Also Listed in the 1930-Today Category. $ 2,850. SOLD on LAYAWAY
Approx. - SIZE 2
(check measurements above)
SOLD#2414 - c. 1958 SCAASI Evening Bubble Dress with Original Matching Evening Coat! A great designer investment piece! OK... So I RARELY re-sell items on my website as I like to keep the stock as "fresh" as possible for all my website groupies. But there are times when the items are just too spectacular not to offer them again. I sold his incredible Scaasi outfit 10 years ago, and now she's come back "home" to me! :) It's the ultimate evening ensemble! A silk satin red floral huge Helianthus annuus 'Red Sun' Sunflower print strapless evening dress. Comes with the original sweeping red silk satin opera coat with matching floral print lining!!! Awesome. The dress is fitted to the waist and the skirt has layers of tulle underneath to create an amazing modified balloon hemline. The coat certainly can be used alone, but that lining is not to be missed, so make sure you flash it! Back zipper. Coat is a bit oversized. Measures: 34/35" bust, 26" waist (though I can squeeze in at 27.5" waist... I just can't breath... but there is a smidge of extra fabric if necessary). Excellent condition! This exact dress and coat set was displayed at the FIT (Fashion Institute of Technology in New York City) Scaasi Exhibition in 2002). The Museum of Fine Arts, Boston recently acquired Arnold Scaasi's personal archives and more than 100 of his pieces for the 2011 exhibit. These iconic ensembles are rare to find on the open market.... and only comes around (at least on this website) every 10 years! $ 3,450. SOLD
Approx. - SIZE 4/6
(check measurements above)
SOLD#6431 - c. 1960's RARE ODICINI COUTURE White Strapless Silk Satin Gown with Attached Black Silk Lined Train and Heavy Black Beaded Floral Ornaments around Bodice! Sold at Fred Hayman, Beverly Hills. This is a RARE Odicini Couture gown from Italy of the finest quality silk satins! PLEASE read up on Odicini by clicking on the photo at left and scrolling down. You really need to know WHAT this is! They just don't make anything like this any more. The modern designer couture gowns just don't have the quality fabrics for some reason. Why? Who knows! Perhaps the modern silk worms are eating too much fast food? Or aren't getting enough loving? Whatever the reason, that just means that vintage is the way to go! Especially if you have lusted after Audrey Hepburn's famous Givenchy gown in "Sabrina" and could never find anything even close. Well... here it is! White silk satin column strapless gown with attached black silk lined train. Incredibly heavy black 3-dimentional beading around bodice and waist front to back. This gown comes with the original large and heavy 115" x 28" black silk satin shawl. Side zipper. It's TOP couture! Measures: 34/35" bust, 27" waist, up to 37" hips, 44" long from natural waist to hem, 50" long in back. Excellent condition, but as it's white, it either needs hemline cleaning, or hem up for you shorter women and no spot cleaning necessary. I've photographed the gown slightly hemmed up and not hemmed up to see the length of the train. Either way is great. For your next BLACK & WHITE Ball!! With long black gloves! Oh my! Also Listed in the Wedding and 1930-Today Category. $ 5,000. SOLD
Approx. - SIZE 6
(all measurements are maximum)
SOLD#7058 - c. 1976 YVES SAINT LAURENT, Rive Gauche, Paris Peasant Collection! Printed Silk Chiffon Iconic Dress! Here's the quote from the New York Times Obit for YSL: The “rich peasant” collection of 1976, stirred so much interest that the Paris show was restaged in New York for his American admirers. “The clothes incorporated all my dreams,” he said after the show, “all my heroines in the novels, the operas, the paintings. It was my heart — everything I love that I gave to this collection.” Just imagine the skirt billowing in the breeze, and the elastic neckline worn off the shoulders for the most romantic look. You too can be a heroine! One of the BEST YSL peasant piece I've ever seen. Floral design in pink, white, blue, red, green and black. Stretch smocking to hip, ruffled open neck with wide over-the-shoulder flounce, double tiered long, full skirt with ruffles, self tie belt. Measures: 32/33+ bust, 26"+ waist, 50" long. Excellent, near mint condition. Marked size 34. $ 1,485. SOLD
Approx. - SIZE 4-10
(check measurements above)
SOLD#4315 - c. 1980's BOB MACKIE Fully Beaded Fringe and Crystal Dress! $7,000 Original Price Still Attached ! So WHY don't I sell this dress for $7,000?? Seems crazy to me that we should be able to buy 20-year-old dresses for LESS than the original price in NEW, UNWORN condition!! Part of the problem is that it's only these very early net Mackie dresses (and costumes) that were priced at this level. There were many Mackie mass-produced dresses that were produced later, and often people don't know the difference. Always seek out the fully beaded dresses and gowns on nude netting - these were lined in nude material to be worn out in public, but if the linings were removed, they were the same nearly see-through dresses that were worn by Cher, Diana Ross and others! This dress screams Ann Margaret during her Vegas days. So these, along with Mackie's beaded costumes, are the collectable Mackies! (There was a strange silk modesty strap that you step into to hold the dress down, but I detached one side as no human could fit into the dress the way it was. You can easily remove the other side from the lining, but I left it as it is original to the dress.) Measures: 36" bust, up to 28" waist, up to 36" hips (37" tight), 32" long from shoulder to hem of underskirt with additional 4" beaded fringe. Also Listed in the 1930-Today Category. $ 5,850. SOLD
Approx. - SIZE 6 (a/b cup best)
(check measurements above)
SOLD#5712 - c. 1960's BILL BLASS for MAURICE RENTNER Bronze and Silver Eyelash Lame Dress (or Coat) Trimmed in Sable-look Mink, with Original Faux Tortoise Shell Buckle Self Belt! Whoopie! Last time this dress (or as they called it "Late-Day Coat") was sold was at a Doyle Couture Auction in New York City in 2004 when it sold for $900 (and you know that prices have skyrocketed since then!). This dress was just uncovered from a storage unit from a socialite which included a few other fantastic finds, including a 1970s Gucci leather/suede coat with sterling figural adornments! I was told that Jackie Onassis (aka Jacqueline Kennedy) had the exact same coat! Would certainly love to find photos of that! Anyway, this lame dress/coat you are buying here (buying if you are SMART!), is an early Bill Blass prior to starting his own label in 1970. Bronze and silver eyelash lame with an abstract glen plaid print, collarless V-neckline, cuffs and hem bordered with sable-look mink, self belt with faux tortoise shell round buckle, labeled size 8 (old sizing). Excellent condition. More photos and measurements coming. A great investment piece. $ 2,185. SOLD
Approx. - SIZE 4/6
(check measurements above)
SOLD#5443B - c. 1925 RARE NUMBERED COUTURE BEER, 7 Place Vendome, Paris Black Wool Wrap Coat with Awesome Detailing! Let's start with the fact that this coat is extraordinary. The House of Beer was one of the top fashion houses from 1884 through the late 1920s when they merged with another fine fashion house, Drecoll and became Drecoll-Beer. At this time this coat was designed, Beer's motto had become "conservative elegance". I'd say they managed to reflect that in this coat! There are no closures. It was meant to be fashionably clutched. I imagine that became fashionable years prior with the wearing of large embroidered shawls which would be clutched as well. The coat is a basic black, with huge shawl collar, slight cocoon shape, sleeves that bell out at the back, and well... then comes what I can't even describe... that awesome detailing!! Sadly I don't know what it's called... it's like a cut velvet, but I'm not sure it's not some kind of cut sheared fur... it seems too coarse for velvet... but the movie people call it velvet so I'm following their lead. Designed to look like Russian karakul broadtail lamb, but somehow it's integrated right into the wool. I'm in awe! The exterior of this coat is in Excellent condition... no issues. The interior silk lining has a few minor issues at the back neck (see photos), and the Beer tag is just hanging by a thread. I'm leaving as I found it, so you don't think I stitched the Beer label on (god forbid!), but the good news is you can easily see the number under the label!! YEA! Also, sadly the lining is gone from the sleeves, but again, this is all issues ONLY on the interior. Measures: 45" long from shoulder to hem. A RARE piece from the MASTER House of Beer. $ 1,765. SOLD
Approx. - SIZE 0-6 (depending what you wear under, and how far you want to wrap)
(check measurements above)
SOLD#6765 - c. 1903/1904 MRS. BAKER, COURT DRESSMAKER, 15 New Burlington Street, W, London Elaborate and Opulent Trained Black Chantilly Lace Evening Gown and Matching Coat Ensemble! Previously Owned by the Eminent Collector DORIS LANGLEY MOORE, the Founder of the Fashion Museum at Bath, England (Previously the Museum of Costume at Bath) and Prominently Featured in Ms. Moore's 1947 book "The Woman in Fashion"! Comes with the 2 Original 1947 photos of Ms. Moore Wearing the Ensemble! QUICK NOTE FOR COLLECTORS: Both Pieces were Expertly Relined! From I have been collecting, buying and selling Antique and Vintage clothing for 45 years now (yes, I bought my first Edwardian white dress at age 10 at a flea market!!). So, as you can imagine, it takes an extraordinary piece to take my breath away... I believe I gasped out-loud with a "Oh God"! And when it happens, I remember all over again that I LIVE for antique and vintage clothing!!!! If you are reading this, you probably feel the same way. This outfit was previously owned by Doris Langley Moore, who loved it so much she had herself photographed wearing this outfit! As I mention upfront, for those collectors who want items fully original, these pieces have been fully and expertly relined (most likely by a museum)... but the exterior I believe to be fully original on both pieces!! And certainly the relining has allowed this pieces to remain in NEAR MINT condition! YEAH! Trained Black Chantilly net lace gown with embroidered green silk floss leaves and pink silk roses with embroidered bows and trellis designs and tiny silver sequins. One of the most elaborate gowns and coats ever seen! Labeled "Mrs. Baker, Court Dressmaker" from London. I spent some time researching what this might have cost new (with inflation and exchange rate) and the gown alone would be close to $20,000... with the coat, likely $40,000! The matching coat has pagoda sleeves, deep collar, pastel colored chiffon roses and black velvet ribbon trims with silver sequins. Measures: 34/35" bust, 23/24" waist, Skirt is: 42" long from waist to hem, 54" long in back. Coat is: 56" long from shoulder to hem. Condition is amazing with only tiny a few leg breaks in the Chantilly lace. Also Listed in the 1850-1920s Section.
$ 9,500. SOLD
Approx. - SIZE 0/2
(check measurements above)FROM MUSEUM QUALITY ESTATE
SOLD#5108 - c. 1800 RARE Embroidered Sheer Woven Muslin Trained Gown! The color is an off-white of a ever so slight robins egg bluish tinge, which you see when placed against a true white. Lovely piece!! Embroidered transparent evening dress with train, likely English or French in gorgeous woven block design with wavy embroidery, gathered string tie sleeves, low neckline and squared off train! Extremely rare to find these gowns with trains. As I read, trained gowns pretty much disappeared by 1805/1806. There are a few small holes (see photos) that could just use some darning, but otherwise in lovely clean condition!! This is impossibly small in the back... just 4" across back between armseams!! I had to find my teeny black mannequin for the back photo (so my photo isn't as pretty as it should be!). The sides of the bodice and sleeves are lined in a tight woven fairly stiff cotton (see interior photos)! The string pulls at the sleeves don't easily pull, so as you see one sleeve is more puffed than the other, but certainly these can be fixed to work. Center bodice ties as well to fit. The back of the gown closes with "corset ties" (though no cord remains there). Also Listed in the 1700-1840s Category.
$ 2,250. SOLD
Approx. - SIZE 000
(check measurements above)
SOLD
Museum Packing Dress#5126 - c. 1986 RARE ISABEL TOLEDO "Packing Skirt" of Red and Black Linen with Original Matching Black Knit Top with Red Linen Collar! Museum Worthy! Wow... what a great find! Most people never heard the name "Isabel Toledo" until Michelle Obama wore a lemongrass yellow outfit for the inauguration of her hubby. All of a sudden she was a household name! However, it was back in 1985 when Isabel Toledo presented her first collection. So she was an overnight sensation nearly 25 years in the making! Most recently the Museum at F.I.T., New York held a Isabel Toledo exhibit entitled “Fashion From the Inside Out”. Seems that both Isabel's and Museum Director, Dr. Valerie Steele's favorite piece is the Packing Dress from 1988, which has "since been born again in many incarnations. It's essentially two circular pieces of fabric that mysteriously, yet simply, come together with blurred lines. Imagine a garment that mimics the point where the ocean and sand come together at the beach, that spot where one can no longer define where one ends and the other begins". HOWEVER, seems this dress started as a skirt concept, because as written in October 31, 1986: "Isabel Toledo, 22, whose business is only three seasons old.... Among the more directional styles she will show for spring is a double-circle skirt she calls a "packing skirt" because it lies flat when not worn". And as Dr. Steele said, "I think one of the most important designs that I really wanted to get for the museum was her packing dress that is shaped like a doughnut, the pattern is round with a hole cut in, and it can be worn back to front, front to back and upside down. It’s a very kind of Balenciaga looking dress, yet it can be packed flat into a little folded package. I think this is one of the most important designs Isabel did". So... this is a MUSEUM PIECE! Near Mint condition. Linen and silk knit. Measures: 24" waist, 19" long skirt, stretch top best for Small. It's an OLD size 6! The red belt did not come with it, but matches great, so I'm throwing it in. FYI, Couture Isabel Toledo pieces sell new for $2770-$5500+ ! This is certainly more special than any of those as the revolutionary designed "Packing Dress" forerunner! $ 3,500. SOLD
Approx. - SIZE 0/2
(check measurements above)
SOLD on LAYAWAY#7059 - c. Fall, 1972 NORELL Bone and Bone Checked Wool/Hair Coat! From NORMAN NORELL's Final Collection Donated to Museum from Gustave Tassell, President of Norman Norell, Inc.! Original Hang Tag from I. Magnin with $1,995. Price!! What a find! First off, this coat was deaccessioned from a museum, and still has the museum tags which include a tag denoting the donor to be none other than Gustave Tassell, the designer who succeeded Norman Norell upon his death in October, 1972 as designer of the Norell label. In addition, this coat has the original hand written tape "Denise 925". Now I had an exquisite Norell coat with a "Denise 920" tag in the past. I have NO idea what this all means, but I'd love to find out if anyone out there has a clue! Who, or what is Denise, and what do the numbers mean? "Bueller, Bueller"??? I assume this could be a store sample tag?? Anyway, back to the coat... with all this documentation, and the fact that this coat is in Near Mint condition... it's an extremely collectable piece! Simple single breasted button front coat of solid color bone wool/hair fiber blend material (like a mohair) with a very deep (or wide) hem band, cuffs and wide collar of a bone and off-white checkerboard design. Side seam pockets, and self sash tie. Fully lined. Measures: 38" bust, 43" long from shoulder to hem. My last Norell sable trimmed and velvet coat (with the Denise 920 tape label) sold for $7500. This coat has the original I. Magnin hangtag that reads "Sample" and the original price as "Coat only $1995.00 So it's a STEAL at this price... as with inflation it would have sold for $10,400!!! $ 2,285. SOLD on LAYAWAY
Approx. - SIZE 6/8
(check measurements above)
SOLD#6707 - c. 1970's NORELL Coat of Deep Emerald Green Velvet and Sable Fur Trim! Museum Quality! From American designer Norman Norell comes this museum quality velvet sable trimmed coat. The coat dates from the 1970s and is made from an deep emerald or bottle green velvet in a Russian princess cut. Gorgeous sable fur surrounds the high neck, sleeves and hemline of the fully cut skirt. There are large velvet covered buttons and very wide and dramatic cinch belt at the waist. This amazing coat is fit for a princess or yes, even a museum, and is must-have for any serious vintage collector! Fully lined in green silk taffeta. The condition is excellent, and the coat has no fading, stains, crush marks on the velvet and the sable fur is soft and supple and isn't shedding. The only item to note is the belt has a tear at the backside. Totally unseen from the front. edge needs to be re-glued (see photo) and I will leave this small repair to a professional. CONDITION: Brilliant, near mint condition! NOTE: Doyle Auction House in New York City sold a similar Norell velvet coat trimmed in a white mink rather than sable. The Doyle estimate for that coat was $4000-6000. Certainly a sable trimmed coat would have been valued at much more!! Measures: up to 36" bust, up to 32" waist, 46" long from shoulder to hem. Also Listed in the 1930-Today and Furs, etc. Categories. $ 7,500. SOLD
Approx. - SIZE 2-8
(check measurements above)
SOLD# 4334 - late 1950's PEDRO RODRIGUEZ, Madrid, Barcelona, San Sebastian, Spain Purple Textured Silk Bubble (Watteau) Back Mermaid Gown! OMG..... this is the kind of gown I dream about finding. You know... the unique shape of a fashion forward gown of the late 1950s. I would have thought this to be a Balenciaga, but it's from another high-end Spanish designer, Pedro Rodriguez. I'm speechless!!! Really!!! Check out all the photos to see the shape from all angles. Heavy textured silk (like a unique and wild corduroy) which gives the appearance of a changeable color (due to the texture). The shape includes a horizontal seam under the bust, the balloon draping at back, tight skirt with scallop at front hem and a stiffened mermaid fish tail. Back zipper (had been professionally replaced), and there are discoloration at the underarms (see photos), otherwise Excellent. Measures: 35" bust, up to 25.5" waist, up to 35" hips best (fits 36"), 55" long from shoulder to hem in front. MUSEUM WORTHY... WITHOUT QUESTION!
SOLDApprox. - SIZE 4
(check measurements above)
SOLD# 7366 - RARE c. 1974-1975 BRANIFF AIRLINE Turquoise Stewardess Uniform Dress and Jumper Designed by EMILIO PUCCI ! Yes, I know... today it is PC to call them "flight attendants", but back in the day... the term was "stewardess". If you look through the websites, you will see the uniforms changed every couple of years or so, and these two pieces came from the Emilio Pucci designed collection of 1974-1976. These can be worn in a variety of ways to give the stewardesses at least some variety. The turquoise, white, purple, green and black synthetic knit dress (with original matching rope belt) can be worn alone, and the turquoise bonded wool jumper with buttons at shoulder straps can be worn alone as well, but due to the short slit up the front (and the miniskirt length), you might show a bit more leg than you want... though I confess, I wore jumper alone for a few hours to audition for a play! :) SOOO cute on! NOTE: According to Modcolors.com... "Originally, these leotards were issued with beautiful fabric covered shank buttons (as you have here). However, in 1976, the buttons were changed to a flat translucent dark gray. Perhaps it was decided they would create a smoother look under the jumpers, or the fabric buttons were catching on everything but I doubt Emilio Pucci would have approved of using plastic buttons on his design." Measures: up to 36" bust, up to 30" waist, up to 38" hips, 32" long from shoulder to hem for jumper, 37" long dress. Both pieces in Excellent condition. VERY collectible! FINAL PUCCI COLLECTION for BRANIFF! In 1977, Halston was hired to design the next collection. They didn't hold a candle to Pucci's uniforms!! $ 865. SOLD
Approx. - SIZE 2-small 6
SOLD# 6896 - RARE c. 1940's GLADYS PARKER, Hollywood Black Crepe Open Front Gown! WOW... I don't think I've ever seen another! Gladys Parker was a very popular, nationally known cartoonist, yes, cartoonist (!) in the 1930s, and in addition she was a fashion designer who created some really fabulous clothing! Under the name Gladys Parker Designs, her clothing line was sold in stores as early as 1934, capitalizing on her fame as the artist of Flapper Fanny Says, and in 1939 she created her most endearing character, Mopsy. Parker modeled Mopsy after herself! The Mopsy Sunday strip was added to newspapers in 1945 and gave Parker an opportunity to draw her fashion creations in a sidebar feature of paper dolls. Parker also designed clothing for films. Here's some fascinating 1935 footage on her wonderful designs! http://www.efootage.com/stock-footage/58568/Gladys_Parker_Fashion_Show/ This particular gown is a flowing black crepe in wonderful and sexy design... as the front bodice is slit up the front from the waist up! Yes, slit! Totally open! Whoo whoo!! Closes with one hook/eye at the neckline. Looong flowing batwing sleeves. The figure is defined by the wide "v" shaped waistband. Heavy metal zipper at the back. The long pleated skirt is tucked at the side seams to create a hobble effect! Measures: up to 38" bust (it's open so who can measure exactly?), up to 25" waist, 60" long from shoulder to hem. Excellent condition with the only issue (if you want to call it that) are fabric snags at the front waistband, but I'm sure that was from some fancy ornament or large pin! And I'd suggest you do the same with whatever turns you on. The price reflects the fine condition, rarity of this label, and quality of the design! $ 2,485. SOLD
Approx. - SIZE 2/4
(check measurements above)
SOLD# 6756 - RARE c. 16th Century Cut Steel Frame Purse / Replaced with late 1800/early 1900 Ruby Velvet! Urn shaped purse hinged at sides. The sides are unique with piercings that increase from top to bottom. Scalloped on the front and back. Chunky chain handle. Some rust on the frame and the velvet has been sewn on crudely, but MY GOD.... what a unique and OLD piece. This has been dated for me to the 16th Century!!! That's back to King Henry VIII era!!! Or prior to the Pilgrims!!! Just hard to even fathom that I am holding this in my hands. Measures: 8" long, 5.5" wide at top and 6.5" wide at bottom. Chain is nearly 12" long. This piece is SO OLD, it's EARLIER than my CATEGORY!!!! ;) Also Listed in the 1750-1840s Category.
$ 485. SOLD
SOLD#6957- c. late 1950's/ early 1960's SCAASI Cranberry and Gold Metallic Brocade Dress with Matching Swing Coat! Question: What do all these women have in common? Jacqueline Kennedy, Barbara Bush, Hillary Clinton, and Laura Bush, Joan Crawford, Ivana Trump, Princess Yasmin Aga Khan, Lauren Bacall, Diahann Carroll, Elizabeth Taylor, Catherine Deneuve, Brooke Astor, and Mary Tyler Moore? All Scaasi clients! Wanna add your name to the list? Too bad you can't see this in person. You just have to take my word for it that these two pieces are tailored as the highest end pieces would be... like for a princess. Gold metallic and cranberry puffy high relief brocade on both pieces. Dress has flattering low square neckline and 3/4 sleeves with a few layers of crinoline under. Fully lined. Coat has no closures and is lined in beige satin. Near Mint condition for both pieces. Dress measures: 36" bust, up to 28" waist, 43" long from shoulder to hem.
$ 2,885. SOLD
Approx. - SIZE 6/8
(check measurements above)
SOLD#7176 - c. 1926 Gold Beaded Flapper Dress with Incredible Sequined "Bubbles" on Cotton Netting! Likely French Couture! This is one of those incredible flapper beaded and sequin dresses that you can't believe doesn't have a label. Jean Patou? Lanvin? Someone who was totally confident in their design abilities as this is "wild" both in design and in the types of beads and sequins used... various colored spotted sequins, and the finest glass beads. I don't even know what else to say. It's all about the photos. Weighs a ton, but because it's on the European cotton netting, it survived the weight of the beads (and will survive another 80+ years)! The skirt continues the awesome circle (or bubble if you want to be as cute as I try to be) motif all in the gold beading, and flairs at each side. The front is exactly the same as the back of this dress. In the second to last photo, you will see that one green bead. I was told this confirms that this was totally hand beaded (as one rogue bead was inserted to show the human touch). In the last photo you will see the only minor issue (otherwise near mint!!) there is one small area of tarnish in the gold just above the multi-colored sequin waist. It's mid center, but since the dress is exactly the same front and back, it can be worn with that in the back. As it is, it's almost as though she might have been carrying a bouquet! Why not get married in your finest, likely couture dress! $ 3,750. SOLD
Approx. - SIZE 0-6
(check measurements above)AUTHENTIC - BROOKE SHIELDS
SOLD
#4574 - c. 1983 BOB MACKIE, Worn by Brooke Shields for Cosmopolitan Cover Red and Black Bugle Bead Gown on Black Netting with Matching Opulent Fox Fur Trimmed Diva Jacket! From Bob Mackie's private collection of gowns purchased from the Sotheby's auction. As far as I am concerned, this was the most amazing piece at the auction! OK.. there were about 3 others that I also loved, but none nearly as opulent!! I've been searching for the Cosmo cover with Brooke Shields wearing this gown, but haven't located it yet. The gown and jacket are in Excellent condition and look incredible on! The red beading on the black netting gives an interesting coloration, with the detail pattern of the gown appearing more pronounced in certain lighting conditions. VERY high slight in the skirt shows almost all your leg when you move. Closes at back with hook between the back straps. Couture construction makes every body look it's best. The jacket is KILLER!!! Massive dolman sleeves and drapy back all trimmed in wide black fox fur around high collar, cuffs, and around entire edge. Fully beaded in all red beads and weighs a ton!! Measures: 34/35" bust, 25" waist, up to 37" hips. The finest early Bob Mackie pieces are coveted by museums. Here's your chance to own the best of the best from Hollywood's fashion icon and masterful designer! So fabulous that even Bob Mackie couldn't part with it for over 20+ years! Sharon Stone's Mackie beaded gown from "Casino" sold at auction for $13,200 - just the gown! Compared to that.. this is a steal! Also listed in the Memorabilia and 1930-Today Categories. $ 13,500. SOLD
Approx. - Size 4/6
(check measurements above)
SOLD#6719 - RARE c. 1950's JEAN DESSES, Paris Numbered Couture Black Chiffon "Petal" Dress! One of my most favorite pieces ever!! Awesome black silk chiffon party dress by the renowned Parisian designer, Jean Dessès This splendid dress is from a superb estate including the presumed elaborately beaded Norman Hartell dress below. This dress is in OUTSTANDING, like-new condition, with the only flaw being two teeny pinprick-sized holes to the front neckline, where likely a large brooch was once pinned on, and one short slit in upper back (see photos - in bottom layer of chiffon), and the slightest "white dust" in a small area on the skirt (see photo). The dress is a boned silk taffeta and chiffon bodice above a stunningly pleated silk chiffon skirt with literally HUNDREDS of individually finished and applied silk chiffon "petals". The hand-craftsmanship is simply amazing: absolutely top-quality in every way. Back metal zipper. Measures: 34/35" bust, 25" waist, up to 41" hips, 43" long from shoulder to hem. $ 8,750. SOLD
Approx. - SIZE 4/6
(check measurements above)
SOLD#6993 - c. 1950's Lipstick Pink Silk Chiffon "Jean Desses" (?) Draped Dress! I have to attribute this dress to Jean Desses, but there is no label. The dress below mine DOES have the Jean Desses label, so I will let you decide if you agree with me that this is Desses! Lovely lipstick pink (blue hue - the best!) silk chiffon... with three layers of skirting. Full ruching of the bodice and asymmetrically over the front skirt with "scarf" at one side of skirt. Tons of material! Very Good to Excellent condition... with the only issues being the wear on one strap (see photo) and a hardly seen water spot on the "scarf" area of the skirt... which can only be seen when inspection, and absolutely lost in the folds. Wearable size at: 35/36" bust, 27" waist, up to 40" hips, 42" long from shoulder to hem, 26" long from waist to hem. Nylon zip with hooks over at side - nice tailoring detail. If this dress had a label, it would sell for more than twice this price! As it is, you are purchasing what everyone (including me) will believe to be Jean Desses. $ 2,850. SOLD
Approx. - SIZE 6
(check measurements above)
SOLD#6723 - c. 1957 Superbly Beaded Satin Cocktail Dress... possibly NORMAN HARTNELL! My "expert" dated this dress to 1957 and suggested the possible designers could be Mainbocher or Norman Hartnell. I first thought of Hartnell when I saw the dress. Whoever the designer was (and it just kills me that the label is gone), it is one of the most extraordinary beading you will find on any dress of the era! Intricate variety of types of beads with 3-D shells evoking the sea... so the satin "sailor" collar with bow seem a perfect match. Back metal zipper. Measures: 35/36" bust, 26" waist, 45" long from shoulder to hem, 30" long from waist. Shown with a crinoline under - as it should be worn. Excellent condition with minor bruising of the satin. Interior bra attached. There is no question that this is a major designer dress! $ 2,750. SOLD
Approx. - SIZE 4/6
(check measurements above)
SOLD#9986 - c. 1926/1927 EXTRAORDINARILY RARE ATTRIBUTED TO JEANNE LANVIN Ivory Silk Evening Coat with Fur Collar Lined in Brown Silk Velvet! This fabulous piece just came to me "out of the blue" from the descendant of a wealthy woman who travelled in only the best circles. The family oral history is that this coat was a "runway" piece from Jeanne Lanvin's Parisian Couture house. My expert fashion historian dated it to likely Winter 1927 due to the bell-bottomed sleeves (introduced in 1926 - but at the height of fashion in the Autumn/Winter collections of 1927, when couturiers used all their design ingenuity in finding clever dressmaker details, and decorative treatments, to emphasize these flaired, wide-bottomed sleeves. Certainly, the extraordinary cartridge-pleating on this coat qualifies as a "clever dressmaker detail." The placement of this decoration, both to emphasize the width of the sleeve and to suggest a slight flare toward the hem of the garment, reinforces this probability. The quality of the materials, and the craftsmanship, do suggest that this is real couture, missing label notwithstanding. In the Fall of 1927, both Doeuillet and Martial & Armand showed coats that vaguely resemble this one, but while there are no specific "designerisms," to verify the Lanvin attribution, there is also no compelling reason to doubt the family tradition that it is, indeed, by Lanvin. This MAY be a "one of a kind" sample, and if so... it's certainly extremely rare! The exterior is ivory silk tightly gathered into the "feather" scalloped edged design in the bell sleeves and stepped sides and back. The interior is completely lined in a brown silk velvet. The large collar worn as you see or high and tight (as often seen in the 1920s) is a brown silky fur (not sure what). There are no closures on the coat.. it just stays open as you see, or use a brooch to close... the fashion etchings from that era just show coats held closed when wrapped. It's quite small... as shown on the size 2 mannequin, it really should wrap a slight bit more... so it's better for a size 0 today. The condition is very good... Excellent in the structure and the detailing, but the plain ivory silk has large waterspots (light, but they are there) in the front (see photos)... and age spotting on the inside (not seen) under the velvet lining. This is really a coat for a collection or museum as it's SO special! Or certainly if you have a Lanvin retrospective ball to attend.... well, this should be one of the highlights of that evening! A RARE DESIGNER 1920s COAT!$ 5,000. SOLD
Approx. - SIZE 0
(check measurements above
SOLD
#6704 - c. 1920's RARE French Silver Bullion "Hair" Cloche Labeled "Ideal, PARIS"! The ULTIMATE Flapper Cloche or Flapper Headpiece! If you have been one of my website groupies for awhile, you might have seen the gold bullion "hair" cloche I sold some years back (still in my sold museum section). I bought that last one in London and hated to sell it as I had never seen another in my 35+ years of collecting. So, since then I've been searching everywhere for others! AMAZINGLY, I found two of these recently and again, it kills me to put these up on the website as I just LOVE LOVE LOVE them!!!! And since, if asked what I would most like to collect, it would be flapper headpieces. But I know there are others of "me" out there also with flapper collections, so... WAAAHHH.... you get the opportunity to own these forever! Absolutely amazing!! It's a cloche woven with silver bullion threads in the shape of a classic 1920's hairdo... complete with the finger wavy hairs all over, and the pinned up "longer" hair at the back and coiled at the sides in braids (Princess Leahish!). I suppose this is the ultimate hat for a "bad hair day"!!! Excellent condition with the only thing to mention is slight tarnishing... it might have been brighter silver when new, but frankly I like it "as is" with this patina and just a bit of "hair" out of place. Net lining. This will easily fit a 22" head, and even a 23" head! Nearly impossible to measure, but it's large on my normal 22" head (as you can see in the photos) and will fit, but higher on the 23" head - see other photos). I assume originally this was worn by a women who didn't yet want to cut her long hair into the fashionable "bob", so wore this over that full hair (which is why it's larger). Absolutely a Museum quality piece! $ 3,450. SOLD
SOLD#6819 - c. 1920's RARE Pink Silk "Hair" Flapper Cloche! The ULTIMATE Flapper Headpiece! Likely Parisian! I will reiterate from the listing above... If you have been one of my website groupies for awhile, you might have seen the gold bullion "hair" cloche I sold some years back (still in my sold museum section). I bought that last one in London and hated to sell it as I had never seen another in my 35+ years of collecting. So, since then I've been searching everywhere for others! AMAZINGLY, I found two of these recently and again, it kills me to put these up on the website as I just LOVE LOVE LOVE them!!!! And since, if asked what I would most like to collect, it would be flapper headpieces. But I know there are others of "me" out there also with flapper collections, so... WAAAHHH.... you get the opportunity to own these forever! Absolutely amazing!! It's a cloche woven with pink silk threads in the shape of a classic 1920's hairdo... complete with the wavy hairs all over, and the pinned up "longer" hair at the back and coiled at the sides in braids (Princess Leahish!). This piece has the original tiny purply-blue flowers at the sidepieces!! Nice!! I suppose this is the ultimate hat for a "bad hair day"!!! Excellent condition with the only thing to mention a bit of "hair" out of place for an ever so slightly "tousled" look, and the silk interior is torn (though in most cases this would just be a total loss, so nice to still have some of the original interior silk... with writing!). This will easily fit a 22" head, and even a 23" head! Nearly impossible to measure, but it's large on my normal 22" head (as you can see in the photos) and will fit, but higher on the 23" head - see other photos). I assume originally this was worn by a women who didn't yet want to cut her long hair into the fashionable "bob", so wore this over that full hair (which is why it's larger). Absolutely a Museum quality piece! Likely Parisian piece - has some writing inside with name. $ 2,850. SOLD
SOLD#3867 - c. 1950's Rare SELINCOURT COUTURE, London Green Changeable Taffeta Hooped Ballgown! I almost fainted when I saw this gown for the first time. I purchased it a few months ago in London at a small Vintage Clothing show. I walked around the first time and saw nothing I wanted. OK, there were a few "nice" items, but nothing I couldn't live without... which means I figure you can live without it, so why buy it. Then I took the second look around and spotted this gown hiding at the back of one booth, tucked away, hanging on a hanger nearly fully covered by other items. Wow! I don't think the dealer really wanted to sell it, since it was so well camouflaged. I got it home and finally got to see it on a mannequin and flipped! Better than I even thought! You are seeing it "as is" without any additional crinolines under. The entire skirt is hooped to create this ballgown shape!! According to "History of 20th Century Fashion" by Elizabeth Ewing, Selincourt was originally Selincourt & Colman, founded in 1857. They began making coats, mantles and fur garments. A dress business was added later. The gowns were very high quality ready-to-wear, manufactured in limited editions. Eventually, Selincourt absorbed a number of other dress businesses, and today (as of 1987) they have fifteen subsidiaries, including three couture houses. Excellent condition except for dark spotting at the back hemline and inside hemline at back, and light water spot at hemline. I hope a museum can clean to make perfect, as it's certainly rare and museum worthy! Blue/green changeable silk taffeta with gathered bodice, gathered skirt front with two tired flowers. Back metal zipper. Measures: 34" bust, 24" waist, 29" long in front from waist to hem, 47" long in back. Boned bodice. Also Listed in the 1930-Today Category. $ 2,250. SOLD
Approx. - SIZE 4
(check measurements above)AUTHENTIC - CHER
BOB MACKIE Gown
Worn to the Oscars in 1983!
SOLD#6656 - c. 1983 BOB MACKIE Gown Worn by CHER at the 1983 Oscars / Academy Awards - for her Nomination for Best Supporting Actress in "Silkwood"! Previously sold at CHRISTIE'S AUCTION HOUSE at their Oscars Auction! The ULTIMATE in COLLECTABLES! An original Bob Mackie design, dramatic sheer beaded nude-colored evening dress constructed on a sheer mesh foundation embellished overall in crystal clear bugle beading. The plunging halter neckline and sides are further decorated with draped strands of bugle beads and silver diamantes. Comes with matching taffeta and beaded stole (33" x 46"). The gown weighs in at 4 pounds. Sold at Christie's 1999 "Unforgettable: Fashions of the Oscars" auction for $27,600. And that's 1999 pricing!! It was Lot #5. The photo in the auction catalog is different from the dress they actually sold (which is the dress you see here). If you go on the Christie's website, you will see the special "Saleroom Notice" which says: "The dress being sold is not the dress illustrated in the catalogue. Cher has donated this Bob Mackie dress which she wore to the 1983 Academy Awards when she was nominated for Best Supporting Actress, Silkwood". Fabulous investment!! Note: Elizabeth Taylor's dress from the same Oscars sale sold for $167,000!!!! And another black outfit from the Cher auction sold for $60,000! Fully beaded onto nude netting, and lined in the right places. Great open back! Rhinestones on sheer areas and straps. Measures 34" bust, 25" waist, up to 35" hips, 60" long from shoulder to hem. Nearly Near Mint condition... there are a few areas of beads missing, but this is an easy fix for a seamstress (and there are a few beads you can "steal" from under hemline... or if you hem up, there are more, but these are clear glass bugle beads that you can get most anyplace)... and there is netting pull at seam at one small place at front (again, easy fix). The only issue at all that can't be made perfect is one small area on front where the netting is stressed a bit (see photos)... only seen on close inspection. The gown comes with the shawl with beaded edging and long beaded tassels. Minor tear and stain on shawl (not on dress) with missing beads on tassels (again easy fix!). Also Listed in Memorabilia Category.
SOLDApprox. - SIZE 4
(check measurements above)
SOLD#6633 - c. 1964 EXTREMELY RARE, UNWORN, ORIGINAL RUDI GERNREICH Topless Bathing Suit! Original Tags! Own a piece of history with this sensational craze of the 1960's! When I say RARE, I mean it! Here's the KEY... I've read only a few hundred of the suits were ever sold, though also read that 3000 were sold (which is likely a fabrication by Rudi himself... the master of public relations!). Nearly impossible to find on the open market! Most are in museums. The scandalous "monokini" topless swimsuit designed by Rudi Gernreich caused quite a stir when it debuted in 1964... illegal to wear to most public beaches everywhere, and was even denounced by the Vatican press! My favorite quote re: this suit is that "most American women were completely unprepared (or unequipped) to wear it". A model named Peggy Moffitt did the topless modeling photos for the fashion shots in which were taken by her husband, photographer William Claxton at her insistence. New York's Metropolitan Museum of Art (the Met) has one donated by Betty Furness in 1986. They write: "Gernreich's paradox is that the bottom of the topless suit is very conservative, with ample coverage and made in the same wool material that had been used for Victorian bathing apparel. As a gesture akin to Conceptual Art, this suit merges an avant-garde sensibility with a nod to tradition. Yeah, whatever... what they really meant was ... oh my god... "she's Topless!! :O This navy wool suit was never worn, and has original tags! In near mint condition with the smallest tiny moth hole on front at one inch down from top and side (I took photos of that area so you can see it). I'm not giving you the size, as I don't think you're gonna wear it. PLEASE!! But if you have a museum-worthy collection, or if you ARE a museum, this is what you will never even find at auction. See photos of the actual suit for sale by clicking on Peggy. This is an INVESTMENT piece! $ 7,500. SOLD
OWNED BY BARBRA STREISAND!
SOLD#4340 - c. Spring 1966 Collection CHRISTIAN DIOR, PARIS Couture and Numbered Dress Owned by BARBRA STREISAND! Yup... Barbra Streisand loves vintage clothing! And this dress was purchased from her recent auction. Amazingly... I have the VOGUE magazine from March 15, 1966 with Barbra on the cover. The article?? "Barbra Streisand at the Paris Collections"! SO.. not only was this dress Barbra's... but we have strong proof (since the dates match perfectly)... that she bought the dress in 1966 during her photo shoot for Vogue!!!! So it's been in her collection since then. Imagine all the times she admired this dress... and now you can own it! Black stiff lace babydoll style with scalloped neckline, short sleeves and hemline. The entire two-tied lace skirt is finely knife-pleated. Black satin ribbon and bow at the slight empire waist. And, as you can see... sheer yoke and sleeves. Metal zipper at back. Excellent condition in everything but the fact that Barbra did not store the dress properly (amazingly!!!) and there is some mildew on the lining and satin ribbon. "Bad Barbra"!! Still with a bit of cleaning, it's nearly perfect! And a COUTURE dress with AMAZING history and PROVENANCE! Measures: 34" bust, 28" underbust, up to 38" hips, 37" long from shoulder to hem. Also Listed in the 1930-Today Section and Memorabilia Categories. $ 2,750. SOLD
Approx. - SIZE 6/8
(check measurements above)
SOLD#6027 - RARE c. 1956 "I LIKE IKE" Ike Dress of Printed Cotton! Presidential Campaign Dress by JERRY GILDEN SPECTATOR ! As seen in the Smithsonian Institute! Yup! Own a piece of history! This dress (not this particular one, but exactly the same) is part of the "The American Presidency: A Glorious Burden" traveling Smithsonian exhibit consisting of more than 350 presidential objects - including a field telescope used by Washington during the Revolutionary War, the brass inkwell Lincoln used when he wrote the first draft of the Emancipation Proclamation and... ta da... a Eisenhower campaign dress with the word "Ike" stamped all over. This is the exact same dress. Photos of the exhibition dress can be seen on the Truman Library and LBJ Library websites.... just Google search "Ike campaign dress" to see. Shown with crinolines under (don't come with it). MOP buttons, size metal zipper. No belt - but neither does the Smithsonian dress. Great gathering on bodice. Excellent condition with tiny light spots at skirt side. Hardly an issue. Measures: up to 37" bust, up to 28" waist, 29" long from waist to hem. Historic piece! Wear it to your next Presidential Fundraiser! :) Also Listed in the 1930-Today Category. $ 1,485. SOLD
Approx. - SIZE 8
(check measurements above)
SOLD#4796 - c. SPRING/SUMMER 1962 CHRISTIAN DIOR, Paris Couture Orange Poppy Printed Tulle and Chiffon Dinner Dress! Marc Bohen became head designer of Dior in 1961 after Yves Saint Laurent left. So... this is a Bohen designed Dior. Ain't I smart dating this dress! :) However, if I was really that smart, I would know for absolute sure if the ruffles are supposed to be worn in the front or the back! It's confusing, as the zipper is at "the back" under the ruffles, but the Dior dated and numbered couture label is attached at the front of the dress! I admit, I tried it both ways, but this seems correct as there are darts that seem to suggest "ruffles at back." Besides, there are A LOT of ruffles and a bit overwhelming at front... and hard to sip soup! :) Amazing construction of 6, count 'em 6 layers of skirt. Printed poppy design tulle and chiffon layers, two sheer tulle layers, orange silk layer, and then peach lining. Excellent condition. Best for a small busted woman. Measures: 34" bust, 26" waist, 34/35" hips, 40" long from shoulder to hem. A collectible and luscious piece of Dior fashion history! $ 1,695. SOLD
Approx. - SIZE 4 - small busted best
(check measurements above)
SOLD#4534 - c. 1896 Museum Quality Champagne Embroidered Silk Taffeta Dressing Gown! Near Mint Condition! I'm often asked if it's difficult for me to sell my items as I am a collector at heart. Most of the time I can justify it "as my job".. but there are times I wonder what the heck I'm doing selling some of these most precious, exquisite gowns! I've come upon a few particularly amazing pieces lately. Perhaps I should just close down this website and sell something I love less... let's see... perhaps AntiqueGerbils.com? Yeah, that'll do! If you want to purchase this gown... PLEASE treat it well!!! It's come through over 100 years in near Mint condition... and deserves the only the finest home!!! Champagne colored silk taffeta gown with huge muttonsleeves. Embroidered with Japanese influenced pale pink, pale green and platinum embroidered flowers, leaves and one branch near front bottom. Open robe style with attached blush pink (smocked at neck and waistline) silk gauze front.. also embroidered. Hidden button closures. Patch pockets at sides. Lace at neck. Back of gown is watteau style. Gown is fully lined in a quilted pink silk. With the exception of one eraser size spot at back skirt, and a few very light spots barely seen nearby, and the fact that the blush pink front has slightly faded over time...the entire piece and lining is in near MINT condition!! Nearly like new!!! You just have to wonder what designer label is missing from this piece. Measures: 30/31" bust, 11" across back between armseams - so small back necessary (though it gets on me, so not overly small like some!), up to 30" waist, 55" long in front from shoulder to hem, 59" long in back. Also Listed in the 1850-1920s Category. $ 3,250. SOLD
Approx. - SIZE 2
(check measurements above)
SOLD#9933 - c. Autumn-Winter 1963 CHRISTIAN DIOR, PARIS COUTURE NUMBERED and DATED Coat! Wow! Step back into the past - and arrive back to 1963 in style in this vintage Christian Dior Couture Coat!! Awesome funnel neck, 7/8 length sleeve, checked mohair, "Jackie-O" coat (eerily dated at exactly the time of President Kennedy's death of Nov. 22, 1963). Simple, yet classic tan and bone checked mohair. Nice raglan seaming at the armholes. Great neck!! Fully lined. Excellent condition with just some scratching of the wooden round buttons. The label shows some age, but the exterior coat does not. Measures: 44" bust and waist, up to 49" hips, 41" long from shoulder to hem. $ 985. SOLD
Approx. - SIZE 6-10 (depending what you wear under and how large you like your coats)
(check measurements above)
SOLD#9958 - c. 1920's RARE Silver on Ecru Net Deco Assuit Coat!! OK... I have to say that in my 35+ years of collecting and selling, I have only seen one other assuit coat as spectacular (that one is in a museum!)... and I only know of two others that have sold in the last few years. First, for those of you who don't know... assuit cloth is a cotton mesh fabric embroidered with hammered metal pieces named for the Assuit region of Egypt. This cloth was most popular in the 1920's. And from the style of this coat, there is no question it is from that era. Most assuit items you will see are long scarves. These are still sold today. What makes one more valuable than another is the amount of metal! Most new ones, and many older ones are lightly embellished, and others (like this coat) hammer metal on almost every available square inch! Only the wealthiest of women could have afforded a coat such as this! Fabulous bell sleeves. High asymmetrical collar which can be worn up or open as you see in the photos. One button closure at hipline (note, I would add three snaps or hooks/eyes inside to hold coat in place as you see - currently I just pinned - just place to fit you. Simple!) Fabulous pattern in the sleeves down front and around lower third. Even the button is self-covered! Excellent condition with just a three very minor things to mention (other than the fact that I didn't press the lining - Bad me!) 1) The lining has some minor discoloration at upper back with one mark (this is ONLY on the lining!!). 2) there are some barely, barely seen, almost phantom diagonal lines of perhaps minor tarnishing throughout the coat. On close inspection you can't figure out what they are as no tarnishing is seen! So it's possible it was just a photosensitivity from blinds or something. It's hardly worth mentioning, as frankly it looks like part of the design - and who knows... perhaps it was! And 3) the very edges of the netting are a bit "tired"... again, just not as crisp and clean as it might have been new. I'm being VERY VERY VERY picky, but I want you to know everything! Measures: up to 42" bust, up to 41" waist, up to 48" hips, 25" long sleeves shoulder to cuff, 15" across shoulders, 16" across back between armseams, 44" long from shoulder to hem. Since it's a wrap coat, you can move buttons to fit. One extraordinary piece!! $ 2,450. SOLD
Approx. - SIZE 2-12
(check measurements above)
SOLD#4815 - c. 1893 EMILE PINGAT, Paris Museum Quality 2-Tone Beaded Dusty Rose Wool and Silk Velvet Mantelette with Striped Balls and Feather Fringe! One of the most exquisite designer pieces I've seen.... in extremely desirable colors! A soft dusty rose wool with a much deeper "beet-root" silk velvet at yoke and neck covered with beaded design. The tiers of the cape are finished with a "grelot" fringe (typical of Pingat - you will see this same fringe on many of this other finest pieces!) with each bead covered with silk, striped in two shads of rose. The extreme high neck and front is edged with a fringe of clipped female ostrich feathers dyed in a two-tone to match the grelot fringe. The mantel is fully lined in rose colored "Pompadour" brocade, also typical of Pingat - as he was the first designer to use decorative linings. Excellent condition with a few issues... there are only 12 missing balls on fringe, there are a couple moth nips on one "sleeve" and the lining at the top is shattered!!! The issues are minor compared to the rare beauty of this museum quality Parisian designer piece! $ 3,450. SOLD
Approx. - SIZE Small
(check measurements above)
SOLD#4453 - c. 1924 RARE Molyneux, 5 Rue Royale, Paris Fully Beaded Flapper Dress on Black Crepe Silk! Larger Size! According to www.designer history.com, Edward Molyneux opened his salon in Paris in 1919, and from the beginning his style was described as "extreme simplicity and perfect taste. He was best known for his wonderful handling of navy blue and black". As written by Caroline Milbank, "Molyneux was the designer to whom a fashionable woman would turn if she wanted to be absolutely 'right' without being utterly predictable in the 1920's and 30's." So... this is without a doubt a top of the line Museum Quality beaded flapper dress with the right style and coloration to be a classic Molyneux. Perfect addition for your personal museum collection! Gorgeous (and possibly genuine) turquoise beads, iridescent white and gold bugle beads along with rhinestones all in a busy leaf and vine motif on black silk crepe. The "belt" is just more beading and there are two large "flowers" at right hip. The dress has the look of a 2-piece outfit, especially the back, but it's really one piece (see last photo for a peek under the back at hipline). Excellent condition with just perhaps one or two rows of beads missing at hip (just below the "belt" on right side - see close-up photo). Measures: 44" around bust, waist and hips, 48" long from shoulder to hem. $ 6,500. SOLD
Approx. - SIZE 12, perhaps 14
(check measurements above)
SOLD#3939 - c. 1996 RARE PACO RABANNE, Paris "Do it Yourself" Mod Rhodoid Plastic Disc Dress "Suitcase" Kit! Said Rabanne in 1966, "I defy anyone to design a hat, coat or dress that hasn't been done before...The only new frontier left in fashion is the finding of new materials". Enter in the disc dress made of small rhodoid plastic discs that are connected by metal jump rings to create a new kind of dress. Rabanne even created a DIY kit fully stylized in a clear plastic (logo blazoned) suitcase to create your own dress! This is one of those rare kits! The dress fully made from this kit is currently selling for $3,500. You will be able to make one just like it in a mere 8-12 hours! The discs are silver metallic finished plastic and the rings are gold metal. The kit contains 750 discs, 1300 rings, the Paco Rabanne metal tag, two pliers (!) and complete directions. When I got this kit it was scotchtaped at ends - which was likely the original tape, but just to be SURE that this kit was complete for you... I slit open the tape and reclosed with new tape. And yes... it's all here... and other than the many scratches on the exterior case, it's like new! NOTE: these kits are knowing or unknowingly being sold as 1960's, or 1970's kits by others... and dresses made from these kits have been sold as original 60's dresses! But in researching, I came upon a New York Times article from 1996 describing these kits exactly. There are those who are making up the dress from these kits and selling as original 60's dresses - and you can even see the mistakes in the shaping which prove this to be true! I won't sell what I know to be false. Still a fabulous piece of Paco Rabanne history!! $ 2,450. SOLD
SOLD
Click on image for additional photos!#4539 - c. 1921 MADELINE & MADELINE, Paris Bottle Green Silk Velvet Embroidered and Beaded 2-piece Dinner Dress! Sold at Bergdorf & Goodman, Co. OK.. pay attention now... you may not know this label, but you should! A very important Parisian label, they opened their couture house in 1919, but unfortunately they were one of the first casualties of the Depression so Madeline & Madeline garments are very hard to find! The rest of the label reads: Modele Depose and Marque Deposee (I suppose you want me to tell you what that means, but I'm one of those stupid Americans who can only speak American! :) Very dark bottle green silk velvet dress (with nude net bodice (see last photos - too small for my mannequin so it's a bit funny looking) with great draping at skirt side embroidered with ivory silk floss and tube shaped seed pearls in floral and leaf design. The same embroidery on the batwing overblouse with wide floss and beaded waistband. Simply elegant! Excellent condition with just some beads missing which hardly affects the design from afar and three small velvet crushes at front skirt (just need steaming out). Measures: 32" bust (underdress), 26" waist, up to 36" hips. SOLD
Approx. - SIZE 2/4
(check measurements above)
SOLD#3343 - c. 1977 Rare MICHAELE VOLLBRACH Paul Gauguin Kimono Art Gown! Former Coty Fashion Design Winner! An absolute work of art! Stylizing Gauguin's famous work, "Fatata te Miti", painted in 1892, Vollbrach used the color palette and images, and captured the look on fabric! I like it better than Gauguin's original! Recently lured out of retirement, Vollbrach is now head designer for the late Bill Blass. Story goes that Johnny and Joanna Carson (you know, of the "Tonight Show") were his prime backers, but when they divorced in the mid-1980's, they withdrew their support and Vollbrach closed shop and retired as an artist! So his early gowns are rare finds! I'm told this gown is from Michaele Vollbrach's 1977 "art" collection. Fantastic P. Gauguin printed silk gown in shades of lavender, flesh, black, blue, gray, red, with highlights of yellow. Kimono style. 14" side slit. Under the huge "scarf" which becomes the kimono sleeves, It's a tube shape with up to 38" bust and 40" hips.. as it Measures: 19" across bust flat, 19" across waist flat, 20" across hips flat, 54" long from shoulder to hem. In Excellent condition except for a 1.5 x 1.5" grease? mark on lower sleeve (see photo). If I get extremely picky, there is a light pinhead spot on back butt. The last fabulous Michaele Vollbrach garment I saw... a quilted kimono jacket sold for $2900+ at Doyle's Auction house. $ 1,485. SOLD
Approx. - SIZE 6 - 10
(check measurements above
SOLD#0157 - c. 1925 JEAN PATOU Paris, Cannes, Monte Carlo Couture Numbered Ecru and Black Silk Velvet Flapper Party Dress Trimmed in Rhinestones and Faux Pearls! Larger Size! Wow, if you are one of my website groupies, you might have seen my Alzheimer's is kicking in as I originally had this listed as Jeanne Lanvin! Eek! Luckily I have my customers and webfriends looking out for me and proofreading for me! Thanks Mark! OK... Jean Patou dress... got that... Patou, Patou, Patou! There is a hand-written number under the label as you'd hope to expect. The dress itself is a glorious design of crushed ecru silk velvet and black silk velvet skirt. The free-flowing "necklace" is made of fully beaded clear round beads and tiny rhinestones in tiled diamond shapes and is attached at shoulders and at circle at front. The same design continues at back with TWO free-flowing "necklaces". The low waistline which follows around the back uses faux pearls and rhinestones in a slightly different design which "pops" off the black velvet. The front ecru velvet "scarf" down the middle of the skirt waves free as you walk. The condition isn't perfect. There are large underarm stains, one pindot and one pinhead sized light spots, and one pinhead size dark penmark on the bodice (all three marks can disappear with tiny tack tucks in the velvet! - I'd do it if I had a devious bone in my body, but I don't). There are also beads and rhinestones are missing from the trims which will only mostly bother you on very close inspection- except for one or two pearl trim areas on the waist (so add a pearl or two and it will look nearly perfect from afar). So the dress is marked according to condition - really only the underarm stains are of great issue! Rare to find a 1920s Patou dress on the open market, so snap it up for your collection! This has been in my personal collection for 15 years! Measures: 44" bust, 38" at low waist/upper hip, 46" long from shoulder to hem. Meant to be worn slightly large. $ 5,750. SOLD
Approx. - SIZE 10/12 ish
(check measurements above)
SOLD#2787 - c. 1890 RARE DOUCET - PARIS Couture Black Velvet Beaded Waistcoat Jacket! Jacques Doucet was the genius at the helm of the House of Doucet, from 1853-1929. A contemporary of Charles F.Worth, the House of Doucet was known for maintaining a character of gracious elegance and unsurpassed fine workmanship. The firm was located on the famous Rue de la Paix, just doors away from Worth. Both Paul Poiret and Madame Vionnet worked with Doucet early in their careers. The arts and decoration of the 18th century fascinated Doucet and he collected garments of the period. Many of the items created by the house were based on historical prototypes. A plush blue-black silk velvet, designed after the court waistcoats of the late 18th century, with opulent and glittering decorative jet beadwork. Beautiful construction and workman throughout. A museum piece with the silk ivory lining in need of conservation, as it has nearly all shattered. I'm assuming a collar is missing (may have been a stand-up, or a lace similar to another Paris couture beaded jacket I have labeled A. Felix). The velvet is in excellent condition with only extreme minor bead loss in the exquisite design. Measures: 34/35" bust, 28" waist, 34" long from shoulders. An extraordinary and rare survivor, important for any clothing collection. $ 4,250. SOLD
Approx. - SIZE 6ish
(check measurements above)Direct From GREENWICH, CT Estate
SOLD#9923 - c. 18th Century (likely c. 1750) EXTREMELY RARE Shield Shape French Gold Bullion and Silk Couched Embroidered Figural Pocket Purse with Gold Sequins! Female Figure on One Side, Male Figure on the Other Side!! Dogs on Both Sides! :) SO rare, that the only other one I've seen of this quality (and even THAT one doesn't compare!) is from London's Victoria and Albert Museum (Museum number T.89-1935!! They list theirs as "Date: 1700-1799" and listed as "French". Unbelievably intricate handmade figural and architectural designs of colored silk couched embroidery with gold bullion metal embroidered into fugureal designs and surrounding designs. Wearing "modern day" dress (of the mid-1700's) of muted pastel color palettes. The side panels are more intense colors of a rose, burgundy and gold bullion embroidered Top-closing, side-hinged metal frame with the intricate front and back embroidered panels sewn on. Measures: 4.5" high x 3.5" wide at top. Excellent condition with only a few tiny gold sequins missing (on closest inspection) and slight pile loss in the design both sides ... but looks like it's meant to be cloud formations in the sky! Any imperfections are of extreme minor nature. For something this rare and age, most people would call it "Near Mint" condition!! Green silk interior. All Original. Opens by pinching the side hinges. Mechanics are perfect.
$ 2,950. SOLD
SOLD#1160 - c. 1944 Black Sequin Ballgown Owned by Mrs. J. D. Rockefeller. Tagged with Date and Name from Bergdorf Goodman! Own a piece of history! As celebrity and society women's dresses are commanding top dollar at auction, here's your chance to purchase one. I was privileged to be in the main room of the Princess Diana clothing auction at Christie's in NYC in 1997. I can tell you first-hand about dresses selling for over $200,000! I only wish I had purchased one... but my bank account was nowhere close to the hammer prices of her gowns! However, Mrs. J.D. Rockefeller's January 23rd, 1944 dress can be purchased. A black chiffon overdress of 12 parts flared at the bottom decorated with bands of sequins over a black stiff taffeta slip with scalloped hemline. Side zipper. Excellent Condition!! I can't find anything wrong!! If I had more time.... I'd search though old newspaper and magazines to try to find a photo of Mrs. Rockefeller in this gown. I'm sure that photo exists, but I have no time to look. Whoever is lucky enough to own this would be smart to take the time. My other thought was to offer this gown back to Bergdorf's.... it would make a great museum display if they could gather together some of there couture gowns of the past. Measures: Dress: up to 42" bust, up to 35" waist, up to 48" hips, 18" around upper arms, 18" shoulders, 40" long from waist to hemline. Slip: up to 40" bust, up to 35" waist, up to 46" hips. $ 1,750. SOLD
Approx. - SIZE 12/14, possibly 16
(check measurements above)
SOLD#6105 - RARE c. early 1970's RONALD AMEY, New York Fabulous "Boho" Print Chiffon Gown! Museum Quality Design! From 1960-1970 Ronald Amey designed elaborate evening clothes with his partner, Joseph Burke. The prices ranged from $500 to several thousands! Amey bought out Burke in 1970 and continued for a short time on this own, so there are few Ronald Amey labeled pieces out there - and it's his bold brints that are most sought after today by collectors! Ronald Amey was best known for his original use of fabrics and colors. I personally don't like to use that "boho" word, but it seems to fit this maxi gown quite well. It's high class to be sure... but appeals to the bohemian in all of us! This fabulous print is a flowing chiffon over silk taffeta with solid jersey inserts in bodice. The crystal buttons at the cuffs are beautiful. The craftsmanship is extraordinary. The look is killer! Museum quality design! Measures: 36" bust, up to 28" waist, up to 31.5" at top of waistband, 41" long from waist to hem (57" long from shoulder to hem). Excellent condition with extreme minor pinhead size spots. Best example I've seen of a Ronald Amey. $ 1,265. SOLD
Approx. - SIZE 8
(check measurements above)
SOLD#4834 - c. 1960's RARE FONTANA, Roma Fabulous Printed Satin Dress with Original Satin Waistband! Museum Quality! Here's your chance to dress like a star! The House of Fontana was actually comprised of three sisters, Zoe, Micol and Giovanna. They opened their own salon in 1943 after building up a large clientele of Italian aristocracy, and in the 1950s/60s designed for US "royalty" including Jackie Kennedy and Princess Grace of Monaco, as well as Elizabeth Taylor, Jane Mansfield, Kim Novak, Raquel Welch, Audrey Hepburn (designing costumes for "Roman Holiday"!) and their best client, Ava Gardner who had Fontana design her personal wardrobe as well as for the movie "The Barefoot Contessa". This dress is incredible!!!! Simple in shape, but extraordinary in fabrication. The signature on the satin print fabric is "Stroppa". I've researched and found that the artist is Leonardo Stroppa. Take a look at the close-up photos of the various turn-of-the-century tableaus! Can-can girls, motorcars, antique bicycles, couples promenading, etc. All in a gorgeous color paillette. Measures: 37" bust, 27" waist, 32.5" long from waist to hem. Shown with extra crinoline, but has some under attached. Excellent condition with just a hint of dinginess on waistband. Break out the espadrilles and stroll the Italian Rivera as Ava Gardner might! $ 1,465. SOLD
Approx. - SIZE 6/8 (large bust)
(check measurements above)
SOLD#4377 - c. Winter 1926/27 RARE Numbered JEANNE LANVIN, Paris Couture Black Silk Taffeta Robe de Style Dress with Silver Beading! LARGER SIZE! This is the iconic dress from the era by Lanvin. Tom Tierney used the dress to showcase in his paperdoll book. And a similar Lanvin is shown in the Kyoto Costume Institute Fashion History book, which describes the dress as "significant". Black silk tissue taffeta with rhinestones, bugle beads and seed pearls in amazing deco design. LARGE SIZE! Measures: 42" bust, 40" waist, 50" long from shoulder to hem. There are pinholes in the skirt (seen when held up to light), but looks nearly perfect without the light. The front ecru net panel at bust has some minor light staining, and just a small percentage of the seed pearls are missing. Any other beads missing are not worth even mentioning. There is no underpinning or lining. I shaped in the robe de style shape with tissue under. Pannier undergarment is necessary for the correct look. This dress can easily be the highlight of your 1920's clothing collection. $ 7,500. SOLD
Approx. - SIZE 12, perhaps 14
(check measurements above)
SOLD#4641 - c. 1925 RARE LIBERTY & Co., London Phenomenonal Beaded Velvet Evening Coat! The best of the best!!! A gray velvet coat with completely beaded upper portion. Actually the beading design of huge clusters of flowers and large leaves embroidered of silk floss and beads is all constructed on a netting overlay on the gray velvet! Even the striped bodice "background" is beading! Beading design continues as border motif on sleeves and around dropped waist. The netting has been repaired (mostly under the collar), and there are places where the beading and embroidery is missing (again mostly hidded by the collar when worn down) - see close-up photos. The two large buttons may have been covered originally better. Still... even with the issues.. this is a rare, museum quality piece that will be a highlight in any collection. My apologies to the coat as it also deserves a steaming that I didn't give it!!!! So sorry!! FYI.. at the Doyle Auction in 2004, a c.1905 Liberty & Co. fairly plain black satin coat sold for $7,767. As far as I'm concerned, it doesn't hold a candle to this coat! $ 7,750. SOLD
Approx. - SIZE 4/6
(check measurements above)RARE MOURNING ENSEMBLE
SOLD
SOLD
SOLD
#4858 and #4859 - c. 1907 and 1909 EXTRAORDINARILY RARE Two Mourning Gowns and Accessories from One Estate! One DESBUISSON & HUDELIST, Paris Matte Black Sequin Ballgown for Later Stage Morning! AND One L. MONNEY, New York 4-piece Deep Mourning Ensemble 2-piece Gown with Matching Parasol and Mourning Veil! I'm hoping a museum, or museum quality collector will find this listing as I would love to sell both gowns together due to the rarity of finding these gowns together. Often mourning gowns were discarded by the owners after the one year and one day morning period was over for three reasons... 1) it was considered bad luck to keep, 2) by the time you would need perhaps go into mourning again for the next close relative passing away, the dress would be out of style, so would not have been worn again by a fashionable lady, and 3) they were worn at all times, and therefore often worn out. SO it's hard to find any complete mourning gowns that survived in Near Mint condition today. To have the original summer 1907 2-piece deepest morning gown of the lovely crinkly crape-anglaise (mourning crape - spelled with an "a" to indicate mourning crape) with the original matching parasol (with wooden handle carved to match the crape material!) and trimmed crape chiffon veil is very rare indeed. I was told that the design of this gown was based upon a gown by Worth. Then to have the original later stage fancy mourning evening gown of black net covered in matte black sequins (graduating in size from tiny at the shoulder to large at the hem with huge tassel of unpolished jet - if this gown was NOT a mourning gown, it would have been studded with shiny sequins rather than dull, matte sequins) from the same woman! Well.... this is a RARE FIND indeed. The original estate asked NOT to be identified so the provenance will, unfortunately not be provided (damn!). But there is no question it's from the same woman with extraordinary sexy proportions! :) Evening gown Measures: 35/36" bust, 24/25" waist, 76" long at back. Very Good to Excellent condition with some sequins missing, a bit of wear at back net waist. Note: not as shiny in person as in the photo as the sequins are matte finish. The 2-piece wearable Excellent condition crinkly crape gown Measures: 35/36" bust, 24" waist, 12" neck, 43" long in front, 65" long in back skirt. Excellent condition 55" x 22" scarf. Excellent condition parasol. The hat in the photos didn't come with the gown, but I will throw it in for a complete look. The hat is tiered dull black lace, but I've been told lace wouldn't have been for the deepest mourning, so.... $ 5,985. SOLD
Approx. - SIZE 2/4, small waisted 6
(check measurements above)
SOLD
June 1983 VOGUE Ad / $7,000 Price!#4178 - c. 1983 RARE JACQUELINE de RIBES, Paris, New York Made in France and Numbered Dress! MUSEUM Quality! In looking through my old Vogue Magazines, I found a similar Jacqueline de Ribes dress... it cost $7,000 new (see below!)! Comtesse Jacqueline de Ribes was a socialite dubbed one of the most stylish women by Town and Country magazine. She emerged in the 1980's as one of the so-called "society" designers, a group that included Carolyne Roehm, and Christina Herrera. "Scandalous" is the only word to describe this fancy dress. It teeters on that fine line of "trashy" versus "runway chic". If you have a classy enough look, you can wear this dress and evoke Halle Berry rather than Bjork. You have to look at all the sides and back of this dress. It's awesome. It's one of those dresses that you want to own to try on in front of your mirror and wish you had the nerve to wear it! If any of you are headed to the Grammy's next year... this will get you on TV! Guaranteed! The dress is gathered black taffeta criss-crossed over black dotted velvet net with only YOU underneath. There are seams at the front sides to add even more architecture to the dress. Huge bow at one side. Gigantic pouf sleeves. Back zipper. Killer legs and stiletto heels are the only accessories you will need. Measures: 34/35" bust, 25/26" waist, up to 36" hips, 36" long from shoulder to hem. Originally had shoulderpads which were removed, but will come with the dress (in case they ever come back into vogue). Excellent condition with just one tiny break found in the underlayer of the netting at the front waist. Hardly visible. Make a statement! Grrrrrrrrr! $ 5,000. SOLD
Approx. - SIZE 4
(check measurements aboveFrom WHITNEY HOUSTON
SOLD#4885 - c. 1980's BOB MACKIE Couture Gold and White Beaded Slightly Trained Gown! Previously Owned by WHITNEY HOUSTON! One of the Holy Grail Mackie pieces!!! Top couture Bob Mackie gown previously owned by Whitney Houston!! This gown weighs an unbelievable 7 pounds!! This gown was not meant for the general public. This is a couture piece with no lining. So it's sheer, but only slightly as the beads cover most every square inch of the nude net background. The body shows through at certain areas. Measures: 35" bust, up to 26" waist, up to 36" hips, 60" long from shoulder to hem in front, 63" long in back. Excellent condition. If there are any beads missing, you will have to spend hours searching. Sharon Stone's Mackie beaded gown from "Casino" sold at auction for $13,200. And the original cost of this piece new would have easily been $15,000+. These are the Mackies that will end up in museums... not the newer pieces that are just "pretty gowns". Here's your chance to own the best of the best from Hollywood's fashion icon and masterful designer! Also listed in the Memorabilia Category. $ 7,500. SOLD
Approx. - SIZE 4/6
(check measurements above)
[ORDER ITEM - #9825]
Click on image for additional photos!# 9825 - c. 1830's (perhaps 1837) RARE 19th Century Gold and Silver Embroidered "Riegelhaube" or "Latch Plate Hood" with hand-written German Provenance from an Eleanore Speckner! Comes with the Original Wallpaper Hatbox AND 8 Silver Filigree Hairpins! AS RARE as they come, this "Riegelhaube" or "Latch Plate Hood" was the head coverage for the Bavarian region - centered in and around Munich from 1755 through about 1850. Originally much larger in the mid-1700's, they developed over 100 years to form the stiff classic shape of this one dating to approximately 1837. What was originally a bow on the downfacing side, turned into a stiff symbol of a bow. The Riegelhaube is made of a rigid rag cardboard basis, encrusted over with silver or gold spiral metal embroidery, beading or spangles (sequins). It's said that silver was for unmarried girls, gold for married, and black for widows/mourning... though no one is sure of that. However it was known that the caps took 200-300 working hours to create, at the price of several monthly wages! To see the Riegelhaube as worn, I found a painting of a Helene Sedlmayr, from 1831. (the painting is not part of this sale! Geesh!). This Riegelhaube comes with the ORIGINAL green and red wallpaper hatbox and hand-written German note. AS WELL AS Eight Extraordinary Krausnadel silver filigree hairpins used to hold the schopf (bun) together. Traditionally only 2-5 pins were allowed used, so there are two sets here... 3 pins in the round pin set, and 5 pins in the floral pin set. There is a variety to the pins. And all the flower pins have tremblers!! Condition of all elements is Excellent!! The hatbox the only piece showing wear at edges. The silver pins are tarnished as is the gold embroidered cap, but that is to be expected and I will not clean for those of you who want items this old in pristine "as found" condition. Also listed in 1800-1840s and Hats, etc. Categories. $ 2,850. for all pieces SOLD
SOLD# 4436 - c. 1960/1961 GALANOS Black and Ivory Silk "Harlequin" Dress! NEVER WORN! ORIGINAL TAGS! ORIGINALLY $275! "James Galanos is an American fashion designer, widely considered to be one the world's foremost 20th century couturiers." No, I didn't write that, but just want you to know the pedigree of this dress. Oh, and with the inflation calculator, this would have been a modern day $2,000 dress. There are lots of interesting design elements in the seaming (especially in the sleeves) that sadly you can hardly see in this busy black and off-white 100% silk satin print. Front black bow with fringed edges. Meticulously made (to be expected by Galanos) with a dropped waist gathered poufy skirt on a fitted bodice with 3/4 length sleeves (wonderful length for black gloves!). The skirt has all the internal material you need. No extra crinoline needed. Back metal zipper. Measures: 36" bust, up to 30" waist, 41" long from shoulder to hem. Please note: the labels you see hang from the interior hanger straps, so these may have been original wholesale tags for sale to a department store (as there is no Galanos label inside the dress), so might have been sold for boutique to sew in their own label (it was done at high-end boutiques!). NOTE: in 1961, his chiffon dresses sold in shops for $475 - $800! This from a April 14, 1961 Life Magazine article. Excellent condition! ORIGINAL DEADSTOCK DESIGNER DRESS is RARE! It's like Time Travelling! Also Listed in the 1930-Today Category. $ 1,485. SOLD
Approx. - SIZE 8/10
(check measurements above)
SOLD#6455 - c. 1927 HOUSE of WORTH, Paris Numbered Black Cotton Velvet Coat! First off, to find this coat with the original belt still attached is just SO cool! So many times over the years, belts have been lost... so this is a treat. An Oh-So-Simple shaped coat with unique tailoring (as you would expect from the prestigious House of Worth!). The neckline is sublime and can be worn three different ways (I've shown all three - as long as you don't mind seeing the hooks). And then, ooh, the elbows are tucked and nearly molded to the crook in the arm! The coat is lined in black silk in quite good condition, though needs re-sewing at the armholes... however it allows you to currently see that the coat has some batting inside for warmth. The exterior of this coat is in Excellent condition with one tiny exception.... someone tried to get their too large hand into the cuff and there is a small vertical tear that should be mended at one cuff (see photos), but it hardly shows... and I have a largish hand and I don't have a problem with the coat so she must have been HUGE :). Due to wrap, size can be changed, but currently Measures: 33/34" bust, up to 28" waist, 38" hips, 44" long from shoulder to hem. However, you can move a couple interior hooks to fit a larger size. Still you would want a smallish back and thin-ish arms. You probably know that the most expensive antique gown was a Worth court gown which sold for over $100K, so.... Worth is THE name in antique clothing!!! $ 1,450. SOLD
Approx. - SIZE 0-6
(check measurements above)To Visit My Online Museum of SOLD pieces
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