Black Cat Vintage

The combination of black and pink makes this dress simultaneously alluring and innocent. Cut with an asymmetrical "minarete silhouette" peplum made famous by Travis Banton, it also features an off-shoulder neckline made more wearable by the presence of spaghetti straps. Tea length short sleeve off-shoulder party dress of black taffeta with tulle overlay embellished with pink ribbon lace and embroidered flowers; lightly ruched sweetheart bust and spaghetti straps. Asymmetrical peplum from left hip to right ankle; black and pink tulle skirt...

A modern vintage masterpiece, this ladylike frock is loaded with charming extras (our favorite is the pocket detail: decorative AND practical) that keep its timeless silhouette from ...

With a silhouette sweet enough for a music-box ballerina and a loose, Matisse-like butterfly sketch print, this singular party dress will be the center of attention at any gathering....

A cocktail dress that stands apart not only for its nude hue but also for its architectural silhouette, this piece radiates mid-century chic. It reminds us of vintage beauty parlor dome hairdryers and Gaultier cone bras...

An unusual and discretely colorful party dress despite its dark hue, the dress features a silver ombré satin underskirt, which mellows to a pale lavender near the hemline. Even bette...

From the estate of a mid-century opera singer comes this New Look party dress, which looks like it might have stepped out of a Henry Clarke fashion shoot....

You would be forgiven for thinking this is an uptight wedding gown because of its age and sleeves. Of course we would direct your attention to the transparent lace insets that discourage the use of underwear, and to the bias-cut liquid satin...

The unusual combination of a drop waist and fit-and-flare silhouette impart a charm reminiscent of Givenchy's designs for Audrey Hepburn. Perfectly balanced by transparent lace cap sleeves and bateau neck, and punctuated with a half bow on the bodice. Ballet length ivory lace wedding gown...

If you don't have the luxury of changing clothes between the wedding and reception, consider this floor-length gown to fill both roles. Its shorter hemline and swirling skirt are ide...

An alluring, yet fully-covered gown for those brides who seek modesty without looking mousy, this wedding gown was custom-made for a 1951 bride who valued discretion and beauty in equal measure. Though this gown pre-dates Kelly's, it is strikingly similar to the Helen Rose gown Grace Kelly wore to her wedding to Prince Ranier in 1956. Ivory lace wedding dress with high neckline and narrow Peter Pan collar with 33 working covered buttons from navel to throat; illusion sleeves, upper back and upper chest with interior attached ivory camisole beneath. Pointed sleeves with 8 working covered buttons at each forearm; lightly puffed shoulders with petite interior shoulder pads. V-shaped front and rear waist seam with gentle gathers in back; free-hanging lace overlay skirt with cathedral train. Skirt fully lined in free-hanging ivory acetate with additional rear tulle lining for fullness. Matching Juliet cap...

A highly traditional gown with positively regal bearing, this full-skirted wedding dress covers all bases. Though it conceals and arms and neck for propriety, its Queen Anne neckline provides allure through its center plunge; it has a full train for the ceremony, but can be buttoned at the rear back for the reception and dancing; lace and pearl beading provide texture and interest, but ultra-heavyweight Duchess satin lend gravitas and modesty. Truly, fit for a Queen. Ivory wedding gown...

A wedding gown that takes modest fashion to new heights, this columnar maxi dress chastely covers every inch of skin but oozes stature, grace and regality thanks to Byzantine-era jew...

With Taylor’s neck and waistline, Hepburn’s sleeves and Kelly’s lace, this wedding gown has all the requisites of a 1950s heirloom. We love how the uneven, graduated hemline and der...

When wartime rationing abbreviated garment lengths, brides used intricate seams and sharp tailoring to create interest in favor of volume. This shimmering example incorporates a scalloped waist seam and military shoulders to create a simple but striking gown emblematic of its time. Ivory wedding...

A gown so Neoclassical it looks as if it came right off a Greek statue, with floating sash ties that permit endless styling variations. Neither pink nor peach, this gown is a flatter...

Too beautiful to be kept in the bedroom, this negligée is lovely enough to wear in public. The 2 ½ foot marabou feather cords may be tied in front or back for two completely different looks. Vintage sleeveless blush pink nightgown...

A wisp of an undergarment that packs a powerful punch, this corset bridges the gap between naughty and nice. Super sheer and delicately embroidered, it reveals nearly everything when worn alone, but its structure and sturdiness conceal it all when worn under a garment. Ravishingly feminine. Ivory...

Though it looks and wears like a negligée, this wisp of a garment was an intermediate step between the chemise-style undergarments of the Victorian era and the separate bra and panties we wear today. Called “step-ins”, they made ideal sleepwear and were essential underpinnings for the lean, drop-waisted silhouettes of the 1920s. Especially feminine with its bias flounce legs, this one would make exceptional bridal lingerie...

THE slipper designer of the mid-century, Daniel Green was the name wartime brides insisted upon because they were unrationed and for many, the only “new” ...

In pristine, brand new condition, these gloves are the pinnacle of femininity thanks to their delicate thread-bound eyelets and scalloped edges. In hard-to-find bright white kidskin leather, their elbow length makes them perfect for black tie. White kidskin leather gauntlet-length dress gloves with fourchettes, eyelets at wrist tops and scalloped cuff edge; elasticated on underside of cuff. Unlined. fabric: kidskin leather noteworthy: clean and condition with leather cleaner alterations: none condition: new measurements: length: 15” from cuff to tip of middle finger...

In those faraway days before full hosiery the sirens wore thigh high stockings, which necessitated another sexy little number—the garter—to hold them up. We personally think it was ...

Though this robe’s delicate pastel hue and exquisite softness make it an ideal dressing gown, it would be such a shame to hide it behind closed doors. Cut much like a 1950s swing coat, it could easily double for lightweight outerwear or a chic tunic worn over leggings. Collarless drop shoulder robe embroidered with tonal chrysanthemums; wide bracelet length sleeves and hip-high slits both sides. 5 frog closures with brass buttons from throat to waist; fully lined in matching whisper weight crêpe de Chine. fabric: padded Canton silk...

Hand-made in Tunisia from an Indian silk sari, this kaftan was originally owned by the wife of a State Department ensign in the Nixon administration. Still not impressed? She wore it to tea with Prince Karim Aga Khan IV. That should do it. Tunisian-made hooded kaftan...

Sometimes called iro muji, short kimonos can act as lingerie cover-ups as well as lightweight blouses or jackets. In a versatile putty color, this unusual version features rich textu...

"Wooly Bully" indeed! Words can hardly describe this incredible piece of mid-century fashion: a robe so unique and cozy you'll want to wear it outside the boudoir, thanks to its outrageous Leonard-inspired jungle print lining. And though it probably wasn't meant to be worn inside-out (as the interior has neither pockets nor belt loops) it can easily be reversed so the plush side is in and the jungle print is on display for the world to see. Reversible bath robe...

Longing for a more elegant sleepwear alternative to cotton shorts? Hearken back to the 1940s, when gals wore tap panties: equally as roomy and comfortable as boxers, silk tap panties...

Before the days of separate bras and panties, “step-ins” or “singlettes”—precursors of the modern teddy—were the perfect undergarment beneath the sleek bias cut dresses of the 1930s....

Though technically it's a half slip, this garment's optimistic floral print, matched center seam and front notch beg to be worn as a skirt or bikini cover-up. The fabric is modest en...

A lingerie set so playful and pretty you'll seek out diaphanous clothes. Super soft cotton jersey and no underwire make them equally suited for lounging and sleeping too. Abstract print soft bra and bikini panty set...

Esther Williams could hardly have done better than this shirred swimsuit, which looks like a 1950s one-piece but wears like a bikini. Wearable pulled low over the hips like a skirted...

As appropriate vamping on the beach as it is strolling the sidewalks of the Riviera, this play suit absolutely requires a great pair of stems, espadrilles an...

Suitable for swim, beach or resort, this beautifully textured play suit features a feminine tulip skirt with elasticized bloomers beneath à la Claire McCarde...

Mix a Mai Tai and get ready to do the “limbo,” because your beach party wardrobe is covered. A departure from the classic, WASP-y fashion for which the brand was known, this rare tik...

Ultra-rare, these 1930s men’s swim trunks were made by Porolastic, the German brand favored by Olympic record holders thanks to their sleek design. They enraged competitors for their brevity and immodesty when wet, though their success in the water prompted competitor Speedo to introduce a similar product the following year. Men’s wool swim briefs...

In astounding condition, this shirtwaist dress is a perfect example of what a pioneer woman might have worn on her journey to the American West during the mid-19th century. Its Weste...

It’s easy to see why tea dresses such as this were sometimes called “pneumonia dresses”: their weightlessness provided little coverage and even less warmth (though the pounds of unde...

Identical to a contemporary button-front night shirt except this one is over 100 years old and conjures images of a Charles Dickens novel. As bright, white and crisp as it was when i...

An ingenious design made to accommodate both nursing mothers and independent women without ladies’ maids to dress them, this gossamer tea dress features a semi-detachable bodice that...

As delicate as a butterfly’s wings, this timeless blouse is as fashionable, ladylike and elegant today as it was a century ago. The square neckline adds unexpected geometry and makes...

As delicate as a spider web (and almost as sheer), this blouse is an alluring exercise in concealing and revealing: though every inch of skin is covered, its gossamer lightness allow...

Another example of the Edwardians’ love of contradiction, this blouse covers every square inch of the torso but does so with transparent filet lace, which r...

Indispensable accessories, neckcloths stretched the Edwardian woman’s wardrobe by changing the look of a dress and covering the décolletage. Though it is over a century old, this whi...

Mexican folk artist Salvador Corona turned to painting after being gored by a bull at age 24. Known for his murals, he was commissioned by both public and private patrons—including J...

The dress that started it all, this Scott Paper Company shift was an advertising gimmick used to promote the company’s disposable tableware collection in 1966. A perfect vehicle for the youthful prints and informal styles that accompanied the cultural revolution, the dress became an immediate success, with over a half million orders for the piece in its first year and countless copycat designs in the years that followed. It now hangs in every major fashion museum in the world. Sleeveless knee length shift dress with wide scoop neckline; trapeze silhouette with graduated hemline slightly longer in back than front. Single right side patch pocket. Pullover styling with no closures of any kind; unlined. fabric: “Dura Weave” wood...

Signed six times, this halter dress is the creation of London designer Colin Glascoe, whose psychedelic prints held their own with Pucci, Liberty of London and Bessi. Unlike his con...

Despite its whisper weight chiffon, this eye-catching shift packs a wallop thanks to a shower of green gemstones and a modern green watercolor print. Perfect for warm spring and summ...

An impeccably-made dress that straddles the 1960s generation gap. On one hand, the contrast piping, attention to detail and matching scarf recall Jackie Kennedy’s immaculate early 60...

From its vibrant Shambala-motif print to its unique honeycomb texture, this cheerful dress is like a B-12 shot for your wardrobe. A clever mid-back cross-strap conceals the wearer's ...

An ensemble so well-bred it practically demands lunch at the Plaza. Pair with a wide brimmed hat, sunglasses and a Yorkshire terrier (or Dalmatian puppy!) and prepare to stop traffic...

Although it bears no label, this suit betrays all the hallmarks of a Schiaparelli master work: saturated color, silk velvet fabric (her favorite), sharp shoulders paired with curving...

Brimming with luxurious details like powder-soft sheared mink, a Balenciaga-style stand-away collar and a matching cap sleeve top, this Camelot-era stunner is nothing short of a time...

Incredible as separates and magnificent worn together, this ensemble is both formal and whimsical thanks to the dress's shorter length and full skirt. The coat--featuring a brilliant...

It simply doesn't get more "dolce vita" than this suit: mod A-line skirt, double knit wool, red lining, Lambretta-like hardware. Best worn atop a scooter traveling at breakneck speed...

A member of the Royal Society of Arts, fiber artist Kay Cosserat was one of the most prominent and decorated knitwear designers of the 20th century. Her u...

From its striking color to its seductive neo-40s silhouette, this is a suit unafraid to make a bold impression...which makes sense when you realize it belonged to the wife of one of the most notorious mafiosi in American history. Wool crêpe suit with peplum jacket and matching inverse pleat midi skirt. Jacket features collarless round neckline, puffed shoulders, front princess seams and finished left slash breast pocket; 4” trapunto stitched peplum backed in silk gabardine for stiffness. 4-button front closure with snap at waist, plus three ornamental buttons at each wrist; fully lined in “Louis Féraud” tonal imprint silk. Matching midi skirt with plain waistband and three deep inverse pleats from knee to hem, front and back; full princess seams front and back. Rear hidden nylon zipper closure with top button and interior hanging loops; fully lined in matching silk. fabric: wool crêpe, silk noteworthy: dry clean only alterations: secured inverse pleats where separated; original owner added snap at jacket waist condition: excellent measurements: •jacket• neckline circumference: 18” (closed) shoulders: 15” bust: 36” sleeve: 24 ½” from shoulder, 16” from underarm sleeve circumference: 15” at underarm, 10” at wrist waist: 30” length: 19 ½” from shoulder, 12” from underarm peplum sweep: 40” •skirt• waist: 28” hips: 40” length: 30”, including 2” plain waistband sweep: 48” (pleats closed), 100” (pleats open) hem: 1 ½” label: Louis Féraud (made in W Germany) / Cele Peterson...

With its double breasted jacket, below-the-knee skirt, scads of buttons and velvet details, this suit is the epitome of the "Girl Friday" suit popularized by Rosalind Russell in the ...

Impeccably tailored, this dress suit bridges day (its sunny color) and evening (its opulently beaded roll neckline) with ease. Bygone construction includes felled pinked seams, deep ...

Don’t let the color fool you into thinking it’s a Disco-era castoff. A dash of Elvis (the lapels), a pinch of YSL ("Le Smoking") and a touch of couture (the curvy tailoring and labe...

As festive and elegant as any party dress but as comfortable as pajamas, this ensemble conjures images of the Arabian Nights while remaining fashionably up-to-the-moment. Its soft, n...

“Tailor of the stars” and a darling of the Cinecittà Studios, Emilio Federico Schubert created incomparable garments that celebrated La Dolce Vita before it had the name. Though Vale...