Skip to main content
Want more images or videos?
Request additional images or videos from the seller
1 of 14

StellaMcCartney 2003 Runway Unique Silk Lace SheerChiffon Satin Bloomers Pants

About the Item

Twenty-five years before Chemena Kamali revived the 1970s-pantaloon style for her Chloe Spring/Summer 2025 collection, Chloe-alumnus Stella McCartney designed for her eponymous Spring/Summer 2003 collection these unique feminine lingerie-like hand-finished prototype black transparent silk and lace bloomer pants, which were an unreproduced runway one-off documented by Vogue in Look 23 of its fashion-show coverage. The voluminous see-through silk chiffon glimpsed throughout the puffed draping legs is structured by boldly-topstitched raw-edged silk-satin ribbons that create vertical reflective opaque stripes. Positioning the pants low on the hips with contrasting horizontal scalloped lace layers, the wide dropped waistband on closer view features an eyelash-edged floral pattern. Likewise, the see-through chiffon is further decorated with a delicate narrow pattern of tiny-eyelet stripes. The leg length of the versatile wide-leg pants is adjustable so that their spaghetti cords can be tied to drape a ruffle above the ankles or to balloon on the thighs like a bubble hem. These luxurious highly-textural pants will look stunning under a simple mini dress. Since McCartney launched her fashion house in 2001, she gained particular acclaim for her trousers--likely owing to her early training with a London Savile-Row tailor. The creative repurposing of tuxedo-stripe trim for these harem pants is an early example. Notably, when McCartney was a teenager she began working with high-end lace when she interned with Christian Lacroix to help produce one of his haute-couture collections. The lace waistband on these pants is hand-sewn to the top of black semi-sheer stretch boy-shorts, which secure it on the hips while the multiple layers of fabric and lace conceal the skin. The shorts (shown inverted in closeup), which will fit a US-size 4 to slim 8, do not have banding at the legs or waist as these areas stretch to fit like shape-wear. The lace waistband fastens on one side with multiple concealed snaps. Likely due to the transparency of the pants and hip-hugging waistband, all labels were removed by the sole owner with the exception of the brand and "Made In Italy" tags.
  • Designer:
  • Brand:
  • Dimensions:
    Marked Size: IT42 (EU)
  • Style:
    lingerie 1970s (In the Style Of)
  • Place of Origin:
  • Period:
  • Condition:
    Wear consistent with age and use.
  • Seller Location:
    Chicago, IL
  • Reference Number:
    1stDibs: LU3244220329682

More From This Seller

View All
TomFord YvesSaintLaurent RiveGauche Slim StraightLeg Black FineDenim Jeans
By Yves Saint Laurent Rive Gauche, Tom Ford
Located in Chicago, IL
In the sexy sleek skin-tight style that Texan Tom Ford introduced as the former artistic director at Yves Saint Laurent Rive Gauche while the French esteemed eponymous designer was r...
Category

Early 2000s European Jeans

Gucci TomFord 2001AwardYear Draped Suede PlungingV-Neck Collared Black Pullover
By Gucci, Tom Ford for Gucci
Located in Chicago, IL
For his Gucci Fall/Winter 2001 collection, American Tom Ford designed this sleek partly-knit pullover tunic featuring a plunging V-neck collared suede front that drapes in a reverse ...
Category

Early 2000s Italian Pullovers

Couture LingerieLike Beaded Silk Cutwork Balenciaga Style 2000s Black Vest Apron
Located in Chicago, IL
This couture lingerie-like spaghetti-strapped black silk-satin apron vest--with extraordinary graphic cutwork featuring a heavily hand-beaded breast-plate and appliques--was custom made by a young designer for a New York City female...
Category

Early 2000s French Aesthetic Evening Dresses

1980s BergdorfGoodman Costa Corseted Strapless Quintessential Little Black Dress
By Bergdorf Goodman, Victor Costa
Located in Chicago, IL
This timeless quintessential corseted, shirred, ruched and topstitched "little black dress" produced by Victor Costa in the 1980s was made for the high standards of New York's trendsetting Bergdorf Goodman. It was the first U.S. luxury department store to order exclusive special-occasion dresses from this Texas designer and subsequently to give him a namesake in-store boutique. He soon became associated with the feminine glamorous gowns worn by "PYT" (Costa-speak for pretty young things) on the Dallas-based television-series "Dynasty", which idealized status-conscious Texan women mostly via fashion. With a strapless curvaceous sweetheart neckline (spared from '80s shoulder pads!), narrow sinuous folds of crepe silk-blend jersey cross diagonally below the decollete, while contrasting vertical ruching defines the seven bones of the invisible corset structure that is fully lined on the interior. Under the bust in front below the empire-like peaked high waist, the fitted tucked underlay of the cocktail dress wraps around the back to end as an overlay in front, where the opening on the left side extends to the bodice like a discreet slit. The freely hanging bias-cut overlay in front is gathered underneath each breast for a forgiving central drape that adds additional curves to make the wearer's torso underneath appear in sleek condition despite a potentially less than ideal figure. The dress closes with a concealed zipper in the center of the back, with exterior hook-and-eye fastening to narrow the waist. There is a second concealed hook-and-eye fastener at the top of the zipper. Although the only remaining tag is the Costa/Bergdorf label, it is a contemporary U.S.-size 8, which will also suit a large-busted size 6 or a svelte size 10. Now 88 years old, Victor Costa (b.1935) became widely known by the 1980s in The States for perfecting affordable luxurious gowns that could be mistaken for one-of-a-kind flamboyant designs by foreign couturiers Christian Lacroix, Arnold Scaasi, Oscar de la Renta or Valentino Garavani. Early on, the avid female sketcher...
Category

1980s American Cocktail Dresses

MartinMargiela 1990 1stRetrospectiveCollection1994 Sheer Black Convertible Apron
By Maison Martin Margiela
Located in Chicago, IL
As a variation of the traditional waiter-style apron that Belgian former fashion designer Martin Margiela reworked with his eponymous Maison Martin Margiela since its first collection for Spring/Summer 1989, this minimalist convertible transparent black chiffon rectangular garment was part of his Spring 1994 collection. The iconic corner-stitched textural white-cotton brand label is stenciled with seemingly contradictory text referencing an earlier Fall 1990 collection. Instead of the blank label that had become internationally recognized among progressive-fashion buyers during the brand's initial five years, this black print was added in this manner for only one collection during its founder's tenure. This distinct typography identifies it a one of his favorites that he re-editioned from his first 10 fashion shows. This season-less self-curated retrospective collection without any new designs was unprecedented in the ready-to-wear fashion industry, which sold only newly-designed clothes typically two to five times annually. In the early 1990s, this old-made-new-again collection was astonishing for a Paris-based high-end brand, for which any lack of fresh designs for Spring had otherwise been attributed to the loss of an artistic director or the outbreak of war. Nevertheless, there are subtle differences of color, material and draping possibilities that make our re-edition unique from the 1990 apron and from later "replicas", which was the term that Margiela printed on a different kind of label for his second self-curated retrospective in Spring 1999 following 10 more collections. Aside from the text-printed brand label with four characteristic hand-sewn corner stitches, the only other element that unified Margiela's first collection of favorites was that all the items were overdyed a darker color so that the clothes were various shades of grey, blue or black depending on the original color of the textile and how much dye the thread/yarn absorbed. The first Margiela apron...
Category

1990s Italian Aesthetic Evening Dresses

Alaia S/S1986 PrinceOfLines BlackSet Knit & TripleBrassZipper Studded Skirt
By Azzedine Alaïa
Located in Chicago, IL
Featuring a dramatic never-worn zipper skirt from the iconic Spring/Summer 1986 Alaia Paris collection--which dominated the Vanity Fair published preview of Foundation Azzedine Alaia...
Category

1980s French Skirt Suits

You May Also Like

Gianni Versace Black Fringe Leather Pants, Fall/Winter 1992.
By Gianni Versace
Located in New York, NY
Gianni Versace Fringe Leather Pants, F/W 1992. Documented Gianni Versace black leather fringe pants with studded accents. Fall/Winter 1992 Front...
Category

1990s Italian Wide Leg Pants

1992 Gianni Versace Bondage Black Wool Jumpsuit with Medallions
By Gianni Versace
Located in New York, NY
Iconic 1992 Gianni Versace Black Wool and Silk Jumpsuit with original tags. Features Silk Faille Bands over Embroidered Net Bodice; Gold-tone Medallion Accents with inset Amber Color...
Category

1990s Italian Jumpsuits

JOSEPH Size 0 Charcoal Viscose Blend Sparkly Leggings
By Joseph
Located in San Francisco, CA
JOSEPH leggings comes in a charcoal sparkly viscose blend featuring a elastic waistband. Made in France. Very Good Pre-Owned Condition. Marked: 36 Measurements: Waist: 26 in...
Category

21st Century and Contemporary Pants

SANDRO Size 30 Navy White Vertical Stripe Wool Drawstring Casual Pants
By Sandro
Located in San Francisco, CA
SANDRO casual pants in a navy wool fabric featuring blue and white vertical stripe down the sides, drawstring waist, and zipper closure.Very Good Pre-Owned Condition. Moderate signs ...
Category

21st Century and Contemporary Pants

TOMAS MAIER 2018 Size 31 Blue Gray Leaf Print Cotton Pants
By Tomas Maier
Located in San Francisco, CA
TOMAS MAIER 2018 pants comes in a blue & gray leaf print cotton featuring a slim fit, pocket details, and a zip fly closure. Very Good Pre-Owned Condition. Marked: 31 Measureme...
Category

21st Century and Contemporary Pants

FENDI Size 36 Navy Blue Stripe Cotton Blend Sweatpants
By Fendi
Located in San Francisco, CA
FENDI sweatpants comes in a navy cotton blend with a blue stripe detail featuring a front pleat, zipper pockets, elastic waist, and a zip fly closure. Made in Italy. Very Good Pre-Ow...
Category

21st Century and Contemporary Pants

Recently Viewed

View All