Antique NativeAmerican LeatherBraidedSeamsStrapsNeckline Sleeveless Hide Dress

In an atypical Japanese-dye color for Rei Kawakubo, in 1999 she designed this translucent salmon-pink bias-cut satin sleeveless maxi dress evening gown for her brand Comme des Garcons, which debuted on a model walking the Paris runway that Fall as "Look 12" among the Vogue photo-coverage of her Spring/Summer 2000 collection. The unusual V-neck shape creates a central drape in the front of the unlined dress that prevents the synthetic semi-transparent fabric from clinging to the torso, while still enabling the lower part to swoosh while walking. With the exception of the brand tag, all others were removed by the sole owner to eliminate bulk and visibility through the dress. If the buyer would prefer, the fabric can be made shinier and completely smooth with professional pressing. Please notice that In a couple of our photos the white drapery next to or below the dress was converted by 1stDibs auto-editing to appear like trailing elements. Also, as we used a backless mannequin, the rear side of the dress at the top is draping inward--not outward--in our photo. We have other items from this same Spring/Summer 2000 collection if the buyer may want to layer pieces for a look similar to the fashion show. This is such a beautiful minimal dress...

Arguable the most significant design in the Stella McCartney Spring/Summer 2003 collection since it debuted in several colors on the runway and was worn by the British designer to take her fashion-show bow, this pink-printed dark-grey silk-blend zip-front mini-dress with white satin stripes and pink piping was a favorite of the Vogue critic and her father Beatles co-founder Paul McCarthy. Vogue wrote: "Her hippest new idea came in the form of puffy satin bombers--she transformed one, a fusion of sport and chinoiserie print, into an off-the-shoulder bubble dress. McCartney is so into the glam-bomber idea, in fact, that she bounded onto the runway wearing a black version herself." The garment's voluminous batwing sleeves and stretch-cotton ribbed neckline and hem, plus custom golden-charm two-way zipper, enable it to have two different necklines and lengths to convert to a shorter puffier bomber jacket. Notably, the versatile piece that is subtly printed with mock-Beatles lyrics seems to have been the first tribute fashion-design that McCartney created to reference her father. Prior, she had credited her stylish mother Linda for instilling her with a love of fashion and inspiration for her initial namesake collections, which followed her first commercial collections with Phoebe Philo for Chloe. For background, when McCartney was a young girl in 1978, the mock-rock band The Rutles parodied a Beatles song, which was recorded by EMI as "Ging, Gang, Goolie". Given its lyrics, the chinoiserie-style dragon motifs were substituted by McCartney with bird skeletons...

British Alexander McQueen designed this curvaceous uniquely-draped black evening gown for his "Supercalifragilisticexpialidocious" collection for Autumn/Winter 2002-2003, which set a ready-to-wear $37,500 auction record in 2020 for its complimentary "parachute" silk coat, while a 1stDibs listing in only "good condition" for a later similar raw-edge-finished silk chiffon red midi dress for Spring/Summer 2003 sold for $10,144. In very good condition, the intricate ruched semi-transparent silk chiffon and sleek lined wool hourglass below-the-knee dress is tagged size "38" as a French size (US4-6)--not an Italian size although other tags note "Made In Italy". Like the 2020-auctioned coat from Supercalifragilisticexpialidocious, the gown is also among the few that encapsulate this collection according to Alexander McQueen, who was quoted by magazine Numero: "This collection was inspired by Tim Burton. It started out dark and then got more romantic as it went along." This is why The Metropolitan Museum of Art Costume Institute showcased a runway ensemble including the romantic black coat in its Alexander McQueen retrospective, "Savage Beauty", a year after the designer died...

This unusual mid-century lingerie-style black semi-transparent mini dress that conjures a historic pinup-girl like Bettie Page is suitable as a cocktail dress as part of an evening ensemble. It was probably meant by its New York designer to be paired with slim cropped pants, which became popular in The States after worn by Hollywood-movie actresses Audrey Hepburn and Marilyn Monroe. The A-line dress was most likely made by the former ready-to-wear fashion company following the revolutionary debut by French Christian Dior of his couture cinched-waist-voluminous-skirt "New Look" collection, whereafter German Sonja de Lennart introduced "Capris" in 1949, and American Hugh Hefner launched Playboy magazine in 1953. The complex hourglass-shaped garment features a double v-neck four-seamed ruched lined bodice in a crepe silky woven fabric. Its defined gathered bust extends from the chest seams at two angles to form short dolman sleeves only in the front, while there are arm seams in back. The gathered see-through black faux-lace organza flared skirt reveals a black velvet-textured scalloped floral pattern with a net underlayer. With beige lining, the self-trim band at the waist enables the folded scalloped-lace pattern to continue to stand out on the opaque black torso. The edges of the peplum and sleeves are further cut in a scallop shape to resemble more delicate eyelash-lace trim. The brand label of the obsolete line is the only interior tag that remains. Camouflaging the midsection, the flattering dress will best suit a U.S.-size 6. It can also be worn by larger sizes with a relatively slim waist and small or large bust as there is no restriction at the hips or wide armholes. At the waistline, a hook and looped cord fasten over the bypass zipper to better conceal it. Notably, the steel-tab-and-teeth zipper is an original U.S-made Murlen model, which was used in new clothes from the 1940s to 1960s and helps to date the mid-century dress.

In the 1990s, French Thierry Mugler designed this haute-couture labeled and numbered corset-style topstitched zigzag-panel ecru 100%-cotton-denim cocktail dress, which is fully lined...

For his first collection for Yves Saint Laurent Paris/Rive Gauche while also creative director at Gucci, American Tom Ford designed this Spring/Summer 2001 black formal evening gown ...

ALEXANDER MCQUEEN 2018 Red Cut-Out Gown Brand: Alexander McQueen Designer: Sarah Burton Collection / Year: 2018 Fabric: Viscose / Silk Color: Red Size: ...

Size: French 36 Brand: LANVIN Color: Light Dove Gray Season: Vintage Features: Strapless sweetheart neckline Draped detail throughout Ruffle detail at side Belt at waist Long leng...

A once in a lifetime piece, this original 1950's Neymar Couture duchess satin gown, in the most sumptuous shade of cream, showcases true craftsmanship i...

A beauty to behold, this original 1930's satin dress rendered in the most sumptuous shade of amber satin, is the perfect statement piece for your special occasion wardrobe. The rou...

This breathtaking 1960's yellow knitted wool dress, embellished in its entirety with clear iridescent sequins, and finished with floral beaded details in yellow rocaille beads, and i...

A true beauty to behold. This original 1950's duchess satin dress, rendered in a soft shade of sweet pink and accented by the most divine pleat wor...