Berkshires - Fashion

About a decade ago Brunello Cucinelli debuted these impeccably-tailored 100%-virgin-wool grey shorts whose back is completely concealed by tuxedo tails fashioned from a curvilinear-c...

For the first eponymous-brand debut in Paris by Belgium-born Veronique Branquinho for her Spring/Summer 1998 collection with couture details, the former Flemish-trained fashion desig...

In the 1930s when French fashion couturier Jeanne Lanvin (1867-1946) was creating decorative bias-cut silk tulle overlays for her feminine full-skirted sleeveless "robes de style", she designed this black semi-transparent silk-tulle formal jacket featuring diagonally-striped topstitched silk-crepe appliques throughout the bias-cut panels. This sheer geometric-patterned cape-like jacket has a skirt that drapes from an open waistline and a top-fastening bodice with gathered rounded 3/4-length sleeves that each have two arm seams and shirred embroidered cuffs. It could have been the first "swing coat" design that was given that name around 1935, when Lanvin was the "uncontested leader in the haute-couture field"--according to the French Palais Galliera that has collected and exhibited similar garments at its fashion museum in Paris. In New York, TheMet collected a House of Lanvin black evening coat with a similar shape that also features dramatic linear appliques, but in a white starburst that it dates to Spring/Summer 1927. The unprecedented modern look of this Art-Deco women's jacket, which was inspired by 18th-Century French and Spanish topcoats for aristocratic court dresses, may have been good cause for Maison Lanvin to custom-make some close reproductions of a one-of-a-kind couture original for additional clients in Paris, which is implied by the remaining French brand-label noting "Adaptation Jean Lanvin...

Genny silk top, c.1980s, in a vivid print featuring large flowers in varying shades of pink dominating the front and back. This contrasts nicely with the side panels, each composed o...

Belgium former fashion designer Martin Margiela for his eponymous Paris-based Maison Martin Margiela Spring/Summer 2007 collection in a minimalist style debuted this cherry-red crepe...

Japanese Rei Kawakubo designed this wool-blend half-dress topcoat with embossed pinstripes for her Comme des Garcons Fall/Winter 2000 collection, which she titled "Hard And Forceful"...

Oscar de la Renta black patent coat, the front ornamented with pleated and swirled appliqués, the back undecorated. The coat features a simple straig...

Floral pattern clutch in a subtle palette of pinks and greens by Koret, known as one of the best creators of handbags in mid-century America. This evening clutch has a textured gold ...

Evening clutch of microbeads featuring a black background with an integrated floral in center and lattice design around the edges. Intricate, pierced gold tone frame embellished with...

Vintage c.1980s Hanae Mori little black dress in black crepe, body skiimming style, with square neckline and knee-length straight skirt with back slit. The special interest comes fro...

Norma Kamali vintage evening jacket in black crepe embellished with gold tone sequins throughout in an intricate vertical pattern. The jacket features short sleeves with shoulder pad...

Valerie Porr produced an eponymous line of quintessentially 1970s clothing, many of the styles based on the wrap silhouette, from her Soho loft that was retailed through her neighbor...

In excellent like-new condition since they were custom-made in the late 20th Century, these Bally luxurious shearling-lined leather Vasano-model shoes that are equivalent to a U.S.-size wide 7 1/2 are a dark brown classic Oxford-style slip-on stacked-heel low pump. Ideal for inclement weather or thicker socks, this pragmatic durable pair has non-slip soles in perfect condition below the leather insole, which is branded like the interior tag to indicate they were "Made In Switzerland". For nearly a century, the Swiss company designed made-to-measure shoes such as this pair, including hiking shoes...

c.1970 Victor Costa for Romantica long dress combining a black sequin bodice juxtaposed with a large-scale taffeta plaid for the full ankle-length skirt and short puffed sleeves, a n...

MM handbag c.1960s in dark pink, the leather featuring horizontal, curved stitching resulting in a quilted effect. The faux tortoise handles echo the shape of the bag and snap together to close. A coordinating faille interior has an attached money purse...

White karung clutch by Judith Leiber featuring a jeweled frame rectangular goldtone frame. Narrow karung strap converts the clutch to a shoulder bag. Int...

Valentino red straw hat, the deep back tapering towards the front, where it is creased in the middle and held with a straw knot and tie. The straw is worked in concentric circles and...

Yves Saint Laurent rive gauche charcoal gray velvet jacket, c. late 1970s-early 1980s, trimmed on all edges in black braid. The collarless jacket is cropped and features narrow sleev...

C. 1960s Ted Lapidus dress fashioned of black devoré velvet on a chiffon ground, the floral-design velvet enhanced with black sparkles that catch the light. Stylewise, the dress feat...

Evoking late-1980s couture with complex construction showcasing a wide variety of sewing techniques and French lace, this like-new "Christian Lacroix Paris Made In France" fuchsia-la...

As French couture made by Martin Grant at his Paris atelier in the Marais in the mid-1990s, this pale grey plaid lightweight-wool slit-skirt suit has many hand-tailored elements that...

1980s oversized cut in this hip-length sheared fur jacket, possibly opossum or raccoon. The fur is lush and cut in flat, broad pieces throughout the...

Diane Freis cotton dress in a tropical floral print featuring a shirt collar and double tier full skirt, both banded in black cotton. An elasticized waist makes it easy to pull the d...

While he maintained his design-leadership role at Chanel, Karl Lagerfeld (1933-2019) created limited-edition silk chiffon Fendi-logo prints to be glimpsed through multiple thigh-high...

For his first collection for Yves Saint Laurent Rive Gauche for Spring/Summer 2001, American Tom Ford debuted on the Paris runway this tuxedo-style black virgin-wool evening skirt-su...

A unique vintage find, this ensemble consists of a long black maxi skirt and sleeveless top, its floral design repeated in cut-out appliqués down the left side of the skirt. the A-li...

Thierry Mugler 1980s suit in brown wool gabardine features a belted jacket with silver metal stars dangling from the patch pockets and interesting inverted V detail near armhole. Dro...

Black broadtail beret trimmed with velvet band and bow. Retailed by Bonwit Teller.

This couture lace transparent red-and-black floral-pattern silk sleeveless evening midi dress, with an eyelash-lace boatneck and hem, is constructed with torso tucks above and below ...

Nicely styled and fashioned Bill Blass pea coat from the 1970s in beige gabardine. Double breasted with nautical-theme buttons, tabs at the wrists and at the neck, and straight, slas...

Mahogany mink waist-length jacket with shawl collar and sleeves that can be turned back with cuffs or let down for full length. Velvet cords terminating in mink spheres tie under the...

Stunning Pauline Trigère 1970s ensemble in black wool crepe, the simple dress underneath an unusual reverse cape/shawl terminating in deep black fox trim at t...

Franck Olivier hunter green corduroy jacket features an off-center zipper closure, mandarin collar, and coordinating knit hip and wrist bands. A patch p...

Vakko black suede jacket embellished with gold braid interspersed with multicolor gems is a showstopper. The long, shaped jacket hits below the hips and features an open neckline tr...

Unusual rectangular box bag in orange cut velvet with metal handle in gold accented in silver.The rectangular clasp pulls down to open the bag. Black faille...

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, 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...

The perfect dress to have in your wardrobe, this chic LBD from Frank Tignino will take you many places. In black wool crepe, the dress has an inverted V ...

1960s medium-weight silk shift dress in a beautiful shade of pink. The construction features a yoke at top that extends over the shoulders to form cap sleeves. The simple straight sh...

1960s chic and roomy double-handled handbag with gold metal frame and Bakelite clasp. Interior is ivory leather with side compartments and change purse....

1980s white cotton cropped jacket by Oscar de la Renta features black topstitching at the edges and diagonally placed decorative black buttons fr...

Large envelope clutch in rose snakeskin that opens to reveal two pockets with snaps closures and a gray suede interior with three sections and two zippered compartments on the revers...

100% camelhair double-breasted coat featuring an oversized fit, notched collar, raglan sleeves with turned back cuffs, and diagonal pockets. Topstitchi...

Walborg Art Deco inspired evening bag composed of black and gold beads, both reflective bugle beads and mat seed beads, arranged in a geometric pattern of squares and rectangles. Bot...

c.1980s Yves Saint Laurent black 3/4-length wool coat with velvet trim executed in the tuxedo style for which he was famous. This version is double-breasted and features a shawl coll...

Lavishly sequined vintage cardigan in lavender accented with beaded florets. Hook-and-eye closures in front. Silk lined. An excellent example of the decorated sweaters popular during...

Geoffrey Beene forest green suit, c.1980s, with the seemingly simple, but exquisitely detailed, shaping for which the designer was known. The suit is compos...

Chic luxury from master designer Donna Karan c.1990s, this suit is crafted of charcoal gray cashmere, a subtle extravagance for a tailored ensemble. The suit is comprised of a straig...

This antique Native American brown chamois suede leather sleeveless chemise dress, which was handmade during the "reservation era" between 1870-1930, is made from two soft supple ani...

Perfect clutch in cherry red lizard by Suarez, known for their exotic skin handbags, features an interesting metal and black bead chain that converts it int...

Missoni sundress, c.1970s-'80s, with spaghetti straps and interior elastic band that gathers the fabric in at the waist. Predominantly raspberry zigzag stripe knit. Light, packable a...

Early 1950s fitted jacket in navy wool with unique trim of mother-of-pearl disks bordering the pointed collar and covering the triangular pockets. Pearl studs accent the disks. Another interesting feature is the inverted V at the hemline. Petite size 2-4.

Sophisticated and sexy at the same time, this Ungaro design features a deep cowl neckline that plunges to the waist in front, the cowl held together at the bust line with a tab studd...

Turquoise suede pumps feature a bow held in middle by lucite element at the low vamp and a sculpted plastic heel. Approximate size 7.

A lightweight coat from the 1960s composed of a nubby off-white wool and featuring a straight cut with dolman sleeves, a small mink collar, and a single-breasted closure system with ...

An unusual evening bag of vertically ribbed matte black satin with the natural ruffled edge on one side. Single handle, gold clasp. Black satin interior wi...

A unique find, this tunic top is composed of vertical rows of openwork metallic thread in shades of blues and lavender and features butterfly sleeves and scooped necklines back and f...

Australian designer Annabel Ingall hat in bands of natural, melon, rust, and brown straw. High crown with small, turned-up brim. Looks unused.

One of the best combinations we've seen for one of these vintage Hong Kong pieces from the 1960s. The brocade tunic jacket, in a beautiful shade of m...

Blouse and shawl ensemble in pale olive and black striped silk, the collarless blouse featuring hidden buttons and juliet sleeves with deep buttoned wrists. The shawl, matching strip...

Tom and Linda Platt day dress, c.1980s, in textured black cotton emphasized by a white vertical panel down the front that follows the contours of the body. A clever take on a shirtdr...