Berkshires - Clothing

Judy Hornby Couture voided silk bias-cut evening dress with deep cowl neck neck and layered hem, both layers trimmed with pearls. Long sleeves with gathered shoulders and pointed wri...

While at Paris-based Balenciaga in late 2007, Nicolas Ghesquiere designed this 100%-silk bias-cut paneled dress that explodes with a grey and pale-yellow flower print and features un...

Lovely style and fabric in this summer dress of lavender voile embroidered allover with a repeat linear pattern in white and edged with a narrow white scallop. The shirt-style dress ...

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 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...

In 1994, Martin Margiela did something unprecedented with his luxury fashion brand Maison Martin Margiela, which was to debut a collection with no new designs but rather a new-for-it...

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...

Black wool/cashmere blend easy jacket featuring a large and plush brown fox shawl collar. Raglan, above-the-wrist sleeves, no buttons, , hidden pockets in si...

In 1996, Japanese Junya Wantanabe (b.1961) made this sculptural red whorled-rose jacquard padded cocoon coat/evening jacket/cape to convert to an equally unique and versatile asymmet...

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...

From one of the last fashion collections for French Maison Martin Margiela by its renowned founder Belgian artist Martin Margiela before he prematurely retired in 2009, this asymmetr...

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...

The late Italian Gianni Versace near the end of his life--cut short by his murder in July 1997--designed this couture heavily-embroidered semi-transparent silk chiffon sleeveless hou...

Jean Louis Scherrer classic black coatdress with tuxedo detailing in its taffeta spread collar and four-button wrists. The body is shaped with fron...

Beautifully crafted Bill Blass two-layer dress, the main body a strapless sheath of repeating ribbon stripes in aqua, mint, beige and gray. Skimming over this is a sheer net sleevele...

In the early 1990s in France, Paris-based Azzedine Alaia (1935-2017) designed this knit pullover chemise-style sleeveless lavender violet viscose dress that features bias panels in b...

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...

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 ...

1960s lightweight coat by Jacques Heim in navy nubby wool featuring a fitted bodice and A-line skirt with a welted seam below the waist, three-quarter sleeves, and a free panel over ...

Over 20 years ago, the late Roberto Cavalli who recently died in 2024 designed this silk-and-cotton top-and-jeans set showcasing his signature mix of animal prints with luxurious emb...

In 1999, Rei Kawakubo (b. 1942) focused on unprecedented sculptural texture and irregular color blocking to design her Comme des Garcons Spring/Summer 2000 collection, which was domi...

With the finest fabric and tailoring--the base expectation for all progressive minimalist luxurious fashions designed for powerful women by German Jil Sander before the Prada-buyout ...

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...

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...

One of Victor Costa's best designs, this strapless cocktail/evening dress is fashioned of white satin and black velvet alternating horizontal stripes with fitted bodice leading to an...

Vivienne Westwood's son Joe Corre opened the first lingerie boutique for his sexy London-based brand Agent Provocateur in Soho in the mid-1990s, when the sole owner of this black lac...

In his classic long flared silhouette, Japanese Yohji Yamamoto skillfully designed with bias-cut draping both this navy ribbon-trimmed notched-lapel single-breasted lined jacket and ...

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...

This antique ArtDeco-period couture British wool and satin black tuxedo button-decorated open-breasted tailcoat fits a women's U.S.-size 6 so well that we think it was custom-made fo...

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 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...

Appearing in several versions on the Stella McCartney Spring/Summer 2003 collection runway with silk oversized long bell sleeves (see our photos of the gold and white versions beginn...

Anne Fogarty maxi dress featuring a scooped and ruffled neckline, cap sleeves, and empire waist fastened with a black velvet sash; one deep and one shallow ruffle at hem complement t...

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...

As the key element of runway finale Looks 57 and 60 for the Comme Des Garcons Spring/Summer 1999 collection (see our photos of the Vogue coverage), this layered overdyed-purple navy ...

Velvet is in! This black velvet 1950s princess-style coat is in great condition and features a small collar and seven black buttons down the front. The nipped waist and flare skirt s...

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...

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...

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.

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...

French-born Nicholas Ghesqueire, lauded in the 2000s for his innovative couture-like construction with atypical ready-to-wear luxurious fabrics tailored to perfection, designed for h...

c.1990s Gianni Versace coat in soft 15% cashmere/wool blend, featuring a true double-breasted style that buttons up to a small round collar. The body of the coat has seams towards th...

1980s evening ensemble by Hidy Misawa of London, the floral print of large fuchsia bursts on a white ground, all embellished with clusters of sparkles. The...

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

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...

Brown wool coat from the 1960s, its distinguishing feature the mottled brown/gray Persian lamb border that forms its stand-up collar, front edge, and curved knee-length hemline in fr...

Norman Norell is well known for his sequined creations. Here is an unusual version that, though unlabeled, is unmistakably Norell.

A casual style predominates, from th...

Kenzo, c.1980s, large-scale red paisley dress of wool and cotton challis fabric featuring interesting shape and design details. The loose, semi-cocoon shaped body has a three-button ...

A great piece to spruce up your Fall wardrobe, this snakeskin blazer is shaped close to the body with front darts and contour seaming in the back. It ...

Stravropolous designed beautiful evening clothes and is especially known for his chiffon creations. This navy chiffon dress, from the 1980s, shows h...

Vintage black faille princess-style coat with peter pan collar and self buttons from neck to hem. Set-in sleeves with deep armholes. Vertical seaming shapes the fitted waist and flar...

High quality raccoon with dark markings and featuring elasticized hem and wrists. Zip front that closes up all the way to the neck for extra warmth. Size S-M.

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...

Brown tweed wrap coat by Bill Blass features wide lapels, menswear style patch pockets and a matching tweed belt with buckle. Deep back vent. Brown taffeta lining. Approximate size 6.

1980s royal blue coat and dress with charcoal beading in geometric patterns and hearts. The open coat reveals a V-neck, 3/4 sleeve dress underneath...

This Alaia Paris black set of a very soft 100% leather high-waisted derriere-enhancing pencil mini skirt and rare logo scoop-neck T-shirt were made around the early 1990s by the foun...

1980s Pauline Trigére dress and jacket in a red linen-blend fabric, the sleeveless sheath dress with square neckline, shoulder tab detail with p...

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...