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Late 80s, early 90s wool crepe and lace cocktail dress by Carolina Herrera. Herrera designs are always elegant and in the best of taste. This cocktail dress is from her CH line which was started in the later 80s. The CH line was created to be a bit more affordable but NEVER skimped on beautiful design or construction. All Herrera clothing was (is) treated with the same couture sensibilities.
This classically styled dress is done in black wool crepe (a favorite fabric in the 1980s-90s) and rhinestone studded lace. The rhinestones are black crystal with bezel settings and the lace is backed with neutral silk organza. The cut has a distinct 1940s feel with sculpted shoulders and nipped in waist. The lace sleeves are long and narrow. It has a round neckline in front which dips to a moderate V in back. There is an inset midriff section in lace and the skirt is narrow. The body of the dress is lined in black silk. A beautifully made dress as lovely inside as it is out!
It's an older size 6 which is small.
Bust 36"
Waist 28"
Hips 38"
Skirt length (from natural waistline) 26"
Sleeve length 24"
Excellent Condition
$250.00
#3079
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I was head of alterations in a salon on Newbury St. in Boston during the later 1980s. The shop carried high end ready to wear and catered to society ladies (LOTS of old money) as well as successful business women. I can remember the Adele Simpson dresses and suits we carried as timeless, elegant and flattering. They were expensive (usually well over $500) but worth it because they LOOKED like couture when worn. Altering them was painstaking due to the high quality workmanship. We were required to finish our work in keeping with the same original standards. I loved working on her clothing.
Adele Simpson had a long and successful career as an American designer. After working in the industry for a number of years she started her solo label in 1949. Adele retired in the 80s at which time her daughter took over the company.
This timeless 1980s dress/suit can be worn throughout the day and with a change of shoes and accessories transitions into dinner or evening with ease. Two tone, it is cut from royal blue and black wool crepe. A boxy, open, shawl collar jacket tops a fitted short sleeved dress with jewel neckline. It has a silky black lining. The size is medium around a modern 8 with the following measurements.
Bust 38"
Waist 30"
Hips 38"
Excellent Condition
$175.00
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Classic style by Rodier
On those days when you need to look put together and stylish without a lot of fuss a good tailored shirtdress is the perfect solution. Just throw it on, accessorize and go.
This Rodier is cut from fine black wool crepe. It is a classic shirt style dress from the late 80s early 90s. The sleeves are long and a bit full. The shoulder line is padded (not huge though). Design details include horizontal, single pleats front and back and decorative gold buttons. It is fully lined.
The size is generous around a modern size 12 -14 and would work best on an average to tall frame. It has the following measurements.
Bust 44"
Hips 42"
Shoulder 17"
Sleeve length 24"
Excellent Condition
$125.00
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Beautiful couture daywear by Yves Saint Laurent circa 1980s.
Fine houndstooth wool dress designed with a nod to the early 1920s era.
The dropped waist, oversized pockets, rounded collar and slim silhouette were surely inspired by the transition period from the later teens into the 1920s. YSL blended these retro elements with modern padded shoulders and a shorter skirt to create a handsome versatile daydress. Perfect business or lunch attire. Skillfully tailored and fully lined in black silk
The size is around a modern 6. The hips are quite slim in comparison to the bust so keep this in mind. It is designed to fit loosely on top and fitted on the bottom. It has the following measurements.
Bust 38"+
Hips 36"
Shoulder 15 1/2"
Sleeve length 23 1/2"
Excellent Condition
$325.00
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1980s Winter White suit by Carolyne Roehm
A fashion trendsetter, Carolyne Roehm has been considered one of the worlds most stylish women. She worked as a designer for Sears-Roebuck first then Oscar de Larenta before she started her own ready to wear label in 1984. In 1988 she began her couture line.
Roehms platinum standards required that her designs be created from the finest textiles with flawless construction.
Our suit is no exception. The fabric is a double faced wool bengaline (corded texture) in winter white. The jacket is open kimono style with an all in one sleeve. It is collarless with a roll back front lapel and decorative mother of pearl buttons. The straight skirt has a slightly gathered waist and a curved asymmetrical hem. It buttons with the same mother of pearl buttons, all the way down on the left side.
The construction is on the haute couture level. Every seam and edge has been split then rolled back into itself to be finished with fine handstitching so there are no raw seams anywhere. This enables the garment to remain unlined so the thick material falls freely and without any added bulk.
The skirt is medium around a modern 8. Since the jacket is unstructured and does not close in front it will fit a range of sizes.
Waist 29"
Hips 40"
Skirt Length 23"
Excellent Condition
$300.00
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During the 1980s the desire for new, sensational designs was the driving force in the world of fashion. This unfettered environment released the quirky side of many designers... like the interesting skirt in this Gianni Versace suit.
Classic black and white, checkered plaid jacket on top. This picture does not represent the fabric well because of the strobe effect, it is a small diamond check. You can see it better in the detail shot of the side view.
The jacket has broad shoulders and a curved in waist. It buttons invisibly to the neck and sports twin decorative button detail. It has a close rounded neckline which (to me) begs for either a turtle neck or scarf. There is a welted breast pocket and two hip pockets. Just a nicely tailored jacket here.
The skirt however is anything but classic. It is a swirl of random horizontal pleats done in the same checkered plaid. Very surreal and sculptural. I love it and think it would look great teamed with a turtle neck body suit with some over the top 60s pendant and killer boots.
The size is around a modern 6 maybe a small 8. As with a lot of 1980s suits the jacket is roomier than the skirt. You can have the jacket taken in but the skirt is complicated to say the least. The waist could be let out but I wouldn't even consider letting out the hips, consider that measurement fixed.
Bust up to 39"
Waist 28"
Hips 38"
Skirt length 22"
Sleeve length 23"
Excellent Condition
$250.00
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Pretty fitted double breasted jacket from the 1980s by Carolina Herrera.
Rich black and white nubby tweed accented with black velvet details.
The jacket has a 1940s/equestrian feel with pleated padded shoulder line. The blouson bodice gathers into a fixed velvet waistband and there is a hip length peplum. Long full sleeves gather into velvet cuffs. The buttons are velvet covered squares. It has a square neckline and velvet collar. Would look great with black gabardine slacks or skirt (and a red clutch!)
The size is around a modern 8-10 a generous medium.
NOTE! Alterations to make larger not recommended I noticed the velvet waist band has no seams so the waist cannot be let out without major reconstruction. The buttons can't be moved over either because it would distort the front so alteration (to make larger) is not practical.
Bust 40"
Waist 31"
Hips 42"
Sleeve Length 24"
Excellent Condition
$120.00
#3067
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Gossamer 1970s gown... Yves Saint Laurent.
The fabric is stunning, a harlequin print tissue silk chiffon with gold metallic highlights. Gorgeous color combination in shades of lavender and amber. The bodice is cut blouson style with button front, attached two piece neck scarf and full sleeves. The floor length flowing skirt has a fixed gathered waist. At left I photographed with the top buttoned up and scarf looped around the neck sweet and ladylike. For a sexier look you can wear it partially buttoned with the scarf loosely tied (pictured above) This dress had no belt and there are no loops to indicated there ever was one. I really think though, that a fabulous wide belt with ornate buckle would define the waist better and look very contemporary.
A gorgeous dress with all the couture details...It is lined with amber silk gauze. The buttons are clear glass crystal with gilded edges. Even the side zipper is special it has tiny copper teeth, a perfect match with the fabric!. Lots of hand finishing assures that the delicate fabric falls perfectly!
The size is med/small around a generous size 6.
It has the following measurements.
Bust 36"
Waist 26"
Hips free
Skirt length 43"
Sleeve length 23 1/2"
Excellent Condition
$550.00
SOLD
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Hanae Mori is a Tokyo born designer who has been designing beautiful fashion since the 1950s. Her creations are the epitome of subtle elegance. They reflect the ancient respect for harmony and balance so much a part of Japanese tradition. Exquisite fabric is essential to her designs to allow for perfect drape and flow of line. This lovely silk day dress is a modest example of her work. The body is an unstructured sheath which gathers at the neck into a rounded yoke.The sleeves are long and slender and there is a vent at the hem for ease of movement. The fabric is the finest quality silk crepe de chine with an earth tone print of carnations. It is completely lined in taupe silk. The size is medium around a modern 8-10. It has the following measurements.
Bust 38"
Waist free size
Hips 39"
Excellent Condition
$165.00
