Epic Elegance

We never tire of a beautiful and elegant little black dress. Especially one by Yves Saint Laurent. Especially a one-shoulder. And a nice face framing silk taffeta ruffle is a always a good thing. In other words, this dress has everything that a girl could ever want in the PLBD (perfect little black dress). We also think that this dress epitomes French chic which is also what Yves Saint Laurent represents.
Size 34 (American 2)

Late 1980s Yves Saint Laurent Rive Gauche one shoulder black dress with silk taffeta ruffle.

For more information about this item please email info@rarevintageinc.com or call (212) 581 7273. Please include name, state or country and telephone number on all email inquiries.

Glamour Girl

This gown is all about 1930's movie star glamour. We have an image of Carole Lombard going mano a mano with William Powell in a gown very similar to this...

Galanos is well known for rich fabrics and couture-quality workmanship. This gown in the palest blush pink contrasts a shimmering silk bodice with a matte crepe skirt. Pearl buttons line the back of the dress. It is a refined throwback to another era but simple and modern at the same time. It is also tiny! Size 34. So, only a lucky size 2 will get the chance to wear it. (It is full length - our mannequin is extremely tall!)

For more information about this item please email info@rarevintageinc.com or call (212) 581 7273. Please include name, state or country and telephone number on all email inquiries.

Vanity Fair Best Dressed September 2008

We don't sell and tell but are very pleased to have two stylish and independent women dressed in RARE vintage in the September 2008 Best Dressed issue of Vanity Fair.

Look closely...

The Goddess

The brilliant Yves Saint Laurent's vision of the Goddess gown is as timeless and classic as any chiton that you will see in the Greek and Roman Galleries at The Metropolitan Museum of Art. Of course, while this densely pleated gown alludes to the past it is a thoroughly cool modern interpretation.

1970s Yves Saint Laurent Haute Couture silk jersey densely pleated gown. Labeled Yves Saint Laurent. Numbered 31981. Size 6.

For more information about this item please email info@rarevintageinc.com or call (212) 581 7273. Please include name, state or country and telephone number on all email inquiries.

The Olympian

Just in the time for the upcoming summer Olympics is this early 1990s streamlined racerback Herve Leger dress. The color is an unusual combination of coffee and cream. The silhouette is slim and graphic. The effect is sensational. Be strong, be sporty and be sexy.

Early 1990s coffee and cream Herve Leger with racerback. Size 4.

For more information about this item please email info@rarevintageinc.com or call (212) 581 7273. Please include name, state or country and telephone number on all email inquiries.

Posted by

I Feel Pretty!

This late 1970's haute couture gown by Nina Ricci will make you want to run barefoot in a field of wildflowers singing,

I feel pretty
Oh so pretty
I feel charming
Oh so charming
It's alarming how charming I feel!

But don't be alarmed, it is just the intoxicating side effect of a gown so soft and romantic it will have you singing like Adam Sandler and Jack Nicholson in Anger Management.

The Meissen blue bias cut gown clings provoctively to the body while the ice colored lace over the bust is embroidered with tiny beads. Another layer of lace covers the lingerie inspired top. Pearl buttons line the back of the dress. A perfect dress for a summer evening or even a slightly unconventional wedding gown.

Late 1970's Nina Ricci haute couture gown with embroidered lace. Size 4.

For more information about this item please email info@rarevintageinc.com or call (212) 581 7273. Please include name, state or country and telephone number on all email inquiries.

Dotty for Lancetti

This Lancetti dress was on the cover of Italian Vogue in the 1960s. It is a beautifully draped cocktail dress in ivory silk moiré with black polka dots and a flirty bow. It is unabashedly feminine and gives you legs galore.

For more information about this item please email info@rarevintageinc.com or call (212) 581 7273. Please include name, state or country and telephone number on all email inquiries.

Singular Sensation

RARE vintage almost looks like an Herve Leger boutique we have so many pieces! But, of course, we have other vintage treats for you as well. Here is a 1990s State of Claude Montana one-shoulder gown in a dark berry color. There is a deep slit on the side of the full skirt. Claude Montana was all about the shape and cut: precise and devastating.

1990s State of Claude Montana one-shoulder gown. Size 4/6.

For more information about this item please email info@rarevintageinc.com or call (212) 581 7273. Please include name, state or country and telephone number on all email inquiries.

Sweet and Sexy

Our collection of Herve Leger continues and we are not even close to the end!

Here is an unusual Leger dress. Inspired by tennis wear, this dress has a flirty, pleated skirt. We have been writing about how much the cut of Herve Leger has to do with the fit. Look at the waist detail in this dress. Brilliant! Even if you do not have a small waist, this dress will absolutely define one for you. The beautiful, rich navy color is a great option for day and evening dressing as well.

It is sweet and sexy for the day with flats. Sweet and sexier in the evening with strappy sandals.

1990s navy Herve Leger dress with pleated skirt.

For more information about this item please email info@rarevintageinc.com or call (212) 581 7273. Please include name, address and telephone number on all email inquiries.

The Illusionist

Herve Leger's dresses create the perfect silhouette. They hold you here, push you up there, make your waist smaller and define the bum. The incredible thing about Herve Leger is that even if you do not have the perfect body, the dress will give you the body of your dreams.

The mischievous notion of transparency is a recurring theme in many designer's work. (Look at the gorgeous dresses in John Galliano's recent couture collection for Christian Dior) This black Herve Leger gown has a very beautiful pinkish nude trompe l'oeil lace effect and a slightly transparent fabric attached to the hem. Guaranteed to make you look good and feel good.

1990s Herve Leger gown with trompe l'oeil lace and transparent skirt. Size 4.

For more information about this item please email info@rarevintageinc.com or call (212) 581 7273. Please include name, address and telephone number on all email inquiries.

I Want Candy

We think that the lyrics to this 1982 Bow Wow Wow song perfectly describe this Herve Leger dress:

I know a girl who's tough but sweet
She's so fine, she can't be beat
She's got everything that I desire
Sets the summer sun on fire.

Early 1990s raspberry Herve Leger dress. Size 4.

For more information about this item please email info@rarevintageinc.com or call (212) 581 7273. Please include name, address and telephone number on all email inquiries.

Herve Leger LBD

Not to be worn if one wants to go unnoticed:

Early 1990s black Herve Leger dress with plunging back and ribbing over the bust. Size 4.

For more information about this item please email info@rarevintageinc.com or call (212) 581 7273. Please include name, address and telephone number on all email inquiries.

A Private Collection of Herve Leger

RARE vintage is very excited to have an outstanding and large collection of Herve Leger couture and ready to wear from a private collector. Fashion, as any art, has its passionate collectors. Many of the pieces are from the Herve Leger boutique that was in Bergdorf Goodman. Unfortunately, we were not able to capture the correct color which is a very beautiful pale powder blue, in our photos.

No one else does sexy the way Herve Leger did. He tapped into what women wanted: to look good and feel good. And with masterly cutting the dresses delivered on the promise of a powerful sexiness and a complete joy in wearing them.

Something sexy this way comes...

1994 powder blue Herve Leger couture bandage dress. Size 4.

For more information about this item please email info@rarevintageinc.com or call (212) 581 7273. Please include name, address and telephone number on all email inquiries.

Full Plume

Elegance and sophistication. Words to live by. Sublimely unconventional. Also words to live by. If you would like a spectacular evening gown that is elegant, sophisticated and sublimely unconventional then this 1967 Donald Brooks is just the thing.

The bodice is covered with pheasant feathers in brown with an ivory polka dot covering them. The skirt is covered in a cascade of brown and cream ostrich feathers with polka dotted pheasant feathers disbursed throughout the skirt. The dress is belted with a wide, chocolate brown silk sash.

We know that it can sometimes be a bit of a chore getting dressed up but this gown puts all of the fun and glamour back into getting dressed up. You will not be able to wait to wear it!
Size 6.

For more information about this item please email info@rarevintageinc.com or call (212) 581 7273

The Warrior Princess

We started this week at RARE vintage by posting museum quality pieces from Madame Gres and we are ending the week with fetish pieces from Thierry Mugler and Gianni Versace. Very glamorous fetish.

This 1980s Gianni Versace couture dress in an unusual mustard color combines all of the classic Versace signatures: lace, leather, bondage and sexiness. It is for a woman who embraces her strength, her femininity and her sex appeal. Can be worn with or without original belt.
Size 38 (US 4/6)

For more information about this item please email info@rarevintageinc.com or call (212) 581 7273

Cocktail Dress for an Angel

Some of you may have seen Naomi Watts at the Costume Institute Gala wearing a white crystal pleated Thierry Mugler gown inspired by an archive piece. She is the new face for the Angel fragrance and looked very glamorous.

Here is the actual archive piece! RARE vintage has the Marilyn Monroe-style cocktail version which means it is a great wearable piece and is perfect for all sorts of summer parties and weddings. It is also dead stock which does not necessarily get us at RARE vintage so excited - we like to think about all of the fun, wonderful evenings our dresses have enjoyed and will continue to enjoy. But if you get excited by dead stock, here it is. The dress is beautifully made with couture like details. And if you have ever pondered piercing, this dress comes with its own piercing inspired detail! The original price was $4070 in the early 1990s!! Now that price is not so out of the ordinary but back then it was a pretty penny. But a good investment! Size 38 (US 4/6).

For more information about this item please email info@rarevintageinc.com or call (212) 581 7273