Dangerous Liasions

When people come in to RARE vintage we often hear gasps, squeals of delight and sometimes we can almost hear hearts pounding.

Our latest addition, in the heart pounding category, is this improbably beautiful historical confection by Yves Saint Laurent.

Marguerite Duras said, "when a dress of Yves Saint Laurent's appears in a salon, we cry with joy. For the dress we had never dreamed of is there, and it is just the one we were waiting for."

This black silk taffeta skirt with a long train cross references a grand eighteenth-century ball gown in a thoroughly Yves Saint Laurent variation. And where to wear this unique piece? A fete at Versailles would be ideal, the Salzburg Easter Festival would be grand, a candlelit palazzo on the Grand Canal would be fine or to the Party of the Year here in Manhattan - just imagine the long train sweeping up the steps to the Metropolitan Museum of Art...

1970s Yves Saint Laurent Rive Gauche black silk taffeta ball gown skirt. Size 38.
(sequin Yves Saint Laurent tank sold separately)

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

Printemps-Eté 1954: A Christian Dior Ball Gown

There are certain pieces of fashion history that are rarely seen outside of a museum. They also rarely turn up for auction. So the opportunity to own a truly magnificent gown that represents the best work of a designer's career is even rarer. All of this is suddenly sounding very RARE vintage!

Christian Dior is well known for his spectacular early ball gowns which are the ideal of beauty. Their grand silhouettes recall the opulent style of historical France. A gown, that through a half open door, a man would hear the rustle of a silk dress as Prince Andrei does in Tolstoy's War and Peace.

This Christian Dior haute couture ball gown from 1954 is as timeless and classic and beautiful now as it was fifty-five years ago. It is strapless, showing neck and shoulders, with an emphasis on a small waist. The back reveals an extravagantly bustled gathering of the skirt. There is a double layer of red net underneath the black dotted red chiffon. Christian Dior was famous for using polka dots of different sizes and colors. And, of course, an interior corset to tighten the waist, lift the bust and outline the hips.

If you saw the Christian Dior show at The Metropolitan Museum of Art in 1996 and it left you feeling intoxicated, giddy and dreaming of being able to wear one of those gowns, this is the dress for you. If you were bewildered and a little envious of Mrs Bryon C. Foy who seemed to have owned every single spectacular ball gown in the exhibit, well, then this is the dress for you.

If you are looking for a masterpiece, the ne plus ultra for your vintage collection and a ball gown that is modern and timeless and that will make you feel and walk like a princess, then this is the one.

1954 Christian Dior haute couture ball gown.

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

Paris 1962 Party in Vanity Fair

You can read more about our Paris 1962 evening in Vanity Fair.

And here are a few photos:

Paris 1962

Last night RARE vintage and Olivia Palermo hosted an evening honoring Jerry Schatzberg and his amazing book, Paris 1962.

Fashion's history is such an integral part of what we do at RARE and it was a unique opportunity for an intimate meeting with a great witness to the young and brilliant Yves Saint Laurent's first collection under his own name. Jerry also had access to behind the scenes at Christian Dior where Marc Bohan had just taken over as designer. After initial skepticism to Marc Bohan, the fashion critics and ladies went crazy for his beautiful and wildly successful collections. We have had two early examples from Marc Bohan's time at Dior. Our museum quality slimline cocktail dress from 1961 and the recently posted and very elegant gown with cut out back from 1965.

Jerry's photographs capture intimate and beautiful moments that look like stills pulled from a film. In fact, Jerry Schatzberg is also a filmmaker and if you have not seen Scarecrow with Gene Hackman doing the sexiest, rowdiest stiptease in the history of cinema, then we strongly suggest that you log on to Netflix and rent it ASAP!

It was a wonderful evening filled with Veuve Clicquot, caviar and couture. Not a bad combination!

Special thanks to Jerry, Catherine and Olivia, who looked stunning in a vintage Yves Saint Laurent top, skinny leather pants and high, high pumps from Stefano Pilati for Yves Saint Laurent. Another great combination!

Christian Dior 1965

Fittings for an haute couture dress can be a full time job. You have to fly to Paris, if you are not living there, at least three times to be fitted for one dress.

In 1965, women from around the world's fashion capitals started wearing short skirts and pants. London was swinging. If one is in the midst of a cultural revolution, you just do not have the time to be fitted for an haute couture dress! But, of course, that does not mean that you do not want a couture dress. Even during a revolution, you want to look good.

This Marc Bohan for Christian Dior beautifully cut heavy crepe gown is from the London boutique. It is a simple black sheath from the front, beautifully tailored, and when you turn around, the back, deeply cut, is dramatic and glamorous. Bows have been a constant and familiar theme beginning with Christian Dior himself, Yves Saint Laurent when he designed for the house of Dior, continuing to the present with John Gallianos's extravagant and inflated bows.

Coco Chanel said about the black dress, "I imposed black; it's still going strong today, for black wipes out everything else around." At RARE vintage, we could not agree with her more!

Please note that the gown is full length unless you are 6' like our mannequin.

Circa 1965 Marc Bohan for the house of Christian Dior black crepe gown. Size 6.

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

The Model as Muse: Past, Present and Future

RARE vintage is excited about the upcoming, Model as Muse, exhibit at The Metropolitan Museum of Art's Costume Institute. Maybe even more than the idea of the model as muse to a designer is the idea of model as muse to the consumer.

It is also not always exclusively a model who defines the image of a generation.

We would not consider the Duchess of Windsor a professional model by any means, but her image seen in magazines and newspapers around the world, defined the hard chic of the late 1930s. Her wedding trousseau included Schiaparelli's lobster print organdy gown and Mainbocher's timeless classics. Her Mainbocher blue wedding dress was one of the most copied dresses of 1937.

Fast forward almost thirty years later to 1965 and to Courreges' youthquake with his beautifully tailored mini dresses and pantsuits. Courreges' models were tall, suntanned and atheletic. The Duchess of Windsor quickly embraced his fitted and flared coats and dresses. The Duchess may not have been Courreges' ideal muse but her choice of his pieces would have no doubt been very influential to other stylish women.

RARE vintage has a circa 1965 Courreges double breasted wool gabardine coat, fitted and flared, just the way the Duchess of Windsor liked hers! It is sold with its original belt. The pockets are typically futuristic and rounded. It is timeless and a perfect transitional piece from winter to spring.

Circa 1965 navy wool gabardine Courreges coat. Size 2/4.

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

The Bohemian and The Beautiful

Elizabeth Taylor, Charlotte Rampling, Babe Paley, Raquel Welch. You can not get a more glamorous group of women to have worn Thea Porter. Throw in The Rolling Stones, who also wore Thea Porter, and you have reached the height of the rich hippie look. Thea Porter's brand of exotic elegance and its individualism is just what is missing in modern fashion now.

We love that she traveled to gather ethnic appliques, embroideries and antique braids. 1960s hippie de luxe meant explorations to Marrakech, India, flowing caftans and oriental inspired dresses. This circa 1965 three piece ensemble with its narrow skirt, double pleated on the side and its wrapped blouse with antique tassel reminds us of something that would have been worn Bianca Jagger and Talitha Getty.

RARE vintage believes that just about every woman would love to capture that romantic ideal of the dreamy, artistic journey in Thea Porter's designs.

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

She Wore an Itsty Bitsy Teeny Weeny...

We absolutely love the sublime frivolity of this bandeau top by Krizia maglia. It is angora with oversize pearl drops. If you are young and gorgeous with a flat tummy, this would look amazing with skinny black leather pants or if you are not so young but still gorgeous, it would look just as amazing with a high waisted pencil skirt and a tuxedo jacket.

1980s Krizia maglia angora bandeau top. Size small.

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

Put de lime in de coconut

We love this lime and coconut milk colored 1960s Courreges mini dress. Made of wool gabardine, the structure of the dress is emphasized by welt seaming. The two front pockets are decorative. Although vastly different than Cristobal Balenciaga's designs , for whom Coureges worked for, there is the same attention and thought to clean, simple lines.

And this must be our magic charm because tomorrow is St. Patricks day and if you are putting on the green, we are certain that RARE vintage blog readers will find our Courreges magically delicious!

Please note that the dress is sold without its original belt. We do think that it can be worn without but if you prefer a belt, a simple white leather or patent belt would be perfect.

1960s Courreges wool gabardine mini dress. Size 4.

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

Go into a Go-go

We are in the midst of a fashion muddle. No one seems to know what anyone wants: is it seasonal trendiness? Disposable chic? Is it timeless style? Is it reality or is it theatrics?

We have always wanted both reality and fantasy in fashion. Maybe what we do not want anymore is clothing that is mass produced, widely available and extremely expensive. There will never be a demise of fashion just as there will hopefully never be a demise of the haute couture despite much chattering to the contrary. But maybe what has been lost is the concept of wardrobe building and the customer. Most women probably favor a certain designer or designers. Instead of having collections that swing wildly from season to season, trend to trend, designers should keep their client in mind. There is a loss of intimacy in fashion and maybe that means that designers have forgotten that what women want is something new to add to the wardrobe that is already in their closet. Most women will not throw out last seasons clothes and buy an entirely new set for the next four months and then start all over again. Especially when the cost of doing so, well, you can imagine.

The appeal of vintage is the timelessness of the pieces. The value is that our clients buy items of exceptional and increasingly rare quality, particularly in the ready-to-wear. It is building a collection of pieces like this ivory lace Pierre Balmain we had that are exciting to own, thrilling to wear and are collectors items. Wardrobe building is an important part of the RARE vintage philosophy. Investment pieces that are wearable and collectible.

Every collector of vintage should own a Courreges dress from the 1960s. Mr. Courreges was a visionary and his designs changed the look of fashion in the 1960s. His couture pieces with their brilliant tailoring are as forward looking now as they were forty years ago. And as desirable. Here is a great dress/jumper from 1965 with leather trim.

1965 Courreges dress/jumper. Size 4.

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

Howdy there Monsieur Le Cowboy!

We love this elegant peach colored silk blouse from the master of French chic, Yves Saint Laurent. We think that Mr. Saint Laurent must have been feeling a little rowdy when he designed this blouse with its classic Western shirt influences. So when you can not decide whether you are feeling a French fashion moment or cowgirl filly this is just the thing.

1980s silk Yves Saint Laurent rive gauche silk blouse. Size 6/8.

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

Chocolate Love or Sometimes All You Need is a Shirt

This early 1990s silk taffeta shirtdress from Gianfranco Ferre is sporty, elegant and precisely cut. Ferre's training as an architect is always evident in his fashion designs and this asymmetrically buttoned shirtdress with drop waist and a slight train is no exception. The color is a beautiful chocolate, almost like a red devil cupcake - which looks as delicious and as tempting as a cupcake. Just a whole lot less fattening! This dress would be perfect for any occasion where you want to stand out, feel comfortable and look beautiful.

1990s Gianfranco Ferre silk taffetta shirtdress. Size 6/8.

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

Hold that Tiger!

This 1970s black Yves Saint Laurent silk blouse with black on black tigers is one of our favorites. It has flowing silk ribbon ties and a gently rolled neckline. But best of all is the subtle tiger motif. We love a silk YSL blouse because it can go from work to a party and it can go with jeans and a skirt.

1970s silk tiger motif Yves Saint Laurent blouse. Size 6. Unlabeled.

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

The Future Is Now

In 1965 when André Courreges bared womens knees there was quite a controversy and then a quick embracement of the new youthful silhouette. It seems so quaint now that knees could be shocking especially since we have all been exposed, willing or not, to the nether regions of a few tabloid fodder girls.

Courreges' dresses still look so modern and fresh and part of that is because they were so beautifully tailored. They are crisp, clean and sleek. How amazing would this 1960s mini dress with a white leather belt look with a pair of flat nude colored sandals this summer?! We also love the look of this dress with its empire waist. This is the just the beginning of a significant collection of Courreges from the 1960s that we recently acquired so be sure to check back often.

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

The Dream Gown

A few years ago we saw Natalia Vodianova at a party in New York wearing a very voluminous dress. It was yards and yards of fabric that cascaded away from her body. Although there was nothing form fitting, you could see hints of her body through the filmy fabric and it was extremely sexy.

In the late 1970s French designers and magazines embraced a glamorous bohemian type of dressing. Part ethnic chic, part languor and part soft dreamy gowns look really good with my enormous structured hair.

This unlabeled haute couture dress, which is attributed to Christian Dior, is a dream gown. The pale dotted chiffon has gently twisted shoulder straps with flowing scarves that float away from the shoulders. The back dips down erotically. It is also weighted so that it hangs beautifully. You may not want to do a literal version of the 1970s giant up-do but we do think that having your hair up is a must so you see that deep dip on the upper back of the dress. And if you can arrange for a soft summer breeze so that the chiffon floats around your body and there is the light of a full moon to capture the soft lumious color of the dress all the better! What is fashion after all without a little fantasy...

1970s haute couture gown attributed to Christian Dior.

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

Go for the Gold

Halston was a shimmering light in American fashion. His designs were pared down and modern. The proportions were perfect and the fabrics were beautiful. The clothes followed the shape of the body but were never tight. Comfort and ease were a priority.

This gold lurex caftan has that easy, sexy quality so associated with the 1970s and Halston. We love it for entertaining at home right now. Snow storm coming? What could be more glamorous then being at home in Manhattan in gold Halston while the snow falls? It is also a seasonless piece which we like. Perfect for going out in the summer with jeweled flat sandals or strappy high heels. This would look amazing, if you are lucky enough to be a size 8, with our gold python print Halston sandals.

1970s gold lurex Halson for Saks Fifth Avenue caftan. Fits a size 4/6.

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