All Summer Long

We heard a great story about Pauline Trigere from one of our clients who had a large collection of Trigere: She was very excited to be seated next to Miss Trigere at a lunch and happily told her how much she liked her clothing and how extensive her collection was. Pauline Trigere simply looked at her and said, "then why aren't you wearing any?" and turned away.

She may not have had a warm and fuzzy personality but her clothes were timeless and elegant. Although she was born in France, she moved to new York in 1937 and became a symbol of the American fashion industry. RARE vintage has a focus on European designers but it is always a pleasure when we can find you a great piece of American fashion history right here in New York, the fashion capital of the United States!

We love this 1970s strapless colorful pink flower print Pauline Trigere dress for summer at home entertaining, for cocktails on the beach, for just about anything really. It is fun, effortless, comfortable and very sophisticated. Throw on a great pair of flat sandals, pull your hair in a ponytail, a pink lipstick and you are good to go.

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

Nightie Night

So what do you slip on when you are at home and you want to look adorable, sexy and sweet? When you want your man to see you with your hair mussed in the morning looking irresistible , innocently drinking a cup of coffee? What do you wear in the evening to insure there will be no thoughts of going out? Or in the morning, late for work? A colorful, light Pucci for Formfit Rodgers babydoll nightie of course!

Emilio Pucci's swirling fabrics are particularly well suited for intimate wear as for perfect summer dresses. It brought great sadness when they discontinued making bras and panties. We are hopeful that they will start again at some point in the future. But in the meantime you can get your what lies beneath fix right here at RARE vintage. We might add that we also think these would be great to put on over a swimsuit too!

1960s Emilio Pucci for Formfit Rodgers babydoll nightie in swirling pinks. Size 4/6.

1960s Emilio Pucci for Formfit Rodgers babydoll nightie in swirling greens. Size 4/6.

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

The Allure of Chanel

Very few people have the confidence to be certain that they are right and anyone who questions them is wrong. Coco Chanel was one of those people and, of course, she WAS right. All of the elements that she introduced have endured and have been well interpreted and modernized by Karl Lagerfeld.

We are always searching for exceptional early Chanel pieces and our quest for the holy grail: the perfect and classic Chanel haute couture suit has been elusive up to now. We had three of these suits, two of which have already sold. One sold before we had the opportunity to photograph it but it was as perfect as these two and just as chic.

Chanel suits are not obviously sexy but somehow the soft fabrics follow the body and the snug little cardigan jackets make us think of Romy Schneider in Boccaccio '70: her elegance and ennui, a burning cigarette, her beauty and stunning suits.

This is a late 1950s/early 1960s Chanel haute couture suit. The quilted silk lining, the iconic use of striped jersey, the flat gilt chain that edges the jacket, the gilt double cc buttons, the tweed suit in a delicious shade of peach and the fabric! They don't make 'em like this anymore! This is a wonderful piece for a collection and even more wonderful to wear.

Late 1950s/early 1960s Chanel haute couture tweed suit with striped jersey. Size 4.

Late 1950s/early 1960s loosely woven Chanel haute couture suit with gilt buttons.

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

Oh My Stars!

Yves Saint Laurent's silk blouses and dresses are a particular obsession of ours. There is an undeniable sweet and sexy quality to them. They may not show a lot of skin but you just know that the woman wearing them probably has on the naughtiest Deborah Marquit panties and bra underneath - if that. She is a Saint Laurent woman after all.

This wonderful stars silk 1970s dress from Yves Saint Laurent Rive Gauche is our new favorite. It has a pin tucked waist and flowing scarf ties. You will want to wear it everyday this summer everywhere you go.

After memorial Day weekend we will be posting another YSL summer silk dress in the most perfect shade of pink that we have ever seen. Till then, be still our beating heart...

1970s Yves Saint Laurent Rive Gauche silk stars dress. Size 4.

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

Classic Valentino Red

We are certain that a large number of our RARE vintage blog readers have seen the wonderful Valentino documentary 'The Last Emperor'. It was fascinating to see all the aspects of Valentinos's life: his close and amusing relationship with Giancarlo Giammetti, his homes in France, Gstaad and Rome - it is rare to see people live really well and with such exceptional taste. Renzo Mongiardino decorated Valentino's homes in Gstaad and Rome. I personally have a few pieces by Mongiardino that were made for my husband's grandfather's apartment in Milan and love that Mongiardino's work is creative, eclectic, extremely luxurious, comfortable and timeless.

It was also wildly entertaining to see the collections being created and all of the dynamics and dramas with the petits mains. And the clothes! They are evocative of a world of beauty, elegance and time. Time given to choosing a model, time for numerous fittings and then upon receiving your dress - for Valentino is the champion of The Dress, the time to get your hair done, your nails done and your make up done. No grunge here.

Every woman should own a few classic pieces from Valentino and certainly every woman should have at least one classic Valentino red gown. The thing about Valentino's red gowns is that they make you feel so unbelievably glamorous, you will feel like you are on the red carpet whether you are actually on one or not.

Now to our dress. It is Valentino red in chiffon with a halter neck leaving the back bare. There is a long trailing scarf that you can wrap around the draped waist or for a more glamorous look leave as a train. This gown has all of the inherent characteristics of a Valentino gown: it is feminine, extremely pretty and very glamorous.

RARE vintage supplies the dress, Valentino supplies the glamour and you get to have all the fun!

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

Katy Perry at Model as Muse Gala at the Metropolitan Museum of Art

Very soon we will start posting pieces from our accessories collection but we wanted to share this image of Katy Perry who accessorzied her Pierre Cardin inspired Tommy Hilfiger dress with a 1970s gilt minaudiere from RARE vintage at the Model as Muse gala at the Metropolitan Museum of Art.