A Story of Loss and Longing: The Halston Caftan

This is a story of loss and longing.  Get the tissue box ready...

Yesterday a very beautiful bride to be came into RARE vintage looking for a wedding dress and asked if we had anything hippie chic.  I got as far as, "well, we have..." when the telephone rang.  

"I have three Zandra Rhodes caftans and I am nearby your store." said the caller.

"Come over as fast as you can!" I said.

Our client was trying on a flowing lime colored Yves Saint Laurent rive gauche caftan gown when the Zandra Rhodes pieces came in.  And as we all oooed and awed over the pieces, one in particular caught our bride to be eyes and was whisked off the hanger and slipped on and then we all ooed and awed much more and much louder.  Well, it turned out not to be Zandra Rhodes but a 1970s silk hand tie-dyed Halston caftan in the most amazing shades of moss green and pale champagne.  And off it has gone to a wedding in Positano.

I never had a chance to photograph it or have a lingering look which I really like to have before a piece goes off to its new home.  Or consider, do I even want to sell this??  Which is usually question number one at RARE vintage.  Anyone fancy a cry with me?!

The saddest sight in the world... a RARE vintage hanger without a Halston tie-dye caftan...

Punk: Chaos to Couture at RARE vintage

Yesterday we were celebrating the exhibit, Chloé Attitudes, in Paris with a beautiful and bohemian chic Karl Lagerfeld for Chloe dress and today we are celebrating another upcoming exhibit, Punk: Chaos to Couture at the Metropolitan Muesum of Art in May 2013, with a punked out Franco Moschino safety pin dress available at RARE vintage.  

Detail

And from the Moschino book, X Anni di Kaos!  1983- 1993

Here is Kate Moss in a contemporary Moschino Cheap and Chic safety pin recently out and about in London:

And Johnny Lydon in DIY safety pins in 1976:

Photo by Ray Stevenson.  Courtesy of Met Mueum

And a Zandra Rhodes tattered and torn safety pin dress from 1977:

Photo by Clive Arrowsmith.   Courtesy Met Museum

PURCHASE

INQUIRY

If I Was the Postmaster General...

In England they are celebrating English fashion design with a new stamp collection.  There are ten: Alexander McQueen, Jean Muir, Vivienne Westwood, Ossie Clark, Granny Takes a Trip, Hardie Amies, Norman Hartmell, Paul Smith, Tommy Nutter and Zandra Rhodes.  Stamps?!  You might be thinking?  BORING!  But actually they are super cool and super chic.  Stunningly shot by the photographer Solve Sundsbo.

I was thinking if I was the Postmaster General which American designers would I choose for a stamp collection?  Halston, Claire McCardell, Mainbocher, Adrian, Geoffrey Beene... hard to choose.  Marc Jacobs?  Norma Kamali?  Who would you choose? 

This is actually one of my favorites of the English designers.  I am all about the turban and the slinky/floaty dress in a rust color right now.

A few other favs:

 

Available online at: www.royalmail.com/stamps

Cheerio!

If You Have Not Been Into RARE vintage Recently...

Then you have missed this amazing Zandra Rhodes "Indian Feather" caftan ensemble from 1970.  I was lucky to have a moment to take a quick photo before it was whisked out of the store.  

It has been published in the Zandra Rhodes book and a similar version was worn by the oh so fabulous Rosamond Bernier who was profiled in September Vogue and on RARE vintage:)

But what you have not missed and what is coming soon after Labor Day holiday (which I will be laboring away... and hopefully the power will be back out on Long Island after hurricane Irene which will be enormously helpful with my labors) is this:

And there is more... lots more!

What to Wear at Home

One of my absolute favorite fashion moments in film is Greta Garbo as the ethereal, sensitive and tad dramatic prima ballerina in 'Grand Hotel' wearing the frothiest, lightest negligee. 

Frothy, light negligees with lace made by nuns have gone the way of dressing for dinner and now people go shopping (ye gads!) in their not too attractive striped flannel pajama bottoms.  

I was very excited to find this seashell pink Zandra Rhodes peignoir (robe just sounds too chenille) with kimono sleeves in a quintessential Zandra Rhodes print with lace detail - probably not made by nuns but we can't have everything!  

 This will fit a variety of sizes because the waist cinches with a ribbon.  Be comfy and look fabulous!

 Zandra Rhodes peignoir.  Will fit a variety of sizes.

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Gypsy

Stevie Nicks owned the handkerchief hemmed, cascading chiffon look in the 1970s. Every season since at least one designer tries to recapture a bit of that hippie taken by the wind rock and roll feel. Maybe it is nostalgia for women of rock who did not want to try and look like movie stars. They were just cool, sexy and powerful.

Stevie Nicks may have owned the look but Zandra Rhodes created the look. Her distinctly patterned dresses, hand crafted, raw edged, were hippie and then punk but always with a couture finish. She was brilliant with chiffon for day and for night. Her pieces were also special and limited edition which is what we are always looking for at RARE vintage.

This early 1980s chiffon dress has narrow sleeves that end in a flowy handkerchief hem. The sleeves and skirt are edged in small gold beads. The chiffon is printed in a gold swirling pattern. Zandra Rhodes calls her vintage pieces her "butterflies" and we can see why. They are beautiful, ethereal, floaty and we suspect that this will fly out the door so you better and try and catch this butterfly while you can.

Early 1980s Zandra Rhodes gold printed chiffon dress. Size 6/8.

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