Jean-Louis Scherrer 1935-2013

The French couturier, Jean-Louis Scherrer passsed away on Wednesday at his home in Paris.  Since I opened RARE vintage in 2006, I have been very fortunate to have had some wonderful Scherrer pieces for the store.  I don't think there is necessairly a recognizable Scherrer look but rather that the designs are united in their refinement and distinctive very French elegance.

They have also had some good vintage moments on the red carpet. Two of my favorites:

Anne Hathaway in a black tulle Jean-Louis Scherrer cocktail dress from RARE vintage with white roses layered under the tulle.

and then Rachel Weisz looking chic and dangerous in a leopard print Scherrer dress from RARE vintage.

We Heart Blouses!

We love a good blouse at RARE vintage.  We love them because they dress up a pair of jeans or our new favorite leather skirt from Zara (brilliant and sooo inexpensive!)  We love them because they are prim and sexy at the same time.  We love them because we can wear them year round.  I wore my favorite Yves Saint Laurent moon and stars blouse in Nantucket this summer with shorts and I am wearing it now with a pair of skinny jeans and Chloe boots.

Our new addition to RARE are these two great blouses from the 1980s.  The first is a drape waisted floral print on black silk Ungaro.  It will definitely remind you of this season's Balenciaga very Parisian, very feminine collection.

1980s silk Ungaro blouse.  Size 8.

Our second blouse is a beautiful Jean-Louis Scherrer (sadly, some Jean Louis Scherrer can be a little scary) but this is a great piece.  We always try to choose pieces for RARE that are modern, youthful, classic and timeless - we leave the hideous and the dowdy out.  We wish that we could have photographed the fabric of this blouse better because it is particularly fine.  It also has the best sleeve of any blouse that we have ever seen - a slight pouf at the shoulder narrowing to the wrist.  It also has a great attached scarf.  

1980s jean-Louis Scherrer blouse.  Size 6.

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

December Bazaar Personal Style Issue

The December issue of Bazaar celebrates personal style. Two great fashionable women, Anne Hathaway and Zoe Kravitz are featured wearing dresses from RARE vintage. Anne Hathaway is wearing a fantastic and fun Jean-Louis Scherrer couture cocktail dress from the 1980s and Zoe Kravitz is wearing a slinky Givenchy halterneck dress from the 1970s.

Vintage is always a personal choice. You are not bound by the trends of the season, you just find a piece that you love, that no one else will have and you know that everyone will desperately want!

Twice as Nice: Rachel Weisz in RARE vintage.

RARE vintage has had three dresses on two amazing actresses at The Toronto Film Festival. Anne Hathaway wore Jean-Louis Scherrer couture and Rachel Weisz also wore Jean-Louis Scherrer couture but instead of black tulle it was lady-like silk leopard. Last night for the premiere of The Brothers Bloom she wore a pale powder blue Herve Leger couture bandage dress.

Rachel Weisz in pale powder blue Herve Leger couture bandage dress.

Rachel Wesiz in a 1980s silk leopard Jean-Louis Scherrer dress

Fit for a Princess: Anne Hathaway in RARE vintage

Anne Hathaway, referred to as Princesse Anne in the September issue of French Vogue, looked glamorous, chic and extremely feminine in an exuberant and playful tulle dress by Jean Louis Scherrer from RARE vintage while promoting her new film Rachel Getting Married.

The tulle ballerina dress gone goth in dotted black tulle with romantic white and silver roses partially concealed looks modern and edgy with towering black sandals.

Anne Hathaway in a Jean-Louis Scherrer 1980s black tulle dress with partially concealed roses and stiff petticoat.

Labeled Jean-Louis Scherrer couture.

Animal Instinct

RARE has so many new pieces to be excited about but we have to confess that this is one of our favorites. It is a Jean Louis Scherrer boutique dress from the 1980s in a very beautiful silk - you will love the way this feels against your skin! with a draped panel in the front. It is sexy without being obvious. And the leopard print is more abstract then what we usually see but just as alluring. All this and it will take you from day to evening! Size 4.

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

Extravagantly Glamorous

There are endless polemics about the validity of the haute couture and we can not understand why anyone would want to see an end to the creativity, to the fantasy that is so essential to fashion and an end to the very few remaining artists, the petites mains and the fournisseurs, who do the handwork that defines the haute couture. Haute couture is more than satisfying basic needs, it is about dreams, beauty, craft and extraordinary creations that can you leave breathless and amazed. It is expensive but most art is not inexpensive - anyone for a Damien Hirst 'Love of God' diamond skull?!

But at RARE we aim to please and we are happy to be able offer haute couture pieces that are wearable, collectible and much kinder to your American Express card - whether it is green, gold , platinum or black.

We are head over heels in love with our new Jean Louis Scherrer haute couture cocktail dress from the late 1980s with embroidery by Lesage. It is THE sexiest dress with a beautifully beaded embellishment in the front and a draped trailing panel in the back. Size 4.

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

The Princess and the Pleat

Helloooo Princess! Here is a 1980s Jean-Louis Scherrer couture evening gown. It is all about a return to elegance in this dress which is a testament to the craft of couture. The navy chiffon is crystal pleated and the cantilevered bodice is with a tulle backing. And for incredible movement there are layers and layers of crinolines stiffened with horsehair. It is lightness and femininity in a very romantic gown. Size 8.

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