To celebrate the opening of its store in Sydney, Balenciaga has curated an exclusive in-store exhibition called ‘The Woman Behind The Dress’. It features special archival pieces by Cristóbal Balenciaga like this stunning black guipure lace evening jacket which is fastened at the front with two silk bows. Underneath is a pink satin bustier gown…
read moreSilk satin feels soft to the touch but is remarkably durable due to long strong interwoven fibres. Despite its inherent strength, we still recommend treading lightly and water proofing to protect silk satin covered shoes from errant liquid. We have an assortment of techniques to help restore scuffs and marks, though not all can be…
read moreThere is lots to consider when presented with runway or vintage items like this Saint Laurent jacket. Before we commence treatment, we assess its age, structure, buttons, colour and then the stains. Rive Gauche was YSL’s first ready-to-wear range launched in 1966 (by all accounts, a roaring success). This cotton safari jacket has definitely stood…
read moreThis stunning Gucci silk multicolour women’s neck bow is decorated with GG logo pattern and printed gold-tone bee. Made in Italy, it made me wonder about the significance of the bees. The bee symbol on Gucci represents power, community, and loyalty. The bee motif serves as a reminder of this commitment to its customers and…
read moreAustralian-born Hollywood costume designer Orry-Kelly designed this silk and sequin dress for Marilyn Monroe in Some Like It Hot. Considered racy in 1959, the heart shaped embroidery on the derriere - and other sequins - were set in skin-tone silk to give an impression of nudity. Apparently the censors were not impressed but the film…
read moreThis close up of an Alexander McQueen dress looks more like an aquatic rock and seaweed scene rather than chartreuse beads spilling down over a skirt of synthetic horsehair (see full length shot). His couture technique was truly amazing.
read moreOnly three of these naval-style wool jackets decorated with metallic braids were made by McQueen. The Dante Collection (1996-97) was inspired by the 14th century poet Dante Alighieri. Stunning! The McQueen exhibition at NGV ends this Saturday!
read moreChanel is known for its exquisite garments and embellishments. Less is known how we care for them by hand. To protect the integrity of these delicate buttons - they were removed prior to cleaning and reattached afterwards. Ready for the next outing!
read moreA departure from McQueen’s well known corseted Victorian silhouette, this stunning voluminous gold coat is from the 2007 collection titled, ‘In Memory of Elizabeth How, Salem, 1692’. To create this look for the silk and
read moreFrom McQueen’s Plato’s Atlantis collection, this stingray leather jacket (check out the stitching) was inspired by scuba diving wetsuit. The ruffle at the back is sublime.
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