This dress has the significance of being from Mr. Valentino' final show before he retired. Its twin in white walked the runway for Look 67 and we have added some runway shots so that you can see just how fabulously the dress moves when on the body. Vogue said this last collection was; 'Crisply puncturing the potential for a predictable end-of-era wallow in sentiment, Valentino played it as an upbeat, fast-paced whirl of breezy, pretty, drop-dead gorgeousness that blew any lingering sense of ladylike stuffiness to the winds. If there's a problem, it's only being spoiled for choice. What to pick from the head-spinning plethora of dresses on offer?' ... and indeed the collection was full of stunning choices. This particular dress also has the added provenance of being the one that Kathryn Gallagher wore for the Elton John Oscar party in 2022. She looked spectacular in it.

I love this dress. This is what the sexiness that Mr. Valentino built into his dresses is all about. He had this ability to do sexy dresses that still have a beautifully elegant feel. This dress was shown in white on the runway but I feel like it might be an even stronger in this black version. The black brings this sense of a femme fatale to it that works so very well. The dress is made from a silk cady that has a slight bit of stretch to it. This means that despite the bareness of the plunge and hourglass feel it has, it is still extremely comfortable to wear. the straps are wider and curve over the shoulder. The front plunges very low and here is one single little tie near the base that keeps it in place and keeps it from being completely scandalous. This also helps bring the shape in at the waist. It skims over the hips and falls to the floor gently widening out is it nears the hem. The back is spectacular. There is a wide cut open scoop that runs to the low back. Multiple little bows run across the opening to hold it in place and give you a slight bit of coverage over your bare back. The resulting peek-a-boo affect is fantastic. The back hem is cut to be a longer than the front so you get a bit of a trailing behind you feel once it is on. The dress is in its original supermodel length and it is gorgeous. Excellent condition

Fully lined in a black silk and closes with a hidden set side zipper. You can use the bows to adjust the fit by a but. The bows can be completely tied and untied. Tagged a vintage Valentino 10 and it still has its original price tag of $5307 which is about $7500 today.

Bust: each triangle covers 8" across and there are no true side seams
The seam under the bus is 16" flat across from side seam to side seam
Natural waist: 15" flat across from side seam to side seam
Hips: to 21" flat across from side seam to side seam
Bodice: 11" from top of bodice to top of the seam under the bust
Skirt: 51.5" from top of the seam under the bust to front hem and 54" to the back hem

Modern Sizing Equivalent: SML-MED

Item# DD4257

Reference Photos: (1-3) Kathryn Gallagher in this Valentino for the Elton John Oscar Party, March 2022.  /  (4-8) Spring 2008 Valentino Runway, Look 67.

This garment has been professionally cleaned, pressed and is odor free. Thoroughly checked over before shipping, it will be ready to wear upon arrival.