SKIP THE IT

A question often asked of Team Decades when a client is considering a Hermes Birkin is: "What Size?" This may be the equivalent of "To Be or Not to Be" to fashionistas with a conscious. It's not a question we take lightly and our answer is often: "a 30, a 35, and a 40, of course!" Why all three? Different moments require different sizes. However, many people get caught up in the "bigger is better" syndrome and think only a 40 cm Birkin may fill their emptiness...er...we mean only a 40 cm will hold the contents of their soul....er....we mean only a 40 cm will be big enough to schlep the contents of their daily needs. That can be true, but it can be heavy. A 35 cm is also a great option when you don't want "Birkin elbow." And of course, the 30cm Birkin below, which often is assumed to be too elite petite for the big bossy bag broker, is really an alternative to the larger choices and surprisingly roomy. For day or evening, this is a fine bag that doesn't require an army to transport. It's perfect for weekends filled with errands and quickie getaways. What's nice about any of the three options we describe above is none of the bags are "It" bags. A Birkin transcends a trend and therefore it is not ridiculous to have a representative of all 3 most popular sizes in your closet. Naturally, we have a cornucopia of Birkins available on the Decades blog, but today we say go for the neutral 30 cm gold Taurillon Clemence Leather Birkin below.

Update: We just want to clarify a few misunderstandings about the Shooting Star stamp pictured below. When a Birkin has a shooting star stamp it means the bag was made for an Hermes artisan, by an Hermes artisan. There is no difference in the quality of the bags with the star stamp, and Hermes will gladly recondition the bag just like all the other Hermes leather goods. If anything, we would think that a shooting star bag is more collectible because they are not for sale to the general public.

Hermes 30 cm gold leather Taurillon Clemence Birkin with Palladium Hardware. J Stamp for 2006. Appears hardly used. Sleeper bag, but no box. Priced below current Hermes retail.SOLD

For additional information, please email blog@decadesinc.com or call + 1 323 655-0223. You may also visit us in person at Decades 8214 1/2 Melrose Avenue (2nd Floor) at Harper Avenue in Los Angeles, California. Please reference the description above, if calling or emailing. For email requests, kindly include your full name and phone number plus City, State, and Country from which you are contacting.

More than meets the eye

Here at Decades we love a two-fer, and this peach jersey dream is as good as it gets. Designed by Clovis Ruffin in the 70's for his line Ruffin Wear. He specialized in easy light jersey pieces that every woman could wear. This piece is not exactly definitive of the Ruffin look, but the design is spectacular. The simple dress has a very low and wide V neck that has been treated with long strips of fabric coming off of the bust. Now for the fun part, the straps can be wrapped and tied in any way that your little heart desires. The styles that can be created are limited only by ones imagination. The pictures below show three different styles that we were able to come up with in about five minutes. If you would like to learn more about Mr. Ruffin click here.

Clovis Ruffin transformer peach dress, c.1970's. Contemporary, size 4. - SOLD

For additional information, please email blog@decadesinc.com or call + 1 323 655-0223. You may also visit us in person at Decades 8214 1/2 Melrose Avenue (2nd Floor) at Harper Avenue in Los Angeles, California. Please reference the description above, if calling or emailing. For email requests, kindly include your full name and phone number plus City, State, and Country from which you are contacting.

Barbarella-Style Seduction from Paco Rabanne

For the party girls who would not be caught dead in another cotton, linen, silk or man-made fiber again . . . BEHOLD; Chain Mail. Paco Rabanne just wants us to have a little raucus fun with this dress, a Barbarella-inspired couture piece in shades of rust chain mail with a matching honeycomb collar (and this from the man who branded Galliano and McQueen as "fashion hooligans" for their provocative designs!).

Paco Rabanne Haute Couture Shades of Rust Chain Mail Minidress with Matching Collar, c. 1960s. Fits a contemporary size 4 or narrow 6. SOLD

For additional information, please email blog@decadesinc.com or call + 1 323 655-0223. You may also visit us in person at Decades 8214 1/2 Melrose Avenue (2nd Floor) at Harper Avenue in Los Angeles, California. Please reference the description above, if calling or emailing. For email requests, kindly include your full name and phone number plus City, State, and Country from which you are contacting.

40S? 70S? 2010?

Great design often avoids a time stamp. It is the timeless quality of celebrated vintage design that repeatedly draws clients worldwide to Decades in an effort to invest in clothing that will last not only a lifetime but not be disposable after a season.

Case in point: this black moss crepe and satin Ossie Clark tuxedo dress. At first glance, it could be a Valentina dress from the 1940s due to it's sleek cut and deep plunge balanced by long sleeves. Or it could be a variation of a modern Roland Mouret dress for 2010. The connoisseur can immediately identify the Ossie-isms of this dress: the signature crepe fabric; the turned up cuffs; the easy access bosom; the 40s Vamp influence; the self belt that nips the waist only to let the fuller skirt look more pronounced...dare we go on? This is a cocktail dress that could certainly be a dry dress for the type of woman who doesn't spend her mornings in Lululemon. This is also a cocktail dress that could certainly be an evening-cum-black tie dress for the type of woman who knows the power of elegant make-up and hair combined with dramatic accoutrement help a woman transition from day to "after 5" to a formal affair. Most important, this is a dress for a woman who transcends the limitations of trends, time, and decades. This is a dress for a woman who embraces the past, lives in the present, and is prepared for the future. It helps to be prepared for the future with the perfect Ossie hanging in your closet.

Ossie Clark for Radley black moss crepe and satin trim "tuxedo" self belt dress, c. early 1970s. Modern size 4 to 6 SOLD

For additional information, please email blog@decadesinc.com or call + 1 323 655-0223. You may also visit us in person at Decades 8214 1/2 Melrose Avenue (2nd Floor) at Harper Avenue in Los Angeles, California. Please reference the description above, if calling or emailing. For email requests, kindly include your full name and phone number plus City, State, and Country from which you are contacting.

R.I.P. M.J.

In one of our favorite looks, with the iconic crystal glove designed by Bill Whitten.

1958-2009

With Bated Breath

John Bates was a designer in London from the 60's through the 80's. His most notable creations were for the television series "The Avengers," for which he created looks for Diana Rigg, AKA Emma Peel. This beautiful creation is is from the John Bates line which lasted from 1972 until 1980. This line is a departure from his other label, Jean Varon which was priced for the "everywoman." The John Bates label produced the world's finest fabrics and skins. The dress below has two main sections; the top is red silk satin with a deep V front and a spaghetti strap back. The skirt is red silk chiffon covered in clear paillettes with a front slit and fully lined with red satin. Also, there is red chiffon paillettes-covered coat to keep your shoulders warm. To learn more about Mr. Bates and view other pieces he has created click here.

John Bates red silk and chiffon paillettes covered dress, c.70's. Contemporary size 4

For additional information, please email blog@decadesinc.com or call + 1 323 655-0223. You may also visit us in person at Decades 8214 1/2 Melrose Avenue (2nd Floor) at Harper Avenue in Los Angeles, California. Please reference the description above, if calling or emailing. For email requests, kindly include your full name and phone number plus City, State, and Country from which you are contacting.

Uber V Neck

Oh Pierre you've done it again. This Pierre Cardin dress has an amazing neckline, A-M-A-Z-I-N-G! The sparkling cut out neckline is covered with blue, yellow, silver and turquoise beading over metallic silver thread. The entire dress is made from aqua silk and is lined in aqua satin. There is a reverse two inch hem at the bottom emphasizing the short length of the piece.

Pierre Cardin Aqua silk dress with beaded neckline, c.60's. Contemporary size 4-6 SOLD

For additional information, please email blog@decadesinc.com or call + 1 323 655-0223. You may also visit us in person at Decades 8214 1/2 Melrose Avenue (2nd Floor) at Harper Avenue in Los Angeles, California. Please reference the description above, if calling or emailing. For email requests, kindly include your full name and phone number plus City, State, and Country from which you are contacting.

Brushstroke It!

Summer is made for chiffon, and this chiffon was made for summer. The anonymous dress below is comprised of lightweight chiffon brushstroked in a lilac, green, yellow, red and white print. It gathers at the bust creating an empire waist and the halter opens on one end with a snap closure, making it possible to do one's hair before putting the dress on. Under the top layer is a second layer of yellow chiffon, and just below that is a satin lining that comes half way down the dress. This would be the perfect dress for a beach wedding, or a sexy 70's summer party.

Anonymous brush stroke dress, c.70's. Contemporary size 6-8. SOLD

For additional information, please email blog@decadesinc.com or call + 1 323 655-0223. You may also visit us in person at Decades 8214 1/2 Melrose Avenue (2nd Floor) at Harper Avenue in Los Angeles, California. Please reference the description above, if calling or emailing. For email requests, kindly include your full name and phone number plus City, State, and Country from which you are contacting.

Farrah Forever

1947-2009

MARC JACOBS OR STEPHEN SPROUSE?

This fluorescent orange Stephen Sprouse strapless pailette dress is very evocative of Marc Jacobs recent Fall 2009 high-octane fashion show which celebrated 80s New York and had a large dose of Sprouse influence. It's great to reference the past in contemporary designs, but its also fun to wear an original. Here is a dress that makes us nostalgic for Dianne Brill and her curvaceous body and bold peroxide blond hair that earned her the title of "Queen of the Night." Although she may be more synonymous with the vampy designs of Thierry Mugler than Sprouse (we will post a great Mugler spider web gown in the next few days), we think Ms. Brill could fill this dress with her seductive proportions. After all, it was mannequin impresario Adel Rootstein who called Ms. Brill "The Shape of the Decade" when he made a form in her form.

Ms. Brill may be the shape of the decade, but we look forward to discovering who will be the Shape of Decades and fill this glowing dress.

Stephen Sprouse fluorescent orange pailette strapless dress, c. late 1980s. Marked size 6 which is accurate.SOLD For additional information, please email blog@decadesinc.com or call + 1 323 655-0223. You may also visit us in person at Decades 8214 1/2 Melrose Avenue (2nd Floor) at Harper Avenue in Los Angeles, California. Please reference the description above, if calling or emailing. For email requests, kindly include your full name and phone number plus City, State, and Country from which you are contacting.

FUTURE COLLECTIBLE

Here is a "One Size Fits All" fashion event for our civilized clients who spend their summer weekends in the Hamptons:

Cultural historian, curator, and author, Kohle Yohannan, will be signing copies of his two most recent books, VALENTINA and THE MODEL AS A MUSE at The Rizzoli Bookstore at Empire Gallery in Sag Harbor this Saturday from 5 pm to 8 pm. Both books are necessary additions to the bookshelf or coffee table of any aesthetically-inclined fashion lover. Even if your closet is not filled to the brim with 1940s Valentina boleros or 1950s Charles James and Dior gowns, just owning both these books will add value and cache to your closet's contents. These books will imply you own an enviable collection of collectible Couture, even if you are more Banana Republic than Balmain. (Mmmm, if you summer in the Hamptons, we think your closets probably are pretty well stocked, come to think of it). However, the real value is in getting both your books signed by the smart and charming Mr. Yohannan. There is something about a book personally dedicated to you by a respected author. It also makes a wonderful gift.

Get thee to Sag Harbor this weekend and celebrate a slew of 20th Century Icons ranging from the incomparable and mysterious couturier Valentina Schlee to the world's greatest models of the last fifty years. Decades is proud to have both books signed by Mr. Yohannan for viewing on our coffee table within our Los Angeles boutique. And our closets are pretty gorgeous, too :)

Mirror Image

The only thing more slimming than black and vertical lines is a mirror finish. Not that anyone who could fit into this lovely Donald Brooks size 4 would need to worry about that sort of thing. This grey chiffon dress is covered in sequin mirrors. The cap sleeves and crewneck are lined in large sequins, and pea-sized sequins get progressively larger from the neck until they reach the size of silver dollar at the bottom hem. The dress is lined in grey satin and there is an invisible zipper down the back. One might think all the sequins would make this dress heavy; but in fact it is very light and gives off a shimmering fluid movement. You're won't go unnoticed in this sexy number!

Donald Brooks mirror sequin dress, c.1960's. Contemporary size 4 SOLD

For additional information, please email blog@decadesinc.com or call + 1 323 655-0223. You may also visit us in person at Decades 8214 1/2 Melrose Avenue (2nd Floor) at Harper Avenue in Los Angeles, California. Please reference the description above, if calling or emailing. For email requests, kindly include your full name and phone number plus City, State, and Country from which you are contacting.