PEONIES PLEASE

Every brand seems to get revived as of late, but the queen of the goddess gown, Madame Gres, is on the side lines waiting for a date.  I think some venture capitalist should bring her aesthetic back to life.  The only way to wear Madame Gres in the 21st century is to buy something vintage like this navy and sea blue peonies printed silk ensemble of flutter sleeve tunic with high slit and what I call a modesty skirt.  Simply lose the skirt and suddenly this tunic become a little kinky but need not be so if you add a pair of short shorts.  As an ensemble its a wee too conservative for my taste.  If you are looking for a NJB, wear this to a conservative Shabbat dinner and make plans when the last drop of Manishevitz has been relished for a rendez-vous with the cutest boy in the minion, drop the skirt, put on some wedges and let the slit do all the talking.

-Cameron

 

 

Madame Gres  peonies print navy ensemble, c. 1970s   Modern size 4 to 6

For additional information, please email blog@decadesinc.com or call + 1 323 655-1960. You may also visit us in person at Decades 8214 Melrose Avenue in Los Angeles, California. Please reference the description above, if calling or emailing.

THE DUKES OF MELROSE PARTY IN LA

All stars were out last night to celebrate with Decades family the launch of our brand new TV show "The Dukes Of Melrose" premiering on March 6th on Bravo TV.
The ladies wore Decades vintage and modern and we wanted to share some photos with you. It has been a busy month for us with award season and the upcoming TV show and that is why we have been missing in action on the blog. Off we go now to celebrate with our New York friends! Check back the blog for more updates on new vintage and for more exciting news from Decades.
-Eri

Morena Baccarin in vintage Madame Gres, c.1950's. 

Leven Rambin in vintage YSL tux suit, c. 1980's 

Sophia Bush in vintage Halston, c.1970's 

Isabelle Furhman in vintage Norell, c.1960's 

Rose McGowan in vintage Chanel, c.1980's 

Leslie Bibb in vintage Halston, c. 1970's 

Garcelle Beauvais in Oscar de la Renta.

Perrey Reeves in vintage YSL Haute Couture, c.1980's. 

Rachel Griffiths in Lanvin 

Lisa Rinna in Oscar de la Renta 

Abigal Spencer in Dolce and Gabbana

*All photos from Just Jared

FIVE FRENCH GOWNS

All by Madame Gres and avaialble at Decades....





Happy Bastille Day!

MADAME GRÈS

Our darling Cameron is currently in Paris attending the Haute Couture shows. As you might have followed him via Huffington Post Blog, Cameron has been keeping us up to date with the latest from all the major couture runway shows. One of his Paris stops, Cameron visited the Madame Grès, La Couture à L’Oeuvre'. The exhibit is the 1st retrospective in Paris of the work of this visionary couturier, an amazing exhibition organized by the Musée Galliera, and showcased at Musée Bourdelle. Madame Grès was a sculptor and she applied the same philosophy working with fabric as she did with stone. Mainly famous for her use of jersey and draping (thanks to her incredible technique a width of jersey of 280 cm would end up as only just 7cm wide !), Madame Grès symbolizes the very essence of couture, the rigor of minimalism.
And here we have one of Madame Grès creations, this magnificent garden green yarn-dyed taffeta, with a straight side-split skirt underneath a layer of ruched tier. The gown comes with a cape which is entirely detachable giving the dress an entire second look. It is the prefect dress for a gala, red carpet or a royal wedding.
-Eri












GRÈS taffeta gown with detachable cape in garden green and matching shoes size 40, c. late 50's. Modern size 6 to 8.

For additional information, please email blog@decadesinc.com ortodd@dtwo1.com or call + 1 323 655-1960. 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, so may offer you a high level of personal service.

GOING GRES

Gres godess gown currently in exhibit at the Musèe Bourdelle in Paris.

How many of you fear turning gray? I have surrendered to the gray that creeps up on me and I notice the white hairs near my sideburns and temples. I guess it's a rite of passage?

A preferred right of passage is owning a Madame Gres. I think most people would prefer a Gres hanging in their closet over some gray hanging on their head! This Madame Gres gown is in ivory jersey with spectacular pleating over the bodice which is a signature of Madame Gres Goddess drape technique. The skirt gathers from the bodice and releases so you can spin like a whirling dervish! But what of the optional shoulder swag? One arm goes through the jersey shawl and the excess fabric can be wrapped around the back to gently grace your opposite arm. Another option is keep it hanging off your shoulder just like an ancient statue that so influenced the great Gres.

Madame Gres (Gres Paris label) Haute Couture ivory pleated Goddess gown with arm shawl. Modern 4 to 6

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, so may offer you a high level of personal service.

POUR THE WINE

This Madame Gres Haute Couture one-shoulder gown from the 1970s is in a stunning cranberry silk crepe de chine that looks like the color of a fine glass of wine in a perfect crystal decanter lit by a chandelier in the dining room of an international social fixture with walls of gilt. Can we paint a picture or what?

This dress reminds us of gowns that were owned by Nelia Barletta de Cates who passed in 2002. We remember buying some of her Gres gowns in 2003 and although this classic gown doesn't come from the closet of Madame de Cates, the silhouette and style of a gathered shoulder and hip with side slit is worthy of the former diplomat's wife and cultural attache. However, the closet this gown comes from is pretty substantial, too.

Speaking of wine, there is a dot of a spot on the dress near the left high thigh that may have been from a misplaced sip, but it is barely noticeable and saves you big bucks! We don't get to share that many Madame Gres Haute Couture gowns but we are excited to share a Gres in a color that has us feeling intoxicated by a fine vintage.



Madame Gres Haute Couture gathered one-shoulder and gathered seam at hip cranberry silk gown. Label missing. Spot as noted in post. Modern 4, but best on someone under 5'6"
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, so may offer you a high level of personal service.

CALLING ALL MAENADS

Okay one really doesn't need to be a maenad to wear this Madame Gres Haute Couture turquoise blue 50s goddess draped chiffon evening dress, but don't be surprised if you have a penchant to drink too much and dance like a mad woman while wearing this very Bacchus-friendly concoction. Madame Gres better than any other 20th century designer knew how to drape for the goddess in every woman using classical techniques evocative of Greek statues. This boned and corsetted gown has a dramatic bodice of turquoise and white fringed beads that are further enhanced with emerald rhinestones. A single cascade of chiffon over one shoulder is a pre-requisite signature of Gres and the pleats over the hip reveal a tapered skirt. Why you might start a Dionysian orgy when wearing this gown to a gala!

Madame Gres Haute Couture turquoise draped chiffon evening dress with embroidered bodice, c. late 1950s. Modern 2 (hips are quite narrow)

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, so may offer you a high level of personal service.

HOT AND HAUTE

Madame Gres, Pierre Balmain, Jacques Fath (times two), and Christian Dior. All Hot and all Haute. Details posting in the next week or so....just a tease of the latest arrivals!

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, so may offer you a high level of personal service.