SHOP DECADES

As a fashionista, blogger, and avid vintage fashion lover, Eri is an invaluable asset to us here at Decades.  I am excited to announce a new section on our shopdecadesinc.com website where Eri will personally select her favorite vintage items each week making them available to purchase directly from our site!  From one-of-a-kind Haute Couture finds to rare and beautifully selected clothing, handbags, and accessories, Eri will be giving all of our avid blog readers the opportunity to make these beautiful treasures their own!  Be sure to check back each Friday to see the new and personally selected vintage items Eri knows that you will love to add to your own closets straight from the vintage team here at Decades. 

-Geoffrey

Yves Saint Laurent Haute Couture maroon velvet and satin ruffle dress, c.1980's. Modern size 4. 

Moschino red black and white leather present box bag, c. 1970's. Measures 6.25"x6.25"x6.25". SOLD

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.

I HOPE @HEDISLIMANETWIT DOESN'T READ THIS

Okay I've digested the Hedi Slimane debut for Saint Laurent or whatever he wants to call it.  I have also read the reviews, the blogs, and of course the Twitfit between Cathy Horyn and the rather ornery Mr. Slimane.  My initial reaction to the show was surprised as everything was so retro.  Although I am a purveyor of vintage clothing, when it comes to 21st century fashion, I want it to look 21st century.  As I've further considered the show, I have found it to be too much of a greatest-hits collection styled skinny.  The clothes really looked like the way girls who shop at Decades already dress: they snatch a vintage YSL blouse and wear it with a pair of crazy skinny jeans, epic heels, and often with statement necklace and hat.  It was very LA-LA land.  In that sense it was very successful...for any designer other than someone of Hedi Slimane's calibre and repute.  It would be an acceptable show for a contemporary brand who wants to reference 70s boho YSL and make it look like something to be sold at Barneys Coop.  I guess I just expected Slimane to manipulate the revered YSL codes into something all together fresh.  Dare I say, the way Raf Simons did in a very short period of time for his Dior Couture debut. 

The good thing about the collection is that all the savvy fashionistas out there will be wise to come to Decades and pick up the original inspirations which will be much less expensive than the Slimane-Laurent prices (they are quite high and buyers who have called me to consult on the saleability of the collection are in a quandary: do they buy these expensive clothes that look like they come from Decades?).  I liked everything in the collection because it reminds of Decades.  Buyers may be confused, but the looks are good looks, they are just looks we have seen worn by folk a lot over the last ten years.  Just let me dress you and let's let Mr. Slimane take his time to get his feet wet.  I didn't like Ricardo Tisci's first collections at Givenchy.  Now I love them!  Maria Grazia and Pier Paolo didn't work for me initially at Valentino, but now I think they are doing a splendid job.  I guess the lesson to be learned:  if you are going to reinvent the wheel with re-branding then the expectation is your collection must follow suit and be ground breaking.  I think had Slimane not made such drastic moves and more smoothly transitioned, perhaps the reviews would have been more kind.  I am excited to see where he goes for fall.  Slimane is super talented and I love wearing his original men's looks for YSL from 1999.  I say give him a few seasons, before we throw him under the bus.  However, I would suggest Francois Pinault has a talk with the Saint Laurent press team.  Sounds like they are amateurs!

In the meanwhile, check out the Slimane and the Yves Saint Laurent Haute Couture original.  You choose.
-Cameron

Yves Saint Laurent Haute Couture chiffon lurex blouse, c. 1970's. Will fit size 2 and 4. SOLD

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.

YOU HAVE NEVER LOOKED THIS GOOD

Congratulations to Meryl Streep in her Oscar win last night!! She is simply one of the most beautiful and talented actresses in the world!! Well, you have by now guessed that we are big fans of her work and how chic and ageless she always looks. Last night was no exception. She looked flawless in the gold Lanvin gown. It reminded us of the vintage Yves Saint Laurent Haute Couture piece we posted a while back.

It is said that the Lanvin gown that Meryl Streep wore to the Oscar Ceremony last night, is a custom made Lanvin eco friendly gown, which makes it even more special.

We applaud the efforts of many designers now days using Eco Certified fabrics to make beautiful clothes, but let's not forget that buying vintage and recycling your clothes is eco friendly as well. So if you buy this dress, you are helping the planet to stay green, you will always be reminded of a perfect moment in the history of movies and let's not forget it's haute couture.

-Eri

Yves Saint Laurent Haute Couture dress in gold velvet, c. 1980's. Modern 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, so may offer you a high level of personal service.

Ballet by YSL

The winter months always reminds us of those classic ballet performances such as "Swan Lake," "Sleeping Beauty" and of course, "The Nutcracker," which, btw, is currently being put on by the New York City Ballet. Click here for more info.

The Yves Saint Laurent Haute Couture gown below would be purrfect for an evening at the ballet. The black crepe bustier is a beautiful contrast to the powder pink crepe full length skirt. The skirt is gathered to the left side and finished with a bow at the hip. Throw on a nice warm shawl and off to the ballet you go...

If you need to get in the mood for an evening at the Ballet, click the link below for one of our favorite ballet related videos.

Click Here

Yves Saint Laurent Haute Couture black and pink crepe gown with bow, c.1985. 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, so may offer you a high level of personal service.

AMBER IS HOT!

We are smitten with Amber Tamblyn! Starring opposite James Franco in the highly anticipated movie "127 Hours", opening tomorrow, Amber is looking so sensual and sophisticated in her vintage Yves Saint Laurent emerald silk Haute Couture dress from Decades. We are excited for Amber's future red carpet appearances and have a feeling we will be seeing a lot of her during Award Season!

GO GUIP FOR GUIPURE

When we saw this Yves Saint Laurent Haute Couture guipure, chiffon, and lace trim evening dress, we experienced TIERS of joy! Why? Well who doesn't get a little misty eyed when ogling a Spanish-inspired evening dress by the greatest couturier of the 20th Century with a marvelous swirl and polka-dot pattern on grey, black, and white chiffon tiers etched with lace? The fitted bodice is of black guipure which also has a lace trim at the top of the dress. It's really a perfect dress for attending a summer wedding or a black-tie gala where dancing and dining will be on the menu, since the tiers are meant to swirl around a dance floor, just like the chiffon suggests.

Yves Saint Laurent Haute Couture evening dress of lace, guipure, and printed chiffon tiers, c. 1980s. Modern 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, so may offer you a high level of personal service.

SUDDENLY SEXY

This 80s black and white polka dot Ungaro Parallele dress may appear a little mumsy or even worthy of a sister-wife on Big Love at first glance, but turn around girl! With a nice U-shaped open back this silk dress with puffy short sleeves and tired skirt is the nice mix of sophisticated and sexy. Wear it with some super high YSL tribs and this dress becomes perfect for a cocktail affair and will get you noticed from all angles. The dress is lined in sheer black silk and was originally sold at legendary retailer Amen Wardy.

Emanuel Ungaro Parallele black and white polkadot U-shaped backless dress, c. 1980s. Marked size 10, modern 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, so may offer you a high level of personal service.

59501

What's the 411 on 59501? Well, 59501 is the model number of this very elegant Yves Saint Laurent Haute Couture evening gown of Chantilly lace with delicate black paillette embroidery, violet silk charmeuse lining, and signature black velvet bow. If you had been officially invited to Tuesday's State Dinner with the President and First Lady, this would have been the perfect dress to wear. It's refined, timeless, elegant, and certainly eye-catching, as the back delivers the drama with a low key, the bow over the "butt" and the train of lace. Of course when half the guests are in ODLR from Neiman's, you are always safe to be in vintage Yves Saint Laurent Haute Couture. Eat your heart out Michaele Salahi. Impostors need not apply.

Yves Saint Laurent Haute Couture lace and violet lined evening gown, c. early 1980s. Model number 59501. Modern size small 4 (lace has some repairable flaws, but this is priced VERY reasonably). 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, so may offer you a high level of personal service.

Lady in Red

This is how red is meant to be worn. Simple and chic. This Yves Saint Laurent Haute Couture gown is how one is noticed without being obvious or obnoxious. The red material is a very fine silk georgette crepe that drapes down in two solid panels from the shoulders. The panels are taken in at the hips and adorned with two intricate crystal diamond patterns, one on either side. The red crepe material pools in back with a medium length train that adds the perfect amount of drama to the gown. We know that chic is thrown around this blog a lot, but this gown is CHIC! For you tall ladies, this is a great option for that upcoming summer soire.

Yves Saint Laurent Haute Couture red crepe gown with hip embroidery and train, 1981. Modern size 2-4 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.

BETTER THAN BALMAIN

Who can trump the passion the fashion public has for the exciting collection of beaded dresses and jackets designed by Christophe Decarnin for Pierre Balmain? Someone from the grave: Yves Saint Laurent. This amazing Yves Saint Laurent Haute Couture black paillette evening top with "strass" crystal trim on black mousseline was hand embroidered by the legendary Maison Lesage. It comes with black pajama pants which we like to call a "gift with purchase." There are many ways to wear this and if you are a Balmain-addict, it might just be perfect with a pair of their priced-to-the-heavens jeans. Certainly for black tie, a pair of tux pants would look great with this top or go more classic with a long evening skirt. We think the pictures really explain the beauty of this incredibly intricate piece of art that has so many possibilities: from edgy to classic. When the invitation says Creative Attire, trump your hostess in YSL HC!

Yves Saint Laurent Haute Couture black mousselline V neck evening top hand embroidered by Maison Lesage, c. 1985. Modern 4 to 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.