ADDICTED TO LOVE

Long sleeve and sexy is one of our favorite combinations. Azzedine Alaia has often favored a similar look by designing clingy and sexy short dresses that manage to show your body without showing where the sun don't shine. The mock-turtle neck dress below is in a sophisticated celadon moire knit that leaves little to the imagination yet only exposes your legs from just above the knee while keeping your torso totally covered. Reminiscent of of the Alaia-clad models in Robert Palmer's famous Addicted to Love video from 1985, all you need is matte red lips, slicked back hair, and sheer hose to evoke one of our favorite music videos of all time.

Azzedine Alaia stretch celadon moire print acetate long sleeve dress, c. late 1980s. Marked size M, 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

Step away from the Curtains!

In honor of All Hallow's Eve, we bring to you a post from our past that would make make you the envy of all the fashionista's this Halloween -- why shouldn't you wear Haute Couture and a Halloween costume tonight?

We might be in a recession, but there is no need to tear down those curtains. This gown was created by Jean Louis Scherrer in the early 1980's as a throwback to the Victorian era. One can only imagine what Scarlet O'Hara would have done with those curtains if she could have had this dress instead.

There are numerous layers of black tulle under the skirt, which gives it all the volume. The outer shell of the gown is canary silk taffeta covered in black Chantilly lace. The same black Chantilly lace drips from the sleeves, and there are black velvet bows on either side of the hip.
This gown has a decollete neck line, which was reserved for the wealthy during the Victorian era. A working class person would have never been permitted to reveal so much skin. If you have a ball to attend, there is only one name you will be called while wearing this gown, that is Belle.

Jean Louis Scherrer Haute Couture Victorian Era-style canary yellow and black Chantilly lace gown with silk tafetta, c. early 1980's. Modern size 4-6.

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.

KABUKI CHIC

Kansai Yamamoto received international acclaim in the early 70s when he designed the elaborate and dramatic kimono-influenced costumes for David Bowie's Ziggy Stardust period. In the late 1970s to mid 1980s, the Kabuki-motif enhanced coats, sweaters and blouses of the other Yamamoto (not Yohji) were the ultimate in avant-garde Japanese chic style. Kansai Yamamoto stopped producing ready to wear in 1992. This year The Philadelphia Museum of Art had a major retrospective of Kansai Yamamoto's designs. Pictures of the exhibition may be viewed here .

The silk over-sized lilac blouse below is a dead-stock design from the early 1980s that cost nearly four figures over twenty-five years ago. The clothes were a fortune back then, but this blouse has a traumatic Kabuki figure in multiple colors that is enhanced with various colored sequins placed strategically. One can finagle the neckline to wear it more off the shoulder as it's extra wide. The bat-wing sleeves only further make this pullover blouse's sensual joie de vivre style and is a perfect addition to your wardrobe.

Yamamoto Kansai by Kansai Yamamoto lilac silk Kabuki bat-wing blouse, c. early 1980s. Marked size L, free size. Deadstock 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

Jumpsuit in the VALLEY

We've all played that game where everyone picks which character they would be in "Vally of the Dolls." We are totally Jennifer North, A.K.A Sharon Tate. Not because she is the most beautiful, or talented (though she is), but because she wore an amazing jumpsuit in the movie. We must admit, this is even better than the one Jennifer donned in the film. This Donald Brooks one shoulder jumpsuit is amazing! It is constructed from black satin that is covered in five tiers of black lace. Hidden under the tiers of lace are two bows, one black and one charcoal. The larger charcoal bow wraps around the waist, while the black one is hidden just below the neckline. We decided the bows are for when you start dancing and spinning around after a bottle of champagne and a handful of Dolls. As you spin (out of control) the lace will lift up and give the audience a surprise that only Janet, Ms. Jackson (if your nasty) at the Super Bowl can compete with.

Donald Brooks tiered black lace jumpsuit with hidden bows, c.60'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, so may offer you a high level of personal service.

GOOD GOLLY MISS MOLLIE

Mollie Parnis began her namesake business with her husband Leon Livingstone in the middle of Depression in the early 1930s. Without any formal design training or an ability to cut or sketch, this self-taught designer maintained a philosophy of providing her clients with versatile and timeless dresses that were comfortable and in good fabrics and never trendy. She was a great success. That may explain why this 1960s-era Mollie Parnis of green fine gabardine with a wonderful black undertone is perfectly modern in the 21st Century. The cap sleeve tunic dress is a little "Mod" but current in cut. The coordinating coat with unexpected stripe lining is straight out of Camelot (many of the Kennedys wore Mollie Parnis, as did Mamie Eisenhower and Betty Ford) and could be worn by a First Lady of yesteryear or by First Lay Michelle Obama today. We love "lady like" fashions and sometimes looking stylish, modern, and appropriate is best done without too many distractions, but a great dress and coat in a terrific shade of green.

Mollie Parnis for Saks Fifth Avenue green coat and mod shift dress, c. 1960s. 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.

Monroe-Esque

Planning on being the most famous of blonde bombshells this Halloween? If so, this dress is perfect to pair with some black heels and a sexy blonde wig. Designed by Giorgio of Beverly Hills, it's very much in the style of the halter dresses Ms. Monroe was so famous for wearing. We call this a "stunner dress" because when you enter a room wearing it, everyone is sure to be bowled over. The white chiffon is covered in silver bugle beads with a solid beaded band bordering the edges of the top and outlining the waist. The dress is lined with white satin so don't worry about your naughty bits showing through. Even if you are not going as Marilyn, our lovely Jessica (below) proves this dress can stun at just about any occasion - even work.

Giorgio of Beverly Hills Marilyn style white halter dress with silver bugle beads, c.70's. Contemporary size 2-4

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.

SERIOUSLY

We have some amazing Hermes Birkins that have just come our way including an extremely unattainable bleu roi porosus crocodile JPG version 1 Birkin. When we say unattainable, the original owner waited YEARS for it as a special order, but ended up not carrying it. We know of one other similar JPG in the same bleu roi croco on the planet. If you are looking for the opposite of ubiquitous, then this is your bag, but it is truly a fortune. Serious inquiries only. The other bags are all very delicious: a havane JPG, a limon/soleil (this bag is "limon" which is similar to the currently offered soleil shade) 35cm Birkin, and a vert foliage adorable mini 25 cm Birkin. None of these are bargains, so understand the program before you inquire. Detailed photos are available upon request.

Hermes bleu roi porosus crocodile JPG 42 cm shoulder Birkin (version 1) with palladium hardware, J Stamp for 2006 SOLD

Hermes havane clemence JPG 42 cm shoulder Birkin (version 1) with palladium hardware, H stamp for 2004 SOLD

Hermes limon clemence 35 cm Birkin with gold hardware, G stamp for 2003 SOLD

Hermes vert foliage chevre 25 cm Birkin with palladium hardware, I stamp for 2005 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. If you do not include your full contact details we will be unable to answer any pricing questions. for these desirable purses.

MARABOUBOU!

The only "bou bou" on this coat is the fact that original owner lost the label! It still has the iconic "Made in France" label, but the famous Yves Saint Laurent Rive Gauche label has good bye bye hence the bou bou (we know it really is "boo boo," but for sake of this post let us bend the rules a bit). This coat has all the marks of the classic YSL marabou feather coats of the 1970s. The original owner reminisced how this coat would stop traffic at a gala or party as the strong shade of pink always insured a lot of attention. When one needs an alternative to fur, but still wants a glamorous coat to warm you up and not weigh you down, we say choose the bou bou.

Attributed to Yves Saint Laurent Rive Gauche, marabou pink feather coat. c, 1970s. No size 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.

SO YSL

Yves Saint Laurent effortlessly fused red and pink into mythic gowns with exaggerated bows and gem-encrusted bodices. We are happy to have two classic 70s blouses that are in the legend's favorite colors, but not at the same time. The red silk and pink silk button down blouses are staples of a fashion-lovers closet and are simple, classic, and perfect additions to your wardrobe. Both blouses were purchased at I. Magnin back in the day.

Yves Saint Laurent Rive Gauche for I. Magnin red silk button front blouse, c. 70s Marked size 40, modern 4 to 6

Yves Saint Laurent Rive Gauche for I. Magnin hot pink silk button front blouse, c. 70s Marked size 36, 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.