Gibb It To Me Baby

If you ever set foot in my closet, you'll instantly realize that I'm a knitwear junkie. Dresses, skirts, jackets -- I'll take them all. So when I first discovered the work of Bill Gibb it was love at first sight. Although not as well known in the US as his British contemporaries (Ossie Clark, Zandra Rhodes, Thea Porter, Jean Muir, etc), Gibb's work was ground breaking. His work was permeated with influences in both silhouette + pattern from Medieval, Renaissance, Byzantine + Pre-Raphaelite fashion + tapestries.

Image from "Bill Gibb -- Fashion and Fantasy" by Iain Webb

Spectacular vintage Bill Gibb knit cape jacket from his Spring/Summer 1976 collection. Truly a rare + coveted find! Pale pink acrylic knit with tying front + amazing folkloric inspired pattern. Massive kimono sleeves that give the look of a cape. Plunging-v in back with a fun tying closure. Has the look of a cape with the ease and wearability of a jacket.

Available at http://www.bustownmodern.com

Weekly Lineup -- Webstore Updates

New updates to the webstore!

Jean Varon 1970s Tiered Chiffon Maxi Dress + Jacket

1960s Monet Poppy Field Dress

Missoni 1970s 3-Piece Knit Ensemble

Missoni 1980s 2-Piece Knit Ensemble

Missoni 1970s Chevron Knit Scarf Dress

Mocha Peacock Printed 1970s Gauze Indian Dress

Toffee Colored 1970s Knit Bohemian Dress

1960s Pleated Palazzo Leg Floral Jumpsuit

Vera Maxwell “Speed Suit” Sailor Tie Dress

Hand Knit Ribbons Rainbow Midi Dress

Jean Varon 1970s Netted Black Caftan

Draped 1970s Maxi Dress + Jacket with Jeweled Closure

Alfred Shaheen 1970s Southwestern Maxi Dress

1970s Bell Bottom Fringe Jumpsuit

100% Silk Hand Blocked Indian Tent Dress

1960s Rainbow Lame Party Dress

Basket Weave Printed 1970s Wrap Jumpsuit

Chocolate Brown 1970s Metallic Knit Maxi Gown

Yves Saint Laurent 1970s Leather Boots

Hermès High Waisted Cuffed Riding Trousers

Hermès Royal Blue High Waisted Equestrian Pants

Antonio Guiseppe Mickey Mouse Western Bell Bottom Jeans

Kilim Printed 1970s Palazzo Jumpsuit with Coin Belt

All items available at http://www.bustownmodern.com

Happy Birthday, Balenciaga!

We'd like to wish a Happy Birthday to Cristobal Balenciaga! Born on this day in 1895, Balenciaga was one of the greatest masters of fashion + true haute couture to have ever lived. If you don't have enough Balenciaga in your life (and honestly, how could you) be sure to check out the Cristobal Balenciaga Museoa + we'd also highly recommend this beautiful coffee table book.

Velvet Veruschka

As fashion dealers + just all around lovers of fashion, we're constantly doing research on pieces we come across and perusing vintage fashion photos + magazines. The curse (and gift) of the internet is that you can never find what you're looking for when you want it but will ultimately stumble across it at some other random point in time. So, imagine our surprise when we accidentally came across this photo of the eternally beautiful Veruschka from Vogue, August 1968.



That's MY coat! I mean, that's "my" coat. Right? My husband managed to pry my fingers off it + keep it out of my closet for just long enough to get it photographed. I'll cross my fingers that it never sells so I can continue to bask in it's beauty for a little while longer. Otherwise I'll be resigned to only seeing it at the Chicago History Museum and that one doesn't have sable trim!

So, without further ado, we offer you this insanely gorgeous 1968 Bill Blass velvet + sable coat.

Extremely rare Sergeant Pepper inspired 1968 Bill Blass for Maurice Rentner evening coat. Long dark imperial blue velvet with flared hem + belled sleeves. Metallic gold soutache braided closures up the front with large rhinestone buttons. Nehru neckline + flared cuffs are lined in genuine silver-tipped Russian sable fur. Fully lined in silk. A spectacular + awe-inspiring piece for any collector.

Available at http://www.bustownmodern.com.