The Fall 2005 collection was titled 'The Man Who Knew Too Much' and the Alexander McQueen site said of this collection: 'For the second time in his career, Alexander McQueen references The Birds for this collection a film that he remembers loving as a child principally because of the precise way in which the women featured choose to dress. Against a film-set backdrop flooded with red light models stride out in swing coats, pencil skirts, neat, cropped trousers and fitted chunky mohair all of which suit a modern-day Hitchcock heroine down to the ground. Given the source of inspiration this may be read as McQueen's interpretation of coordinated dressing almost vintage Hermes style crocodile sling-backs are teamed with matching handbags, for example. Hair is big, bouffant and blow dried and lips are painted true red.' and Vogue's review stated 'Tippi Hedren and Marilyn Monroe. Biker molls and sweater girls. You got it: Alexander McQueen went to the sixties, all the way, for fall. With its filched movie and rock 'n' roll themes, the collection read as a knowing vehicle, a McQueen director's cut. Glacially restrained tailoring, early rocker chic, the classic Hollywood ball gown moment: He had 'em all. Plus great hair, great music, and a roar of old-school glamour. But there's no such thing as a McQueen routine without a sinister psychological subtext or two. Was there a hint in the invitation—a pastiche of the film poster for Vertigo, superimposed with the title of another Hitchcock movie, The Man Who Knew Too Much? What McQueen knows shows aplenty. His combined knowledge of Savile Row tailoring and Parisian couture means he can scissor an impeccably narrow grey tweed coat or a nipped-waist pencil skirt suit, and put sizzle into period sobriety.' On the runway this was Look 8 and was an incredible moment as people caught a look at that insane back detail. This dress is also extremely interesting as it is a definitive nod to the YSL Couture dress of 1970 that was famously photoed by Jeanloup Sieff. McQueen took a very iconic vintage dress and reworked the fabrication and the cut to make it fit into his Hitchock theme. This would have been produced in limited quantities that season and it is absolutely gorgeous 

The dress is made out of a soft silk jersey fabric that has an almost T-shirt feel to it. It’s done in two layers of the fabric so that it has some structure and shape but falls over the body in a soft and easy way. The double layer also means that the inner layer works fantastically to hide any flaws on the body and then the top layer just skims over that. Once on the dress falls and drapes wonderfully  over the body. The fabric is cut on the bias so that the way it sits on the body is perfectly executed, but it is still light enough to feel extremely comfortable once on. The simple yet dramatic cut is what you want to see in a McQueen. It is that balance between femininity and darkness that his best pieces have. The neckline is slightly scooped and the sleeve are long with a cuff at each end. The fabric poufs out just a bit above each cuff. The ease of the fabric is such that when you move it moves with you and it is incredibly flattering as it glides and drapes over the body. There are minimal seams through the body and none that break the eye at the waist. From the front it just falls over you and skims its way all the way to the hem. The back is a completely different story. There the inset of black lace covers the entire back and dips low to the top of the buttocks. The black lace is backed in a nude silk chiffon and it has a slightly transparent feel. From a distance you look like you are only wearing a thin layer of lace. It is so dramatic and almost startling when you turn around to see that expanse of lace and how low it dips. It is simple, sexy and perfect. It is pure McQueen genius. It appears to have been worn very little. Excellent condition

The dress is made of two attached bias cut layers and slips over the head to wear. There is a zipper at one side and anther zipper runs across the top of one shoulder. The button at the back of the neck is more decorative then anything. Each cuff buttons to close. Tagged a 42. The fabric is cut on the bias through the body. The easy cut should work on a variety of body frames. The length will come up a bit once on the body with the bias cut. 

Sleeves: 25.5"
Inset shoulders: 13"
Bust: will stretch 16-19" flat across from side seam to side seam
Waist: 12-15.5" flat across from side seam to side seam
Hips: 16-20" flat across from side seam to side seam
Length: 47" from shoulder to hem

Modern Sizing Equivalent: SML-MED

Item# DD3708

Reference Photos: (1-5) Fall 2005 Alexander McQueen Runway Collection, Look 8. Model: Raquel Zimmermann.  /  (6) Yves Saint Laurent by Jeanloup Sieff, 1970.

This garment has been professionally cleaned, pressed and is odor free. Thoroughly checked over before shipping, it will be ready to wear upon arrival.