A quartet of these dresses closed the Fall 1995-96 runway show and I am pleased to have that footage here for you to see. The gowns that Armani was producing during this time period were on par with demi-couture and costs tens of thousands of dollars even then. It is such a pleasure to have such a well-documented piece and when it is also as spectacular as this one, the pleasure is even greater. The dress was the close of the show that season and the presentation of the four variations of it was stunning.

The dress is a sleek column of beadwork, done in one of his favoured long, lean silhouettes. The base fabric is a printed silk and onto this are literally thousands and thousands of beads and sequins that adorn the entire surface to cover every square inch. The colors are a muted palette of silvers, greys, pinks and blues. The pattern has a slight Asian feel to it and it is understated and yet glamorous. Inside, it is a marvel of construction, with a full built in bodice and beautify finishes. Armani has been in business for over four decades and pieces like this make you understand why that is so. This is the pinnacle of his work prior to establishing the Haute Couture Prive line that he now produces. It is gowns like this that have made his work a red carpet staple for celebrities for years. I have seen his beaded gowns from this time period listed up to $20,000 so perhaps I have under priced this one, but I would rather it go to a new girl who will love it then sit at a higher price. I think the girl that buys this will be very happy as it is a truly beautiful dress and so well documented. Excellent condition

Fully lined in a pale grey silk chiffon and closes with a back, hidden set zipper. A second zipper closes the inner corset that shapes the bust. There are straps on the gown but they are not beaded and I preferred it strapless so tucked them in. You can wear it either way and on the runway it was worn with straps. Tagged a size 40 and will best fit a 0-4. It will not close on my mannequin or on a size 6 dressmakers dress form. It does, of course, properly close on the right sized girl.

Bust: 15-16 with a approx A-B cup" flat across from side seam to side seam
Waist: 13" flat across from side seam to side seam
Hips: 19" flat across from side seam to side seam
Length: 59" from shoulder to hem

Modern Sizing Equivalent: XS

Item# DD2779

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