Rays of Vionnet!

Wow, 10 days without a post, I'm sorry, but I'm sure this one dress will more than make up for it. I've been waiting for this one for a couple of weeks and finally, with extra insurance in tow, it has arrived! That's right, from designer Rodolfo Paglialunga for the legendary house of Vionnet, known for her mathematically precise approach to pattern making, is this simply stunning gold sunray pleat train halter gown! As I took it out of the box I could feel my heartbeat hasten I was that excited; and it certainly met all my expectations. The bodice is painstakingly pintucked to create the shaped panel that end at the almost empire line height band, and then the 1930's glamour spills out in sunray pleats, and though I haven't measured I really think there are about 6metres of fabric in the hem. It's just gorgeous, and even my hand help iPhone photos still do it justice. Enjoy!

Vionnet gold sunray pleat halter top; silk, viscose, polyamide mix, sz French 40 (Aus 10)

Remember to contact via the blog, email enquire@paris99.net or call directly on +61424583409 to arrange a time to visit the salon in Elwood x.

Paris '99 at L'Heure du The!

On Saturday I was kindly invited to attend the L'Heure du The high tea at the Langham Hotel to help raise funds for breast cancer research and celebrate all things French! It was a fabulous morning with yummy eats, teas and treats and everyone looked dressed up to go for a promenade on any good Parisian boulevard! Thanks so much to Kyra Pybus who looked just ravishing in her Luca Luca dress from Paris '99, as previously seen on the blog. Photo courtesy Cecylia Kee.

Remember to contact via the blog, email enquire@paris99.net or call directly on +61424583409 to arrange a visit to the salon in Elwood.

Dior spring summer 1999 campaign!

Sorry for the long time no update, its been somewhat hectic here at Paris '99! Here is a quick one before the storm of updates to show all the new fabulous pieces that have arrived in the last couple of days!
On its way, and I should totally not jinx this by showing it early, but I believe in the system and as such will show you the campaign image with Bridget Hall for Dior ss1999; the Chinese collection. We are getting the whole silhouette from a good friend in Switzerland; top, pants and shoes, cant wait, and will post seperate shots on arrival!

In the meantime remember to contact through the blog, email on enquire@paris99.net or directly call on +61424583409 to arrange a visit to the lovely salon in Elwood.

Cape magic!

This morning I had the pleasure of entertaining for brunch a fabulous stylist and gorgeous PR agent. We enjoyed some fresh cheeses, Paris style toast, prosciutto and various sweets and it was a great way to spend the day. Of course clothing played an important role and suffice to say an amazing piece found the perfect home!
Veronique Branquinho, of the second group of Antwerp designers, was known for her 60s inspired silhouettes, though always with a dark edge. Pretty blouses pared back with heavy tweed pants or long chiffon skirts worn with a tough motor-bike style jacket. This piece fits into the Romantically Tough category, the Edwardian style charcoal woollen cape with leather buttons and drama galore. I'm so pleased it found the right person, and I know she'll love it forever. Now SOLD

Remember to contact through the blog, email enquire@paris99.net or phone directly on +61424583409 to make an arrangement to visit the lovely salon in Elwood.

A cool spring day.

Hello, its a somewhat underwhelming spring day in Melbourne, hot then cold, rain then sun, typical I guess. Here are some spring-y yet cool-y pieces to get you through days like this!

I love the feel of this gorgeous Narciso Rodriguez sheep suede top. Essentially made of two rectangles with a slit in the front to create a deep 'V', it just hangs beautifully off the body. With a relaxed and slopey shoulder and slight asymmetry in the hem at the front its definitely not something seen regularly.
Narciso Rodriguez khaki sheep suede top, size Italian 42 (Aus 8-10)

Made from the lightest of wools and cut high in the waist and fitted through the hips is this vintage Hermes kneelength skirt. Its a striking shade of blue which completely fits in with the colour blocking trend making the rounds, not that it matters! Last but not least, there are pockets, great!
Hermes blue wool skirt, size French 40 (but fits more like an Aus 8)

All angles covered here, and they need to be! This is special piece indeed; a aubergine/maroon John Bartlett hand draped and embellished silk dress. Almost like a sari it falls off the shoulder on one side and swathes around the body. Don't worry about modesty, there is a colour matched silk crepe slip the goes to the knee, and the beading is intricately detailed and anchors the dress to the body beautifully.
John Bartlett draped and beaded dress, size 42 (Aus 10)

Et voila, the perfect wintery spring coat! An early Giambattista Valli its a thick coated linen with beige cotton piping. Bracelet length sleeves and military details, detachable epaulettes and regalia metal buttons give it that cold touch, but being a linen its still light enough to wear on breezy spring days, and in fact I'm naughty and its no longer here, but a perfect piece for a day like today! Now SOLD

Hope you enjoyed these pieces too, remember to contact us via the blog, email at enquire@paris99.net or call directly on +61424583409 to make an arrangement to visit the lovely salon in Elwood.

Jean-Paul Gaultier Mania!

Jean-Paul Gaultier; bondage, prostitutes, the sailor, the trench coat, India, the Fifth Element and of course Paris. The once 'Enfant Terrible' of fashion is now well into the fourth decade of his work and it is as stunning and integral to the dialogue of fashion as ever. Paris '99 has been the conduit for many a Gaultier creations, we simply love everything he does. Please enjoy some of the current selection of Gaultier pieces, showing his great creative range as each one differs from the next!

When I saw this dress I knew it had to be here, its just so incredible. Made of metres and metres of the gathered cotton with the fine metallic stripe erupting from the iconic Gaultier bustier bodice its perfect for swirling up the dance floor at a garden tea party in spring. The ties can be placed in front under the bust, to the centre back for a cute and refined look or in a single or double bow on the side for that extra sense of movement. Those of you in Melbourne gearing up for Spring Racing Carnival must come and have a whirl in this dress!
Jean-Paul Gaultier Femme bustier gathered cotton dress, size Italian 40 (Aus 8-10) Now SOLD

Just arrived yesterday! The Renoir style ballerina scene printed in such detail on this, for lack of a better word, poncho, shows Gaultier's softer side. Actually cut from two rectangles with a neck hole, the viscose drapes beautifully around the body and moves with a spring that brings the whole scene to life! Perfect for an afternoon by the beach or again, a spring time garden party...notice the theme?
Jean-Paul Gaultier Maille Femme ballet printed viscose poncho, size S (but really once size fits all)

Feeling like a little sheer French provincial chic? This snap fasten (set on a lovely grosgrain ribbon, no less) shirt dress in gorgeous viscose crepe is just the one! With slightly puffed sleeves folded back onto the arm tightly, loose hanging front pockets and a double yoke and double faced waist panel its demure yet that little bit naughty. And what may not be clear in the pictures is that wherever one would expect the stripes to meet and match, they do absolutely flawlessly. Its that extra bit of care in finish that takes these pieces just that level higher and its why we love them!
Jean-Paul Gaultier Femme pinstriped viscose crepe shirt dress, size Italian 42 (Aus 10) NOW SOLD to gorgeous lady indeed!

Still in that slightly country, farmer, harvest mood is this Russian style elasticated edgings printed silk bloused top. The fabric has the lightest most ephemeral touch and the print evokes a 70s wheat field get together. The elastic on the hem creates the most lovely swing back shape and then cuts right into the small of the back, which when worn with slim fit pants or pencil skirt lengthens the legs immensely. Just get a hot contrast bra underneath, or relive the no bra days too!
Jean-Paul Gaultier Femme Classique printed silk chiffon top, size Italian 42 (Aus 8-10) Now SOLD

For a tailored jacket with a twist and surprise is this matador red strong shouldered wrap belted number. Made from a bouncy wool gaberdine it features the press stud closure and an almost motor-bike style belted wrap with a heavy brass buckle. The perfect construction can be seen with hand details necessary in a tailored jacket and perfectly finished narrow jet pockets. The greatest surprise is the intricate Parisian scene printed all over the lining, something only you (and anyone who sees this blog of course) know about!
Jean-Paul Gaultier Femme red wrap belted jacket, Italian size 42 (Aus 10) NOW SOLD, amazing!

Wow, this gorgeous woman must have telepathic powers! I got a call about this jacket just as I was starting to blog, so of course I have to put it in to show you all how great it is! I love the colour midnight, darker than navy and a shade short of black. This midnight blue wrap around shirred back bow detail jacket borders on the tasteful side of bondage with its corset tight waist. I can see her wearing it now with cigarette pants and patent leather pumps and running through shadows, sexy and mysterious!
Jean-Paul Gaultier Femme cotton shirred back jacket, size Italian 40 (Aus 6-8) Now SOLD

Finally for today is a real Gaultier staple item, the printed mesh top. Seen in every collection since almost the beginning the printed mesh tops are an icon that send collectors all over the world crazy. This one here is the cardigan that shreds to reveal the muscle tissue and skeleton underneath, and the print is so life-like its scary and gross, yet engrossing and amazing at the same time.
Jean-Paul Gaultier Maille Femme 'shredded cardigan' nylon mesh top, size M

Hope you liked some, if not all, of these Jean-Paul Gaultier offerings from us. Please contact through the blog, via email at enquire@paris99.net or directly by phone on +61424583409 to make an appointment to visit the salon, we'd love to have you over!



I love designer dresses!

Hello all, I love all designer things of course, but for me a well designed dress is just the ultimate. Short, long, strapless, strapped, sleeved or sans I adore dresses, and clearly in a completely platonic way!
Here are some of my favourites from the salon for you to enjoy.

This is a gorgeous Roland Mouret, who as you know is one of my most respected designers. This is dress that needs to be seen on a body, it just comes alive. The airy ruffle that flirtily covers the back, the slightly structured halter that allows the front to drape and the way the zip is sewn in at an angle in the back that creates the cascade there too is just genius. And of course then theres the print!
Now because we've been getting some size requests on pieces here is the first time we will provide this information too.
Roland Mouret silk digital printed draped dress, size Italian 42 (Aus 8) though narrow in the hip.
Now SOLD to a fabulous fellow fashion lover!

Now unfortunately my shooting skills don't capture this amazing dress to its full potential. Its a Dries Van Noten, and made out of a heavy viscose twill which pulls down the skirt for a really long line. Then, and what you can't see, are the matching godets all through the hem which give it the most lovely movement while walking. Casual without belt, or as seen here with the John Richmond ponyskin wrap-around belt its definitely a dress forever.
Dries Van Noten viscose godet drape dress, size 38 (Aus 8-10).

Now here's something for the woman who wants to be noticed, at a fabulous red carpet event nonetheless!
Luca Luca has been the staple lable for New York society ladies, and their daughters too, for years, and this dress definitely fits the bill. Its made of tiers and tiers of swirled silk organza with a base cut on the bias. The around the body effect is continued with the one shoulder look that is just so right now, and its even more stunning in person of course! Now for the right shoes...
Luca Luca tiered silk organza gown, size Italian 44 (Aus 10-12)

Final one for today is the everlasting Valentino. This dress is from the Valentino collection line, and it shows; melt in the hand silk, a three colour print and hand stitched drape everywhere, its gorgeous. I really think the hand draping gives the dress a personality and of course this would translate to the wearer too, and its just so fun to dance in, the perfect party dress!
Valentino printed silk hand draped dress, size Italian 44 (Aus 8-10) though this dress is quite loose and could accomodate a 12 too.

Hope you enjoyed, remember to contact through the blog, email enquire@paris99.net or directly by phone on +61424583409 to make an appointment to visit the lovely salon, and I've sat on the balcony everyday so far and spring has only just started!