2013 Julien Macdonald Runway Documented Electric Blue Beaded Dress

Julien Macdonald’s Fall 2013 collection was inspired by Las Vegas, with each glittering, intensely detailed look named after a casino there. The collection led Vogue to pose the question, “Is Macdonald Britain's answer to Bob Mackie? After this collection, maybe so.” The collection showcased Macdonald’s carefully honed eye-for-detail, and he smothered dozens of evening gowns with sequins, rhinestones, beads and chains. As astonishing as they look on the catwalk, these are dresses that must be seen up close.

This dress is a one-of-a-kind and the showpiece, walking the runway as look 10/34. Tailored from a fine mesh in the palest peachy nude hue, it has a column silhouette and long slim-cut sleeves. The elaborate beadwork is cleverly placed across the body; revealing, but only so much. Panels of electric blue and black palette beads skim the body, flashing aqua as they catch the light. Step back, and you notice that the beadwork forms a pattern that recalls reptile scales. The long mesh sleeves are beaded on one side and the top back of the dress is formed of sheer mesh - making it appear as though the beadwork is attached to the wearer’s skin. The skirt is fully beaded and falls to the floor, broken only by a slit at the rear. The dress is lined with sheer black silk underneath the beadwork for a comfortable wear. It fastens under the left arm with a hidden tonal zip.

This dress is in excellent archival condition and the beadwork has been expertly restored, as needed, by our in-house couture tailor. There are no composition or size labels so please check the measurements below closely as this is a typical sample size - US 2 or UK 6.

Note on the designer: Julien Macdonald OBE rose to prominence in the late 1990s. After graduating from the Royal College of Art, he was hired by Karl Lagerfeld to work at Chanel, and was later appointed chief designer at Givenchy. In 1997, Macdonald launched his eponymous label and it was here that he cemented his reputation for high-octane, couture-level craftsmanship. He was named “British Fashion Designer of the Year” at the 2001 British Fashion Awards and, in 2006, he was awarded an OBE for services to fashion. Macdonald is known for his meticulous handwork, opulent fabrics, and body-sculpting silhouettes that marry traditional techniques with unabashed sensuality. His designs, often featuring intricate beading, feather work, and lacework, have made him a red carpet favourite and a key figure in modern fashion, celebrated for reviving the spectacle and decadence of haute couture in a contemporary context.

MEASUREMENTS

BUST - 32 in. (81 cm)

WAIST - 26 in. (66 cm)

HIP - 36 in. (91 cm)

LENGTH - 61 in. (155 cm)