2015 Julien MacDonald Runway Showpiece Chain Mail Dress

The British Crown Jewels served as Julien Macdonald’s starting point for his Fall 2015 collection, inspiring him to explore the opulence and authority of Britain’s queens and other powerful women. The result was what Women’s Wear Daily called an “outré take on power dressing”; a dazzling, body-conscious display of strength and sensuality that married Macdonald’s signature glamour with a distinctly British eccentricity. The collection’s daring spirit resonated beyond the runway, most memorably when Kendall Jenner wore this very dress in promotional imagery for Keeping Up with the Kardashians in 2015.

We believe this dress was one of the stand-out pieces from this show, walking the runway as the final look and ensuring a dramatic and memorable ending. Tailored from thick black cotton with black leather piping at the hems, it has a body-con, hourglass silhouette. The top is crafted in a racer-style with a cut-out at the waist and a sensuous open-back. The heavy chainmail embellishment and thick fabric are cleverly placed to weave across the body and protect the wearer’s modesty. What appears like beadwork is actually revealed to be silver-tone metal chains up-close. These echo the curves of the body, falling from the bottom hem of the mini-skirt to create a multi-length fringe. The dress is lined with smooth black silk for a comfortable, luxurious wear. It fastens at the back of the skirt with a silver-tone exposed zip and at the back with three black hook-and-eye clasps.

This dress is in good to very good archival vintage condition and was the runway showpiece. A number of the chain tassels have broken off with wear, possible alterations, and the passage of time. Shortening the remaining tassels at the front and relocating to the back is a great option; we have left this to the new owner's discretion as the dress is wearable as is. There are no composition or size labels so please check the measurements below closely. Our model's sizes are: Bust: 34" (87cm), Waist: 24" (61cm), Hips: 34.5" (88cm), Height: 5' 7" (170cm) and she's a size UK 6, US 2.

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 favorite and a key figure in modern fashion, celebrated for reviving the spectacle and decadence of haute couture in a contemporary context.

MEASUREMENTS

BUST - 25 in. (64 cm)

WAIST - 24 in. (61 cm)

HIP - 35 in. (89 cm)

LENGTH - 35 in. (89 cm)

LENGTH LONGEST CHAINS - 56 in. (142 cm)