2016 Julien MacDonald Runway Champagne Paillette Cage Bodycon Dress

Julien Macdonald’s Fall 2016 collection marked a return to full-throttle glamour. Staged in a former 19th-century church, the show unfolded like a glittering ritual, with models in slashed, sheer, and intricately beaded gowns that celebrated the body. The presentation arrived amid renewed buzz around Macdonald’s work, fueled in part by Gigi Hadid’s headline-making appearance in one of his barely-there beaded jumpsuits at a Sports Illustrated event. This was the show that revitalised Macdonald’s place at the center of the red-carpet conversation.

Walking the runway as look 31/57, this dress was a glittering disco-ball in a collection that was monochrome in the majority. Tailored from a fine mesh in a pale nude hue, it has a body-con silhouette with an intricately crafted cage top. The dress is elaborately sequinned all-over with large rectangular paillettes in a champagne hue that look silver or gold depending on how the light hits. Up close, the embellishment is incredibly detailed. The paillettes are all individually stitched at each end with a tonal thread onto the mesh. At the rear, the cage top gives way to two chunky embellished straps which meet in the middle of the back. The strap which forms a choker at the neck crosses the back straps and is secured under the arm with hook-and-eye clasps. The dress is unlined. It fastens at the centre of the back with an exposed gold-tone zip and chunky gold-tone zip-pull.

This dress is in very good archival vintage condition and is the actual show piece from the runway. Our couture trained seamstress has expertly restored this ensemble and she presents beautifully. A few signs of wear were noted when inspecting this dress very closely including minor wear to sequins but these are impossible to see when worn. 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" (86cm), Height 5' 4" (164cm) and she's a size UK 4-6, US 0-2.

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, featherwork, 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 - 31 in. (79 cm)

WAIST - 26 in. (66 cm)

HIP - 34 in. (86 cm)

LENGTH - 45 in. (114 cm)