1991 Yves Saint Laurent Cotton Safari Dress
This safari dress was designed by Yves Saint Laurent for the Spring/Summer 1991 collection, revisiting one of the house’s most important and enduring designs. Saint Laurent first introduced the safari jacket on the runway in 1967; by 1969 it had entered his Rive Gauche ready-to-wear collections and would be reworked many times throughout his career.
This example was acquired by Circa in Paris from a prominent YSL fashion archive sale more than a decade ago and bears no conventional designer, size or composition labels, retaining only an obscure archive or model number. An almost identical version of this dress was shown on the Spring/Summer 1991 runway, cut with long sleeves and styled with a wide woven leather belt. The design has exaggerated shoulders, short batwing sleeves and a sharply cinched waist. Tailored from substantial khaki cotton, the dress has an open collar with wide lapels and a button-through front finished with large tortoiseshell-effect buttons.
Four oversized patch pockets sit across the bust and skirt, each with a buttoned flap closure, retaining the utilitarian character of Saint Laurent’s original safari designs while exaggerating their proportions. Belt loops circle the waist, although the original belt, if indeed the dress had one, no longer remains. The garment is unlined.
In excellent vintage condition with no issues of any note. As an archive piece, it has no conventional size or care labels, so please refer to the sizing information below. Its a generous size and we estimate a good fit for up to a UK 12 or US 8 and bigger if you have a good waist measurement.
MEASUREMENTS
BUST - 44 in. (112 cm)
WAIST - 30 in. (76 cm)
HIP - 52 in. (132 cm)
LENGTH - 45.5 in. (116 cm)
Pickup available at CIRCA VINTAGE
Usually ready in 24 hours
F.A.Q.
Where can I find more information about this item?
We are more than happy to answer any questions you may have about any item on our site. Please get in touch at shop@circavintage.com or on +44 (0)20 7365053.
Will you set anything aside for me for my appointment?
We are happy to find anything you may be interested in from our website. We have an extensive offline collection. It is helpful if you can let us know your size, style, favourite colour to wear and perhaps your budget in advance of your appointment.
Do I need to bring anything to my appointment?
Clients may wish to bring modern shapewear. You may also wish to bring favourite footwear. We often find a classic pair of nude shoes work well when trying-on, or gold and silver. We have a huge variety of slip dresses and petticoats to complete your look. Many of which are also for sale.
Do you have a price range at the showroom?
Many of our lower priced pieces, under £250, are not available to buy online. Dresses usually start at £150 and go up to £30,000 for the very best archival couture. Our bridalwear price points range from £1,000 to £20,000.
Can I bring anyone with me to my appointment?
Yes but please do let us know the size of your party in advance.
Where can I have my circa garment altered?
We offer some alterations in house. Should you need alterations we cannot provide, we can refer you to one of our tried and trusted tailors.
Does Circa have an after-care service?
We will advise you on the best way to clean and preserve your vintage purchases and can also recommend trusted local dry cleaners.
Can I cancel my appointment?
You are free to cancel but please do give us as much notice as possible.
Where's the Circa showroom?
Our address is Circa Vintage, 87A Lansdowne Way London SW8 2PB
Upon arrival, buzz the 87A button on the gate or call us 020 7736 5038 to let you in.
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We offer free, secure, off-street parking but it is a tight squeeze – so do let us know in advance if you will be needing this and we can make sure that there is space available.
How do I get to the Circa showroom by public transport?
Underground:
Stockwell (7 min walk) - Northern and Victoria Lines
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Overground:
Wandsworth Road (13 min walk) – Westbound to Clapham Junction / Eastbound to Dalston Junction
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What is archival fashion?
Archival fashion refers to historically significant designer garments preserved for their cultural, aesthetic, or technical importance. At Circa, archival fashion includes couture archive pieces, runway garments, early designer work, and museum-quality vintage that document the evolution of fashion history.
How is archival fashion different from vintage?
While vintage typically describes clothing over 20 years old, archival vintage is selected for its rarity, provenance, and relevance to a designer’s archive or fashion history. Circa specialises in archival pieces rather than general vintage.