2003 Zuhair Murad Haute Couture Beige Long-Sleeve Dress
Zuhair Murad is a renowned Lebanese fashion designer known for his romantic, intricate haute couture, bridal, and ready-to-wear collections, often described as glamorous and "dreamy". Founded in 1997 with ateliers in Beirut and Paris, his brand is a favourite on international red carpets, blending traditional craftsmanship with modern femininity.
This dress was ordered from Murad’s Spring Haute Couture 2003 runway presentation. The body of the dress is composed from a pale brown/ darker tan tulle. It has a body-hugging cut and a wide, collared neckline. Unlike the runway gown, at the request of the couture client for whom this was made, it has long, slim sleeves with button cuffs. The top is embellished with rows of tiny beads in glittering brown and sheer iridescent hues. These form the geometric diamond forms that glistened on the runway. The front of the dress is finished with rows of fabric-covered tonal buttons. The skirt is whimsically floaty, embroidered with dusty blue, brown and candy pink florals set against sage foliage and all detailed with tonal sequins. It falls to a floor-sweeping length with a kick-flare at the bottom. At the back of the gown, a train falls from the bottom of the back, embroidered with florals and diamond shapes. The dress is lined with a beautifully crafted, boned corset at the top and the skirt is lined with tonal silk, a layer of tulle and a final layer of milky coffee-hued satin. It fastens at the back with a hidden zip and the collar fastens with hook-and-eyes at the rear. The line of the zip is detailed with rows of beads.
This dress is bordering on excellent archival vintage condition. We have couture repaired a split seam at the back in the tonal silk layer and there are a few tiny holes in the bottom layer of silk closest to the skin - these are not noticeable at all when worn. Due to the dress being couture made, there are no size or composition labels and the fabric has no stretch. Best suited for up to a UK 10 or US 6 - please check our measurements carefully.
MEASUREMENTS
BUST - 35 in. (89 cm)
WAIST - 28 in. (71 cm)
HIP - 40 in. (102 cm)
LENGTH - 62 in. (157 cm)
TRAIN LENGTH - 72 in. (182 cm)
Pickup available at CIRCA VINTAGE
Usually ready in 24 hours
F.A.Q.
Where can I find more information about this item?
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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.
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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.
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We will advise you on the best way to clean and preserve your vintage purchases and can also recommend trusted local dry cleaners.
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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.