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MartinMargiela S/S2008 PlungingVneck Bias Ruched Halter SlitDress Black Top

About the Item

From one of the last fashion collections by legendary Belgian artist Martin Margiela, this asymmetrical plunging V-neck black jersey pullover that he designed for Spring/Summer 2008 sports the original hand-sewn off-white blank rectangular label of French Maison Martin Margiela before its founder retired in 2009. As the brand's numerical "0-23" tag was being used during that decade since 1997, the ongoing limited use of the blank tag seems to distinguish pieces that continued to be produced in Italy. In a deconstructive style, our top partly appears to be a ruched halter dress that is positioned on a bias to add curves to shape the waist, while its open overlapping wrap skirt enables ample draping on one side that conceals a high slit from the waist down. Recalling the construction found in two of Martin Margiela's seminal collections--both the upcycled-split 1950s ballgowns of Spring/Summer 1991 and the draped "Stockman" garments of Spring/Summer 1997--this stretch-viscose garment is likewise a bodice with a split skirt, while its 3/4-length sleeves can recall Margiela's famous "shouldered arm bands" if worn with the chest fully exposed. The top has a wide deep front or back, along with the option to position the looped "halter" cord that hangs from the torso in one of several ways by pulling over the head. For example, if it is worn "backwards" with the brand label resting on the upper chest, the cord from the ruching can be pulled from the back overhead to rest under the arms, then tautly positioned with the loop around the back of the neck. These maneuvers can secure the front shoulders of the top like the Martin Margiela Spring/Summer 1997 "Stockman evening dress" in the museum collection of TheMet (see our pic of its smaller open-front black halter and half skirt with the neck strap worn this way.) No doubt the buyer will try more creative ways, too! A cape? A skirt? If worn as a dress like on our mannequin, the Italian-size 42 garment will best suit a U.S 2 or 4 given the tight strong ruching that does not allow for much stretch. You may be inspired by our other listing for arguably one of Martin Margiela's best Artisanal Line 0 pieces--a couture body harness from 1998--that, like his fashion manifesto, enables endless repurposing of button-down tops by enabling their inwardly-rolled collar to create a distinct plunging V-neck. The looped cord on our garment could function in a similar way. To explain our current competitive price, a similar Maison Martin Margiela "plunging open chest slinky" black midi dress also made in Italy of the same material content, but with an original retail tag sold on 1stDibs for $7,200.
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