“One of my finest occasions in the dress was rolling down a long flight of stairs at the home of Stephen Webster, the jeweller. I landed unharmed, like a big, black puffball.”

Artist Tracey Emin on her black taffeta ball gown by Vivienne Westwood

Photo by Scott Douglas

“…the form is as modern and almost as simple as a sleeveless undershirt, but the embellishment links it to Chanel’s passion for luxurious embroideries that she developed during her liaison with Russia’s Grand Duke Dmitri Pavlovich.”

Vogue’s European editor-at-large Hamish Bowles on one of his most exciting auction finds—a Coco Chanel creation from spring 1926, modeled here by 20s actress Ina Claire.

Photo by Edward Steichen, courtesy of Condé Nast

"In this dress is true glamour, it makes a woman a statue. It has become a classic.

Zandra Rhodes on this printed silk chiffon dress from her spring/summer 1974 collection.

Photo by Barry Lategan

“Inspired by rotary car wash brushes. I chose The Carwash Gown from my spring/summer 2007 collection because of its sinister structural beauty.”

Giles Deacon

Photo by Chris Moore

"It was only the third collection I had done, but the buzz was wild. Kate Moss decided to do the show at the last minute and suddenly we had all the makings of our first cult item, mad color, the print done on a friend’s computer in about half an hour, the design inspired by a pillowcase, with a pleat that sent the whole thing squiffy and lop-sided... What fun.”

Luella Bartley on this cotton/car paint dress from her spring/summer 2001 collection.

Photo by Chris Moore