Fashion Blogs

This is my first piece of Koos Van Den Akker and yes that was the sound of a cherry popping!  I almost flipped when I saw this piece while I was strolling through a festival, yes a festival.  That’s just it you have no idea what you’ll find wherever you may be but I guarantee you’ll find it if you know what you are looking for…    Koos was born in The Hague, Netherlands and at a very early age taught himself how to sew.   His impressive portfolio allowed him to enroll at the age of 15 to the Royal Art School.  Koos then went to Paris and started doing window displays for the famous Galleries Lafayette.  In 1961 he enrolled in L’Ecole Guerre Lavinge, which was located in the same building as Christian Dior workrooms.  Every year Dior offered the most gifted students an apprenticeship and in 1963, Koos was selected.  It was at Dior that he came to understand the fine points and technicalities of sewing.  After 3 years at Dior, and learning every detail about creating beautiful clothes, Koos returned to Holland to start his own business.  In 1965, Koos opened his first salon in The Hague.  In 1968 after his father dies he decides to come to the USA.  He has dressed everyone from: Cher, Elizabeth Taylor, Diahann Caroll, Barbara Walters, Chita Rivera, Brooke Shields, Isabella Rosselini & Lauren Hutton.  He sold his high end pieces to Bonwit Teller, Saks Fifth Avenue, Marshall Fields, Bloomingdale’s and Frost Brothers.  So with a long resume like this you know why I flipped when I saw the label and not just any label but his Couture label to boot!   This is one fancy elegant dress with a mixture of fabrics and textures.   It is indeed a piece of art and you might just try looking at his pieces that are for sale on 1stDibs…..  I’m Daniel Troppy your vintage luxury curator!