Dior Homme suit I purchased on eBay.

How do we know this is actually a runway garment(why do I think of planes and airports here and not fashion shows?) apart from the anecdote in the description?

It looks like authentic Dior to me. You'll really be able to know for sure by the feel and fit of the suit. 

It does look like a genuine wool/silk blend as well, appropriately so for a 58/32 composition.

It's probably authentic OK, but is it really a catwalk piece as they say and it wasn't just bought in a shop? The stuff about acquiring it from a NYC fashion editor, perhaps to boost the price? I mean $800 for a second hand, nine year old suit.

Dior Homme runway pieces tend to be more expensive just because they are runway pieces.. The same goes for Prada, Yves Saint Laurent, and every other designer.. It's usually because they are distinct "statement" pieces that you won't ever see again.. They also jack the prices up just because they are name-brands. I have a pair of runway pants from Dior that I bought for $1100.. Truthfully, I've only worn the pants twice and have trouble finding appropriate occasions to wear them to.

 

As far as getting them straight off the catwalk, MikeDT took it literally and that's not what the guy meant.. The suit wasn't actually worn by a model in the summer '03 runway show, it's just the same suit as seen in the show. They were probably sent to this guy so he could write about them in a publication. When people say "I bought a runway piece" referring to high fashion, it just means that it's part of the runway collection from that season, and that's how people will remember it by. 

 

The reason the suit is selling for that much despite being that old is because the suit is specific to that season, so it's more of a collectors item for fashion junkies. The reason why the designer, Hedi Slimane, was mentioned, is because he was renown for his collections with Dior, which were sort of viewed as revolutionary in the high fashion world.

Edited by newyorknoir - 7/18/12 at 4:51am

Dior isn't the best example to use when comparing runway pieces to "regular merchandise" because if you go to a Dior boutique, almost their entire collection is from the respective runway season..

Edited by newyorknoir - 7/18/12 at 4:52am

My opinion is that, $800 for Hedi Slimane's work and Dior quality is reasonable, perhaps, great price. I doubt that it's kind of hard if you could find Dior by Hedi Slimane for lesser than $1000 anywhere else again. Especially for size 46EU, which is equivalent to 36R. I found that silver suit may be a bit too much, but for night club, as you stated, it will break neck. Good luck wearing that masterpiece, and hope you fit it by not having it alter.

What is says, to me it means something that was only worn by a model on a catwalk at a fashion show and is not generally available. Fashion designers often seem to do that. What you see being modelled at their fashion shows, doesn't really look like the garments you can actually buy. A place to showcase their ideas and concepts, ready for the forthcoming seasons.

The thing about being given the suit by a NYC fashion designer and the vendor's use of the word 'runway' in the auction title. I just don't know if that's true or not, AFAIK when you're selling something on Ebay, you have to be honest and truthful. I'm thinking the vendor might have been deceptive and misleading in their action title and description, to try and boost the price. There's no doubt that the suit is genuine Dior though, I think we've established that.

I'm just seeing it as it is, a nine year old second hand Dior suit, that appears to be in good condition for it's age. IMO $800 is too much money to be paying for this, I've seen various used Dior Homme garments in charity shops in the UK, for only a few pounds, What you call thrift stores in the US.
Edited by MikeDT - 6/17/12 at 10:38pm

you gotta wonder how much longer a suit from '03 will last.. I mean, what's it been doing for almost 10 years.. sitting in the guy's attic? I'm not quite sure why he'd be selling it now and not years ago. The conditions of how it was stored and handled are important. Price is more subjective, but I guess it's reasonable if the suit is in good condition (assuming it is authentic).