c.1980 Spectacular Michaele Vollbracht Bead Dress & Coat

This set is so spectacular that it really belongs in a museum and would certainly be the show piece of any collection or exhibit focusing on Vollbracht's work. The gown part of the set is stunning. It is made of a fine silk with a hand painted design of red and a pale mustard that depicts huge over sized leaves covering its surface. It is cut to fall loosely around the waist and just simply drape over the wearer. The way it falls once on a real girl is just wonderful, that extensive bead work that covers the entire dress and follows the pattern on the silk, gives the fabric a bit of weight and this really makes the way it falls once on quite wonderful. All the bead work is done by hand and covers the entire dress. The beads are little red tube beads and this gives the dress a subtle sparkle in the light as well. Over this is an amazing quilted kimono-esque coat that is really more of a cape in some ways. When off and flat it is a rectangular shape (see the photos provided), consisting of a single panel of fabric at the back and two at the front. Once on, this cut allows it to drape and fold beautifully to create the most interesting shape. It too has that same huge print over the surface and the fabric was also quilted for an added, extra dimension and texture. The pieces look amazing together and are also very versatile as they can be split up and worn separately. Excellent overall condition

The dress is unlined and slips on the wear. Here and there are light storage spots and some beads are missing but these are very minor and when on none of these areas stand out or detract  - it presents as excellent. The coat is quilted and the inside is a solid red of the same cotton fabric as the exterior. It has no closures. The dress is hand finished and the fabric of both pieces are hand painted.

I have marked it suitable for a variety of frames as I feel on a smaller frame it just drapes more and is not meant to be super fitted, it just has more of a caftan feel. The coat is one size fits all.

Dress
Sleeves: approx. 24"
Shoulders: no defined seam
Bust: no true defined side seams
Waist: 17-19" flat across from side seam to side seam
Hips: to 27" flat across from side seam to side seam
Bodice: 17" from neck to waist
Skirt: 42" from waist to hem

Kimono
Width: 60" across from top to bottom
Length: 39.5" from neck to hem

Modern Sizing Equivalent: SML-LRG

Item# DD2080

This garment has been professionally cleaned, pressed and is odor free. Thoroughly checked over before shipping, it will be ready to wear upon arrival.