1980s Jenny Lewis Elaborate Embroided Needlepoint Woven Silk Jacket

During the 1980s, Jenny Lewis "dazzled the fashion world with her exquisite Chinese silk gowns, elaborately embroidered, and her beaded and sequined dresses that recalled the gay abandon of the Twenties. Her rise in the fashion world was meteoric, and her shining creations, which cost almost as much as a Paris gown, were worn at the best parties in town. At the height of her career, Lewis starred at  fashion shows in Harrods, & Harvey Nichols attended by royalty the Governor of Hong Kong and the London elite. “My collection was the main focus of all the windows & my beaded dresses were the focus of the finales. I stood there thinking “these are my nights, my England,” recalls Lewis."

This is a gorgeous little jacket that is quite beautiful and intricate. The base of the jacket is a deep yellow silk brocade that has a secondary pattern woven through it. The edges of the jacket are finished with a different pattern in the silk brocade to create beautiful wide borders. On each sleeve these are separated by a third silk brocade ribbon and the edges are all finished with a black silk piping. At the front there is an elaborate square panel set on top of the silk. This is done primarily in a blue but has many other colors running through it to make up the design you see. This panel has been all hand embroidered by finely done needlepoint. The entire jacket is extremely well finished. I love how the sleeves are cut very wide and full and through the body it also widens as it nears the hem with little notches at each side. It closes at the front with frog knots made out of gold toned metal buttons and silk loops. Perhaps my favorite part of the jacket it this embroidered crane that sits at the front, divided into two parts on either side of the button set there. It is attached to the jacket so that is sits partially off the silk so has a bit of a 3D quality and feels like it might take flight at any moment. The jacket appears to have never been worn, or worn very little and is seriously gorgeous. Excellent condition.

Fully lined in a yellow silk that is hand set. It closes with metal buttons and silk loops that run down the front. Light padding in each shoulder. The easy cut should allow it to fit a range of sizes and just sit more over-sized on smaller frames. Appears to have been worn very little if at all. One tiny mark on one sleeve that is very faint.

Sleeves: approx 20" from natural shoulder
Shoulders: no true defined seams, the seams that are there are very dropped
Bust: to 24" flat across from side seam to side seam
Waist: to 25" flat across from side seam to side seam
Length: 27" from neck to hem

Modern Sizing Equivalent: XS-LRG

Item# S856

Quote credit from jennylewisartist.wordpress.com

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