Rare 1980s Isabel Canovas Huge Pleated Green & Blue Silk Shawl Cape

Isabel Canovas worked for Christian Dior and Louis Vuitton before launching her own luxury accessories label in 1982. She had three locations - in Paris, New York and Madrid - and stayed in business for ten years. She used the very best materials France had to offer and her designs were known for their very 'French' look. Her pieces are now highly collectible.

I have had some of her jewellery in the shop in the past but not a piece like this. I have never even seen a piece like this before from her and suspect that is may have been a custom ordered piece. It is a huge textile that combines a vivid green with a bright blue. It has no closures to indicate how it was meant to be worn and I played with it on the dress form to shape it into a extremely dramatic cape. The green portions are done in a diagonal, jagged pleat and the outer blue parts are done in a crisp knife pleat. The inner square of blue silk has been left un-pleated. It was so large I could not take a photo of it laying out flat but you can see it draped over the dress form in the photo before the label shot and that should give you an idea of its immense size. I think you could even throw it on a bed for a bright pop of color. It really is that huge. An amazingly rare piece that for someone creative, will have endless styling possibilities. Excellent condition

The outer parts are a double layer of the same fabric. The entire piece appears to have been primarily done by hand. Extraordinary

88" and 86" (approx 7 and a 1/4 feet each way)

Modern Sizing Equivalent: OSFA

Item# DD3414

Reference Photos: (1-2) Cherie, Owner of Shrimpton Couture.  /  (3) Model in Isabel Canovas, Vogue, November 1985.

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

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SIZE GUIDE

Please review all measurements carefully. More often than not, vintage garments do not fit any size category exactly. If in doubt, measure a garment of your own that fits and is a similar cut and compare it's measurements to the listed measurements below.