Spectacular c.1972 La Mendola Brilliant Pink, Orange, Tangerine & Black Silk Chiffon Caftan w Floor Length Cape Sleeves Sleeves

The Shrimpton Couture Archives

• The pair behind the La Mendola label met in Rome in 1960 and started their business making dresses and selling them one by one, piece by piece. In 1967 they opened a shop. They soon had a Hollywood following and stars like Elizabeth Taylor and Rita Hayworth become regular clients who were buying and even wait-listing for pieces as they were produced. They made all of the pieces in their ateliers and designed their own prints. Clients would be sent swatches of the season's available prints and then they would place their orders. They were highly sought after by the jet set crowd. Their pieces travelled extremely well and the colours they used were beautiful. Their atelier closed in 1974.
• In the past I had one of their dresses come into the shop and the original owner of that dress had kept the fabric swatch options for the 1972 season along with her correspondence with the atelier. They named all of their prints. I kept a digital copy of it which I have added here and it is similar to the "New Orleans" print in those swatches.
• They used very high end chiffon and jersey for their pieces and this dress is made from one of those silk chiffon options.
• These fabrics were prized for their ability to take colour and print and the caftan is as bright and vibrant as when it was first made. 
• This was almost certainly a custom piece and is most likely a one-of-a-kind.
• The brilliant colours in the design combine pink, black and two shades of orange. They are absolutely gorgeous and it is even better in person then how it photoed.
  
• The neck line is scooped and then everything simply falls from the shoulders. It is generously cut across the bodice and if you are smaller it will just drape more. It widens out over the waist and hips in a true kaftan feel. This makes it incredibly easy to fit.
• The sleeves are the absolute star of the show beyond the elaborate colour of the dress. A caped sleeve starts at the top of each shoulder and is attached partway around the upper part of the arm opening. These fall over the top of your arm and then widen out to cascade all the way to the hem. They are open underneath so that they can catch the slightest bit of air and billow out around and behind you when you move. It is the perfect touch of drama added to an already outstanding dress.
  
• The printed top chiffon layer through the body sits over a orange silk. All of the edges are hand rolled and finished by hand. It would be astonishing to know how many hours this took.
  
• The dress is fully lined through the body in an orange silk and the inner lining closes with a back zipper. The silk chiffon part closes over that with a series of tightly spaced silk covered buttons and loops. Hand finished throughout to demi-couture standards. The photo of the swatches is from the previous dress I had in the shop at one point and the actual swatch card is not included. The very loose and generous cut should allow it to fit a range of sizes. On a smaller frame it will just drape more.
• There is no size tag present so please go by the measurements listed below.
• Excellent condition.
  

Shoulders:  to 18" across and will drop off shoulder on a smaller frame
Bust: to 26" flat across from side seam to side seam
Inner waist-hips: to 27" flat across from side seam to side seam
Total length: 64" from top of shoulder to hem and the sleeves extend a few inches past the hem

Modern Sizing Equivalent: SML-XL

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