The label on this dress instantly gives us a date of between 1970-1974. 1970 was the year Janice Wainwright launched her own label and after 1974 her labels only carry her name, not the full ‘Janice Wainwright at Forty Seven Poland Street,’ that we see here. These four years are what has forever defined Janice and her work. She excelled at these embroidered pieces and the Art Deco & Nature inspired designs that she loved flourished and became one of her signatures.

This dress is a beauty. Her caftans and dresses by her during this time period and of this quality are among my very favorites of her work. As mentioned above, it has the added bonus of having the coveted, earliest Janice Wainwright at Forty Seven Poland Street label. The dress is made up of a black stretch jersey that is set on angles tiers so it feels like it spirals around the body. This gives it a loose and easy feel when you wear it even though underneath it is a little more fitted then how it appears. The sleeves are cut out from the shoulders with an almost caped effect that also gives them a touch of a kimono feel. To further highlight the upper portion of the shoulder and sleeves she has added her signature embroidery. Rows of color mixed with giant embroidered flowers runs extensively across the top of the dress. I love that the panels in between the resulting rectangles of embroidery have been finished with a sheer chiffon rather then the opaque jersey. This means that you get a touch of transparency over each arm and it breaks the black of the rest of the dress. The front and back is cut in a high V that the embroidery accentuates. The body of the dress under the tiers is a long sheath with no real defined waistline. Silver sequins, each placed and sewn by hand, highlight the design at the top for the perfect finish. It is beautiful. Excellent condition

The inner dress under the tiers acts as the lining. It slips over the head to wear. The fabric does have some stretch.

Sleeves: 16" approx.
Shoulders: no defined seam
Bust: to approx 18" flat across from side seam to side seam
Waist: to 16" flat across from side seam to side seam
Hips: to 20" flat across from side seam to side seam
Length: 55.5" from shoulder to hem

Modern Sizing Equivalent: SML-MED

Item# DD3193

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