vintage silk gown 1970s Kaplan white floral maxi dress M Boho luxe wedding
Vintage silk gown with vibrant floral print by Richard Kaplan (son of Nat Kaplan), circa 1970s vintage.
The print is reminiscent of Gucci's flora pattern. Ideal as a summer wedding gown, couture quality.
A slightly creamy white silk twill, with vertical trails of various flora in bright red, aqua, marigold.
Leaves and vines are shades of bright greens, all with narrow black outlining.
Silk twill is fully backed in silk gauze prior to construction.
Sleeveless, with a slash front jewel neckline.
Darted bust, tapered fit to the waistline.
Soft pleating along the side waist, skirt area gently A- lines to the hem, with a corresponding front center slit from about the knees to the hem.
Silk covered buttons from slit to slit, save for a 2" spread at the waistline.
On seam slash pockets at upper hips.
Hidden Talon zip up the back center.
Tagged "16", there is an order number that dates this to 1974 (confirmed by the ILGWU label).
Condition:
There is a thread loop on each side waist for a belt, sadly there is not one- this explains the button spread as well.
There are a handful of very, very slight marks/ flaws, as follows:
left back upper back shoulder, just to the left of the zipper - very slight watermark to the outer silk at the back right shoulder blade - a couple of very small brown dots at the hem
Also- very, very slight straining to the back center seam just below the zipper- not at all structural, simply worth noting.
Absolutely wearable and museum- worthy, an incredibly rare piece of American couture.
"Richard Kaplan, New York" label, he was the son of the famed Nat Kaplan and this is the only piece of Richard Kaplan's that I've ever seen.
Nat Kaplan died in 1956, his wife Sylvia and son Richard did continue the business, with Richard having his own offshoot for a short time; the label font is identical to that of his father's label:
( http://vintagefashionguild.org/label-resource/kaplan-nat/ )
Measurements:
measurements do read as a modern smallish Large, but there is absolutely no give so this would be best on a Medium- please allow adequate room for movement
15.5" shoulder coverage
41" chest (20.5" armpit to armpit)
31" waist
45" hips
50" hem circumference
17.5" bodice length, 40.25" skirt length, 57.75" overall length