1960s Paola Sidoli Alta Moda Green Beaded Mini Dress

This gem-encrusted mini-dress was couture-made by Paola Sidoli during the late 1960s or early 1970s. Up close, the apple green cloth almost has the appearance of shot silk but we believe it to be a silk-wool blend and of an extremely fine quality. Cut to a mini-dress length but with a highly feminine fit-and-flare silhouette, it is fully lined in a tonal apple green silky-feel blend. The embellishments on this dress are exquisite; wide bands of sequins run around the wide boat-neckline and flared sleeves, dotted with flowers with petals formed of emerald green beads around a large central rhinestone. This piece fastens at the back with a long, tonal green zip and top hook-and-eye clasp. The original label reads “Paola Sidioli V. Tre Madonne 20-Roma”.

Haute Couture clothing which is handmade in Italy by members of the Camera Nazionale della Moda is known as Alta Moda. Very few Italian couturiers were well known outside of Italy during this time period with the exception of Valentino Garavani, perhaps the most famous of them all. Circa treasures garments such as these in our collection as they represent an important part of Italian fashion heritage.

This dress is in truly excellent vintage condition with no faults of any note. As it is couture made, there is no composition or size label so please check the measurements below. The fabric has no stretch. Our model (5ft 4in. / 163 cm) is a UK 6-8 or US 2-4 and this dress fit her well.

MEASUREMENTS

BUST - 30 in. (76 cm)

WAIST - 28 in. (71 cm)

HIP - 36 in. (91 cm)

LENGTH - 31 in. (79 cm)