1970s Thea Porter Cotton Woven Print Maxi Dress with Lace Overlay

This maxi-dress is a classic Thea Porter piece from her ready to wear line. During the 1960s and 1970s, Porter travelled the world and introduced her lavish take on bohemia to the London celebrity set. Taking its lead from kaftan designs, this V-neck maxi-dress is crafted from semi-sheer cotton which is machine embroidered all over with geometric shapes in off-white and ruby red. It is tailored to an empire-line silhouette with gentle pleats falling from under the bust. There are wide panels of white lace that form stripes across the skirt and sleeves. The oh-so-’70s bell-sleeves are formed with puff-shoulders and elastic cuffs. The dress fastens at the rear with a hidden black zip.

This piece is in truly excellent vintage condition with no fade or flaws of any note. It has been very carefully cleaned by the owner of Circa, an expert in vintage cleaning and restoration and in addition, new elastic was added to the sleeves. The original label is stitched with the Thea Porter flower-embellished brand name in green thread and we can date this piece to the Fall 1971 collection. Due to its age, there is no fabric label but the garment is definitely cotton gauze or a cotton blend. The size label reads UK 12 but vintage sizes vary hugely so please check our measurements below. The fabric does not have any stretch to it. We feel it would be better suited in modern sizes up to a UK 10 or US 6.

MEASUREMENTS

BUST - 32 in. (81 cm)

WAIST - 36 in. (91 cm)

HIP - 56 in. (142 cm)

LENGTH - 51 in. (130 cm)