thea porter
1970s Thea Porter Silk Chiffon Caftan w Gold Metallic Thread Sequins & Chrstals
Of all of Thea's pieces, her caftans have come to represent Thea's work like no other piece of her clothing that she designed. They are one of the most coveted things that you can find by here. Elizabeth Taylor for example was a huge fan and a collector of her work. By the end of Taylor's life she had amassed a large collection that was auctioned off through Christie's in 2011. Most of the caftans in that auction fetched well over $20,000USD and that was ten years ago. Barbara Bach was photoed in a one of her caftans for the cover of the Sunday Telegraph in 1977 and that photo has become an iconic representation of the era. Each of Thea’s caftans were made by hand and no two are alike. This one appears to have never been worn and looks and feels like it is straight off of her shop rack. It is really an outstanding example of her work
The caftan is very beautiful and it is even better in person. You really get the sense of the work in it and the texture that the gold thread covering the caftan brings to it. The fabric is it made out of is a printed silk chiffon. This was then carefully pieced together so that the different prints on the fabric fall exactly where to she wanted them to in order to highlight the design and cut of the caftan perfectly , Metallic thread was the used to outline all of the print in the chiffon. So the entire caftan has a covering of the gold thread. The tiniest gold sequins are worked into the design throughout. Around the border of the front and back big colored crystals accent the border. On the edge of each sleeve and at the bottom front and back hem there is a strip of a deep merlot colored raw silk. Thea was known to hunt antique stores and markets during her extensive travels and use what she found in her designs. I think that the burgundy strips are some of her found antique fabrics. They just have a slightly older feel to them. The caftan is unlined and it has just the slightest bit of a semi-transparent feel to it. This see-through quality makes is very sexy despite the full coverage it has. The main front and back panel of brocade is backed in a gold feeling raw silk so that they are fully opaque. The backing there also acts as a touch of structure so it sits properly once on. A chiffon tie made of the same silk without the metal thread added loops though slits hidden on either side of the front panel to add some shape. If you decide not to tie it the slits are done along the seam and are not apparent. A very special piece and extraordinarily beautiful piece. Excellent condition.
Unlined and slips on to wear. Has a matching chiffon fabric sash that you can slip through slits at the front to add shape. It appears to have never been worn, or worn very little
WIdth: 60" side to side
Length: 55" neck to hem
Modern Sizing Equivalent: OSFA
Item# DD3734
This garment has been professionally cleaned, pressed and is odor free. Thoroughly checked over before shipping, it will be ready to wear upon arrival.
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