Description
The designer Diane Freis is best known for creating feminine, boho style dresses in gorgeous, colorful print fabrics, beginning in the late 1970s and early 1980s. Many of these lovely creations are made of lightweight polyester georgette, but this unusual example of her work is made of pale gold polyester lamé in a floral, polka dot, and striped print. This semi-sheer polyester has a bit more body to the fabric, due to the metallic fibers. The pink and blue floral mixed with the off-white and black polka dots and stripes is a visually stunning combination! The blouson bodice has elastic at its top edge, trimmed with a wide ruffle. The 4 tassel-trimmed ties on the bodice can be worn several ways, including halter style, tank style, and strapless. A wide waist panel in the stripe pattern has elastic shirring gathering it into a puckered texture. The flaring, trumpet-style skirt is gently fitted from waist to hip, and flares out below curved hip seams (similar in shape to hip seaming used on late 1920s and early 1930s dresses). A narrower ruffle or flounce trims the skirt hem. The dress is designed to pull on, with no zipper or other fastenings. The lightweight poly lamé fabric is semi-sheer and unlined, except at the gathered waist panel. The metallic fibers in the fabric make it a bit scratchy, so if you are very sensitive to this, it may not be the dress for you. This fabulous Diane Freis print party dress from the late 1970s or early 80s is in excellent condition. Fit for a disco diva, it will shine on the dance floor!
Size: approx. S to M.
- Bust: 28 inches unstretched. Stretches up to 38 inches max. (Measured at elastic top of bodice).
- Waist: 22 inches flat, stretching up to 33 max.
- Hip: 46 inches flat at hip seaming. Best (loose) fit for 42 or smaller.
- Total length: 44 inches from underarm to hem.
- Underarm to waist: 10 inches laid flat, but will pull up a bit shorter when worn, due to blouson style.
- Underarm to hip seam: 12.5 inches.
- Waist to hem length: 34 inches.
- Label: Diane Freis Original, 100% polyester
- The dress is labeled as dry clean only, but I carefully hand-washed it with no issues.
