REALLY STUMPED on this Dress ?

[LousyLoversVintage]

Ok so I really am clueless on this dress, is it even a dress? Its homemade the stitching looks that way at least

Beautiful fabric pattern and colors

But the cut and style of the dress i have never ever seen

I would guess 70s as the decade but I was so thrown when I saw it and thought it was a sheet of fabric at first lol no shape very large then I noticed the ties and the little light bulb started to Flicker.


Its Satiny fabric with what feels like
crepe purple sleeves not sure if they should b worn rolled like that.. a slight bell shape
So anyone with any ideas id love to hear them. It's such an interesting find

 

[denisebrain]

Could it be made of cotton sateen? https://vintagefashionguild.org/fabric-resource/sateen/

 

[LousyLoversVintage]

Yes i think out of everything its most similar. I have silk satin and polished cotton to compare it to. And im doubtful its polyester cotton

But its the style that I'm wondering about.

Its not a kaftan?
Its not really a kimono

I only found 1 dress with this same tie waist but it was a sweater dress and shorter from the 70s

 

[denisebrain]

There were some really rather ingenious designs in the 1970s where ties would create a custom fit. I had this dress a few years ago.

and I found this pattern for wrap pants online

I think I'd call yours a kaftan with a wrap tie waist. Can it be worn without tying the waist?

 

[LousyLoversVintage]

Thank you this helps alot! It can't be worn with out tying it. The straps would drag .

Now did some kaftan have sleeves? I thought they just had arm holes?

 

[Midge]

Hostess gown - kaftan-ish . Whatever it is, I think it's gorgeous and I love the fabric!

 

[LousyLoversVintage]

Ok this dress just got more confusing bc 8 found a button and a elastic band for it to go into. Now the dress waist won't tie like before. I'll post 2 different ways I am trying to tie it

How should it go?

 

[LousyLoversVintage]

It will only button in the fromt or back depending on which way you put it on I can't tell if I'm putting it on backwards or not bc of how its made

 

[LousyLoversVintage]

Button is on inside of the square is panels where the straps attach to the body

 

[LousyLoversVintage]

Ok so for any one following this i may have made a break through!

This dress ties and looks like a traditional tibetan style dress called a chuba or chupa. It doesn't have that criss cross bust area. But I'm sure chubas were made with just sleeves. I found a modern day site that makes them with sleeves and turtle necks. I guess the waist tie style is what is marketable

 

[Midge]

I see - I guess whoever produced this dress might have taken their inspiration there. It's a clever idea. I still think it was meant to be some kind of hostess gown - and definitely with the sleeves folded back to show the lining I think.
I have home-sewn dress, late 60s or 70s I think, that was a maxi originally (but my mom shortened it for me - this was early in my vintage wearing life!) that took obvious inspiration from kimonos in it's styling. If I'd left it long, it would be more obvious though. Made with modern synthetic fabric.

 

[The Vintage Merchant]

Now did some kaftan have sleeves?

absolutely.

I'd call it a hostess gown or caftan, too. those bell sleeves are fabulous!

 

[LousyLoversVintage]

Its been very trying lol . Its been so hard just figuring out which way to place it on mannequin. But I think I've got it. And it can be styled two ways. I really wish I could find who dropped this off at our thrift store, I want to know more about its history. Definitely homesewn. And mostly Likely kaftan style lounge wear. Would you believe its a size 2 to 4? I cant button it on myself . I'd love to put it on to see how it actually looks and wears.

The fabric is so pretty!

 

[LousyLoversVintage]

Thank you all the dress has exhausted me lol