black gunne sax dress 1970's GUNNE SAX BLACK LABEL Romantic dress with Victorian floral print

Jessica McClintock had the magical ability, as a designer, to tap into every young woman's fantasy dress -a little bit of Victorian influence, some Renaissance touches, and add a splash of general princess vibes! Her oldest pieces were created under her 'black label', and this is one of those rare pieces. But, it's extra rare, because in my 25+ years of collecting and selling vintage clothing (with a penchant for anything Jessica McClintock/Gunne Sax), I've never seen one exactly like it. I have, however, seen the same dress in a different colorway (same print/pattern but with different colors used), which utilized a much starker palette, with mostly grey & black (no green). There's something very enchanting about the beautiful, soft green and other colors used, as it gives it a more Victorian feel.

The dress features a stylized scoop neck and high collar, with a lace panel adorning it. The full length sleeves are wide and billowy, then graduate to wide structured cuffs -also trimmed in lace- that feature zipper closures. The waist is set high, almost Empire style, and has two self-fabric side sashes for closure. The skirt is extra full, A-line shape, and ends in a wide ruffle, also trimmed in lace. Entire piece, with exception of main body of sleeves, is lined in a lightweight, ivory color acetate fabric. Overall condition is excellent, with little to no signs of wear and absolutely no flaws to note -please see photographs for full details. Only labels read 'Gunne Sax, Jessica McClintock, San Francisco' and the other label is no longer readable.