ARCHIVE - 1973 Jean Varon Documented Sheer Cobweb Bust Spider Beaded Dress
Fine and rare Jean Varon spider cobweb dress which can be dated to the designer's 1973 collection. We have featured a very famous dress with the same cobweb design from the September issue of British Vogue, also part of Circa's collection. The skirt section is fashioned from a sleek black jersey with a slight sheen and falls in a straight manner to the calf. It has a slit at the rear for ease of movement. The detail across the halter-neck top of this dress is incredible; tailored from sheer black mesh, it is embroidered all-over with black cobwebs and glistening sequins. The bust is shaped and each breast forms the centre of a cobweb, detailed in the centre with a spider cleverly crafted from high-shine black beads to form a body, head and legs which move with the wearer. The embroidered tulle panels with applications of beads and sequins forming spiders crawling around cobwebs and has made this collection the most prized among collectors. They rarely come up for sale. The dress is unlined and fastens at the back with a hidden tonal zip and hook-and-eye.
In very good to excellent archival vintage condition and worthy of museum acquisition. The skirt has a tiny bit of stretch but the waistline and mesh top do not. There are some sequins missing at the rear from the row that trims the mesh. It is a best fit for size UK 6 or US 2 on account of the small waist but is generous in the hips.
Notes on Designer: John Bates was a highly regarded British designer who began his label Jean Varon in 1959. Famous for sheer panels, short hemlines and bare midriffs, he was one of the pioneers of the miniskirt and trousers for women. He chose the name Jean Varon in order to appear to be French and also because it meant he was the only designer under the letter 'V' in the rag trade book. In 1965, he designed outfits in Op Art prints for Diana Rigg for her role as Emma Peel in The Avengers. John Bates, along with Ossie Clark, Gina Fratini and Bill Gibb, pioneered a romantic and dramatic mood in fashion in the early 1970s.
MEASUREMENTS
BUST - 32 in. (81 cm)
WAIST - 24 in. (61 cm)
HIP - 42 in. (107 cm)
LENGTH - 47 in. (119 cm)
Pickup currently unavailable at CIRCA VINTAGE
F.A.Q.
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Clients may wish to bring modern shapewear. You may also wish to bring favourite footwear. We often find a classic pair of nude shoes work well when trying-on, or gold and silver. We have a huge variety of slip dresses and petticoats to complete your look. Many of which are also for sale.
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What is archival fashion?
Archival fashion refers to historically significant designer garments preserved for their cultural, aesthetic, or technical importance. At Circa, archival fashion includes couture archive pieces, runway garments, early designer work, and museum-quality vintage that document the evolution of fashion history.
How is archival fashion different from vintage?
While vintage typically describes clothing over 20 years old, archival vintage is selected for its rarity, provenance, and relevance to a designer’s archive or fashion history. Circa specialises in archival pieces rather than general vintage.