Jean Varon @ Vintage-a-Peel.co.uk

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emmapeelpants

Utterly beautiful and very unusual dress by legendary boutique designer (and Miss Peelpants favourite) John Bates for his Jean Varon label. I have dated it to about 1973 because that year he was showing several different styles of dresses with these mesh and sequined backs (including spiders webs!). Crafted in a heavy black jersey, it looks almost monastic from the front with its buttons going all the way from the crotch up to the high neckline. The sleeves are simply cut, and it's otherwise a very unassuming frock. Turn around, however, and you are met with an 'impact back' in an oval mesh window - covered in a gorgeous, almost art deco, sequined floral design. When I met Bates a few years ago, he told me to 'surprise' people with my clothes - and this dress would certainly do that to perfection!

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