During the 1960s and beyond, English fashion designer John Bates designed visionary modernist clothing under the name Jean Varon. This graceful 1970s maxi-cape, with its ankle-grazing construction is tailored from wool in a russet red hue. The cape is gathered across the shoulders and forms a full, cocooning shape around the body. The cape has a collar and fastens with a coordinating tie at the neck. It has armholes in the sides of the cloth and is unlined. In excellent vintage condition with no flaws. Made in England, it has no size label so please check our measurements below. It is labelled as “pure new wool” and the fabric has no stretch. Being a cape, this piece is extremely flexible in size.

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 - 64 in. (163 cm)

WAIST - 74 in. (188 cm)

HIP - 78 in. (198 cm)

LENGTH - 55 in. (140 cm)

SHOULDERS - 20 in. (51 cm)