the look

a striking 1970s midi dress by the american label paganne by gene berk, in signed printed jersey. the print is a figural art deco fantasy of elegant 1920s women in draped gowns, holding fans and ropes of beads, worked in orchid pink, olive, chartreuse, and white, with the "paganne" signature printed right into the design near the hem. it has a high round neck, long sleeves, a straight midi silhouette, and a back zip. gene berk's paganne label built its following in the late 1960s and 70s on bold screen-printed jersey, deco and nouveau revival scenes in painterly color, and it was often called an affordable american answer to pucci. the figural deco-lady print is one of the label's most collectible formats, and the signature worked into the cloth is the tell to look for.

details

• era: 1970s
• designer: paganne by gene berk
• origin: unknown
• design: long-sleeve midi shift dress in printed stretch jersey with a high round neckline, set-in sleeves, and a metal back zip. figural art deco print of stylized 1920s women with fans, draped gowns, and beaded ropes in orchid pink, olive, chartreuse, and white, with the "paganne" signature printed into the design near the hem. machine sewn. materials and percentages: content tag not visible, fiber content unknown; paganne's signature fabric is qiana, a silk-like nylon jersey, and this has that fine jersey hand and drape.
• condition: excellent: pristine, essentially unworn. no visible stains, holes, runs, or fading; the jersey is bright and sound and the print is crisp.
• size & fit: tagged size 12 (vintage). best modern fit estimate is women's us 8 to 10 / medium, with give from the stretch jersey. semi-fitted straight shift; go by the flat measurements for fit.
• flat measurements: bust 19 in flat, waist 18 in flat, hips 20 in flat, shoulder 15.5 in, sleeve 23.5 in, length 41 in