Spectacular c.1972 La Mendola Brilliant Pink, Orange, Tangerine & Black Silk Chiffon Caftan w Floor Length Cape Sleeves Sleeves designer-gina-frattini The cut of the coat

The cut of the coat is simple with her classic

What is remarkable it that the entire upper portion of the dress has been formed into vertical

If you change the inner corset or remove that you could probably get it at least another inch through the bust and the waist

(Photos by Erin Leydon) Click here to see the full column >  /  (4) Brooke Shields in Norma Kamali

At the time she was "the only black person designing and marketing her own line" according to that Ebony article

Spectacular c.1972 La Mendola Brilliant Pink, Orange, Tangerine & Black Silk Chiffon Caftan w Floor Length Cape Sleeves Sleeves designer-gina-frattini The cut of the coatThe Shrimpton Couture Archives The pair behind the La Mendola label met in Rome in 1960 and started their business making dresses and selling them one by one, piece by piece. In 1967 they opened a shop. They soon had a Hollywood following and stars like Elizabeth Taylor and Rita Hayworth become regular clients who were buying and even wait listing for pieces as they were produced. They made all of the pieces in their ateliers and designed their own