Background & description
The Iona two-piece is one of our most unusual, romantic dresses - and is a bit of a mystery. Iona came to us from Scotland, and the interior tags indicate both that it is Scottish in origin and that it is 100% silk, but we do not know much more about its background.
Iona is an explosion of texture and pattern, and it clearly required a great deal of labor and skill to create, especially for the skirt. It is composed of two parts: an elongated bodice and a skirt. However, as shown in the pictures, the two components blend together seamlessly, so it appears to be a single garment when worn.
The main fabric of the set is gold silk dupion. While silk dupion is a textured fabric in general, this is more textured than most, with visible silk slubs throughout. (This is not a flaw; it is a characteristic of the fiber used to create the fabric.)
The asymmetrical bodice has a side zipper and corsets on the front and back. Only the back corset is functional, and only within limits, as the zipped closure really determines the fit. The bodice extends down to the thigh, and it features decorative frayed edging at the lower hem and a ruffle detail on one of the bust cups.
The magic of this set is in the skirt, which is composed of layer after layer of textured tiers on a silk base. There is so much variety in these tiers. Some are made of silk that was woven with a windowpane pattern in different sizes; some have ribbon embroidery and pearls; one is accented with wide rope-like piping; one is made of silk voile with a thin lace edge. The more you look, the more you find. The skirt reminds me of some of Vivienne Westwood's more unusual and lesser-known creations.
Iona is, for obvious reasons, a Vionnette staff favorite.
Size & measurements
Measurements must be used to assess whether a gown will fit you or can be altered to fit you. A gown can usually be made 2-3 sizes smaller without compromising the design, but can rarely be made more than approximately 1/2-1” larger without making major modifications. The approximate exterior measurements of this dress are as follows:
Bust of corset - about 34"
Waist of skirt - about 26.5"
It is approximately a modern size 4.
Condition
A few important notes:
1. The fabric and embroidery are not discolored. They have been tested and treated, and these are the original colors of the materials. Gold tones were significantly more common colors in bridal attire in that region in the '90s than they were in the US, and the tones in this dress are consistent with tones we routinely see when sourcing dresses from the UK.
2. The fabrics used in this dress are highly textured and are not intended to lay completely flat, so if you prefer a starched, pressed look to your fabrics, Iona may not be the right choice.
