Label: Sun Fashions of Hawaii

Era: 1970s/1980s

Size: Extra Small

About the Item:

“I found this at an estate sale in Miami, at a sale hosted by someone who claimed she was a stylist for Sex and the City. She was very witchy and ended up reading my chart—it was an experience.” Cut in a fitted sleeveless silhouette with a dropped, flounced hem, this 1970/80s Sun Fashions of Hawaii dress features a bold, painterly tropical print in saturated blues, greens, and yellow. The cotton poplin–like fabric and ruffled hem place it squarely in the era’s resort-meets-disco moment—designed for movement, heat, and high-impact color.

About the Label:

Sun Fashions of Hawaii was a member of the Hawaiian Fashion Guild and appeared in a Vogue January 15, 1970 editorial photographed by David Bailey featuring Penelope Tree and Jean Shrimpton. In the spread, Tree wears a beach twi-piece set. The brand represents a period when Hawaii-based labels were promoted internationally as fashion-forward resortwear, known for bold prints and relaxed silhouettes made for a global, jet-set clientele.

Measurements:

Bust: 16”
Waist: 15”
Hip: 17”
Length: 54.5” 

Fabric:

Cotton poplin

Condition:

Item in in excellent vintage condition.