Vintage Apparel
1970s Gunne Sax Powder Blue Lace Prairie Maxi Dress – Jessica McClintock Cottagecore Gown Authentic
$257.28
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DetailsYES, we ship to the U.S.! 🇺🇸
This dress was originally made in the U.S.A. and, under current U.S. customs rules, qualifies for duty-free import when returning to the United States. In practice, similar vintage U.S.-made items we’ve shipped to American buyers have not been charged any additional duty on arrival.
That said, final assessment is always made by U.S. Customs and the shipping carrier, and they may occasionally apply sales tax, handling, or brokerage fees. Any such charges are the responsibility of the buyer. We always declare items accurately and do our best to minimize surprises.
Please see below for item description...
FOR SALE ☞
Vintage 1970s powder blue lace prairie maxi dress by Gunne Sax by Jessica, size 11 (XS/S), sheer sleeves, tiered skirt.
DESCRIPTION ☞
Authentic 1970s Gunne Sax by Jessica prairie-style maxi dress in a soft powder blue. This is the real deal, not a modern remake – the parchment-look “Gunne Sax by Jessica San Francisco” label and RN/content tag are present in the neckline. This dress has been passed down in one family since it was purchased new.
The dress is made from a light, semi-sheer poly–cotton voile over a full acetate lining, so you get that floaty, cottage-style look with enough coverage for wear. The colour reads as a very pale blue/ice blue, set off by creamy floral lace and satin-look ribbon trim.
Design details:
Wide scoop neckline with ruffled lace collar
Empire waist with wide lace and ribbon “cummerbund” panel front and back
Long sheer bishop sleeves with extra-deep cuffs, trimmed in lace and finished with working zippers at the wrist
Full, tiered maxi skirt with ruffled lace band and deep hem flounce for lots of movement
Center back nylon zipper plus attached self-fabric waist ties that knot or bow at the back
We have included a vintage snapshot for reference showing the dress worn as a bridesmaid gown when it was originally purchased brand new for a September 1976 church wedding.
Fabric content from tag:
Shell: 65% polyester, 35% cotton
Lining: 100% acetate
Trim: 100% nylon
Ribbon: 100% rayon
Label size is 11, but based on measurements this fits much closer to a modern XS – please go by the numbers, not the vintage size tag. If you would like more accurate measurements, please send us a message.
DIMENSIONS ☞ (approximately, taken flat and doubled where noted)
Label size: 11
Bust: ~13" underarm to underarm (about 26" / 66 cm around)
Empire waist (at tie seam on back): ~13" across (about 26" / 66 cm around)
Sleeve length (shoulder seam to cuff): ~28" (71 cm)
Total length (shoulder to hem): ~54" (137 cm)
Best for a very small frame / modern XS/S.
**Please be sure to check your own measurements and sizing prior to purchase! Keep in mind that vintage clothing can sometimes fit a bit different than modern clothing. Feel free to message us and ask questions prior to purchase! We are not responsible for any items of clothing that do not fit you 100%. This item is final sale!**
CONDITION ☞
Structurally wearable but with noticeable vintage wear and in need of some small repair – priced accordingly and sold as-is. Please read carefully and see all photos:
Overall: clean, intact, and wearable with repairs; fabric still has decent body for its age. Very slight spotting in areas along the back (one small spot along the zipper back is shown in pictures for reference)
Underarms: some yellowing/discolouration to both underarm areas on the outer shell.
Skirt: very small cigarette burn hole in the skirt (shown in close-up) – could be darned, patched, or lost in the fullness if worn as-is.
Waist seam: separation/tear at the back waist seam hidden under the tie belt; this area should be reinforced before heavy wear.
Lace: all lace present, but shows typical age-related discolouration and some fraying at edges.
Cuffs: zipper cuffs present and shown open/closed in photos; zippers appear functional.
Because this dress is nearly 50 years old and has lived in a few different homes over the decades, we cannot guarantee that it has always been in a smoke-free or pet-free environment.
Minor marks, snags, and general wear consistent with a 50-year-old dress that was worn to a real wedding, not stored in a museum.
A genuine 1970s Gunne Sax prairie gown with beautiful romantic details and real history – ideal for someone comfortable with light mending, a stylist, or a collector who loves true vintage character. Please see photos as the complete this listing. Color may differ slightly in real life from how it appears on your screen due to varying monitor settings. Have a question about this item or want to see more photos? Send us a message & we’ll get back to you ASAP!
ABOUT US ☞ Front Street Antiques is located in downtown historic Kaslo, British Columbia, Canada. We are a husband and wife team on the hunt for interesting items that inspire nostalgia and curiosity. As antique enthusiasts, we do our very best to describe any imperfections and quirks, as well as provide a general background on the item; however, we are not yet experts on every item in our store. If you have additional information about an item for us, please send us a message -- we are always grateful to learn more :)
PLEASE NOTE ☞ Item will be carefully packaged up and shipped within 3 business days of sale, often sooner. We combine shipping on multiple items -- please send us a message prior to purchase to give us a heads up & we will be happy to refund the difference upon shipping!
All our listings are considered collectible, retro/vintage (25+ years) or antique (100+ years) and are rarely brand new. The majority of our stock comes from auctions and private collections or estates. Items for sale may display some age related wear and/or minor flaws consistent with the date of manufacture. Photos are included as part of the description. Due to the age and nature of our stock, all items are sold "as is" and final sale unless damaged in transit and covered by insurance.
Items listed on our Etsy store are also available for sale in our physical store location and may sell at any time! Visit us in person to check out our wide variety of stock - 416 Front St. Kaslo, BC
We strive to earn 100% perfect "★★★★★" ratings from our customers. If anything about your transaction did not meet your expectations, please let us know ASAP and give us the opportunity to make things right before leaving feedback.
Be sure to check out our other listings on our etsy store: frontstantiques.etsy.com
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Shipping & Policies
Shipping from Canada
Processing time
1-3 business days
Estimated shipping times
- Canada : 3 - 10 business days
- United States : 5 - 14 business days
I'll do my best to meet these shipping estimates, but can't guarantee them. Actual delivery time will depend on the shipping method you choose.
Customs and import taxes
Buyers are responsible for any customs and import taxes that may apply. I'm not responsible for delays due to customs.
Payment Options
Returns & Exchanges
I gladly accept cancellations
Frequently Asked Questions
Do you accept returns?
For EU & UK buyers: As required by consumer law, most online purchases can be cancelled within 14 days of delivery. Certain exceptions apply (antiques, collectibles, items sold “for parts/repair”). Buyer pays return shipping, and refunds are issued only after the item is received and verified in its original condition.
For buyers outside the EU/UK (e.g. USA, Canada): All sales are considered final. Returns are not accepted except in cases of significant misrepresentation.Do you accept exchanges?
No. All of our items are considered one-offs and unique so we can not offer exchanges at this time.
Will I have to pay extra customs or duty fees if I’m in the U.S.?
We ship all U.S. orders using the most reliable method available. Some items (especially antiques over 100 years old or U.S.-made goods) are tariff-exempt under current rules. For other items, we do our best to pre-pay duties and include them in the price (known as DDP — Delivered Duty Paid) so what you see at checkout is what you’ll pay.
What does “DDP” mean?
DDP stands for Delivered Duty Paid. It means we take care of the customs paperwork and fees on our end whenever possible. That way, your package clears the border smoothly and you won’t get a surprise bill on delivery.
Are there any exceptions?
Most antiques and U.S.-made vintage items ship duty-free. European pieces are usually covered by DDP (we pre-pay the duty and build it into the price). Canadian-made vintage can sometimes carry higher tariffs; in those rare cases, we’ll either adjust the listing price to reflect the duty or let you know up front if extra charges could apply. If you have any concerns regarding tariffs, please message us prior to purchase and we would be happy to do some research for you!
What happens if customs does charge extra?
We’re transparent about this from the start: buyers are responsible for any customs/import fees that may apply. That said, we always do our best to minimize the risk by using the right codes and carriers. If you have questions about a specific item, message us before checkout and we’ll give you an honest answer about what to expect.
Why do some Canadian shops say “buyer is responsible for duty”?
That’s Etsy’s default policy. We go a step further by explaining how duties work and when we can cover them. Our goal is to make your buying experience smooth and surprise-free.
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