Vintage 70s Mexican Maxi Dress Red Cotton Hazme Si Puedes

This is an unused embroidered red cotton Mexican maxi dress made most likely during the 1970s by an artisan of Oaxaca origin.  The embroidery on this Mexican maxi dress features a variety of floral motifs and is quite dense - embroidery of this type would have taken considerable time to do.  The embroidery fills the yoke, both on the front and back, and is also down around the underarm area and at the centre front.  This Mexican maxi dress is made with short sleeves and has tucking positioned under the yoke, embroidered with little “people”, both front and back. I believe that this technique is called “Hazme si puede”, which translates to “make me if you can”.  The tucking bestows some fullness to the body of the dress.  The neckline is rounded and edged in white crochet “lace” detail as are the edges of the sleeves. This Mexican maxi dress is unlined and has no zippered openings, so simply fits over the head to fit.  

Age: 1970s

Label:  Zapata Made in Mexico 100% Cotton CA 05678.  The CA number is the Canadian importer’s identification number.  The importer was based in Toronto and is long since closed

Colour:  Red with embroidery in bright lime green, purple, blue, pink and white

Material:  Cotton

Sizing: No size is indicated on this Mexican maxi dress, however, I believe the this should fit a medium size - please note the following measurements for fit (note that this has to go over the head and is a loose fitting garment):

Shoulders:  14 1/2” across from seam to seam

Sleeves:  4”

Bust:  42” around, taken under the arms, but should fall loosely

Waist:  56” around, but should fall loosely

Hips:  60”, but should fall loosely

Length:  57” long, measured flat

Condition: This Mexican maxi dress is unused, part of a small lot of new old store stock that I’ve acquired.  It is in very clean condition, bright and obviously unused and well stored.

This is a very pretty Mexican maxi dress …..beautiful colours, wonderful summer dress!