Opened in 1972, Paula’s Ibiza founder Armin Heinemann named the iconic island boutique after his 2 children, Paula and Mopitz. Reminiscing about the boutique’s early customers in 2017, Heinemann said, “At the very beginning, it was freaky people…Then, afterwards, as we became a little bit more famous, it changed of course and it became more international and more artistic people. People that came here from television or from the movies. Donna Summer, the famous singer, she was here in the 70's and got one of our first dresses. Then these people of course, they speak around. I mean Gaultier was here. Boy George. Freddie Mercury…We never made any advertisements, it was all word of mouth.” (Quote from interview by Matthew Whitehouse, at i-d.vice.com). According to Vogue magazine, “Cut loose and free, with deep V-necks or blouson sleeves, the items sold at Paula’s promised to turn even straight-backed upper-crust visitors to Ibiza into spirited bohemians.”(vogue.com/article/loewe-paulas-ibiza-armin-heinemann-interview). Although the luxury brand Loewe recently channeled Paula’s Ibiza in new collections based on the spirit of the original boutique, true vintage items from its heyday in the 70s and 80s are relatively rare. This circa late 70s blouse and matching fringed scarf set from Paula & Mopitz Ibiza a great example—fabulous, floral, flowing, romantic, and bold!
The blouse fabric is a large-scale roses floral print rayon crepe de chine, with a lovely sheen to it, in shades of golden yellow, pink, burgundy red, blue, and green. The scarf is a contrasting colorway (lilac, burgundy, white, and green, with navy blue fringe) in the same print. The blouse features amazing, extra-full long sleeves with fitted cuffs almost completely hidden by the volume of fabric. A narrow band of trapunto trim tops each shoulder, beginning at the high, stand collar that wraps over itself and fastens with 2 buttons and loops, and ending at the gathered shoulder seams. The blouse fastens with covered buttons from neck to hem in front. Below the collar in in back, the blouse has a center panel with vertical seams that open into a wide pleat from shoulder blades to hem, adding more flow and volume to the silhouette. The curved hem with side slits ends below the hips. The blouse is designed with an oversize fit in mind, but should fit loosely for approximately a modern women’s size medium to large (or men’s medium). Please check the measurements for more details about fit. The matching fringed scarf could be tied a number of ways, some of which I have shown, but it could also be worn as a head wrap--or alone, of course. This quintessential hippie or 70s bohemian style button-up blouse and fringed scarf set is in excellent condition, with no flaws to note.
Size: approx. modern M to L
Bust/chest: 48” flat
Waist: 50” flat
Hem: 56” flat
Length: 33” from back of neck to hem
Sleeve: 28” pulled flat, from shoulder to hem (shorter when worn draped over fitted cuffs)
Shoulder to shoulder: 15.5”
Collar: 15” when buttoned fully closed
Scarf: 60” long with extra 3” of fringe on each end, 7” wide
Label: made for you by Paula and Mopitz Ibiza, oversize fit but labeled women’s M
