The Safari Salon | Vintage Gulinos Animal Print Caftan
A striking vintage Gulinos caftan that turns animal print into something far more sophisticated. Zebra stripes run dramatically down the center while scrolling baroque motifs, warm caramel tones, and deep oxblood panels frame the body like architectural borders.
The silhouette is wonderfully relaxed and sculptural, with generous kimono-style sleeves and a long column shape that falls away from the body. A high standing collar gives the piece a polished finish, while black-and-gold twisted piping traces the neckline and adds a subtle touch of glamour. The front zipper makes it exceptionally easy to wear without disturbing the strong vertical composition of the print.
This is the kind of vintage piece that can move effortlessly between worlds—worn as a dramatic caftan, elevated loungewear, resort dressing, or styled as a statement dress.
Why We Love It
There is something wonderfully fearless about this print. Zebra, ornate scrolling motifs, and rich burgundy should compete with one another, yet here they come together beautifully.
What really elevates the piece for us is the detailing. The black-and-gold piping around the Mandarin-style collar gives the caftan a finished, almost tailored quality that separates it from ordinary printed loungewear. From a distance it is dramatic; up close, those carefully considered details are what make it feel special.
Details
Label: Gulinos
Size: Vintage Small
Fabric: 100% polyester
Style: Caftan / hostess gown / loungewear
Print: Zebra and baroque-inspired mixed print
Colors: Black, ivory, caramel, gold, and deep burgundy
Trim: Black-and-gold twisted piping
Closure: Front zipper
Sleeves: Wide kimono-style sleeves
Silhouette: Oversized, long and fluid
Measurements
Shoulders: 21 inches
Pit to Pit: 24 inches
Length: 44 inches
The vintage size is marked Small, although the intentionally generous caftan silhouette allows considerably more room through the body. Please compare measurements with a similar garment that fits comfortably.
Condition - Excellent
Collector’s Notes
The great appeal of this piece lies less in label recognition than in the strength of the design itself. Gulinos is an elusive vintage label, and I have not found enough reliable historical documentation to responsibly attribute a designer biography or important clientele to it.
That actually makes the garment itself especially important when evaluating it. Here, the construction and textile do the talking: an extravagantly scaled mixed print, dramatic caftan proportions, a beautifully shaped standing collar, and twisted black-and-gold piping that was clearly added as a deliberate finishing detail rather than an afterthought.
Animal motifs became an enduring language of glamour in twentieth-century fashion, but the most memorable examples rarely rely on animal print alone. This piece mixes zebra with elaborate ornamental scrollwork and deep architectural bands, creating something closer to an interior textile or decorative panel than a conventional dress print.
It is a piece for someone who doesn't simply want vintage—they want the garment that people remember.