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Dress

1960-1975 (made)
Artist/Maker
Place of origin

A brand or maker's name which includes the word 'original' usually implies at least some degree of exclusivity and care in the making. Combining this with nylon as the fabric of the garment may seem incongruous to later eyes, but at the time the dress was made, nylon was not necessarily seen as a down-market choice. The translucent varieties in particular were seen as a modern improvement on the more traditional sheer fabrics such as chiffon, and certainly more suitable for young children's clothing, in much the same way as the many washable fabrics developed in the 1920s and 30s.

The dress may well have been produced by an individual working on a small scale and selling privately or through one or two specialist retail outlets, rather than a commercially established firm.


Object details

Categories
Object type
Materials and techniques
Machine stitched and embroidered nylon
Brief description
Dress for a girl: translucent pale pink nylon; 'Louise Original' brand, probably made in the USA, 1960-75
Physical description
Little girl's dress of translucent pale pink nylon, resembling a ballet dress, with a strapped bodice and a gathered skirt with a frilled petticoat of self fabric. The straps and bodice front are trimmed with box-pleated frills of white nylon beneath pale pink ribbon, and within the two panels of the bodice front are machine-embroidered sprays of stylized flowers and foliage in pastel shades of pink, green, blue and yellow, worked using random-dyed thread. The garment fastens at the back of the bodice, originally with two buttons and stitched buttonholes.
Dimensions
  • Centre back length: 43.25cm
  • Centre back length: 17in
Marks and inscriptions
a Louise ORIGINAL
Translation
brand/ manufacturer's name
Credit line
Given by R Berry
Object history
Gift of Mr R Berry (RF 92/1002)
Subject depicted
Summary
A brand or maker's name which includes the word 'original' usually implies at least some degree of exclusivity and care in the making. Combining this with nylon as the fabric of the garment may seem incongruous to later eyes, but at the time the dress was made, nylon was not necessarily seen as a down-market choice. The translucent varieties in particular were seen as a modern improvement on the more traditional sheer fabrics such as chiffon, and certainly more suitable for young children's clothing, in much the same way as the many washable fabrics developed in the 1920s and 30s.

The dress may well have been produced by an individual working on a small scale and selling privately or through one or two specialist retail outlets, rather than a commercially established firm.
Collection
Accession number
MISC.1058-1992

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Record createdJuly 1, 2009
Record URL
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