This short dress was worn by Laurie Newton Sharp, buyer for Harrods, for a 1956 goodwill tour to America to promote the store. It was said that she was 'the sort of impeccably elegant woman who carries an invisible mirror with her'.
In an interview with the News Chronicle just before her trip, she said: 'I prefer to have a few good basic clothes, and then to be extravagant with hats and gloves. I would not buy a material that creases; or an accessory which did not match; or a colour which did not suit me. This means that when I begin to dress I can’t go wrong'.
This dress, by Christian Dior (1905-57), was originally designed in plain white silk. Mrs Newton Sharp ordered it in this expensive floral print to suit her colouring. The outfit was completed with a top-coat of plain pink silk satin.
Physical description
It is made from chiné rose patterned cream silk taffeta.
It is a one piece, strapless dress shaped and draped at the bust, fitted at the waist with the skirt flaring gently out. The drapes from the centre of the bust which are held by a long tagged ribbon bow flow into the skirt. It fastens at the centre back and is lined with white voile. The under dress which is stitched to the front of the bodice is composed of a waist length cotton net, heavily boned brassiere booking a the back to which is attached a white silk slip faced with net. The stiffened supporting petticoat is attached to the brassiere is composed of three rows of nylon stiffened flounces.
Place of Origin
Paris
Date
Spring / summer 1956 (made)
Artist/maker
Dior, Christian
Materials and Techniques
Chiné printed silk taffeta
Marks and inscriptions
"No label" The label was cut out as the donor wanted to present it as a London Dior
Dimensions
Circumference: 84 cm (bust)
Circumference: 63 cm (waist)
Circumference: 200 cm (hem)
Object history note
The dress was worn by the donor. The dress was French Dior, although it is reported in the News Chronicle as London Dior for publicity reasons, as she was the buyer for Harrods and on a trip to America to publicise the store.
The donor wore it with a coat of pink organza, not given, but described as simple and full.
Dior commended her appearance in the dress.
The original model dress was a plain white silk.
Descriptive line
Short strapless evening dress of chiné floral-printed silk taffeta, Dior, 1956
Bibliographic References (Citation, Note/Abstract, NAL no)
News Chronicle, May 7, 1956. 'She has the secret of elegance' by Jean Soward.
On Laurie Newton Sharp trip to America to promote Harrods. Mrs Newton Sharp is shown wearing this dress in the article with the caption: "For grand summer occasions - a rose print short evening dress, with its own topcoat of rose pink organza by Dior (London)".
"I am taking no furs and no jewels… And my clothes are all off-the-peg - Dior (London) and Horrockses; I doubt if one can do better"... "For the American tour, Mrs. Newton Sharp will take lots of dresses with matching coats or jackets.. all by John Tullis at Horrockses. The London-made Dior clothes, too, are mostly two-pieces"...
Jean-Luc Dufresne, Christian Dior: Museum and Garden (Editions Artlys: Musee Christian Dior, Granville, 2005), p.6
Plain cream silk MonteCarlo dress pictured, giving date and title
Miller, L., 'Perfect Harmony' in Wilcox, C., ed., The Golden Age of Couture: Paris and London 1947-57 (V&A Publications, 2007), pl.5.14
Undoubtedly, as Dior suggested, Spring/Summer was the season for prints. What differentiated couture prints from cheaper products once dyestuffs were readily available was often the number of colours used or the quality of the base fabric on which the colours were printed. Silk, cotton and rayon were the usual base fabrics for printing… The glorious floral concoctions of chiné roses made for the couture houses by Ascher, Ducharne and Staron, amongst others, epitomize this strain, and remained popular with couturiers till the end of the decade (pl.5.14 and see pl.2.15).
Labels and date
'Monte-Carlo' evening dress (robe du soir courte)
Christian Dior (1905-57)
Paris
1956 spring/summer, Ligne Flèche
This short dress was worn by Laurie Newton Sharp, buyer for Harrods, for a 1956 goodwill tour to America to promote the store. It was said that she was 'the sort of impeccably elegant woman who carries an invisible mirror with her'.
Chiné-printed silk taffeta
Worn and given by Mrs Laurie Newton Sharp
V&A: T.216-1968
Subjects depicted
Roses
Categories
Fashion; Evening wear; Textiles
Production Type and Product Note
Haute couture
Collection code
T&D
