Evening Dress
1950-1955 (made)
| Artist/Maker | |
| Place of origin |
Pierre Balmain (1914–82) opened his couture house in 1945. He had previously trained alongside Christian Dior at the couture house of Lucien Lelong.
Balmain became one of the most successful couturiers of his generation and by 1956 his house employed 600 workers, with 12 couture workrooms and in-house fur and millinery ateliers.
This youthful summer dress has a boned petticoat, showing the care given even to the under-garments.
Balmain became one of the most successful couturiers of his generation and by 1956 his house employed 600 workers, with 12 couture workrooms and in-house fur and millinery ateliers.
This youthful summer dress has a boned petticoat, showing the care given even to the under-garments.
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Object details
| Categories | |
| Object type | |
| Parts | This object consists of 2 parts.
|
| Materials and techniques | Silk grosgrain with embroidery, lined with linen, supported by boning and net |
| Brief description | Evening dress of silk grosgrain with petticoat of net, designed by Pierre Balmain, Paris, 1950-1955. |
| Physical description | Evening dress of silk grosgrain with petticoat of net. |
| Dimensions |
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| Production type | Haute couture |
| Gallery label | PARIS DRESSMAKING
The Paris dressmaking schools, Les Ecoles de la Chambre Syndicale de la Couture Parisienne, were established in 1929 to train a skilled workforce of petit-mains (seamstresses) for France's vast fashion industry.
In the early 1950s, a leading Paris house would typically employ between 500 and 850 staff in the different departments. In the flou workshops, dressmakers worked delicate fabrics entirely by hand to create blouses, skirts and dresses. Dior described them as having 'doigts de fées' - fairy fingers. [78 words]
[labels]
Dress and petticoat
Pierre Balmain (1914-82)
Paris
About 1950
Pierre Balmain, like Dior, worked for Lucien Lelong before opening his couture house in 1945. He became one of the most successful couturiers of the decade. By 1956 Balmain had 600 employees, 12 couture workrooms and in-house fur and millinery ateliers. This youthful summer dress has a boned petticoat, showing the care given even to the under-garments. [57 words]
Dress: silk grosgrain with machine-made Swiss embroidery
Petticoat: boned silk net and silk
Given by Mrs G. Sachet
V&A: T.349&A-1975(22/09/2007) |
| Credit line | Given by Mrs G. Sachet |
| Object history | Worn and given by Mrs G. Sachet, c/o Marks & Spencer |
| Subjects depicted | |
| Association | |
| Summary | Pierre Balmain (1914–82) opened his couture house in 1945. He had previously trained alongside Christian Dior at the couture house of Lucien Lelong. Balmain became one of the most successful couturiers of his generation and by 1956 his house employed 600 workers, with 12 couture workrooms and in-house fur and millinery ateliers. This youthful summer dress has a boned petticoat, showing the care given even to the under-garments. |
| Collection | |
| Accession number | T.349&A-1975 |
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| Record created | January 19, 2006 |
| Record URL |
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