Dress
- Place of origin:
- Date:
- Artist/Maker:
Yves Saint Laurent, born 1936 - died 2008 (designer)
Christian Dior (designed for)
- Materials and Techniques:
- Museum number:
- Gallery location:
- Image in copyright
This dress was designed by Yves Saint Laurent (1936-2008) for the House of Christian Dior in 1959. Saint Laurent was Dior's design assistant from 1955 and was only 21 when he succeeded Dior, who died in 1957.
Saint Laurent's youthful designs were important in securing the future of the house, and taking it into the next decade. He quickly established his own style and moved away from the billowing skirts and nipped-in waist favoured by Christian Dior. He went on to develop practical and comfortable garments, and would be one of the first couturiers to design trousers for women.
Physical description
Cocktail dress of grey flannel with buttons up the front.
Place of Origin
Paris, France (made)
Date
1959-1960 (made)
Artist/maker
Yves Saint Laurent, born 1936 - died 2008 (designer)
Christian Dior (designed for)
Materials and Techniques
Flannel
Marks and inscriptions
'[1?] 6412'
Descriptive line
Cocktail dress of grey flannel, designed by Yves Saint Laurent for Christian Dior, Paris, 1959-1960
Bibliographic References (Citation, Note/Abstract, NAL no)
HU001948 RM © Hulton-Deutsch Collection/CORBIS Christian Dior Wool Dress http://www.corbisimages.com/ A model catches the attention of passers-by as she poses in Maddox Street, London, wearing a gray, wool, puffed, dress on show as part of Christian Dior's collection for the winter of 1959. Image: © Hulton-Deutsch Collection/CORBIS Date Photographed: September 2, 1959 Location Information: London, England, UK
This image shows the dress modelled with black leather gloves, a black hat and white collar or jewellery. The dress was previously thought dated as 1957/8.
Exhibition History
The Golden Age of Couture. Paris and London 1947 - 1957 (Victoria and Albert Museum 22/09/2007-06/01/2008)
Labels and date
[Tailoring section]
Dress
Christian Dior (1905-57)
Paris
1957-8 autumn/winter
This dress is from La Ligne Fuseau, Dior's last collection, and may well have been designed by Yves Saint Laurent, who contributed 35 garments to the collection. Saint Laurent was design assistant from 1955 and succeeded Dior on his death. The dress's distinctive silhouette was echoed in the same year by a checked dress by British ready-to-wear designer Mary Quant. [see T.102-1976]
Flannel
V&A: T.445-1988
Hat
Christian Dior
Velvet
Worn by Mrs Opal Holt and given by Mrs Haynes and Mrs Clark
V&A: T.159-1982 [22/09/2007-06/01/2008]
Production Note
Autumn / Winter 1959-1960
Materials
Flannel
Categories
Fashion; Day wear; Women's clothes
Production Type
Haute couture
Collection code
T&F
