Paper Dress thumbnail 1
Not currently on display at the V&A

Paper Dress

1967 (made)
Artist/Maker
Place of origin

Paper dresses were a brief but spectacular 1960s sensation. They were cheap and disposable, and the simple 2-D shape was ideal for the bold graphic prints that were so fashionable.

Dispo's paper dresses were actually made out of a bonded cellulose fibre and could be washed. A Which magazine consumer trial found that they could be worn at least six times, while other brands would not survive beyond two or three. This printed design was based on an Art Nouveau textile in the V&A collections.


Object details

Categories
Object type
Materials and techniques
Bonded cellulose fibre ('Bondina') with printed design
Brief description
Short sleeveless dress of bonded cellulose, made by Dispo (Meyersohn & Silverstein Ltd), London, 1967.
Physical description
Short sleeveless dress of bonded cellulose printed with an Art Nouveau style pattern in green and blue.
Dimensions
  • Outer cape length: 102cm
  • Inner waistcoat length: 60cm
Style
Credit line
Given by Diane Meyersohn
Object history
Registered File number 1986/2141.

An example of this dress was in Althea McNish's collection and shown in the McNish exhibition at the William Morris Gallery in 2022.
Summary
Paper dresses were a brief but spectacular 1960s sensation. They were cheap and disposable, and the simple 2-D shape was ideal for the bold graphic prints that were so fashionable.

Dispo's paper dresses were actually made out of a bonded cellulose fibre and could be washed. A Which magazine consumer trial found that they could be worn at least six times, while other brands would not survive beyond two or three. This printed design was based on an Art Nouveau textile in the V&A collections.
Collection
Accession number
T.176-1986

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Record createdMarch 15, 2006
Record URL
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