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Dress

1991 (made)
Artist/Maker
Place of origin

Black dominated fashion in the 1980s and 1990s. The little black dress was one of its key manifestations. Every fashionable woman was expected to have one in her wardrobe for parties and clubbing. At its most daring, the little black dress demanded a brave wearer with a toned body and/or supreme self confidence. Elasticated fabrics such as Lycra made the dresses hug the wearer tightly. Cutaway panels either exposed bare flesh, or were filled in with sheer fabric. Corset lacing emphasised the overt sexuality of the designs.

This micro-mini dress from Val Piriou's Spring-Summer collection of 1991 audaciously combines all these elements. The designer also produced swimwear designed along the same lines as her little black dresses.


Object details

Categories
Object type
Materials and techniques
Lycra and ruched elastic with net lace inserts
Brief description
Micro-mini dress in elasticated Lycra fabric and net, designed by Val Piriou, London, 1991
Physical description
Black micro-mini dress in elasticated Lycra fabric, very tight and very short. With ruched/permanently pleated elastic sheer net lace inserts in the sides and on the bra cups. Strategically placed solid fabric in otherwise sheer bra cups. Dress has double shoulder straps, stitched together mid-way and forming inverted Y's front and back. Corset lacing down the back.
Dimensions
  • Shoulder to hem length: 72cm
  • Waist (unstretched) circumference: 58cm (Note: Measured by Conservation)
  • Bust (unstretched) circumference: 88cm (Note: Measured by Conservation)
  • Underbust (unstretched) circumference: 68cm (Note: Measured by Conservation)
  • Across back width: 22cm (Note: Measured by Conservation)
  • Nape waist length: 36cm (Note: Measured by Conservation)
  • Nape hem length: 73cm (Note: Measured by Conservation)
  • Lower hip (unstretched) circumference: 74cm (Note: Measured by Conservation)
  • Hem (unstretched) circumference: 68cm (Note: Measured by Conservation)
Taken from garment on the flat
Production typeReady to wear
Marks and inscriptions
'VAL PIRIOU LONDON' (Label in garment)
Credit line
Given by Marie-Paule Piriou in memory of her daughter
Object history
Historical significance: Good example of an early 1990s super-tight, super-little, body conscious "little black dress"
Production
Spring-Summer 1991

Reason For Production: Retail
Summary
Black dominated fashion in the 1980s and 1990s. The little black dress was one of its key manifestations. Every fashionable woman was expected to have one in her wardrobe for parties and clubbing. At its most daring, the little black dress demanded a brave wearer with a toned body and/or supreme self confidence. Elasticated fabrics such as Lycra made the dresses hug the wearer tightly. Cutaway panels either exposed bare flesh, or were filled in with sheer fabric. Corset lacing emphasised the overt sexuality of the designs.

This micro-mini dress from Val Piriou's Spring-Summer collection of 1991 audaciously combines all these elements. The designer also produced swimwear designed along the same lines as her little black dresses.
Bibliographic reference
Mendes, Valerie. Black In Fashion. London: V&A Publications, 1999.
Collection
Accession number
T.225-1998

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Record createdFebruary 21, 2007
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