Dress
2001 (made)
| Artist/Maker | |
| Place of origin |
Comme des Garçons, French for "like boys", is a Japanese fashion label headed by Rei Kawakubo, who is also its sole owner. The label was founded by Kawakubo in Tokyo in 1969 and established as a company in Japan in 1973, becoming successful there through the 1970s. Kawakubo’s early collections, like Issey Miyake’s, incorporated elements of traditional Japanese work-wear. Later collections were more radical and Comme des Garçons's 1981 debut show in Paris created a storm of controversy for its predominate use of black and distressed garment surfaces. Throughout the 1980s, Comme des Garçons's clothes were frequently monochromatic, asymmetrical and draped over the body, often featuring tears, holes and frayed edges.
Kawakubo has no formal training as a tailor, relying on the ability of pattern-makers to interpret her austere design concepts. In this dress she contrasts a body-hugging silhouette with ragged edges and a skirt that appears to have fallen off the hips to expose the petticoat underneath.
Kawakubo has no formal training as a tailor, relying on the ability of pattern-makers to interpret her austere design concepts. In this dress she contrasts a body-hugging silhouette with ragged edges and a skirt that appears to have fallen off the hips to expose the petticoat underneath.
Object details
| Categories | |
| Object type | |
| Materials and techniques | Cotton and polyester |
| Brief description | Red and white patterned cotton dress, Rei Kawakubo for Comme des Garçons, 2001, Japan. |
| Physical description | This sleeveless red and white patterned cotton dress features wide shoulder straps and ruching over the chest. Long and slim-fitting, this dress is designed to look like a separate bodice and skirt with the skirt appearing to have fallen off the hips. The red and white patterning therefore stops at the midriff where the dress consists only of plain white cotton lined with a band of camouflage-print material both at the top and bottom of the midriff area. The same plain white cotton appears at the hem. |
| Dimensions |
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| Production type | Ready to wear |
| Gallery label | Kawakubo's early collections, like Miyake's, incorporated elements of traditional Japanese workwear. Later collections were more radical and included asymmetrical tailoring, oversized shapes and distressed garment surfaces. In this dress she contrasts a body-hugging silhouette with ragged edges and a skirt that appears to have fallen off the hips to expose the petticoat underneath. |
| Credit line | Given by the maker |
| Summary | Comme des Garçons, French for "like boys", is a Japanese fashion label headed by Rei Kawakubo, who is also its sole owner. The label was founded by Kawakubo in Tokyo in 1969 and established as a company in Japan in 1973, becoming successful there through the 1970s. Kawakubo’s early collections, like Issey Miyake’s, incorporated elements of traditional Japanese work-wear. Later collections were more radical and Comme des Garçons's 1981 debut show in Paris created a storm of controversy for its predominate use of black and distressed garment surfaces. Throughout the 1980s, Comme des Garçons's clothes were frequently monochromatic, asymmetrical and draped over the body, often featuring tears, holes and frayed edges. Kawakubo has no formal training as a tailor, relying on the ability of pattern-makers to interpret her austere design concepts. In this dress she contrasts a body-hugging silhouette with ragged edges and a skirt that appears to have fallen off the hips to expose the petticoat underneath. |
| Collection | |
| Accession number | T.4-2005 |
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| Record created | July 10, 2007 |
| Record URL |
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