Evening Dress thumbnail 1
Evening Dress thumbnail 2
Not currently on display at the V&A

Evening Dress

1979 (made)
Artist/Maker
Place of origin

Black jersey evening dress trimmed with beaded tassels, with embroidered shoulders. The high necked bodice, with a mandarin collar and puffed sleeves, is cut away immediately below the bust with a draped, wrap-around trained skirt "tied" to the bodice front and draping around the hips.The skirt extends into a long pointed train with a tassel at the end.

Accessorised with patterned nylon tights and black patent leather shoes with metal heel


Object details

Categories
Object type
Parts
This object consists of 4 parts.

  • Evening Dress
  • Tights
  • Shoe
  • Shoe
Materials and techniques
jersey, with beaded tassels
Brief description
John Bates, 1979
Physical description
Black jersey evening dress trimmed with beaded tassels, with embroidered shoulders. The high necked bodice, with a mandarin collar and puffed sleeves, is cut away immediately below the bust with a draped, wrap-around trained skirt "tied" to the bodice front and draping around the hips.The skirt extends into a long pointed train with a tassel at the end.

Accessorised with patterned nylon tights and black patent leather shoes with metal heel
Production typeHaute couture
Object history
The complete ensemble was donated in 1979 with a customised Adel Rootstein mannequin specially made for the purpose of modelling it. This was part of a group of 25 such total ensembles donated in 1979.

"When the exhibition was transferred to the V&A a television news-crew were much taken by John Bates's audacious black evening dress embellished by Frederick Fox's Bird of Paradise hat, beaded tassels, and a great deal of bare flesh." (Valerie Mendes in the V&A Album 2, p.280)
Production
John Bates couture collection for Winter 1979
Associated object
T.191-1980 (Ensemble)
Collection
Accession number
T.190-1980

About this object record

Explore the Collections contains over a million catalogue records, and over half a million images. It is a working database that includes information compiled over the life of the museum. Some of our records may contain offensive and discriminatory language, or reflect outdated ideas, practice and analysis. We are committed to addressing these issues, and to review and update our records accordingly.

You can write to us to suggest improvements to the record.

Suggest feedback

Record createdJuly 20, 2007
Record URL
Download as: JSON