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Evening Dress

1960 (made)
Artist/Maker
Place of origin

The house of Dior was instrumental in the resurgence of Parisian haute couture after the Second World War. When Christian Dior died in 1957, his former assistant Yves Saint Laurent took over, until striking out on his own in 1961. As this evening dress illustrates, in Saint Laurent’s short time at the helm, he furthered Dior’s reputation for harmonious proportions and exquisite fabrics.

Saint Laurent designed this evening dress in crisp flowered silk organza. It features a mid-length sheath skirt with bubble-hemmed overskirt which, while full length in back, swoops up to above-knee in front, revealing the underskirt. An asymmetrical bow at the waist completes the look.


Object details

Categories
Object type
Parts
This object consists of 3 parts.

  • Evening Dress
  • Shoe
  • Shoe
Materials and techniques
Printed silk
Brief description
Evening dress of silk organza
Physical description
Evening dress in crisp flowered silk organza, collarless neckline and short sleeves on fitted bodice. Mid-length sheath skirt with bubble-hemmed overskirt, full length in back, but swooping up to above-knee in front, revealing underskirt. An asymmetrical bow at waist with frayed fringing at ends.

Pair of shoes covered in matching flowered silk
Dimensions
  • Shoe height: 14cm
  • Shoe width: 7.5cm
  • Shoe length: 22.8cm
Production typeHaute couture
Credit line
Given by Madame de Courcel
Object history
Baronne Martine de Courcel (nee Hallande), wife of Baron Geoffroy de Courcel (French Ambassador to London 1962-72).
Production
Spring-Summer 1960
Subject depicted
Association
Summary
The house of Dior was instrumental in the resurgence of Parisian haute couture after the Second World War. When Christian Dior died in 1957, his former assistant Yves Saint Laurent took over, until striking out on his own in 1961. As this evening dress illustrates, in Saint Laurent’s short time at the helm, he furthered Dior’s reputation for harmonious proportions and exquisite fabrics.

Saint Laurent designed this evening dress in crisp flowered silk organza. It features a mid-length sheath skirt with bubble-hemmed overskirt which, while full length in back, swoops up to above-knee in front, revealing the underskirt. An asymmetrical bow at the waist completes the look.
Bibliographic reference
Fashion : An Anthology by Cecil Beaton. London : H.M.S.O., 1971 no. 377C
Other number
104275 - Couture number
Collection
Accession number
T.127 to B-1974

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Record createdAugust 3, 2007
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