Dress thumbnail 1
Dress thumbnail 2
+6
images
Not currently on display at the V&A

Dress

1909-1910 (made)
Artist/Maker
Place of origin

This stylish day dress was worn by Miss Heather Firbank (1888-1954). She was the daughter of the affluent Member of Parliament Sir Thomas Firbank and sister of the novelist Ronald Firbank. Miss Firbank was young, 'had beauty, and she adorned it with exquisite clothes of a heather colour to complement her name', according to Miriam J. Benkovitz in Ronald Firbank: A Biography (1970).

Heather Firbank bought her expensive clothes bought from leading couturier houses, such as Lucile, Redfern and Mascotte. In 1921 her wardrobe was packed into trunks and put into storage, where it remained for the next 35 years. In 1960 the Museum acquired well over 100 items from her wardrobe, which included dresses, costumes and a wide variety of accessories.

This collection forms an invaluable record of a stylish and wealthy woman's taste over a period of some 15 years, from about 1905 to 1920. In 1960 the bulk of the collection, supplemented by Ronald Firbank's manuscripts, bills and family photographs, was shown at the Museum. The exhibition was called 'Lady of Fashion: Heather Firbank and what she wore between 1908 and 1921'.


Object details

Categories
Object type
Parts
This object consists of 2 parts.

  • Dress
  • Belt
Materials and techniques
Linen, embroidered lawn, trimmed with embroidered net, lined with cotton, boned
Brief description
Linen day dress with embroidered lawn and trimmed with embroidered net, Great Britain, 1909-1910
Physical description
Linen day dress consisting of a bodice and skirt. With embroidered lawn and trimmed with bands of embroidered net. The bodice is bias-cut in one piece and continuously seamed under the arms and down the sides. The Magyar-type sleeves have open vents secured by braid and with domed and crochet-covered buttons, and a similar pair of vents decorate the bodice front An inner front panel and sleeves of lawn with open-work embroidery show through the vents. A sturdy cotton bodice lining has two bones at the centre back edges where it fastens with hooks and eyes. The dress fastens over this again with hooks and eyes. The skirt (cut on the straight grain) is long and pleated into the waist. A divided overskirt of four long straight panels is linked at the lower front and back by bands of boldly patterned embroidered net. The top has a stitched and pleated belt that conceals the waist seam and fastens at the back with hooks and eyes.
Dimensions
  • Circumference: 875mm (Note: bust)
  • Circumference: 661mm (Note: waist)
  • Width: 405mm (Note: Shoulder seam to shoulder seam)
  • Length: 1405mm (Note: front)
  • Length: 1645mm (Note: back)
Object history
The cut of this demure unlabelled dress is especially interesting.
Summary
This stylish day dress was worn by Miss Heather Firbank (1888-1954). She was the daughter of the affluent Member of Parliament Sir Thomas Firbank and sister of the novelist Ronald Firbank. Miss Firbank was young, 'had beauty, and she adorned it with exquisite clothes of a heather colour to complement her name', according to Miriam J. Benkovitz in Ronald Firbank: A Biography (1970).

Heather Firbank bought her expensive clothes bought from leading couturier houses, such as Lucile, Redfern and Mascotte. In 1921 her wardrobe was packed into trunks and put into storage, where it remained for the next 35 years. In 1960 the Museum acquired well over 100 items from her wardrobe, which included dresses, costumes and a wide variety of accessories.

This collection forms an invaluable record of a stylish and wealthy woman's taste over a period of some 15 years, from about 1905 to 1920. In 1960 the bulk of the collection, supplemented by Ronald Firbank's manuscripts, bills and family photographs, was shown at the Museum. The exhibition was called 'Lady of Fashion: Heather Firbank and what she wore between 1908 and 1921'.
Collection
Accession number
T.23&A-1960

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 createdDecember 15, 1999
Record URL
Download as: JSONIIIF Manifest