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

Evening Dress

1957 (made)
Artist/Maker
Place of origin

This dress was designed by Antonio del Castillo (1908–84) for the couture house of Lanvin in 1957. It was embroidered by the house of Lesage, a famous French embroidery firm. The design was created by François Lesage (b.1929), who inherited the business in 1949, and was inspired by the embroidery on 18th century waistcoats.

Gowns that were to be embroidered were usually simply cut, like this one, to show off their sumptuous surface detail.


Object details

Categories
Object type
Materials and techniques
Silk with chenille and diamante embroidery
Brief description
Evening dress of embroidered silk zibeline, designed by Antonio Castillo for Lanvin with materials manufactured by Staron, Paris, 1957.
Physical description
White silk zibeline evening dress, with shoulder straps, fitted bodice, tulip-shaped skirt with slight gathering. Embroidered in vibrant purple chenille and diamante in a formal floral design.
Dimensions
  • Waist circumference: 67cm
  • Bust circumference: 84cm
  • Skirt length: 99cm
  • Footprint diameter: 84cm
  • Weight: 1.5kg
  • Centre back length: 124.5cm
Production typeHaute couture
Gallery label
Evening dress Antonio del Castillo (1908-84) for Lanvin Castillo Paris 1957 Lesage's embroidery was inspired by that on 18th-century waistcoats. Concentrated on the bodice, it creates a lower, 'trompe l'oeil' neckline while leaving the skirt quite plain. Silk zibeline by Staron; embroidered by Lesage with chenille-work, sequins, beads and stones Given by the Countess of Drogheda V&A: T.284-1974(22/09/2007)
Credit line
Given by the Countess of Drogheda
Object history
This dress was embroidered by the Paris embroidery house of Lesage. Designed by Francois Lesage, it was inspired by the embroidery on 18th century waistcoats, of which he was/is fascinated by.

The dress was worn and given by the Countess of Drogheda. The same model was also made for the actor Vivien Leigh, who wore it with a purple silk satin stole on at least three occasions between 1961 and 1963. Her dress was sold at Sotheby's in 2003.
Subject depicted
Association
Summary
This dress was designed by Antonio del Castillo (1908–84) for the couture house of Lanvin in 1957. It was embroidered by the house of Lesage, a famous French embroidery firm. The design was created by François Lesage (b.1929), who inherited the business in 1949, and was inspired by the embroidery on 18th century waistcoats.

Gowns that were to be embroidered were usually simply cut, like this one, to show off their sumptuous surface detail.
Bibliographic references
  • Wilcox, C., ed., The Golden Age of Couture: Paris and London 1947-57 (V&A Publications, London: 2007), p. 136 and pl.5.17
  • Wilcox, C., ed., The Golden Age of Couture: Paris and London 1947-57 (V&A Publications, London: 2007), p. 167
  • Fashion : An Anthology by Cecil Beaton. London : H.M.S.O., 1971
  • Miller, Lesley Ellis, and Ana Cabrera Lafuente, with Claire Allen-Johnstone, eds. Silk: Fibre, Fabric and Fashion. London: Thames & Hudson Ltd in association with the Victoria and Albert Museum, 2021. ISBN 978-0-500-48065-6. This object features in the publication Silk: Fibre, Fabric and Fashion (2021)
Collection
Accession number
T.284-1974

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Record createdSeptember 4, 2007
Record URL
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