Afternoon Dress
c.1913 (designed)
| Artist/Maker | |
| Place of origin |
This highly fashionable reception gown formed part of Miss Heather Firbank's wardrobe. She was daughter of the affluent Member of Parliament Sir Thomas Firbank and sister of the novelist Ronald Firbank. Lucile (Lady Duff Gordon), the society dressmaker, possibly designed this dress. She was famous for her feminine designs, subtle use of colour and fine dressmaking details.
The gown has a wide, high-waisted sash which ties behind in an enormous butterfly bow. The bow is entirely decorative. Although it looks soft and supple, it is actually lined with stiff organza and is wired at the edges. The bodice and sleeves are cut in one piece. A silk machine-lace panel attached at the bust forms the overtunic which is gathered at the waist and falls in soft folds to the hips. The high frilled neck, narrow cuffs and draped, divided skirt are edged with brown skunk fur. Fur trimmings were very much in fashion during this period.
In 1921 Heather Firbank's clothes were packed into trunks and put into storage, where they remained for the next 35 years. In 1960 the V&A acquired well over 100 items from her wardrobe. This collection forms an invaluable record of a stylish and wealthy woman's taste between about 1905 and 1920. Many items were shown in an exhibition at the V&A in 1960. It was called 'Lady of Fashion: Heather Firbank and what she wore between 1908 and 1921'.
The gown has a wide, high-waisted sash which ties behind in an enormous butterfly bow. The bow is entirely decorative. Although it looks soft and supple, it is actually lined with stiff organza and is wired at the edges. The bodice and sleeves are cut in one piece. A silk machine-lace panel attached at the bust forms the overtunic which is gathered at the waist and falls in soft folds to the hips. The high frilled neck, narrow cuffs and draped, divided skirt are edged with brown skunk fur. Fur trimmings were very much in fashion during this period.
In 1921 Heather Firbank's clothes were packed into trunks and put into storage, where they remained for the next 35 years. In 1960 the V&A acquired well over 100 items from her wardrobe. This collection forms an invaluable record of a stylish and wealthy woman's taste between about 1905 and 1920. Many items were shown in an exhibition at the V&A in 1960. It was called 'Lady of Fashion: Heather Firbank and what she wore between 1908 and 1921'.
Object details
| Categories | |
| Object type | |
| Materials and techniques | Chiffon, silk machine-made lace, satin, lined with organza, wire, trimmed with skunk fur, boned |
| Brief description | Afternoon dress of chiffon trimmed with silk machine-made lace and skunk fur, Lucile, London, c.1913 |
| Physical description | Reception dress of white chiffon trimmed with silk machine-made lace and skunk fur. With a 'V' neck trimmed with a net frill and fur band, and a high waist with a draped satin sash tying behind with an enormous butterfly satin bow. The over tunic reaches from the bosom to the hips, and the draped skirt, which is trimmed with fur, is caught up in the centre front to show a chiffon drape. The sleeves are of chiffon, long and cut in one with the bodice. The lining of the bodice is of white organza and there is a white chemisette inserted to cover the pink satin boned lining. The white grosgrain waist-band is unmarked. |
| Object history | Worn by Miss Heather Firbank |
| Summary | This highly fashionable reception gown formed part of Miss Heather Firbank's wardrobe. She was daughter of the affluent Member of Parliament Sir Thomas Firbank and sister of the novelist Ronald Firbank. Lucile (Lady Duff Gordon), the society dressmaker, possibly designed this dress. She was famous for her feminine designs, subtle use of colour and fine dressmaking details. The gown has a wide, high-waisted sash which ties behind in an enormous butterfly bow. The bow is entirely decorative. Although it looks soft and supple, it is actually lined with stiff organza and is wired at the edges. The bodice and sleeves are cut in one piece. A silk machine-lace panel attached at the bust forms the overtunic which is gathered at the waist and falls in soft folds to the hips. The high frilled neck, narrow cuffs and draped, divided skirt are edged with brown skunk fur. Fur trimmings were very much in fashion during this period. In 1921 Heather Firbank's clothes were packed into trunks and put into storage, where they remained for the next 35 years. In 1960 the V&A acquired well over 100 items from her wardrobe. This collection forms an invaluable record of a stylish and wealthy woman's taste between about 1905 and 1920. Many items were shown in an exhibition at the V&A in 1960. It was called 'Lady of Fashion: Heather Firbank and what she wore between 1908 and 1921'. |
| Collection | |
| Accession number | T.34-1960 |
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| Record created | December 15, 1999 |
| Record URL |
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