Ensemble
1956-1958 (made)
Artist/Maker | |
Place of origin |
Small boutiques situated on the ground floor of the couture houses became increasingly common in the 1950s. They sold a range of luxury goods such as cosmetics, jewellery, knitwear, accessories and what were called in Paris frivolités. Clients might call in at the boutique following a lengthy fitting to pick up an off-the-peg blouse or some perfume.
Hubert de Givenchy (b. 1927) combined the spirit of the boutique with the quality of traditional couture. Like many couturiers he learnt through placements at various houses. He went from Jacques Fath to Lucien Lelong to Robert Piguet, and then to Elsa Schiaparelli for four years, where he designed 'separates' for her pioneering boutique, before opening his own house in 1952.
Hubert de Givenchy (b. 1927) combined the spirit of the boutique with the quality of traditional couture. Like many couturiers he learnt through placements at various houses. He went from Jacques Fath to Lucien Lelong to Robert Piguet, and then to Elsa Schiaparelli for four years, where he designed 'separates' for her pioneering boutique, before opening his own house in 1952.
Object details
Categories | |
Object type | |
Parts | This object consists of 2 parts.
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Materials and techniques | Fine silk twill |
Brief description | Printed silk twill blouse and skirt, Hubert de Givenchy, Paris, 1956-1958 |
Physical description | A skirt and matching blouse of fine silk twill, printed with small red and pink flowers with black spot centres and green leaves on a cream ground. The blouse has 3/4 length sleeves and fastens at the front with 3 self covered buttons. There are two tuck pleats at the back waist, one of which has now come loose. The blouse has a label at the back inside neck, of black weaving on white, reading: Givenchy Paris Made in France. The skirt appears as six broad panels - 2 at the front, 2 at the back and 1 at each side. However, secondary and overlapping pleats layering underneath these panels add movement and fullness. |
Dimensions |
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Style | |
Marks and inscriptions | 'Givenchy Paris Made in France' Note Label |
Gallery label |
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Object history | This objects was purchased at auction for the V&A 2007 exhibition The Golden Age of Couture: Paris and London 1947-1957 |
Subject depicted | |
Summary | Small boutiques situated on the ground floor of the couture houses became increasingly common in the 1950s. They sold a range of luxury goods such as cosmetics, jewellery, knitwear, accessories and what were called in Paris frivolités. Clients might call in at the boutique following a lengthy fitting to pick up an off-the-peg blouse or some perfume. Hubert de Givenchy (b. 1927) combined the spirit of the boutique with the quality of traditional couture. Like many couturiers he learnt through placements at various houses. He went from Jacques Fath to Lucien Lelong to Robert Piguet, and then to Elsa Schiaparelli for four years, where he designed 'separates' for her pioneering boutique, before opening his own house in 1952. |
Collection | |
Accession number | T.27:1, 2-2007 |
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Record created | January 30, 2008 |
Record URL |
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