Evening Dress
ca. 1957 (made)
| Artist/Maker | |
| Place of origin |
Short evening dress of black silk poult. Sleeveless with a V-neck and attached knots crossing over from the bust to the opposite hip, and tying in a knot detail. Full bell-shaped skirt. With silk lining, metal coil boning, and silk and nylon net petticoats.
Object details
| Categories | |
| Object type | |
| Materials and techniques | Silk poult, with silk lining, metal coil boning, and silk and nylon net petticoats |
| Brief description | Short evening dress of black silk poult with cross-over fabric knots, Christian Dior London, c. 1957 |
| Physical description | Short evening dress of black silk poult. Sleeveless with a V-neck and attached knots crossing over from the bust to the opposite hip, and tying in a knot detail. Full bell-shaped skirt. With silk lining, metal coil boning, and silk and nylon net petticoats. |
| Dimensions |
|
| Production type | Ready to wear |
| Marks and inscriptions | '[1?]2277' (Number printed on back of label. Label is black on white.) |
| Gallery label | Evening dress
Dior of London
London
About 1957
Dior's London branch enabled British women to commission couture to a French standard without having to travel far. The collections were designed by Marc Bohan in the spirit of the Paris shows but for an English clientele. This wearable silk dress has a cross-over bodice and fat fabric knots, both typical Dior hallmarks.
Silk poult
V&A: T.141-1985(22/09/2007-06/01/2008) |
| Credit line | Given by Mrs Felicity Pownall-Gray |
| Object history | Christian Dior founded his Parisian fashion house in 1946, with backing from the textile manufacturer Marcel Boussac. On 12 February 1947, the House of Dior launched its first collection. Dubbed the ‘New Look’ by the press, the collection had an instant and unparalleled influence on fashion around the world. Following the success of his haute couture house in Paris, in 1952 Christian Dior set up a London-based company, C. D. Models (London) Ltd., to sell high-end ready-to-wear versions of his designs to the British public. Originally based in Stratford Place with workrooms in Maddox Street, the first collection of the London branch of Dior was launched at the Savoy Hotel on 10th December 1952. The London collection was based on the Paris haute couture collections but modified for a British clientele. In December 1954, the company changed name to Christian Dior London Ltd. The dress is very typical of Dior c. 1957. Dior's final collection in 1957 was typified by tight, moulded bodices and bell-shaped skirts. Registered File number 1985/190. |
| Production | Attribution note: High-end ready-to-wear |
| Subject depicted | |
| Collection | |
| Accession number | T.141-1985 |
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
You can write to us to suggest improvements to the record.
Suggest feedback
| Record created | February 11, 2008 |
| Record URL |
Download as: JSON
