Evening dress
- Place of origin:
England, Great Britain (made)
- Date:
- Artist/Maker:
Bill Gibb, born 1943 - died 1988 (designer)
- Materials and Techniques:
Panels of silk brocade and glazed cotton furnishing fabrics, braid and tassels
- Credit Line:
- Museum number:
- Gallery location:
- Image in copyright
This imaginative and romantic ‘Renaissance’ evening outfit by Bill Gibb is made from panels of furnishing fabrics of silk brocade, in pastel shades of pink and blue. Shaped from three separate fabric pieces, the cuffs fit closely around the wrists and forearms, and their length is accentuated by seven pink, fabric covered buttons which fasten through worked buttonholes.
Decorative, glazed cotton panels at the front and back of the bodice feature figures based upon a Hans Holbein’s drawing (from about 1520) of heavy and elaborate costume worn by the wife of a prosperous citizen of Basel.
This outfit was worn by the model Twiggy at the Daily Mirror Fashion Celebrity Dinner on 22 October 1970.
Physical description
This imaginative and romantic 'Renaissance' outfit is made from panels of furnishing fabrics. Decorative, glazed cotton panels at the front and back of the bodice feature figures based upon Hans Holbein's drawing (ca. 1520) of heavy and elaborate costume worn by the wife of a prosperous citizen of Basle.
[Jacket] Silk brocade furnishing fabric cut into a patch work design with baid and tasselled streamers
[Skirt] silk brocade, furnishing fabric, patchworked, full skirt
Place of Origin
England, Great Britain (made)
Date
1970 (made)
Artist/maker
Bill Gibb, born 1943 - died 1988 (designer)
Materials and Techniques
Panels of silk brocade and glazed cotton furnishing fabrics, braid and tassels
Historical context note
The model Twiggy, the 'Face of 1966', wore this ensemble to the Daily Mirror Fashion Celebrity Dinner in October 1970.
Bibliographic References (Citation, Note/Abstract, NAL no)
Wilcox, C. & Mendes, V., Modern Fashion in Detail, London: V&A Publications, 1991, p.54., ISBN 1 85177 032 1
Exhibition History
Fashion: an anthology by Cecil Beaton (Victoria and Albert Museum 01/01/1972-31/12/1972)
The Cutting Edge: 50 Years of British Fashion 1947-1997 (Victoria and Albert Museum 06/03/1997-27/07/1997)
Labels and date
Bill Gibb made clothes that transported their wearers into realms of fantasty. He was patronised by the glitterati, including the top model Twiggy, the 'Face of 1966'. She wore this size 6 ensemble at the Daily Mirror Fashion Celebrity dinner in October 1970. With suggestions of ethnic and Renaissance costume, it is a rich compilation of woven furnishings and printed silk, enhanced by braid trimming and streamers. [1997]
Associated names
Twiggy
Production Note
Attribution note: Unique
Materials
Cotton; Braid; Silk brocade
Techniques
Printing; Brocading
Subjects depicted
Flowers; Costume; Painting
Categories
Textiles; Fashion; Evening wear
Production Type
Haute couture
Collection code
T&F
