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Evening Dress

1953 (made)
Artist/Maker
Hartnell, Norman (designer)
Place of origin
England (made)

Long evening dress, tight sleeveless bodice, fastened on the back with a zip. Two large straps on the shoulders, sewn-in belt and bow at the waist, large flaring skirt with large box pleat on the front. Green and gold beaded floral motifs and foliage.


Object details

Categories
Fashion
Evening Wear
Formal Wear
Clothing
Royalty
Object type
Evening dress
Materials and techniques
machine stitched satin and silk, worked with hand sewn diamantés and sequins
Satin
Silk (Textile)
Diamantés
Sequins
Machine Sewing
Hand Sewing
Physical description
Long evening dress, tight sleeveless bodice, fastened on the back with a zip. Two large straps on the shoulders, sewn-in belt and bow at the waist, large flaring skirt with large box pleat on the front. Green and gold beaded floral motifs and foliage.
Dimensions
  • Length: 144cm
Production typeHaute couture
Credit line
Given by Lord and Lady Carrington
Object history
This gown was made for and worn by Lady Iona Carrington at the Coronation Ball, in 1953. It seems as though the order was executed in a hurry as the edging in the skirt is pinked and not mounted on silk organza as per usual couture standards.

Historical significance: Typical ball gown in the style which characterises Norman Hartnell and was favoured right before and after the Second World War : formal, elegant and romantic, with tight bodices and full skirts, reminiscent of Winterhalter's seaters.
Collection
Textiles and Fashion Collection
Accession number
T.232-1999

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Record createdNovember 24, 2000
Record URL
https://collections.vam.ac.uk/item/O49599/evening-dress-hartnell-norman/
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