Not currently on display at the V&A

Robe de Minute

Evening Dress
1911 (made)
Artist/Maker
Place of origin

This long evening tunic is made of white satin showing monochrome white motifs. It has a straight and rectangular shape and is sleeveless, with an oval neckline. It is lined with silk chiffon. Stitched inside the hem is 'Sac satin broché 1911 No 30'.

The tunic was described as a robe de minute ('minute robe') because it took only half an hour to make. The prototype was made in 1908. Paul Poiret made this dress for his wife Denise, for their European Fashion Tour in 1911. She wore it for their visit to Berlin. Consisting of a pure, simple rectangle of white satin, it was the avant-garde prototype of the chemise dress of the 1920s, making its first appearance ten years before its time. Madame Poiret wore it with the Dufy printed coat (La Peise) and a single grey pearl at her neck.


Object details

Categories
Object type
TitleRobe de Minute (assigned by artist)
Materials and techniques
Hand-sewn figured satin, lined with silk chiffon
Brief description
Evening dress of figured satin, designed by Paul Poiret, Paris, 1911.
Physical description
Long evening tunic made of white satin showing monochrome white motifs. Straight and rectangular shape, sleeveless, oval neckline. Lined with silk chiffon.
Style
Production typeUnique
Marks and inscriptions
Stitched inside the hem is 'Sac satin broché 1911 No 30'
Object history
Paul Poiret made this dress for his wife Denise, for their visit to Berlin in 1911. Consisting of a pure, simple rectangle of white satin, it was the avant-garde prototype of the chemise-dress of the 1920s, making its first appearance ten years before its time.

Historical significance: Described as a "robe de minute" because it took but half and hour to make. The prototype was made in 1908. Paul Poiret made this dress for his wife Denise, for their European Fashion Tour in 1911. She wore it for their visit to Berlin. Consisting of a pure, simple rectangle of white satin, it was the avant-garde prototype of the chemise-dress of the 1920s, making its first appearance ten years before its time.

Madame Poiret wore it with the Dufy printed coat (La Peise) and at her neck a single grey pearl.
Summary
This long evening tunic is made of white satin showing monochrome white motifs. It has a straight and rectangular shape and is sleeveless, with an oval neckline. It is lined with silk chiffon. Stitched inside the hem is 'Sac satin broché 1911 No 30'.

The tunic was described as a robe de minute ('minute robe') because it took only half an hour to make. The prototype was made in 1908. Paul Poiret made this dress for his wife Denise, for their European Fashion Tour in 1911. She wore it for their visit to Berlin. Consisting of a pure, simple rectangle of white satin, it was the avant-garde prototype of the chemise dress of the 1920s, making its first appearance ten years before its time. Madame Poiret wore it with the Dufy printed coat (La Peise) and a single grey pearl at her neck.
Collection
Accession number
T.118-1975

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Record createdNovember 6, 2002
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