Evening Dress thumbnail 1
Evening Dress thumbnail 2
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images
Image of Gallery in South Kensington
On display at V&A South Kensington
Fashion, Room 40

Evening Dress

1947 (made)
Artist/Maker
Place of origin

This cosy evening gown and jacket are quilted in the then popular shell pattern. They were specifically designed for winter evenings in the late 1940s. At this time, coal shortages in Britain after the war made the heating of public places unreliable. Matilda Etches selected fine black silk crepe to create a slimming effect and lined the jacket with an eye-catching vivid purple silk. The jacket has just two seams (under the arms) and is designed to be worn either way up, the shawl collar transforming into a flared peplum at the waist. The dress is lined with cotton and fastens at the back with hooks and eyes.


Object details

Categories
Object type
Parts
This object consists of 2 parts.

  • Evening Dress
  • Jacket
Materials and techniques
Quilted silk crêpe lined with silk and cotton
Brief description
Quilted silk crêpe evening dress and jacket, designed by Matilda Etches, London, 1947.
Physical description
Black quilted silk crêpe evening dress and jacket
Credit line
Given by Miss Hazel Armour
Summary
This cosy evening gown and jacket are quilted in the then popular shell pattern. They were specifically designed for winter evenings in the late 1940s. At this time, coal shortages in Britain after the war made the heating of public places unreliable. Matilda Etches selected fine black silk crepe to create a slimming effect and lined the jacket with an eye-catching vivid purple silk. The jacket has just two seams (under the arms) and is designed to be worn either way up, the shawl collar transforming into a flared peplum at the waist. The dress is lined with cotton and fastens at the back with hooks and eyes.
Bibliographic reference
Mendes, Valerie. Black In Fashion. London: V&A Publications, 1999.
Collection
Accession number
T.152&A-1973

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Record createdFebruary 20, 2003
Record URL
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