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Not currently on display at the V&A

Bag

ca. 1970 (made)
Artist/Maker
Place of origin

After 1945, many of the technological developments of the war effort were redirected to industry, and fashion, as a vital economic force, benefitted. Fashions become more accessible to an increasingly affluent society and the importance of accessorising and colour co-ordinating was demonstrated by the number of publications and magazine features on the subject. Companies and shops began to specialise in selling handbags and matching ensemble to accessories was very fashionable. Companies such as Rayne provided a special dyeing service, commissioning many handbags from H. Wald & Co. This handbag was dyed to match a Norman Hartnell evening ensemble.


Object details

Categories
Object type
Materials and techniques
Silk, embellished with faux-diamond
Physical description
Green silk handbag with acorn faux-diamond clasp and double handle
Credit line
Given by Mrs John Guinness
Object history
Made to co-ordinate with a yellow and green Norman Hartnell evening ensemble (coat was green, dress and shoes yellow)
Summary
After 1945, many of the technological developments of the war effort were redirected to industry, and fashion, as a vital economic force, benefitted. Fashions become more accessible to an increasingly affluent society and the importance of accessorising and colour co-ordinating was demonstrated by the number of publications and magazine features on the subject. Companies and shops began to specialise in selling handbags and matching ensemble to accessories was very fashionable. Companies such as Rayne provided a special dyeing service, commissioning many handbags from H. Wald & Co. This handbag was dyed to match a Norman Hartnell evening ensemble.
Bibliographic reference
de la Haye, Amy, ed. The Cutting Edge: 50 Years of British Fashion 1947-1997. V&A Publications, London, England, 1997, pp. 154 and 155.
Collection
Accession number
T.218B-1976

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Record createdMarch 5, 2003
Record URL
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