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Evening Dress

1994 (made)
Artist/Maker
Place of origin

This evening dress, made in 1994 by the London couturier Catherine Walker, shows her use of glamour and restrained luxury. Rich, black silk velvet is cut and sewn into a perfect full-length backless sheath suspended from a pearl and diamanté yoke. Both the clinging gown and the Art Deco style jewelled collar were inspired by 1930s evening fashion, but the design is brought wholly up-to-date for 1994 with a dramatic diamanté pendant down the bared back.

This combination of regal elegance and unexpected sparkle clearly shows why Diana, Princess of Wales, favoured dresses by Catherine Walker for nearly fifteen years. The V&A collection also includes the famous pearl-encrusted 'Elvis' dress that Catherine Walker made for the Princess in 1989. (see T.1:1&2.2006)


Object details

Categories
Object type
Materials and techniques
Silk velvet with diamanté and beading
Brief description
Evening dress, black silk velvet with diamante and pearl collar, by Catherine Walker, UK, 1994.
Physical description
Black silk velvet dress embellished with a pearl collar and diamanté pendant finishing with a straight front and short, mermaid train.
Gallery label
Catherine Walker's designs are sophisticated and elegant, never overstated. This immacutely executed evening dress features a short train. The sleekly cut velvet is accented with pearl and diamanté embroidery inspired by 1930s jewellery designs.(1997)
Credit line
Given by the designer
Object history
Registered File number 1995/29.
Production
Autumn/Winter 1994-95 collection.
Summary
This evening dress, made in 1994 by the London couturier Catherine Walker, shows her use of glamour and restrained luxury. Rich, black silk velvet is cut and sewn into a perfect full-length backless sheath suspended from a pearl and diamanté yoke. Both the clinging gown and the Art Deco style jewelled collar were inspired by 1930s evening fashion, but the design is brought wholly up-to-date for 1994 with a dramatic diamanté pendant down the bared back.

This combination of regal elegance and unexpected sparkle clearly shows why Diana, Princess of Wales, favoured dresses by Catherine Walker for nearly fifteen years. The V&A collection also includes the famous pearl-encrusted 'Elvis' dress that Catherine Walker made for the Princess in 1989. (see T.1:1&2.2006)
Bibliographic reference
De La Haye, Amy (ed.). The Cutting Edge: 50 Years of British Fashion 1947- 1997. London, England: V&A Publications, 1997, plate 40.
Collection
Accession number
T.49-1995

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Record createdAugust 20, 2003
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