Variable Sheets/Optical Shift
Dress
1965 (made)
1965 (made)
| Artist/Maker | |
| Place of origin |
Dress with zipped panels of plastic (PVC). Geometric decoration, the dress is a shift shape, and the bodice is made of black PVC. The skirt section is made of large brightly-coloured square panels of PVC joined together with zips.
Object details
| Categories | |
| Object type | |
| Title | Variable Sheets/Optical Shift (manufacturer's title) |
| Materials and techniques | Plastic (PVC) and metal zips |
| Brief description | Dress with zipped panels of plastic 'Variable Sheets/Optical Shift', designed by Stephen Willats, Great Britain, 1965 |
| Physical description | Dress with zipped panels of plastic (PVC). Geometric decoration, the dress is a shift shape, and the bodice is made of black PVC. The skirt section is made of large brightly-coloured square panels of PVC joined together with zips. |
| Dimensions |
|
| Gallery label | DRESS: VARIABLE SHEETS
Designed and made by Stephen Wilatts (British, born 1943), London, Great Britain, 1965
Plastic with metal zips
T.19-1991
This dress was one of a series of designs for furniture and dress that Stephen Willats made to express the concept of self-organisation. The zipped blocks can be assembled in a variety of ways. Stephen Wilatts used PVC because he felt it embodied the optimistic and futuristic spirit of the 1960s. The dress was made to be worn with a plastic helmet and was conceived as a work of art not for ordinary wear. |
| Credit line | Purchase. |
| Object history | Purchased. Registered File number 1990/2350. |
| Bibliographic reference | Baker, Malcolm, and Brenda Richardson (eds.), A Grand Design: The Art of the Victoria and Albert Museum, London: V&A Publications, 1999.
|
| Collection | |
| Accession number | T.19-1991 |
About this object record
Explore the Collections contains over a million catalogue records, and over half a million images. It is a working database that includes information compiled over the life of the museum. Some of our records may contain offensive and discriminatory language, or reflect outdated ideas, practice and analysis. We are committed to addressing these issues, and to review and update our records accordingly.
You can write to us to suggest improvements to the record.
Suggest feedback
You can write to us to suggest improvements to the record.
Suggest feedback
| Record created | November 7, 2003 |
| Record URL |
Download as: JSON
