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Evening dress

Evening dress

  • Place of origin:

    Paris (made)

  • Date:

    1938-1939 (made)

  • Artist/Maker:

    Coco Chanel, born 1883 - died 1971 (designer)

  • Materials and Techniques:

    Machine-sewn silk grosgrain and silk chiffon

  • Museum number:

    T.32-1978

  • Gallery location:

    In Storage

This long evening dress is made of red grosgrain silk and red chiffon. The dress has a sleeveless and tight-fitting bodice made of red grosgrain. The bodice fastens down the front with hooks and eyes and is finished with a ribbon made of navy, white and red grosgrain. The narrow shoulder straps are made of navy, white and red grosgrain ribbon. The dress has a full skirt of red silk chiffon, which falls from double, inverted pleats.

This evening dress, obviously designed for the summertime, is a remarkable example of Chanel's skills in developing elegant sportswear for the evening, creating a simple yet stunning evening dress for the sporty, modern woman of the 1930s. The navy, red and white ribbon of grosgrain makes reference to Chanel's own love of sailing, and her inspiration from sports.

Physical description

Long evening dress of red silk grosgrain and red silk chiffon. The dress has a sleeveless and tight-fitting bodice made of red silk grosgrain, ended with tabulated peplum. It fastens down the front with hooks and eyes. The bodice is finished with a ribbon made of black, white and red grosgrain. It has narrow shoulder straps made of black, white and red grosgrain ribbon. The dress has a full skirt of red silk chiffon, which falls from double, inverted pleats over a straight cut petticoat. It has red silk crêpe with scallop trim in red silk chiffon.

Place of Origin

Paris (made)

Date

1938-1939 (made)

Artist/maker

Coco Chanel, born 1883 - died 1971 (designer)

Materials and Techniques

Machine-sewn silk grosgrain and silk chiffon

Marks and inscriptions

'CHANEL'
Woven label on middle back in dark grey on cream

'50631'
Model number in black on white tape (could be 50031)

Historical context note

This evening dress, obviously designed for the summertime is a remarkable example of Chanel's skills into bringing elegant sportswear into the evening, creating a simple yet stunning evening dress for the modern woman. It also makes reference to her love of sailing with the blue, red and white ribbon of grosgrain.

Descriptive line

Evening dress of silk, designed by Coco Chanel, Paris, 1938-1939

Materials

Chiffon; Chiffon

Categories

Fashion; Clothing; Evening wear; Women's clothes

Production Type

Haute couture

Collection

Textiles and Fashion Collection

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