Evening Dress thumbnail 1
Evening Dress thumbnail 2
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Evening Dress

1932-1934 (made)
Artist/Maker
Place of origin

This long sleeveless evening dress made of tulle is entirely covered in pink sequins. The bodice is loosely draped and has a slightly pleated peplum at the front. There is a golden sequinned belt at waist level. The skirt of the dress is tubular and ends at the bottom with a trompe-l'oeil effect of pleats.

During the first half of the 1930s, evening dresses were designed to wrap women in luxurious, body-hugging sheaths, replacing the short and flat square gowns of the 1920s. Evening gowns were mostly sleeveless, often displaying a bare back or a low neckline and inevitably touching the floor. During the Depression, designers were forced to explore simpler lines and shapes, which they found in classical architecture and dress. The glorification of the body, central to classical dress, inspired fashion designers to display the female body as much as possible while concealing it with softer fabrics. In the same search for classical simplicity and purity, designers discarded the heavy embroideries of the 1920s, for the simple use of evocative fabrics such as lamés and satins.

Object details

Categories
Object type
Parts
This object consists of 2 parts.

  • Evening Dress
  • Belt
Materials and techniques
Machine-sewn tulle and hand-sewn sequins
Brief description
Evening dress and belt of embroidered tulle, designed by Jean Patou, Paris, 1932-1934.
Physical description
Evening ensemble comprising of a long dress with belt, both entirely beaded with glass bugle beads in pink and gold giving the illusion of draped fabric in fluting folds.
Style
Production typeHaute couture
Credit line
Given by Mrs Leo D'Erlanger
Summary
This long sleeveless evening dress made of tulle is entirely covered in pink sequins. The bodice is loosely draped and has a slightly pleated peplum at the front. There is a golden sequinned belt at waist level. The skirt of the dress is tubular and ends at the bottom with a trompe-l'oeil effect of pleats.

During the first half of the 1930s, evening dresses were designed to wrap women in luxurious, body-hugging sheaths, replacing the short and flat square gowns of the 1920s. Evening gowns were mostly sleeveless, often displaying a bare back or a low neckline and inevitably touching the floor. During the Depression, designers were forced to explore simpler lines and shapes, which they found in classical architecture and dress. The glorification of the body, central to classical dress, inspired fashion designers to display the female body as much as possible while concealing it with softer fabrics. In the same search for classical simplicity and purity, designers discarded the heavy embroideries of the 1920s, for the simple use of evocative fabrics such as lamés and satins.
Bibliographic reference
Fashion : An Anthology by Cecil Beaton. London : H.M.S.O., 1971 195
Collection
Accession number
T.336&A-1974

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Record createdNovember 13, 2003
Record URL
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