Evening dress of velvet, designed by Cristóbal Balenciaga, Paris, August 1952

Evening dress of black velvet. It has a V-neck, three-quarter length sleeves and a high bust line trimmed with a self covered bow at the centre front. It has a straight cut underskirt with a taffeta lined overskirt. The bodice has a separate boned, strapless brassiere of black net and grosgrain lined with chiffon with a label in black on white on the side. It fastens at the back with hooks and zips.

Bequeathed by Mrs Fern Bedaux

This object is part of the collection of Mrs Fern Bedaux, given to the museum by Miss E Hanley, the heiress and niece of Mrs Bedaux. Mrs Bedaux purchased her whole wardrobe regularly from Balenciaga and the collection was very large; some was kept by Miss Hanley, some send to the Costume Museum in Bath; and some was received by the V&A.

Mrs Bedaux was the very wealthy widow of American millionaire office systems pioneer Charles Bedaux. Mr and Mrs Bedaux lived in the sixteenth century Chateau de Cand in France. The Duke of Windsor was married there after his abdication as King Edward VIII in 1936.

Date and model number attributed by Madame Jouve, Balenciaga archivist

T.746-1972