Musique de Nuit
Evening Dress
1956-1957 (made)
1956-1957 (made)
| Artist/Maker | |
| Place of origin |
This dress was designed by Christian Dior for his autumn/winter 1956-7 collection, called La Ligne Aimant (the ‘Magnet line’). It was called Musique de Nuit (‘Night Music’) by Dior, who gave individual names to all his designs.
It was donated to the V&A by Baronne Martine de Courcel, wife of the French Ambassador to London (1962-65). The wives of diplomats played a very important role in promoting couture across the world. They were photographed at high-society events and interviewed for newspaper articles. Often, they would be given dresses by the couturiers, who benefited from the publicity.
This dress was depicted in a photograph taken by Richard Avedon for American Harper’s Bazaar, October 1956. The image shown here displays the dress in a pose reminiscent of that photograph, created for the 2007 V&A exhibition The Golden Age of Couture: Paris and London 1947-1957.
It was donated to the V&A by Baronne Martine de Courcel, wife of the French Ambassador to London (1962-65). The wives of diplomats played a very important role in promoting couture across the world. They were photographed at high-society events and interviewed for newspaper articles. Often, they would be given dresses by the couturiers, who benefited from the publicity.
This dress was depicted in a photograph taken by Richard Avedon for American Harper’s Bazaar, October 1956. The image shown here displays the dress in a pose reminiscent of that photograph, created for the 2007 V&A exhibition The Golden Age of Couture: Paris and London 1947-1957.
Object details
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| Object type | |
| Titles |
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| Materials and techniques | Silk faille lined with silk, boned and stiffened net |
| Brief description | Ankle-length evening dress 'Musique de Nuit' from 'La Ligne Aimant', of silk faille, designed by Yves Saint Laurent for Christian Dior, Paris, 1956-1957 |
| Physical description | Ankle-length evening dress of smoke grey silk faille and with a princess line. The bodice has a low V-neck at the front, draped into a tie and higher V-neck at the back. Three-quarter length sleeves and a centre back zip. The petticoat attached inside is boned, with a black net top and black silk and stiffened net skirts. Lined with silk. |
| Dimensions |
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| Production type | Haute couture |
| Marks and inscriptions |
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| Gallery label |
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| Credit line | Given by Madame de Courcel |
| Object history | The dress was donated by Baronne Martine de Courcel, wife of Baron Geoffroy de Courcel, French Ambassador to Great Britain (1962-65). Worn by the donor. The original model at Dior was Renée. The label, reading 'Christian Dior Paris Made in France' suggests that the dress was purchased outside France, possibly at Liberty's of London as per the entry in Vogue (UK), October 1956. An identical model, with original stole, was sold at Doyle's auction house, New York, for $15,535 on 21 April 2004 (lot 2038). Attributed to Yves Saint Laurent for Dior. The label read: Christian Dior/ Paris /Automne-Hiver 1956 / 82373 and tape label 82373/S.c.c. Bergdorf Goodman/Robe Musique-de-Nuit-/ Made in France. Information provided by the dealer, Clair Watson, about the buyer: "it was purchased by an English agent (well known pair) who buy mainly for Asia" |
| Association | |
| Summary | This dress was designed by Christian Dior for his autumn/winter 1956-7 collection, called La Ligne Aimant (the ‘Magnet line’). It was called Musique de Nuit (‘Night Music’) by Dior, who gave individual names to all his designs. It was donated to the V&A by Baronne Martine de Courcel, wife of the French Ambassador to London (1962-65). The wives of diplomats played a very important role in promoting couture across the world. They were photographed at high-society events and interviewed for newspaper articles. Often, they would be given dresses by the couturiers, who benefited from the publicity. This dress was depicted in a photograph taken by Richard Avedon for American Harper’s Bazaar, October 1956. The image shown here displays the dress in a pose reminiscent of that photograph, created for the 2007 V&A exhibition The Golden Age of Couture: Paris and London 1947-1957. |
| Associated object | PH.24-1985 (Depiction) |
| Bibliographic references |
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| Other number | 140808 - Dior label number |
| Collection | |
| Accession number | T.124-1974 |
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| Record created | October 10, 2005 |
| Record URL |
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