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'Bosphore' (Bosphorus)

Evening Dress
1956 (made)
Artist/Maker
Place of origin

This dress, designed by Christian Dior (1905-57) in 1956, is short and strapless in midnight-blue velvet with delicate embroidery by Rébé, which includes velvet birds’ nests with clusters of pearl eggs.

The dress is simply cut, to show off its sumptuous surface detail. Such embellishment required meticulous patience for, as Dior explained, ‘a ball dress may be entirely covered with millions of paillettes, or pearls, each one of which has to be put on separately’.


Object details

Categories
Object type
Titles
  • 'Bosphore' (Bosphorus) (assigned by artist)
  • La Ligne Aimant (Magnet) (named collection)
Materials and techniques
Embroidered velvet with gold thread, sequins, pearls and pastes, and net, silk and boned
Brief description
Strapless sheath evening dress 'Bosphore' from 'La Ligne Aimant ' in embroidered velvet, designed by Christian Dior, embroidered by Rébé, Paris, A/W1956
Physical description
Strapless and short sheath evening dress of dark royal blue velvet with embroidery of gold thread, sequins, pearls and green and blue pastes in a design of sprays and tendrils springing from nests of pearls in velvet.

The dress has two attached petticoats, one of black net and one of navy blue silk, and the net liner bodice is boned. There is a zip down the back of the dress and the inner bodice fastens with hooks and eyes.
Dimensions
  • Waist circumference: 66cm
  • Bust circumference: 80cm
  • Length: 92cm
Stockman European Female size 36
Production typeHaute couture
Marks and inscriptions
'Christian Dior Paris Automne-Hiver 1956 84193' (Label inside bodice)
Gallery label
EMBROIDERY Paris was the home of a luxury trade in fashion goods. Entire streets were devoted to glove makers, shoe makers and furriers while feathers, floral accessories and ribbon work were worked by hand in small workshops, much as they had been since the 18th century. Embroidery specialists created a range of samples each season. Once selected, a design remained for the exclusive use of the couturier. Hubert de Givenchy said these samples served as ‘the springboard to creation’. Gowns that were to be embroidered were usually simply cut to show off their sumptuous surface detail. Their embellishment required meticulous patience, for as Dior explained, ‘a ball dress may be entirely covered with millions of paillettes, or pearls, each one of which has to be put on separately’. 'Bosphore' short evening dress Christian Dior (1905-57) Paris 1956 autumn/winter The midnight blue velvet has delicate embroidery by Rébé which, on closer inspection, reveals velvet birds' nests with clusters of pearl eggs. Silk velvet, embroidered by Rébé with pearls, gold thread and cabochons Worn by Mrs Eugenia Niarchos and given by Mr Stavros Niarchos III V&A: T.119-1974(22/09/2007)
Credit line
Given by Mr Stavros Niarchos III
Object history
The dress was originally designed with a plain velvet bolero, which was not given.

Worn by Mrs Eugenia Niarchos and given by Mr Stavros Niarchos III
Production
The Aimant (Magnet) line
Subjects depicted
Association
Summary
This dress, designed by Christian Dior (1905-57) in 1956, is short and strapless in midnight-blue velvet with delicate embroidery by Rébé, which includes velvet birds’ nests with clusters of pearl eggs.

The dress is simply cut, to show off its sumptuous surface detail. Such embellishment required meticulous patience for, as Dior explained, ‘a ball dress may be entirely covered with millions of paillettes, or pearls, each one of which has to be put on separately’.
Bibliographic references
  • Wilcox, C., ed., The Golden Age of Couture: Paris and London 1947-57 (V&A Publications, London: 2007), p.136 and pl.5.18.
  • Wilcox, C., ed., The Golden Age of Couture: Paris and London 1947-57 (V&A Publications, London: 2007), p.167 and pl.7.11.
  • Fashion : An Anthology by Cecil Beaton. London : H.M.S.O., 1971
Other number
84193 - Dior label number
Collection
Accession number
T.119-1974

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Record createdOctober 17, 2005
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