Cocktail Dress thumbnail 1
Cocktail Dress thumbnail 2
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This object consists of 3 parts, some of which may be located elsewhere.

Cocktail Dress

1955 (made)
Artist/Maker
Place of origin

This dress and its petticoat were designed by the French couturier Jacques Fath (1912-54) in 1955. The petticoat is made of silk, nylon and net with a boned cotton bodice and a padded bra. It shows the care and attention that was given to the under-garments of couture dresses.

The silk taffeta dress was worn by Lady Alexandra Howard-Johnston (later Lady Dacre), the wife of the Naval Attaché to Paris at the end of the 1940s. She required an extensive wardrobe for the many formal dinners and state functions that she had to attend, and dressed exclusively at Jacques Fath.

The draping and pleating of the dress is characteristic of Jacques Fath’s work. Fath would frequently design by gathering and pinning directly onto the mannequin resulting in folds, panels or volants, especially around the hip.

Object details

Categories
Object type
Parts
This object consists of 3 parts.

  • Brooch
  • Petticoat
  • Evening Dress
Materials and techniques
Silk taffeta, nylon net, cotton, boned and padded, diamanté, beads and pearls
Brief description
Evening cocktail dress of silk taffeta, and nylon petticoat with a boned cotton bodice, designed by Jacques Fath, diamanté brooch made by Gripoix, Paris, 1955
Physical description
Evening cocktail dress of black silk taffeta, nylon petticoat with a boned cotton bodice and diamanté brooch.
Production typeHaute couture
Marks and inscriptions
'Jacques Fath / Paris' (Label, machine woven, white on black)
Gallery label
(22/09/2007)
Petticoat [shown in the 'Underwear' case]
Jacques Fath (1912-54)
Paris
1952

This couture petticoat was worn under a black silk taffeta cocktail dress.

Nylon and net with boned cotton bodice and padded bra

Given by Lady Dacre
V&A: T.183A-1974
Credit line
Given by Lady Alexandra Trevor-Roper
Production
Brooch by couture jeweller Gripoix
Association
Summary
This dress and its petticoat were designed by the French couturier Jacques Fath (1912-54) in 1955. The petticoat is made of silk, nylon and net with a boned cotton bodice and a padded bra. It shows the care and attention that was given to the under-garments of couture dresses.

The silk taffeta dress was worn by Lady Alexandra Howard-Johnston (later Lady Dacre), the wife of the Naval Attaché to Paris at the end of the 1940s. She required an extensive wardrobe for the many formal dinners and state functions that she had to attend, and dressed exclusively at Jacques Fath.

The draping and pleating of the dress is characteristic of Jacques Fath’s work. Fath would frequently design by gathering and pinning directly onto the mannequin resulting in folds, panels or volants, especially around the hip.
Bibliographic reference
Photograph taken by Willy Maywald of model wearing this dress, standing by a car. Accessorised with a large saucer brimmed hat and black gloves.
Collection
Accession number
T.183 to B-1974

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Record createdJanuary 11, 2006
Record URL
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