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.
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.
|
| 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 type | Haute couture |
| Marks and inscriptions | 'Jacques Fath / Paris' (Label, machine woven, white on black) |
| Gallery label | 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(22/09/2007) |
| 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 created | January 11, 2006 |
| Record URL |
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