Evening Dress
1949 (made)
| Artist/Maker | |
| Place of origin |
Gloria Guinness (1912-80) was a wealthy, elegant socialite and writer. She was voted 'Best Dressed Woman' in the world by Time magazine in 1962, second only to Jacqueline Kennedy.
Gloria Guinness kept a full wardrobe in each of her seven homes, so that she would never have to pack. She saw haute couture as an art form and patronised many couture houses.
She gave dozens of items to the V&A, including pieces by Cristóbal Balenciaga (1895-1972), Christian Dior (1905-57), and Hubert de Givenchy (b.1927). Amongst these famous names were several lesser known labels, such as Marcelle Chaumont (b.1892; house closed in 1953), showing that she cast her net wide in her pursuit of fashion. The gown is made of hand-painted organza, in the yellow and gold tones that Gloria Guinness favoured.
Gloria Guinness kept a full wardrobe in each of her seven homes, so that she would never have to pack. She saw haute couture as an art form and patronised many couture houses.
She gave dozens of items to the V&A, including pieces by Cristóbal Balenciaga (1895-1972), Christian Dior (1905-57), and Hubert de Givenchy (b.1927). Amongst these famous names were several lesser known labels, such as Marcelle Chaumont (b.1892; house closed in 1953), showing that she cast her net wide in her pursuit of fashion. The gown is made of hand-painted organza, in the yellow and gold tones that Gloria Guinness favoured.
Object details
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| Object type | |
| Parts | This object consists of 3 parts.
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| Materials and techniques | Hand-painted silk organza, gathered and boned, organdie |
| Brief description | Full-length evening dress of hand-painted silk organza with matching belt and organdie petticoat, designed by Marcelle Chaumont, Paris, 1949 |
| Physical description | Full length evening dress of white silk organza. The full waisted skirt is hand-painted with a gold design of ribbons and bows. The bodice is finely tucked, it is strapless and is boned at the seams, and it has a gathered frill at the top. There is a side zip fastening. With a petticoat of white organdie attached to the dress at the tip of the bodice and it is also boned. Belt of white organza. |
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| Production type | Haute couture |
| Gallery label |
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| Credit line | Given by Mrs Loel Guinness |
| Object history | Designer Chaumont was trained by Vionnet and inherited her premises and staff when she retired in 1939-40. Pierre Cardin was briefly employed as cutter in 1945. Donor Gloria Rubio y Alatorre, better known as Gloria Guinness (1912-1980) was an elegant socialite and writer of the mid 20th century. Her third husband, whom she married in 1951, was Group Capt. Thomas Loel Guinness, a Member of Parliament (died 1989) and an heir to the Guinness beer fortune. She was voted second 'Best Dressed Woman' in the world by Time magazine in 1962. Jackie Kennedy was in first place. (See Time magazine Jan 26 1962) |
| Historical context | Gloria Rubio y Alatorre, better known as Gloria Guinness (1912-1980) was an elegant socialite and writer of the mid 20th century. Her third husband, whom she married in 1951, was Group Capt. Thomas Loel Guinness, a Member of Parliament (died 1989) and an heir to the Guinness beer fortune. She was voted second 'Best Dressed Woman' in the world by Time magazine in 1962. Jackie Kennedy was in first place. (See Time magazine Jan 26 1962) |
| Subjects depicted | |
| Association | |
| Summary | Gloria Guinness (1912-80) was a wealthy, elegant socialite and writer. She was voted 'Best Dressed Woman' in the world by Time magazine in 1962, second only to Jacqueline Kennedy. Gloria Guinness kept a full wardrobe in each of her seven homes, so that she would never have to pack. She saw haute couture as an art form and patronised many couture houses. She gave dozens of items to the V&A, including pieces by Cristóbal Balenciaga (1895-1972), Christian Dior (1905-57), and Hubert de Givenchy (b.1927). Amongst these famous names were several lesser known labels, such as Marcelle Chaumont (b.1892; house closed in 1953), showing that she cast her net wide in her pursuit of fashion. The gown is made of hand-painted organza, in the yellow and gold tones that Gloria Guinness favoured. |
| Bibliographic references |
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| Collection | |
| Accession number | T.92 to B-1974 |
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| Record created | February 3, 2006 |
| Record URL |
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