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Four Leaf Clover

Evening Dress
1953 (Made)
Artist/Maker
Place of origin

Evening dress of white satin and faille with black velvet appliqué. The bodice is strapless and the skirt very full. The gown is constructed from thirty pattern pieces. The bodice exterior is of cream satin with cotton flannel, satin lining and is boned.
The skirt exterior of cream satin peplum and black velvet, with nylon mesh support and taffeta slip. The large flounces are supported by boning.

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Object details

Categories
Object type
TitleFour Leaf Clover (assigned by artist)
Materials and techniques
Satin, faille and velvet, supported with nylon mesh and boning, lined with cotton flannel and taffeta
Brief description
Evening dress of satin with velvet appliqué, 'Four Leaf Clover', designed by Charles James, United States, 1953.
Physical description
Evening dress of white satin and faille with black velvet appliqué. The bodice is strapless and the skirt very full. The gown is constructed from thirty pattern pieces. The bodice exterior is of cream satin with cotton flannel, satin lining and is boned.
The skirt exterior of cream satin peplum and black velvet, with nylon mesh support and taffeta slip. The large flounces are supported by boning.
Dimensions
  • Waistband circumference: 56cm (Note: Measured by Conservation)
  • Bust circumference: 82cm (Note: Measured by Conservation)
  • Waist circumference: 60cm (Note: Measured by Conservation)
Production typeHaute couture
Credit line
Given by the Art Students League
Object history
In a letter of 1971, James said: "This design represents the 'bringing' together of many parts from which a whole series of designs had been made… It seemed to me to be somewhat of a thesis and as such has been programmed as the last design I intent to make."

This model is also in the Metropolitan Museum of Art, New York and was shown in the exhibition The Art of Fashion 1968, no.116.
Association
Bibliographic reference
Fashion : An Anthology by Cecil Beaton. London : H.M.S.O., 1971
Collection
Accession number
T.276-1974

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Record createdFebruary 6, 2006
Record URL
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