Ensemble
late 1954 (designed)
| Artist/Maker | |
| Place of origin |
This ensemble was designed by the Parisian couturier Hubert de Givenchy (b. 1927) for Leslie Caron (b. 1931), the French film actress and dancer. It was made for a play called 'Orvet' by Jean Renoir, who was Caron's great friend and mentor. He wrote it for her, and also directed it. It was first performed at the Theatre de la Renaissance, Paris, on 12 March 1955.
Although this dress was worn on stage, it is a couture quality creation. The dress and jacket are made from heavyweight wool with moiré silk panels in the skirt, and must have been very warm during the performance.
Although this dress was worn on stage, it is a couture quality creation. The dress and jacket are made from heavyweight wool with moiré silk panels in the skirt, and must have been very warm during the performance.
Object details
| Categories | |
| Object type | |
| Parts | This object consists of 2 parts.
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| Materials and techniques | Wool with moiré silk panels in the skirt |
| Brief description | Dress and jacket of black wool with moire silk pleats, by Hubert de Givenchy, Paris, Fall-Winter 1954. Made for Leslie Caron to wear on stage in "Orvet," opened in Paris, 12 March 1955. |
| Physical description | A dress and matching jacket of black wool, labelled and numbered 7095. The plain fitted wool bodice has three-quarter length sleeves, above the skirt of panelled pleats of wool interspersed with moiré silk. The jacket of black wool has a diagonal buttoned fastening and one side pocket to balance the line of the skirt. |
| Dimensions |
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| Style | |
| Production type | Haute couture |
| Marks and inscriptions |
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| Gallery label | Jacket and dress
Hubert de Givenchy (born 1927)
Paris
1955 spring
Dior and many other couturiers designed for film and theatre. Although this dress was designed to be worn on stage, it is a couture creation. The dress and jacket are made from heavyweight wool, which must have been very warm during the performance.
Wool with moiré silk panels in the skirt
Worn by Leslie Caron in the Jean Renoir play Orvet, which opened at the Théâtre de la Renaissance in Paris on 12 March 1955
V&A: T.35:1, 2-2006(22/09/2007) |
| Object history | This ensemble was made by Givenchy for Leslie Caron (b. July 1, 1931), the French film actress and dancer. It was made for a play called 'Orvet' by Jean Renoir, who was Miss Caron's great friend and mentor. He wrote it for her, and also directed it. It was first performed a the Theatre de la Renaissance, Paris, on 12 March 1955. Although, made for 'Orvet' the suit is a fine example of Haute Couture construction and finish. It was sold by Ms. Caron at auction (Kerry Taylor Auctions Ltd, Sotheby's) in 2006. An original drawing of the suit, done by Marcel Fromenti for The Lady in 1954, shows that this suit was model number 1225 in Givenchy's haute couture Fall-Winter collection of 1954-55. Fromenti has portrayed the black wool suit with exceptional accuracy, capturing the distinctive skirt composed of wide alternating pleats of silk moiré and wool and the small-waisted jacket with off-centre button fastening balanced by a single pocket flap. (see E.1570-1954). |
| Production | Reason For Production: Commission |
| Summary | This ensemble was designed by the Parisian couturier Hubert de Givenchy (b. 1927) for Leslie Caron (b. 1931), the French film actress and dancer. It was made for a play called 'Orvet' by Jean Renoir, who was Caron's great friend and mentor. He wrote it for her, and also directed it. It was first performed at the Theatre de la Renaissance, Paris, on 12 March 1955. Although this dress was worn on stage, it is a couture quality creation. The dress and jacket are made from heavyweight wool with moiré silk panels in the skirt, and must have been very warm during the performance. |
| Associated object | E.1570-1954 (Depiction) |
| Other numbers |
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| Collection | |
| Accession number | T.35:1, 2-2006 |
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| Record created | November 16, 2006 |
| Record URL |
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