Swatch of cream organza with white embroidery and appliqué. Paris, 1964. Remnant of fabric used in a 1964 dress by Marc Bohan for Dior (T.135-1974)

Piece of cream organza with white openwork, cutwork and appliqué embroidery.

Given by the FIDM Museum on behalf of Betsy Bloomingdale

The evening dress (T.135&A-1974) was made for the American socialite and philanthropist Betsy Bloomingdale (1922-2016) in 1964, and was a favourite dress of hers. Betsy Bloomingdale has regularly appeared on the International Best Dressed List since 1970, and in 2009, her wardrobe was the subject of an exhibition at the Fashion Institute of Design & Merchandising Museum. The show, titled "High Style: Betsy Bloomingdale and the Haute Couture", displayed gowns worn by Bloomingdale since the 1960s.

This particular dress was acquired by the Victoria and Albert Museum in 1974 as part of the Cecil Beaton Collection brought together by the society photographer Sir Cecil Beaton (1904-1980). With great energy and determination Beaton contacted the well-dressed elite of Europe and North America to help create a lasting monument to the art of dress. His Collection was exhibited in 1971, accompanied by a catalogue that detailed its enormous range.

In November 2005, Betsy gave a group of fabric swatches to the FIDM museum for their collection, saying in an accompanying note that they were "from a dress I adored by Marc Bohan for Christian Dior. They always sent you extra pieces of the "extravagant" dress in case "repair" was needed. This was my very favourite, long white organdy with this beautiful applique. . . It ended up in the Museum in London for a Cecil Beaton exhibit. . . . I wish I had it today!" The swatches were passed to the V&A by FIDM so that they could be reunited with the original dress.

Daniel Milford-Cottam
31/05/2016

T.78-2016