Evening skirt/cape (silk grosgrain) thumbnail 1
Evening skirt/cape (silk grosgrain) thumbnail 2
+3
images
Not on display

Evening skirt/cape (silk grosgrain)

Evening Skirt
1959 (made)
Artist/Maker
Place of origin

Blue-grey grosgrain evening cloak. The cloak is tied apron-style about the waist, gathered into a stiffened yoke, and then the hem is looped up to form a gathered cape.

Object details

Categories
Object type
TitleEvening skirt/cape (silk grosgrain)
Materials and techniques
Silk grosgrain
Brief description
Evening cape/skirt of silk grosgrain, designed by Cristóbal Balenciaga for Eisa, Spain, 1959.
Physical description
Blue-grey grosgrain evening cloak. The cloak is tied apron-style about the waist, gathered into a stiffened yoke, and then the hem is looped up to form a gathered cape.
Production typeHaute couture
Gallery label
Balenciaga’s ingenuity can be seen in the design of this garment. It can be worn in two ways: as an overskirt, adding drama and volume to a slim-line dress, or as a cape, lifted over the shoulders and tied at the neck.

Evening skirt/cape
Silk grosgrain
Cristóbal Balenciaga (Eisa label), Spain, 1956
Bequeathed by Ruth Sheradski
V&A: T.290-1977
Credit line
Bequeathed by Ruth Sheradski
Object history
This dress was originally thought to have been a c.1938 design of Charles James. Jan Reeder at the Costume Institute however alerted Claire Wilcox to an almost identical garment in the Met's collection, which carries the label 'Eisa, desgined by Balenciaga'. The Met have catalogued theirs as both a cape and a skirt.

If the cost of his Paris salon was out of reach, there were other ways to buy a Balenciaga design. Some were sold less expensively under Balenciaga’s label Eisa in Spain, where labour costs were lower and cheaper fabrics might be used.
Collection
Accession number
T.290-1977

About this object record

Explore the Collections contains over a million catalogue records, and over half a million images. It is a working database that includes information compiled over the life of the museum. Some of our records may contain offensive and discriminatory language, or reflect outdated ideas, practice and analysis. We are committed to addressing these issues, and to review and update our records accordingly.

You can write to us to suggest improvements to the record.

Suggest feedback

Record createdAugust 13, 2007
Record URL
Download as: JSON