Evening skirt/cape (silk grosgrain)
Evening Skirt
1959 (made)
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 | |
| Title | Evening 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 type | Haute 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 Some of our records may contain offensive and discriminatory language, or reflect outdated ideas, practice and analysis.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
You can write to us to suggest improvements to the record.
Suggest feedback
| Record created | August 13, 2007 |
| Record URL |
Download as: JSON
