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Evening Dress

Autumn/Winter 1967 (made)
Artist/Maker
Place of origin

Black and grey evening dress of black cigaline with grey-to-black graduated sequin embroidery, and ostrich feathers. The simple shape is heavily embroidered with three dimensional embroidery which incorporates pearlised and textured silver sequins, diamantés, crystal beads, silver gilt threads, leaf-shaped plastic paillettes and a hem of ostrich feathers. The latter are painstakingly sewn down in nine horizontal rows, each one inch apart. The dress fastens with a zip at the left side and hooks and eyes on the left shoulder.

Object details

Categories
Object type
Materials and techniques
Silk cigaline, embroidered with pearlised and textured silver sequins, diamantés, crystal beads, silver gilt threads, plastic paillettes and ostrich feathers
Brief description
Evening dress of embroidered cigaline and ostrich feathers, dress designed by Yves Saint Laurent and embroidered by Vermont and textile made by Bucol, Paris, autumn/winter 1967.
Physical description
Black and grey evening dress of black cigaline with grey-to-black graduated sequin embroidery, and ostrich feathers. The simple shape is heavily embroidered with three dimensional embroidery which incorporates pearlised and textured silver sequins, diamantés, crystal beads, silver gilt threads, leaf-shaped plastic paillettes and a hem of ostrich feathers. The latter are painstakingly sewn down in nine horizontal rows, each one inch apart. The dress fastens with a zip at the left side and hooks and eyes on the left shoulder.
Dimensions
  • Sweep of dress circumference: 207cm
  • Bust of dress width: 94cm
  • Length of dress from neck to hem length: 133cm
  • Armhole of dress length: 19cm
  • Depth of dress hem length: 7.5cm
  • Sweep of cape circumference: 222cm
  • Depth of hem on cape length: 32cm
Dimensions measured ZC 11/03/2016
Production typeHaute couture
Gallery label
(1983-84)
MINI EVENING DRESS, organdie (Bucol) with embroidery (Vermont)
French, Paris, Yves St Laurent: 1967

While the bodice shades to pearl, the dominant note of this flared shift is black. The shape is totally subservient to luxuriant decoration and has to be as simple as possible in order to accommodate the three dimensional embroidery. It incorporates pearlised and textured silver sequins, diamantés, crystal beads, silver gilt threads, leaf-shaped plastic paillettes and ostrich feathers. The latter are painstakingly sewn down in nine horizontal rows, each one inch apart. This deep black feather hem throws the glitter above into sharp relief. The dress fastens (with difficulty) with a zip at the left side and hooks and eyes on the left shoulder.

Worn and given by Princess Stanislaus Radziwill
The Cecil Beaton Collection
T.368-1974
Credit line
Given by Princess Stanislaus Radziwill
Bibliographic reference
Fashion : An Anthology by Cecil Beaton. London : H.M.S.O., 1971 218
Other number
30 - Model number
Collection
Accession number
T.368-1974

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Record createdSeptember 5, 2007
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