Vivid yellow strapless dress with cream underskirt. Worn by Kerstin Meyer as Frau Elisabeth von Zastrow in a production of The Rising of the Moon at Glyndebourne Opera House. Designed by Osbert Lancaster (1908-1986), 1970-1.

S.204:1-2018, Dress

Long lemon yellow and black silk strapless dress. The dress fits closely to the body from the bust to hip, widening out into a full skirt from this point, and extending into a train at the rear. It is lined with cream cotton and faced with a band of yellow polyester[?] (some 12cms in width) at the interior hem. A length of stiff pleated net has also been added at the interior hem of the skirt. Cotton tapes have also been used at the interior of the skirt to gather up the fabric and create a ‘bustle’ style silhouette. The interior of the bodice is stiffened with six channels of boning. It opens at the centre back where it is secured with a black lace fastening running in and out of a vertical row of 12 pairs of metal eyelets.

The dress is largely plain, but a wide floating, loosely pleated panel of yellow silk is draped across the skirt of the dress. It is formed from yellow silk and edged with lightweight black fabric. It rests at an angle from the proper right hip to the proper left side, flowing round to the rear of the dress where it is secured at the rear waist. Weights have been added to the underside of the panel to control the fall and drape of the panel.

Both the floating panel and the neckline are decorated with softly pleats lengths of black silk chiffon[?], and line of braid (which has been shaped and embellished with beading to form a stylised floral motif). A long hanging lightweight black sash, gathered into an oversized bow at the centre back waist, has been used to add interest to the rear of the dress. This black sash sits above and beside a shorter, hanging, yellow silk sash which is made from the same, and blends in with, the yellow silk used for the draped skirt of the dress.


S.204:2-2018, Underskirt

Long cream skirt trimmed with bands of black scallop edged machine lace at the hem. The skirt flares out from waist to hem and extends into a train at the rear.

Horizontal lengths of stiff pleated ‘crin’ [?] (an open weave plastic based fabric) have been applied to the rear of the skirt. These are positioned in a triangular panel at the centre back creating further fullness at this point and at the hem.

The skirt has a cream Petersham waistband and is fastened with 3 press studs and a pair of hooks and eyes at the centre back. It is not lined.

Given by Glyndebourne Productions Ltd

Vivid yellow strapless dress with cream underskirt. Worn by Kerstin Meyer as Frau Elisabeth von Zastrow in a production of The Rising of the Moon at Glyndebourne Opera House. Designed by Osbert Lancaster (1908-1986), 1970-1.

S.204:1, 2-2018