Costume thumbnail 1
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Image of Gallery in South Kensington
On display at V&A South Kensington
Tapestries, Room 94

Costume

ca. 2007 (designed)
Artist/Maker
Place of origin

The toile for this dress was worn by British music artist PJ Harvey for the cover art of her seventh studio album White Chalk, released in 2007. Harvey's collaborator Annie Mochnacz designed and made this and other dresses in the same style to be worn by Harvey to support this album release. They were worn on tour and for promotional artwork.

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watch Conserving a PJ Harvey costume In this ASMR video, watch and listen to Senior Textile Conservator Susana Fajardo as she works on a costume worn by musician PJ Harvey on the cover of her seventh studio album, 'White Chalk'.

Object details

Categories
Object type
Materials and techniques
Cotton and silk; machine embroidery, machine sewing and appliqué
Brief description
Off-white dress with embroidered and appliquéd lyrics worn by PJ Harvey
Physical description
Off-white American West style full-length dress with high neckline, structured bodice and leg of mutton sleeves. The dress features a selection of words and lyrics from the PJ Harvey songs The Devil and Grow Grow Grow from her 2007 album White Chalk. The words are appliquéd and machine embroidered onto the surface on the bodice, sleeves and skirt in dark blue cotton thread. Pieces of off-white silk have been applied to the skirt and bodice, which is fitted at the back with a line of small black buttons with loop closures.
Production typeUnique
Gallery label
Gallery Rotation, 2022 LYRICS DRESS WORN BY PJ HARVEY 2007 With its high neckline, structured waist and leg-of-mutton sleeves, this stage outfit worn by PJ Harvey is reminiscent of a Victorian dress. The ‘unfinished’ nature of the construction and the bold addition of Harvey’s lyrics embroidered on the surface give it a contemporary twist. It was designed and made by the musician’s longtime collaborator, Annie Mochnacz. Designed and made by Annie Mochnacz Cotton and silk Polly Harvey Archive, given by the artist Museum no. S.149-2021(07/03/2022)
Credit line
Polly Harvey Archive, given by the artist
Object history
This dress was worn for promotional images and touring shows supporting the release of PJ Harvey's album White Chalk.
Summary
The toile for this dress was worn by British music artist PJ Harvey for the cover art of her seventh studio album White Chalk, released in 2007. Harvey's collaborator Annie Mochnacz designed and made this and other dresses in the same style to be worn by Harvey to support this album release. They were worn on tour and for promotional artwork.
Collection
Accession number
S.149-2021

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Record createdDecember 20, 2019
Record URL
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