Mini-Dress thumbnail 1
Not currently on display at the V&A

Mini-Dress

1967 (made)
Artist/Maker
Place of origin

In 1964 the fashion press widely acclaimed Courrèges' Spring collection. He showed clean-cut clothes that included trouser suits with immaculately cut straight legs and streamlined jackets. The look was dubbed 'Space Age'. It was created by using heavyweight gaberdines by Nattier, an Italian manufacturer, and other heavy fabrics that maintained the rigid lines. This flared, daisy-patterned shift reflects the Courrèges look in the mid 1960s. A Courrèges house photograph shows a bronzed young model in a geometric haircut wearing an almost identical dress (model number 54). She wears short white gloves, long white socks and flat, wide-toed bar shoes.

This dress was worn by Princess Stanislaus Radziwill. It forms part of the Cecil Beaton Collection. This Collection was brought together by the society photographer Sir Cecil Beaton (1904-1980). With great energy and determination Beaton contacted the well-dressed elite of Europe and North America to help create this lasting monument to the art of dress. The Collection was exhibited in 1971, accompanied by a catalogue that detailed its enormous range.


Object details

Categories
Object type
Materials and techniques
Cotton and machine-embroidered organza, lined with silk
Brief description
Short flaring mini-dress of cotton and machine-embroidered organza, designed by André Courrèges, Paris, 1967
Physical description
Short flaring mini-dress of cotton and machine-embroidered organza. The round-necked, sleeveless dress fastens with a zip at the centre back. The semi-transparent embroidered organza panels are backed with flesh-coloured silk and the garment is lined in white silk. The pattern is arranged in wide bands alternating with panels of white and brown organza embroidered with daisies. The armholes, neck and the hem are edged with white daisies. It has the label COURREGES PARIS. This flared, daisy-patterned dress summarises the Courreges look of the mid-1960s.
Marks and inscriptions
'COURRÈGES PARIS' (Label on the inside of the centre front neck)
Credit line
Given by Princess Stanislaus Radziwill
Object history
This dress was worn by Princess Stanislaus Radziwill. It forms part of the Cecil Beaton Collection.With great energy and determination the late Sir Cecil Beaton contacted the well-dressed elite of Europe and America to bring this lasting monument to the art of dress. The collection was exhibited in 1971, accompanied by a catalogue which detailed its enormous range (catalogue number 59, page 22).
Production
Spring 1967
Summary
In 1964 the fashion press widely acclaimed Courrèges' Spring collection. He showed clean-cut clothes that included trouser suits with immaculately cut straight legs and streamlined jackets. The look was dubbed 'Space Age'. It was created by using heavyweight gaberdines by Nattier, an Italian manufacturer, and other heavy fabrics that maintained the rigid lines. This flared, daisy-patterned shift reflects the Courrèges look in the mid 1960s. A Courrèges house photograph shows a bronzed young model in a geometric haircut wearing an almost identical dress (model number 54). She wears short white gloves, long white socks and flat, wide-toed bar shoes.

This dress was worn by Princess Stanislaus Radziwill. It forms part of the Cecil Beaton Collection. This Collection was brought together by the society photographer Sir Cecil Beaton (1904-1980). With great energy and determination Beaton contacted the well-dressed elite of Europe and North America to help create this lasting monument to the art of dress. The Collection was exhibited in 1971, accompanied by a catalogue that detailed its enormous range.
Bibliographic reference
Fashion : An Anthology by Cecil Beaton. London : H.M.S.O., 1971 no. 59
Other number
54 - Model number
Collection
Accession number
T.100-1974

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 createdDecember 15, 1999
Record URL
Download as: JSON