Cosmos thumbnail 1
Cosmos thumbnail 2
+13
images
Not on display

This object consists of 6 parts, some of which may be located elsewhere.

Cosmos

Ensemble
1967 (made)
Artist/Maker
Place of origin

Pierre Cardin regarded his 'Cosmos outfits' as the style of the year. This outfit forms part of the Cecil Beaton Collection, 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
Parts
This object consists of 6 parts.

  • Tunic
  • Trousers
  • Sweater
  • Belt
  • Boot
  • Boot
TitleCosmos
Materials and techniques
Woollen jersey, with patent leather belt and boots
Brief description
Man's ensemble of white wool jersey tunic, black wool jersey trousers, black wool roll neck sweater, black leather belt, black ankle boots; French, 1967.
Physical description
White wool jersey tunic, sleeveless, with metal zippers, worn over black ribbed poloneck sweater and black jersey ski trousers. Leather belt with lead buckle and black patent leather ankle boots with large circular pattern tops.
Dimensions
  • Shoe's height height: 23cm
  • Shoe's width width: 10.2cm
  • Shoe's length length: 30.5cm
Production typeHaute couture
Gallery label
(2015-2016)
Label for the exhibition Shoes: Pleasure and Pain
Men in Space
In the 1960s, French fashion designer Pierre Cardin tapped into the vogue for space-age style and championed the return of the boot. His bold, futuristic designs for active young men and women featured shiny, show-stopping boots that were also practical. Materials for footwear underwent radical changes in this period. The zipper closure became
a fashion feature and was quickly copied by many other manufacturers.

Men’s ankle boots
1967
France
Pierre Cardin
Patent leather
Given by Pierre Cardin
V&A: T.703D&E-1974
Credit line
Given by the designer
Production
Autumn/Winter 1967
Summary
Pierre Cardin regarded his 'Cosmos outfits' as the style of the year. This outfit forms part of the Cecil Beaton Collection, 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.
Associated object
Bibliographic reference
Fashion : An Anthology by Cecil Beaton. London : H.M.S.O., 1971 264
Collection
Accession number
T.703 to C-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: JSONIIIF Manifest