Satin evening dress, probably designed by Madeleine Vionnet, France, 1928-1929

Pink satin sleeveless evening dress. With a low V-neckline, and a medium-low waist with three hanging panels cut on the cross in front. The back of the bodice drapes across, and the two side panels of the skirt are longer than the centre panel. The bodice front is lined with chiffon.

This dress was worn by Miss Emilie Grigsby (1876-1964) who was a wealthy independent American who came to England from New York. She established a salon which was frequented by writers and the military. She was considered to be one of the great international beauties, with extremely pale, almost transparent skin and golden hair. She was frequently the subject of articles in the New York Times during the early 20th century. Her clothes were purchased from couturiers in London, Paris, and New York, and demonstrated an elegantly avant-garde approach to style.

At the time of acquisition Emilie Grigsby's friend, Miss Chisholm, stated that this dress was a Vionnet. An unidentified curator at the time queried this, expressing their feeling that the finish of the dress did not seem good enough. (typed but unsigned comment on record of acquisition, typing contemporary with rest of record made in 1967-68). The collection includes three other possible Vionnets. (T.170-1967, T.171-1967 and T.173&A-1967)

T.169-1967