La Sylphide
Evening Dress
1937 (made)
1937 (made)
| Artist/Maker | |
| Place of origin |
This dress, called La Sylphide, was designed by the British-North American fashion designer Charles James (1906–1978), who worked in New York in the United States and London, England as well as Paris in France, where this dress is from.
James worked in a range of styles from the long bias-cut dresses so popular in these parts of the world in the 1930s to avant-garde creations to historically inspired outfits like La Sylphide. This name comes from a 19th-century French ballet, and while the thin pink straps and uneven hemline may have been modern touches, there are a number of further references to the 19th century, from the full skirt to the cinched waist. With the waistband James was referencing a specific form of 1860s corsetry worn under the bust.
This particular yellow and pink version of La Sylphide was worn by the British artist Marit Guinness Aschan as a young woman. She was one of James's long-term supporters. The couture design is also known to have been carried out in other colourways, such as mauve and white.
James worked in a range of styles from the long bias-cut dresses so popular in these parts of the world in the 1930s to avant-garde creations to historically inspired outfits like La Sylphide. This name comes from a 19th-century French ballet, and while the thin pink straps and uneven hemline may have been modern touches, there are a number of further references to the 19th century, from the full skirt to the cinched waist. With the waistband James was referencing a specific form of 1860s corsetry worn under the bust.
This particular yellow and pink version of La Sylphide was worn by the British artist Marit Guinness Aschan as a young woman. She was one of James's long-term supporters. The couture design is also known to have been carried out in other colourways, such as mauve and white.
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Object details
| Categories | |
| Object type | |
| Parts | This object consists of 3 parts.
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| Titles |
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| Materials and techniques | Silk organza and satin with artificial flowers |
| Brief description | La Sylphide, evening dress (dress, waistband and corsage), silk organza and satin with artificial flowers, designed by Charles James, Paris, France, 1937 |
| Physical description | Evening dress ensemble consisting of evening dress, waistband and corsage. Yellow silk organza gown with draped neckline and twisted shoulder straps designed to reveal the corsage of yellow and pale pink flowers and green leaves and the pale yellow silk satin bodice section with narrow pink straps. The full-length skirt is layered and full, and slightly shorter at the sides. The dress is cinched in at the waist with a pale yellow silk satin waistband, based on an underbust corset style from the 1860s often made from a colourful silk textile. |
| Object history | Purchased. Registered File number 1993/723. Worn by the British artist Marit Guinness Aschan as a young woman. |
| Summary | This dress, called La Sylphide, was designed by the British-North American fashion designer Charles James (1906–1978), who worked in New York in the United States and London, England as well as Paris in France, where this dress is from. James worked in a range of styles from the long bias-cut dresses so popular in these parts of the world in the 1930s to avant-garde creations to historically inspired outfits like La Sylphide. This name comes from a 19th-century French ballet, and while the thin pink straps and uneven hemline may have been modern touches, there are a number of further references to the 19th century, from the full skirt to the cinched waist. With the waistband James was referencing a specific form of 1860s corsetry worn under the bust. This particular yellow and pink version of La Sylphide was worn by the British artist Marit Guinness Aschan as a young woman. She was one of James's long-term supporters. The couture design is also known to have been carried out in other colourways, such as mauve and white. |
| Bibliographic references |
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| Collection | |
| Accession number | T.226:1 to 3-1993 |
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| Record created | June 24, 2009 |
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