The Raffia Dress
Dress
2000 (made)
2000 (made)
| Artist/Maker | |
| Place of origin |
By deconstructing the dress’s traditional silhouette Alexander McQueen challenges tradition. Here McQueen employs a sculptural shape that while exquisitely constructed, emphasises a disconcerting asymmetry. Thus in McQueen’s hands the dress has moved well beyond a conventional interpretation of a wardrobe staple. McQueen graduated from Central St. Martin’s School of Art in 1992, before launching his own label in 1994. He has developed a reputation for imaginative, bold design, which is combined with an in-depth knowledge of tailoring, owing to the training he received at the Savile Row tailor Anderson & Sheppard.
Object details
| Categories | |
| Object type | |
| Title | The Raffia Dress (popular title) |
| Materials and techniques | Machine-stitched woven rayon |
| Brief description | Dress (known as the "Raffia Dress"), designed by Alexander McQueen in Paris, made in Italy, 2000. |
| Physical description | Asymmetrical dress made of black and white "tweed-woven" rayon. The bodice is off the shoulders and sleeveless. The waist is gathered on an elastic band. The skirt flares on one side only and is longer and pointed at the back. |
| Dimensions |
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| Production type | Haute couture |
| Marks and inscriptions |
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| Credit line | Given by Alexander McQueen |
| Object history | also called the "Raffia Dress" Historical significance: An interpretation of Balenciaga's geometrical cut. Interesting new version of British traditional tweed. This dress is also called the "Raffia Dress" because of the physical aspect of the fabric. |
| Historical context | Was featured in Fashion in Motion at the V&A in July 1999 |
| Summary | By deconstructing the dress’s traditional silhouette Alexander McQueen challenges tradition. Here McQueen employs a sculptural shape that while exquisitely constructed, emphasises a disconcerting asymmetry. Thus in McQueen’s hands the dress has moved well beyond a conventional interpretation of a wardrobe staple. McQueen graduated from Central St. Martin’s School of Art in 1992, before launching his own label in 1994. He has developed a reputation for imaginative, bold design, which is combined with an in-depth knowledge of tailoring, owing to the training he received at the Savile Row tailor Anderson & Sheppard. |
| Collection | |
| Accession number | T.919-2000 |
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| Record created | November 27, 2000 |
| Record URL |
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