Evening Dress thumbnail 1
Evening Dress thumbnail 2
+5
images
Not on display

This object consists of 11 parts, some of which may be located elsewhere.

Evening Dress

early 1983 (designed), June 1983 (worn)
Artist/Maker
Rayne (shoemakers)
Zandra Rhodes (designer)
Place of origin
Great Britain (made)

The ensemble, complete with earrings, shoes, and sequined and feathered face mask, was worn by the donor to the Sutton House 'All White Ball' held in June 1983. Rhodes studied textiles at the Royal College of Art. Her first solo collection was in 1967. She is especially known for her ethereal special-occasion clothing and for her fabrics, shapes and colours.

Object details

Categories
Fashion
Womenswear
Evening Wear
Clothing
Textiles
Object type
Evening dress
Parts
This object consists of 11 parts.

  • Dress
  • Petticoat
  • Bag
  • Sash
  • Sash
  • Mask
  • Shoe
  • Shoe
  • Necklace
  • Earring
  • Earring
Materials and techniques
Silk chiffon, screen-printed and pleated; rayon; silk satin, mother-of-pearl, feathers, sequins, and glitter.
Silk Chiffon
Mother of Pearl
Rayon
Silk Satin
Feathers
Sequins
Glitter
Screen Printing
Pleating
Brief description
Masquerade ball gown, Zandra Rhodes, Great Britain, early 1983
Physical description
Evening dress of white silk chiffon, screen-printed. Long sleeves, full-skirted dress with smocked and elasticated waist. Flowing handkerchief capes attached to shoulders and armholes draping over shoulders and arms. Trimmed with beads, shells sanded down to the mother-of-pearl layer and carved mother-of-pearl bird's wings. The ensemble includes a white rayon petticoat, white pleated silk chiffon drawstring 'Dorothy' bag with frills at the base and top, two white silk satin sashes, a masquerade mask of white silk with sequins, glitter and feathers, a pair of white satin shoes, and necklace and earrings in pearls and diamanté.
Production typeHaute couture
Gallery label
(1988)
EVENING ENSEMBLE
BALL GOWN, BAG AND MASK
English, Zandra Rhodes, London, June 1983

Printed white on white silk chiffon, trimmed with pearled beads, diamond pastes and carved mother-of-pearl shells and bird wings. The ensemble was worn by the donor to the 'All White Ball' held at Sutton Place in 1983.

It is immediately recognisable as a design by Zandra Rhodes from its delicate printed tracery, flying shoulder panels and crinoline skirts. The gown is further enhanced by the subtle gleam and shimmer of the pastes and mother-of-pearl. The same attention to detail is apparent on the elegant mask, which has additional decoration of feathers, ribbons and artificial pearls.

Worn and given by Mrs V. Parness
T.225 to K-1985
Credit line
Given by Mrs V. Parness
Object history
Worn to the Sutton House 'All White Ball' by the donor. (June 1983)
Summary
The ensemble, complete with earrings, shoes, and sequined and feathered face mask, was worn by the donor to the Sutton House 'All White Ball' held in June 1983. Rhodes studied textiles at the Royal College of Art. Her first solo collection was in 1967. She is especially known for her ethereal special-occasion clothing and for her fabrics, shapes and colours.
Associated object
Bibliographic reference
De la Haye, Amy (ed). The Cutting Edge: 50 Years of British Fashion 1947-1997. London: V&A Publications, 1997.
Collection
Textiles and Fashion Collection
Accession number
T.225&A to K-1985

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 createdOctober 7, 2003
Record URL
https://collections.vam.ac.uk/item/O84695/evening-dress-zandra-rhodes/
Download as: JSON