Or are you looking for Search the Archives?

Please complete the form to email this item.

Evening dress and cape
  • Evening dress and cape
    Coco Chanel, born 1883 - died 1971
  • Enlarge image

Evening dress and cape

  • Place of origin:

    Paris (made)

  • Date:

    1937-1938 (designed)

  • Artist/Maker:

    Coco Chanel, born 1883 - died 1971 (designer)

  • Materials and Techniques:

    Silk satin and net embroidered with sequins, lined with satin

  • Credit Line:

    Given by Mrs Leo d'Erlanger

  • Museum number:

    T.87&A-1974

  • Gallery location:

    In Storage

Chanel created extravagant evening wear such as this sequinned dress and cape. The combination of glistening black sequins and scarlet satin panels is very dramatic. The rows of overlapping 'fish-scale' sequins emphasise the supple, falling lines of the outfit. The short, semi-circular cape has a scarlet satin lining.

Mrs Leo d'Erlanger wore this ensemble, which forms part of the Cecil Beaton Collection. Sir Cecil Beaton was a society photographer. With great energy and determination Beaton contacted the well-dressed élite of Europe and North America to help create this monument to the art of dress. The Collection was exhibited in 1971, accompanied by a catalogue that detailed its enormous range.

Physical description

Full length evening dress and cape of black net entirely covered with overlapping black sequins, and with a crimson satin double waistband and gores inset into the skirt. With a short and semi-circular shoulder cape of crimson silk satin with the outside entirely covered in overlapping black sequins as with the dress.

Dress with a sleeveless bodice and decolleté with straps. Side gusset of red scarlet. Side hook fastening attached to the bodice, and at the waist is a boned foundation panel.

The cape is lined with red satin. Round neck and hook fastening.

Place of Origin

Paris (made)

Date

1937-1938 (designed)

Artist/maker

Coco Chanel, born 1883 - died 1971 (designer)

Materials and Techniques

Silk satin and net embroidered with sequins, lined with satin

Descriptive line

Full length evening dress and cape of silk satin and net embroidered with sequins, designed by Coco Chanel, Paris, 1937-1938

Categories

Fashion; Women's clothes; Evening wear

Collection

Textiles and Fashion Collection

Large image request

Please confirm you are using these images within the following terms and conditions, by acknowledging each of the following key points:

Please let us know how you intend to use the images you will be downloading.