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EVENING DRESS

Creator(s): Oldric Royce, Inc. (Designer)

Currently in storage


About this object

This full-length evening dress illustrates the "New Look" created by Christian Dior in Paris in 1947. His designs featured natural shoulders, cinched waists, and full stiffened skirts, elements that were major influences on women's dress styles during the 1950s.

This pale pink and purple evening dress is cut in a princess line. The boned bodice has narrow shoulder straps concealed by wide, winged epaulettes. Epaulettes are edged in purple velvet and trimmed with cut purple lace and sequins. A wide band of velvet at the hem continues through the skirt in seven vertical sections ending at the waist in inverted box pleats. Each section is edged with shaped lace, extending beyond the waist into the bodice, and domed sequins. The pink sections of the skirt are decorated with iridescent purple, flat sequins. The dress is fully lined with pink satin acetate stiffened with a 15" band of paper felt and a 5" band of horsehair at hem. Four sections of gathered net are applied to the lining below the waist to maintain the bell shape of the skirt. The garment has a gros-grain waist tape and closes at center back with a metal zipper.

Object name:
EVENING DRESS
Made from:
Silk faille -- velvet -- cotton lace -- sequins
Made in:
New York, USA
Date made:
1958-1962
Size:
H. 16 1/2 in. (shoulder to waist front); H. 16 in. (shoulder to waist back); Dia. 28 in. (waist); H. 41 1/2 in. (waist to hem front); H. 43 1/2 in. (waist to hem back); Dia. 204 in. (hem)

Detailed information for this item

Catalog number:
48.120
Signature marks:
LABEL: Oldric / Royce inc. / NEW YORK [in side seam of skirt]
Credit line:
Bequest of Marjorie Merriweather Post, 1973