Evening ensemble
Design House Yves Saint Laurent French
Designer Yves Saint Laurent French, born Algeria
Not on view
Although heavily beaded silk jersey bodices from the late 19th century survive in The Costume Institute collection, the earliest couture manifestation of the cardigan for evening is generally ascribed to Mainbocher's beaded sweater sets of the early 1946s. His design was a response to the chilly rooms that were a consequence of the fuel rationing of the war years. Saint Laurent's "cardigan" is in fact not a sweater, but rather a trompe l'oeil tour de force of the embroiderer's art. Beaded to suggest the motives and ribbing of a fair isle patterned cardigan, the untailored jacket is worn over an informal evening pant ensemble.
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