"Parasol Sun Dress"

During her twenty-year career in fashion, from 1944 to 1964, Carolyn Schnurer (1908-1998) was a pioneer in the newly emerging American sportswear industry. Directing her designs toward young active women, Schnurer developed coordinates and dresses that were unfussy, required minimal foundation garments and could be worn for a variety of occasions. Particularly renowned for her culturally-inspired resort collections, rather than a blatantly costumed appearance, Schnurer's designs typically featured one or two understated thematic details in the cut or fabric while maintaining a classic American silhouette.

With the "Flight to Japan" collection, Schnurer drew upon array of Japanese material including costume, decorative arts, architectural design and everyday functional items. The elegant line of the "Parasol Sun Dress", for example, incorporates a parasol-inspired hem with a cropped kimono-tie jacket.