Evening dress
By the 1920s, Gabrielle Chanel had established a reputation as a designer of pared-down and functional clothing, often with a linear silhouette. In the 1930s, however, she frequently used lace or tulle to bring a softer look and romantic feeling to her evening wear, while still following her characteristic design principles. The curved piecing at the hipline mirrors the round neckline of this dress. The simple shield shape of the scarf allows for graceful draping in a variety of ways over the bodice. Black lace was a signature textile used by Chanel in the 1930s, yet this example stands out because of the bold pattern. Rather than a conventional delicate mesh ground, the strong floral motifs in the lace are joined with bars embroidered with black thread for additional texture. Tulle layers beneath the lace overlayer in the skirt add to the overall dimensionality of the dress. It is this level of detail that sets a couture garment designed by Chanel apart from her many imitators.
Artwork Details
- Title: Evening dress
- Design House: House of Chanel (French, founded 1910)
- Designer: Gabrielle Chanel (French, Saumur 1883–1971 Paris)
- Date: ca. 1930
- Culture: French
- Medium: silk, rhinestones
- Credit Line: Brooklyn Museum Costume Collection at The Metropolitan Museum of Art, Gift of the Brooklyn Museum, 2009; Gift of Mrs. Richard Fox, 1964
- Object Number: 2009.300.3257a, b
- Curatorial Department: The Costume Institute
More Artwork
A slider containing 5 items.
Press the down key to skip to the last item.
Press the down key to skip to the last item.
Multiple artists/makers
fall/winter 1987–88
Multiple artists/makers
spring/summer 2009–10
Multiple artists/makers
fall/winter 2012–13
House of Chanel
Gabrielle Chanel
1937
House of Chanel
Gabrielle Chanel
1937–38
Research Resources
The Met provides unparalleled resources for research and welcomes an international community of students and scholars. The Met's Open Access API is where creators and researchers can connect to the The Met collection. Open Access data and public domain images are available for unrestricted commercial and noncommercial use without permission or fee.
To request images under copyright and other restrictions, please use this Image Request form.
Feedback
We continue to research and examine historical and cultural context for objects in The Met collection. If you have comments or questions about this object record, please complete and submit this form. The Museum looks forward to receiving your comments.