Dress
The success of Christian Dior's company during the 1950s relied in part upon his shrewd use of licensing agreements and the ready-to-wear line Dior quickly developed after launching his debut collection in 1947. Christian Dior-New York began in 1948, this dress may be among the first pieces sold under that label.
The ready-to-wear line allowed a new group of consumers who did not wear couture to purchase Dior garments. This dinner dress retains many of the Dior hallmarks: the full, pleated skirt, bracelet-length sleeves and high breast pockets. The soutache braid creates a striking visual effect. The fact that the dress was never altered from its original "New Look" length makes it a rare survivor from the earliest period of Dior prêt-à-porter.
The ready-to-wear line allowed a new group of consumers who did not wear couture to purchase Dior garments. This dinner dress retains many of the Dior hallmarks: the full, pleated skirt, bracelet-length sleeves and high breast pockets. The soutache braid creates a striking visual effect. The fact that the dress was never altered from its original "New Look" length makes it a rare survivor from the earliest period of Dior prêt-à-porter.
Artwork Details
- Title: Dress
- Design House: House of Dior (French, founded 1946)
- Designer: Christian Dior (French, Granville 1905–1957 Montecatini)
- Secondary Line: Christian Dior, New York (American, founded 1948)
- Date: 1948–49
- Culture: American
- Medium: silk, wool
- Credit Line: Brooklyn Museum Costume Collection at The Metropolitan Museum of Art, Gift of the Brooklyn Museum, 2009; Gift of Virginia Rice, 1971
- Object Number: 2009.300.494
- Curatorial Department: The Costume Institute
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Multiple artists/makers
fall/winter 1961–62
House of Dior
Marc Bohan
1980s
House of Dior
Christian Dior
spring/summer 1955
House of Dior
Gianfranco Ferré
spring/summer 1993
House of Dior
Gianfranco Ferré
1990–97
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