Evening ensemble

Designer Arnold Scaasi American, born Canada

ca. 1961

Not on view

Arnold Scaasi, the designer of this ball gown, is best known for his evening wear designs, worn by a long list of celebrity clients primarily during the 1960s through the 1980s. Scaasi's work incorporates lavish surface decoration, often in the form of floral trimming, bright colors and full silhouettes that extend the proportions of the body. Scaasi creations are rarely easy to ignore; their ostentatious quality has become a signature of the designer's work. This example, from the early period of the designer’s success, demonstrates his ability to pair a bold textile with a grand silhouette. The uniform graphic quality of the black-and-white butterfly pattern is broken up by the bright red lining of the cape. While the overall shape of the two garments show off the large-scale pattern to advantage, either piece could also be paired with other solid-colored garments to tone down the overall effect, if desired.

Artwork Details

Overview

Signatures, Inscriptions, and Markings

Title: Evening ensemble
Designer: Arnold Scaasi (American, born Montreal, Canada, 1931–2015)
Date: ca. 1961
Culture: American
Medium: silk
Credit Line: Brooklyn Museum Costume Collection at The Metropolitan Museum of Art, Gift of the Brooklyn Museum, 2009; Gift of Mrs. Mortimer J. Solomon, 1978
Object Number: 2009.300.987a, b
Curatorial Department: The Costume Institute

More Artwork

By Arnold Scaasi

In the same medium

From the same time and place

A slider containing 5 items.
Press the down key to skip to the last item.

Ball gown, Arnold Scaasi American, born Canada, silk, American — Ball gown
Arnold Scaasi
spring/summer 1988

Evening ensemble, Arnold Scaasi American, born Canada, silk, American — Evening ensemble
Arnold Scaasi
1984

Hat, Arnold Scaasi American, born Canada, Silk, American — Hat
Arnold Scaasi
1980

Evening ensemble, Arnold Scaasi American, born Canada, silk, fur, American — Evening ensemble
Arnold Scaasi
ca. 1958

Evening ensemble, Arnold Scaasi American, born Canada, silk, feathers, plastic, American — Evening ensemble
Arnold Scaasi
ca. 1970

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.