"Tulip"
The challenge of this design, as James noted, was to achieve an elegant effect despite the difficulty of mounting a voluminous flounce of stiff faille on a narrow sheath of supple black satin. An organza underlining supporting the satin and an interior horsehair roll causing the fountain-like upward lift of the tulip flounce contributed to its artistic resolution. James made this one-of-a kind dress for the prominent Washington, D.C., hostess Mrs. Sidney Kent Legare. He noted that only a woman of great distinction could carry the “contrasting moods of sobriety and suggestiveness” of the dress.
Artwork Details
- Title: "Tulip"
- Designer: Charles James (American, born Great Britain, 1906–1978)
- Date: 1949
- Culture: American
- Medium: silk, horsehair
- Credit Line: Gift of Elizabeth de Cuevas, 2015
- Object Number: 2015.552
- Curatorial Department: The Costume Institute
More Artwork
Related Content
Publications
Books, guides, and catalogues published by The Met.
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.