Cocktail dress

Design House House of Vionnet French
 Designer Madeleine Vionnet French
 Retailer Hattie Carnegie, Inc. American

Not on view

Vionnet offered an ultimate performance in lithe equilibrium with a bodice constructed of one piece, seamed at the waist. All shaping is created by the graduated hexagons. Thus, Vionnet imposed form through the illusion of embellishment but carefully concealed a system of miniscule adjustments into the design of the tucking. This sublimated essential structure is akin to modern architecture's streamlined vocabulary of ornament to serve compositional needs.

Cocktail dress, House of Vionnet (French, active 1912–14; 1918–39), silk, metal, French

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Cocktail dress, House of Vionnet (French, active 1912–14; 1918–39), silk, metal, French
Cocktail dress, House of Vionnet (French, active 1912–14; 1918–39), silk, metal, French
Cocktail dress, House of Vionnet (French, active 1912–14; 1918–39), silk, metal, French

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