Ensemble

Design House Gucci Italian
Designer Tom Ford American
fall/winter 1996–97
Not on view
Tom Ford's fall/winter 1996–97 collection for Gucci was a watershed moment which brought a sensual minimalism and hedonist flair to the second half of a decade primarily defined by grunge and deconstructionist aesthetics. The ovoid hole in the floor-length and long-sleeved dress, reveals Ford's signature thong hugging the waist. The Gucci thong precipitated a wave of logomania. Vogue dubbed Ford's seminal collection the "equivalent of a one-night stand at Studio 54" and this body-conscious gown is indeed a nod to the 1970s aesthetic of American minimalist Halston, renowned for his glamorous designs for the Studio 54 crowd.

Artwork Details

Object Information
  • Title: Ensemble
  • Design House: Gucci (Italian, founded 1921)
  • Designer: Tom Ford (American, born 1961)
  • Date: fall/winter 1996–97
  • Culture: Italian
  • Medium: (a) silk, (b) silk, metal
  • Credit Line: Purchase, Friends of The Costume Institute Gifts, 2019
  • Object Number: 2019.370a, b
  • Curatorial Department: The Costume Institute

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