Evening dress

The decade following WWI was a period of great exuberance and liberation in France and America. Victorious in war, united in cause, and—in the case of American women—celebrating the newfound right to vote, civilians were eager for outlets of leisure and entertainment. The arts underwent a renaissance, particularly within the genres of film, music, and dance, which led to a flourishing of nightlife culture. Nowhere were these changes in lifestyle reflected more overtly than in women’s dress. Undergarments continued to become streamlined, cumbersome layers were reduced, and an array of erogenous zones were revealed in turn, as garment cuts and lengths oscillated throughout the decade. Perhaps the only constant in clothing was its variety. Eveningwear from the 1920s is particularly notable for the opulent beadwork, fringe, and embellishment that was produced by the nimble hands of the specialist métiers working at their height in advance of WWII. This splendidly beaded dress synthesizes the contemporaneous interests in decadence and motion. Each of the lightweight chiffon tiers has been weighted with a glittering constellation of beads. The embroidery extends beyond the overlap of every layer to convey the impression of continuous embellishment when the garment shifts position.