Cocktail ensemble

Design House House of Dior French

fall/winter 1956–57

Not on view

Emphasis on a nipped waist was the primary characteristic of Christian Dior's designs. No matter which silhouette he chose, the slim sheath or the bouffant skirt, the narrow waist recurs in nearly every garment. In some garments, a contrast of proportions makes the waist appear smaller. In others, hip padding or a self belt heightens the effect. This day ensemble features another Dior hallmark, the cropped jacket, to create the same look. Paired with a box-pleated skirt, the jacket skims the waist, accentuating the hourglass shape.

Artwork Details

Object Information

Overview

Signatures, Inscriptions, and Markings

Title: Cocktail ensemble
Design House: House of Dior (French, founded 1946)
Designer: Christian Dior (French, Granville 1905–1957 Montecatini)
Date: fall/winter 1956–57
Culture: French
Medium: silk
Credit Line: Brooklyn Museum Costume Collection at The Metropolitan Museum of Art, Gift of the Brooklyn Museum, 2009; Gift of Mr. and Mrs. Gustave Gilbert, 1968
Object Number: 2009.300.460a–c
Curatorial Department: The Costume Institute

More Artwork

"Venus", House of Dior French, silk, sequins, rhinestones, simulated pearls, French — "Venus"
Couture Line House of Dior
Designer Christian Dior
fall/winter 1949–50 haute couture

Saint Peter's Seen From the Pincio, Rome, Henri-Joseph Harpignies French, Pen and black ink, brush, gray and blue-gray washes — Saint Peter's Seen From the Pincio, Rome
Henri-Joseph Harpignies
1856

Evening ensemble, Hanae Mori French, silk, Japanese — Evening ensemble
Design House Hanae Mori
Designer Hanae Mori
1966–69

"L'Eléphant Blanc", House of Dior French, silk, metallic thread, glass, plastic, French — "L'Eléphant Blanc"
Design House House of Dior
Designer Yves Saint Laurent
Manufacturer Rébè
spring/summer 1958

Costume Bell, metal, Possibly French — Costume Bell
Possibly French
19th century

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 contact us using the form below. The Museum looks forward to receiving your comments.

Send feedback

Content Notice

The Metropolitan Museum of Art presents over 5,000 years of art from around the world, and our online collection reflects ongoing work conducted over the course of our more than 150-year history. You may encounter objects or images that may be inappropriate for some viewers or information that may be outdated.