Object: Dress
Designer:
Paul Poiret
(1879 - 1944)
Date: 1912
Medium: Purple silk damask, purple cotton velvet, and fuchsia silk cord
Country: France
Credit Line: Museum purchase
Object number: 2008.6.1
DescriptionMelodie afternoon dress in purple silk damask with triangular purple velvet knee length tunic attached at CF and CB neck and rounded patch pocket at R hip, contrasting fuchsia pink silk cord trim outlining tunic, neckline and pocket: round neckline with pleated white ruffle (not original to dress); round red, blue, tan Bakelite (?) button detail at CF neck; tapered full length sleeve cut in one with bodice; self covered buttons at cuff; tunic has hook and eye closure at L side seam; hook and eye closure at CB; straight silhouette; ankle length
Label Text:This dress belonged to Poiret’s wife Denise, who served as model and muse for her husband. Acknowledging her modernity, he stated, “In dressing Madame Poiret, I strive for omission, not addition.” The bold color palette and rectilinear design, stripped of ornamentation, are typical of her style, as is the girlish, pleated white collar. Inspired by her slim, un-corseted figure, Poiret eliminated the waistline and played with proportion, creating a silhouette that appears to elongate and flatten the body.
In Collection(s)
Exhibitions:
- Arbiters of Style
- Fashion Unraveled
- Trend-ology