Object: Cocktail ensemble
Brand:
Liberty of London
(British, founded 1875)
Designer:
Scaasi
(1930 - 2015)
Retailer:
Bergdorf Goodman
(American, founded 1899)
Date: 1961
Medium: Liberty of London print silk
Country: USA
Credit Line: Gift of Mrs. Alfred Freen
Object number: 75.92.1
DescriptionShort, strapless bouffant cocktail dress, sash, and fringed triangular shawl in Liberty silk with oversize floral print in bright pink, magenta and purple; long torso with asymmetrical right neckline outlining single floral motif
Label Text:Born Arnold Isaacs, Arnold Scaasi worked as an assistant to Charles James in the early 1950s. He began designing under his own name in 1956, and achieved early success—winning a Coty Award in 1958—for his contributions to American fashion. Scaasi was known for using the finest materials, as seen in this vibrant Liberty of London print silk. This bold cocktail ensemble appears pristine at first glance, but its design was cleverly modified by its wearer. The top portion of the shawl was skillfully removed and refashioned into a fringed belt, adding greater emphasis to the waist.
In Collection(s)
Exhibitions:
- Fashion Unraveled
- Fashion, A-Z: Highlights from the Collection of the Museum at FIT (Part Two)
- Scaasi: Exuberant Fashion