Advanced Search
80.13.3

80.13.3

Object: Dress
Brand: (French, founded 1914)
Designer: (1883 - 1971)
Date: 1926
Medium: Silk crepe
Country: France
Credit Line: Gift of Mrs. Georges Gudefin
Object number: 80.13.3
DescriptionLong sleeve chemise dress in peacock blue silk crepe; modified bateau neck, inset bib front with buttoned mock closure at left, shaped back shoulder yoke, drop waist; knee length skirt with narrow, stitched down box pleats; couture
Label Text:The simple silhouette of this dress belies a sophisticated design that incorporates construction details as subtle forms of embellishment. In addition to the shaped yoke and covered buttons, this technique is most evident at the dropped waistline: Chanel created the effect of a waistband by topstitching the box pleats, releasing them into soft gathers on the bodice, for a bloused effect. The precise rows of stitching evoke quilting, one of Chanel's signature motifs. She created several versions of this dress in woven and knit fabrics, using a single color for each one. The style recalls the functionality and uniformity of the attire she would have worn as a young schoolgirl, translated here into the streamlined modernism that defined much of Chanel's daywear.

In Collection(s)
Exhibitions:
  • Fashion & Textile History Gallery First Rotation
  • Sporting Life