Ballgown
Designer
Charles James
(1906 - 1978)
1951
Black velvet and silk satin
Gift of Robert Wells In Memory of Lisa Kirk
Object number91.241.126
"Charles James is not only the greatest American couturier, but the world's best and only dressmaker who has raised it from an applied art to a pure art form." So wrote the great Spanish couturier, Cristobal Balenciaga, himself described by Dior as "the master of us all." James first designed the Petal Ballgown in 1949 for Millicent Rogers, but the dress didn't became truly famous until 1951, when Horst photographed it for Vogue: "The bodice is a long curving stem of black velvet above petals of black satin, above 25 yards of blowing, billowing white taffeta."
DescriptionThe Petal ballgown in black velvet and satin with contrast ivory satin skirt; fitted, boned velvet bodice with decollete sweetheart neckline and tapered straps; black satin hip yoke in petal shape; long flared and gathered skirt supported by structured underlining at hip; coutureCollections
Exhibitions