Medium: Black sheer polyester; opalescent sequins

Date: Spring 1998

Country: Japan

Credit: Gift of Barneys, New York

Yamamoto is known for his use of black; to be sure, his initial work focused on a black-on-black aesthetic. His palette, though, has evolved over the years to incluce other bold colors, such as red and white. Black's symbolic associations include authority, power, and, specifically in fashion, sophistication and chic. Yamamoto's choice of black in this case acknowledges the garment's primary function - that of commanding eveningwear. Surprising, though, is his use of a decorative "leaf" of iridescnet paillettes, which evoke the preciousness of opals. With the capability of emitting brilliant flashes of multicolored light, both opals and Yamamoto's paillettes serve to excite the designer's understated glamour.

Object Number: 99.100.2