Dress
Designer
Claire McCardell
(1905 - 1958)
1950
Cotton
Gift of Barbie Weinstock
Object number87.51.1
By the 1950s, New York led the trend for modern sportswear, specializing in informal, functional clothing in practical materials for a younger market. Designs by Claire McCardell were instrumental to womens wear, and included stylish garments in calico, denim, stretch jerseys, and printed cottons that wrapped, buckled, or snapped around the body. Designed under her own name for the Townley label from 1940, the cotton shirtwaist dress was a mainstay of McCardell’s collections. This example from 1950 was made using a striped and rose-patterned print.
DescriptionSummer shirtwaist dress in sheer white cotton printed with large floral and plaid design in pink, blue and black; convertible collar, bias cut bodice with short puffed kimono sleeves, full pleated skirt; CF buttonsCollections
Exhibitions