Dress
Brand
Christian Dior
(French, founded 1947)
Designer
John Galliano
(British, born 1960)
Spring 2001
Silk taffeta, net, crepe de chine, and orange plastic
Museum purchase
Object number2002.15.1
Camouflage is an integral part of military combat gear as well as an important motif within the world of fashion. John Galliano brings street credibility to the venerable French fashion house of Christian Dior by applying a military pattern to a silk evening gown. But camouflage has many other symbolic attributes: antiwar protestors in the 1960s wore camouflage to ironic effect, while in more recent years hip hop performers and fans have adopted it, both because army/navy surplus stores were inexpensive and because military uniforms and combat gear conveyed a tough, hyper-masculine allure. The plastic trim in brilliant emergency orange adds to the drama of this ensemble.
DescriptionCamouflage evening dress; long asymmetrical sheath in khaki, black and green camouflage print silk; taffeta halter bodice with self ruffle and dotted net overlay, long skirt in bias cut crepe de chine; large orange plastic zippers for strap, closures and trim, with logo zipper pullCollections
Exhibitions