Man's theatrical costume
1910
Silk velvet, silk satin, metallic, and cotton
Museum purchase
Object number2014.1.1
Léon Bakst's costume for a Young Man was created for Diaghilev's Ballets Russes 1910 production of 'Schéhérazade'. The costumes and sets for 'Schéhérazade' were pivotal in launching a vogue for Orientalist style. As Cecil Beaton recalled: “A fashion world that had been dominated by corsets, lace, feathers, and pastel shades soon found itself in a city that overnight had become a seraglio of vivid colours, harem skirts, beads, fringes, and voluptuousness . . . all of which could be traced back to Bakst.”
DescriptionMan's Orientalist style dance costume designed by Leon Bakst for Diaghilev's Ballets Russes Scheherazade; moss green bolero in silk velvet, slit at long sleeves and tarnished metallic braid trim; brown harem pants in polished cottonExhibitions