Ballgown
Designer
Charles James
(1906 - 1978)
1954-1955
Silk chiffon, silk satin, netting, and boning
Gift of Robert Wells In Memory of Lisa Kirk
Object number91.241.136
A true sculptor of fashion, Charles James would transform women by using boning, corsetry, and layers of fabric to create luxurious gowns with sophisticated silhouettes. French philosopher Gilles Lipovetsky asserts that couture "took a stand against standardization, against uniformity of appearance, against mass mimicry; it upheld and glorified the expression of personal differences."
DescriptionThe Bustle or Swan ballgown: strapless boned bodice in black chiffon draped in folds over white satin; floor length sweeping trained full skirt with layers of black, beige and brown net gathered into back bustle roll and forming wide polonaise or apron front swag; stiffened understructureCollections
Exhibitions