Jacket
Brand
Christian Dior
(French, founded 1947)
1960-1963
Leopard fur and silk
Gift of Mrs. Sylvia Slifka
Object number91.121.2
In 1962, First Lady Jacqueline Kennedy had a leopard pelt made into a coat by Oleg Cassini, sparking a massive trend for this exotic fur that led to the near extinction of the great cat. Fur has historically been a potent power symbol across cultures, from African tribes to the courts of Europe. Rebecca Arnold sees the lure of fur as “the fantasy of power tinged with the cruelty of the kill.”
DescriptionBelow hip length jacket in brown, beige and cream leopard fur with notched collar; slightly fitted with princess seams; 3/4 length sleevesCollections
Exhibitions