Evening dress
Designer
Grès
(French)
c. 1980
Silk paper taffeta
Gift of Mildred Hilson
Object number82.234.3
This navy blue gown with two huge sleeves is an example of the paper taffeta garments that Madame Grès was making in great number by the 1970s, a variation on her method of molding crisp, lightweight fabrics into sculpted forms. She highlighted volume by choosing dark, neutral, or muted earth tones. All of Grès's paper taffeta garments are subtle in both color and silhouette, with contrasting, dramatic sleeves and bodices.
DescriptionLong evening cape dress in navy blue silk tissue taffeta; round neck, empire bodice with exaggerated bishop sleeves attached to sleeveless underbodice, for full length draped cape effect over slightly A-line skirtExhibitions