Evening dress
Brand
Balenciaga
(French, founded 1937)
Designer
Cristóbal Balenciaga
(1895 - 1972)
1951-1952
Silk jersey, silk faille, and sequin and jet beaded lace
Gift of Noma Copley
Object number84.114.5
According to the philosopher Gilles Lipovetsky, women of the 1950s "aspired to be supreme embodiments of luxurious elegance and refined chic." Certainly Balenciaga was a master of this look. Here, he balances the weight of this fully beaded skirt with a delicate silk jersey top, creating a graceful, harmonious effect.
DescriptionShort evening dress: black silk jersey and black silk faille with jet beaded black lace overlay; jersey bodice; jewel neckline; back bodice with center seam and princess waist darts; long, fitted sleeves with zipper closing wrists; underarm gusset; one piece front with princess waist darts; 2.5 cm faille waist tie; six gore, below the knee length 1/2 circle skirt two black taffeta and horse hair petticoats; center back neckline and left side seam zipper closingCollections
Exhibitions