Dress
Brand
Traina-Norell
(American, 1941 - 1960)
Designer
Norell
(1900 - 1972)
c. 1955
Silk, multicolor and metallic embroidery
Gift of Mildred Morton
Object number76.113.3
The full skirt and streamlined bodice of this dress provide the perfect medium to showcase this opulent fabric. Light blue silk is woven with an intricate Indo-Chinese floral brocade reminiscent of eighteenth-century bizarre silks. Norell enhances an otherwise casual bateau neckline and short sleeves with an elaborate trim similar to that found on saris. He demonstrates a keen sense for combining day and evening elements, producing in turn a garment that Vogue called "as exquisite a dress as any women in the world could own." Norell takes an imaginative approach to the romantic historicism and exclusive luxury that characterized eveningwear of the 1950s.
DescriptionLong dinner dress in richly embroidered light green silk with multicolor and gold metallic floral design; short sleeves with bateau neck, full skirt; matching belt, coordinating full length flared half slipExhibitions