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Thumbnail-size images of copyrighted artworks are displayed under fair use, in accordance with guidelines recommended by the Code of Best Practices in Fair Use for the Visual Arts, published by the College Art Association in February 2015.
Woman's dinner dress
Designed by: Elsa Schiaparelli (Italian (active in France), 1890–1973)
French
Summer or Fall 1939
Object Place: Paris, France
Medium/Technique
Silk, acrylic; plain weave (paired warps and wefts), embroidered with synthetic pearls, glass beads, rhinestones and metallic pins
Dimensions
Center back (dress): 142.87 cm (56 1/4 in.); Center back (slip) 44 in. (111.8 cm)
Credit Line
The Elizabeth Day McCormick Collection, by exchange
Accession Number1999.211a-b
NOT ON VIEW
CollectionsEurope, Fashion and Textiles
ClassificationsCostumes
Descriptiona) Orange crêpe dinner dress embroidered with scattered paired keys with pearls, beads, rhinestones, and metal thread. Puffed short sleeves, see-through pearls lattice through sleeves and around neck, embroidered bands around neck and sleeve edges made with pearls, beads, and rhinestones. Orange plastic zipper closure at center back and left side. b) Orange silk plain weave (crêpe de chine) slip with peach colored silk chiffon shoulder straps. Label: "Schiaparelli, 12 place Vendome, Paris, Automne 1939" "Made in France" (in dress) "85 Nicole" (in slip). According to "Shocking! The Art and Fashion of Elsa Schiaparelli," by Dilys E. Blum, this dress dates to the Summer 1939 collection.
ProvenancePurchased by the MFA at auction from George Costopulos Auctioneers, Woburn, MA, March 7, 1999.