Woman's evening dress: Katisha-San

Designed by: John Galliano (British (born in Gibraltar in 1960; works in Paris))
For: House of Christian Dior (French, founded 1946)

French

Spring-Summer 2007

Object Place: Paris, France

Medium/Technique Silk satin and plain weave (faille) embroidered with silk and crystals

Dimensions Center back: 185.4 cm (73 in.)
Center front: 154.9 cm (61 in.)
Costume: 28 1/2 Bust 21 1/2 in. Waist (72.4 x 54.6 cm)

Credit Line Museum purchase with funds donated by the Fashion Council, Museum of Fine Arts Boston

Accession Number2007.828

NOT ON VIEW

CollectionsEurope, Contemporary Art, Fashion and Textiles

ClassificationsCostumes

Since being hired by Christian Dior in 1996, John Galliano's designs for the Dior couture and ready-to-wear collections, as well as his eccentric personality, have brought increasing fame and profitability to the house. Galliano designed the dress Katisha-san for the Dior Spring/Summer 2007 Couture collection, drawing inspiration from the Puccini opera Madame Butterfly and from Japanese design. Here, Japanese decorative themes such as chrysanthemums and bamboo are paired with a silhouette reminiscent of the elaborate ball gowns of Christian Dior, demonstrating Galliano's ability to combine diverse sources of inspiration and to create a dress of extraordinary beauty.

DescriptionStrapless evening dress (Look 27 from Origami Couture collection, Spring/Summer 2007) of white silk satin; with red faille drape around skirt and watteau-like back pleats; white satin embroidered with Swarowski crystals (embroidered by Montex) and red faille embroidered with green bamboo and Japanese decorative motives in thick twist silk (embroidered by Muller); White silk satin woven by Taroni (Como, Italy) and red faille woven by Veraseta (Charlieu, France). Created in the Couture Atelier of Dior, 300 hours of work.

ProvenancePurchased from Christian Dior Couture by the MFA (Accession Date: December 12, 2007)