Woman's dress

English

about 1969

Object Place: England

Medium/Technique Silk plain weave, tie-dyed and printed; metallic and silk yarn embroidery; sequins; plastic
Ground fabric - silk / Green embroidery yarn - rayon

Dimensions Center back: 151.8 cm (59 3/4 in.)
Center front: 133.4 cm (52 1/2 in.)

Credit Line Museum purchase with funds donated by Doris May and Jane Pappalardo

Accession Number2010.533

NOT ON VIEW

CollectionsEurope, Contemporary Art, Fashion and Textiles

ClassificationsCostumes

DescriptionDress of yellow silk imported from Rajasthan, India, resist died (tie-dyed) and embroidered with silk and metallic yarns in Indian-inspired motifs. The metallic threads are embroidered in chain stitch while the silk threads act as "filler." The resist areas are printed with small blue and red circles. The bodice has a square neckline with front zipper to below natural waist (a row of ornamental silk buttons covers the zipper). Straight skirt is dyed with two roundels at center front, embroidered, and then falls to a serrated flounce, further embroidered. A final tier is dyed and embroidered in a similar fashion to the rest of the dress and is cut straight at the hem. The back hem is left unembroidered. Large balloon sleeves with small puffs at shoulders terminate in snaps at the cuffs and feature bands of embroidery around the upper arm. Attached silk slip. Labeled at front left bodice: "Made in Italy for / Giorgio / Beverly Hills" and at center rear back: "Thea Porter / London / Made in England / Dry Clean / Only"

Provenance2010, consigned anonymously to Cameron Silver of Decades, Inc., Los Angeles; purchased from Decades by the MFA (Accession date: June 16, 2010)