Joséphine-Éléonore-Marie-Pauline de Galard de Brassac de Béarn (1825–1860), Princesse de Broglie
Jean-Auguste-Dominique Ingres (French, Montauban 1780–1867 Paris)
Date:1851–53
Culture:French
beautiful!
Dress, Evening
Peggy Hoyt (American, 1893–1937)
Date: spring/summer 1928
Culture: American
Medium: silk, rhinestones
Peggy Hoyt entered the world of fashion as an apprentice in a Fifth Avenue millinery shop at the age of 17. With $300, she established her own shop, Peggy Hoyt, Inc. on Fifth Avenue. Focusing on millinery, Hoyt did not branch into designing women’s clothing until after World War I, but when she did, she opened the doors to greater success. Her designs were creative and unique, rivaling the French dressmakers. Designing each one of her creations, whether hats or dresses, Hoyt took great pride in her work which was worn by a small and exclusive group.
Dress, Evening
Martha Weathered, Inc.
Date: ca. 1925
Culture: American
Medium: silk, metal, rhinestones
Dress, Evening
Date: ca. 1925
Culture: French
Medium: cotton
This evening dress, in the style of the 1920s, has outstanding visual appeal. During this period, the waistline dropped and the hemline rose, indicating a more modern woman. While liberated, she was still feminine and this dress is the perfect expression of that, exemplified with the fine floral beading. The wreaths of pink flowers and swags of greenery are a rather dainty design, exquisitely executed, and bring about an innocent beauty to the dress.
cute!
Dress, Evening
House of Chanel (French, founded 1913)
Designer: Gabrielle “Coco” Chanel (French, Saumur 1883–1971 Paris)
Date: 1924–26
Culture: French
Gabrielle Chanel is the designer most responsible for establishing the modern way of dressing that encompasses comfort, function and simplicity. Following the first World War, the artistic and social mood was ripe for the pared-down, angular, sportif look that she represented, and her “casual chic” sensibility dominated fashion throughout the 1920s. While Chanel introduced the concept of the “little black dress” into fashion vocabulary, this example shows just how refined and varied the examples she designed could be
Dress, Evening
Date: ca. 1927
Culture: French (probably)
Medium: silk, rhinestones
In 1924, Vionnet introduced her Little Horses dress, decorated by heavy beading applied in a special manner to her bias cut dress. The beads were arranged to move with the fabric and the design was an interpretation of the horses found on Grecian vases. The dress seen here is a copy of this well-known design, which was particularly appealing and highly sought after. As stated in Betty Kirk’s work on Vionnet, there were many unauthorized copies being made in the United States at this time. While it is not an original, the design is quite charming and explains why this particular piece was all the rage during the mid-1920s.
Dress, Evening
Date: 1928–30
Culture: American
Medium: silk, rhinestones
This evening dress shows the transition of the hemline, which reached the floor after 1929. The silhouette of the bodice of this dress follows that of the 1920s as it is tubular and low-waisted. The sheer white chiffon is a very delicate fabric, and its sheerness adds a seductive element. Perhaps what makes this dress so interesting is its adornment. The placement of the rhinestones adds dimension to the vermiculate pattern while the negative space patterning has a Middle Eastern feel. Additionally, the trompe l’oeil belt is not only unique, but eye-catching, drawing attention to the waist.
