AFTERNOON OR EVENING DRESS

Creator(s): Bonwit Teller & Co. (Designer)

Currently in storage

About this object

Dance-style dress in machine-made, printed lace with a yellow and black floral design outlined with gold thread rope on a red lace ground. Lace is backed with red silk taffeta. All seams of the fitted bodice have spiral boning for support. Bodice has a sweetheart neckline, both front and back. A pleated modesty panel of red silk is placed at center front. Capped sleeves are cut in one with the bodice. A bell-shaped, gored skirt is joined to the bodice at the natural waistline. The hem is finished with the manufactured scalloped edge of the lace. An attached, silk taffeta petticoat has a two tiered, knife pleated ruffle applied at the hem, with a band of nylon horsehair concealed between the ruffles for stiffening. The edges of the ruffles are bound with black ribbon. The garment closes with a full side left zipper as well as a short center back zipper. A narrow shaped belt was worn at the waist. The belt is leather with fabric applied to the front and the buckle.

Object name:

AFTERNOON OR EVENING DRESS

Made from:

Silk taffeta -- machine-made lace

Made in:

New York, USA

Date made:

1953-1957

Size:

16 × 16 × 28 × 30 1/2 × 32 × 120 in. (40.6 × 40.6 × 71.1 × 77.5 × 81.3 × 304.8 cm)

Detailed information for this item

Catalog number:

48.108.1-2

Signature marks:

LABEL: Made to Order / BONWIT / FIFTH AVENUE / TELLER [in side seam of underskirt]

Credit line:

Bequest of Marjorie Merriweather Post, 1973