EVENING ENSEMBLE (DRESS AND CAPE)

Creator(s): Eldridge Manning (Designer)

Currently in storage

About this object

Sleeveless, beaded evening dress of cream colored taffeta with matching cape. The dress has double, flat shoulder straps on a scoop neck bodice. An asymmetrical circle skirt, fully lined in self fabric, is attached at the slightly dropped waistline. Beaded waterflower motifs are applied to the front right side of the dress and continue across the back of the skirt. Large white lotus flowers and cat tails are composed of white and transparent beads outlined with rhinestones. The centers of the lotus flowers are accented with bright yellow round beads made of an early plastic. Stems and large leaves suggesting lily pads are designed with light to dark green and clear beads. The cape is constructed of and undercape, which is square in shape with two bound slits for the arms, and a shorter, round overcape. The overcape is beaded with the same waterflower motif on a smaller scale. Beading begins at center back neck and continues around to right side front. The capes are self faced and are attached at the neck edge with several rows of smocking to form a shawl collar trimmed in white rabbit fur.

Object name:

EVENING ENSEMBLE (DRESS AND CAPE)

Made from:

Satin taffeta -- rabbit fur

Made in:

New York, USA

Date made:

1929-1934

Size:

H. 19 in. (shoulder to waist front) (dress); H. 20 1/2 in. (shoulder to waist back) (dress); Dia. 36 in. (waist circumference) (dress); H. 24 1/2 in. (waist to hem front) (dress); H. 34 in. (waist to hem back) (dress); Dia. 260 in. (hem circumference) (dress)

Detailed information for this item

Catalog number:

48.65.1-2

Signature marks:

LABEL: ELDRIDGE . MANNING / 14 East 55TH STREET NEW YORK / GOWNS OF YOUTHFUL SILHOUETTE [in cape at neck and in dress at left side closure]

Credit line:

Bequest of Marjorie Merriweather Post, 1973