i64605 |
Previous | 1 of 6 | Next |
small (250x250 max)
medium (500x500 max)
large ( > 500x500)
Full Resolution
|
Loading content ...
Object Description
| Basic ID | Sheath dress, 1955. Silk faille, cashmere. Charles James, U.S.A. worn by donor, Mrs. Howard Linn née Lucy McCormick Blair. 1967.11 |
| Artists/Makers |
James, Charles, 1906-1978 (designer) Charles James Manufacturers Company (manufacturer) |
| Title | Gothic |
| Other Title | Dress |
| Place of Origin | United States |
| Date | 1955 |
| Description | Dress of black silk faille and cashmere. Faille bodice has scoop neck with bow at center front; high waist; cashmere sheath torso and skirt. |
| Materials/Techniques |
silk (fiber) faille cashmere (wool) |
| Object History | This dress was made by one of James's numerous business enterprises, Charles James Manufacturers Company, which lasted from 1955 to 1958. Lord and Taylor used the garment in advertisements in the New York Times in 1956, and Harper's Bazaar featured an orange version said to have been designed for the American Rayon Institute. Visible alterations on the hem of the skirt indicate that the original length was shortened. |
| Curatorial Statement | Although James created numerous designs for the ready-to-wear market, a closer inspection of this dress presents some clues as to why his contracts often failed. The pattern pieces are cut in a way that creates a lot of extra, unusable material. Typically, patterns for mass-produced garments are tweaked to create the least amount of waste, but James was often unwilling to alter his designs to meet others' budget. |
| Subjects | Linn, Lucy Blair, 1886-1978 |
| Object Types |
dresses (garments) sheath dresses |
| Classification | costume (mode of fashion) |
| Categories |
clothing main garments |
| Credit Line | Gift of Mrs. Howard Linn |
| Owner | Chicago Historical Society |
| Exhibition History | Charles James: Genius Deconstructed. Chicago History Museum (2011/10/22 - 2012/04/16) |
| Object Number | 1967.11 |
| Image File Name | i64605.jpg; index.cpd |
| Rights | All rights reserved. Contact Chicago History Museum, Rights & Reproductions (rightsrepro@chicagohistory.org) for use. |
| Collection Name | Costume and Textile Collection |
| Repository | Chicago History Museum. 1601 North Clark Street Chicago, Illinois 60614-6038 |
Additional Information
| Basic ID | Sheath dress, 1955. Silk faille, cashmere. Charles James, U.S.A. worn by donor, Mrs. Howard Linn née Lucy McCormick Blair. 1967.11 |
| Title | i64605 |
| Rights | All rights reserved. Contact Chicago History Museum, Rights & Reproductions (rightsrepro@chicagohistory.org) for use. |
| Collection Name | Costume and Textile Collection |
| Repository | Chicago History Museum. 1601 North Clark Street Chicago, Illinois 60614-6038 |
