i64448 |
Previous | 1 of 6 | Next |
small (250x250 max)
medium (500x500 max)
large ( > 500x500)
Full Resolution
|
Loading content ...
Object Description
| Basic ID | Evening dress, Pouff, 1952. Silk taffeta, silk velvet, silk satin. Charles James, U.S.A. Worn by donor Mrs. Harvey Byron, Jr. née Kathleen Whitcomb. 1965.392 |
| Artists/Makers |
James, Charles, 1906-1978 (designer) Samuel Winston Inc. (manufacturer) |
| Title | Pouff |
| Other Title | Dress |
| Place of Origin | United States |
| Date | 1952 |
| Description | Dress, evening-style, of silk taffeta, satin and velvet. Strapless, with fitted bodice; bodice and skirt yoke of dark blue satin. Top of bodice folds over itself; bodice attaches to skirt at natural waist. Flared cloverleaf-shaped skirt; velvet band trimmed with jet beads forming V-shapes at front and back; lower part of skirt in black gros de Londres silk; pleats on both sides from velvet band to hem to form flare; mid-calf length. |
| Materials/Techniques |
silk (fiber) satin velvet gros de Londres beads (pierced objects) faille |
| Marks | Samuel Winston/by Charles James |
| Object History | There are four known versions of this dress, including this one worn by Chicagoan, Mrs. Byron Harvey, Jr. The others belonged to Mrs. Jean de Menil, Mrs. Cornelius Vanderbilt Whitney, and Mrs. William Randolph Hearst Jr. |
| Curatorial Statement | James's Pouff was considered daring for its time, as its materials-silk satin, velvet, and taffeta-were not typically combined into one garment. When viewed from above, the skirt presents an infinity symbol: its sides flare out before tapering into the center at both the front and back. James held the undulating shape in place with precisely placed rows of folded, stiffened crinoline and supported it with a multilayered petticoat. |
| Subjects | Harvey, Byron Jr., Mrs. |
| Object Types |
dresses (garments) evening dresses (garments) |
| Classification | costume (mode of fashion) |
| Categories |
clothing main garments evening dress (concept) |
| Credit Line | Gift of Mrs. Byron Harvey Jr. |
| Owner | Chicago Historical Society |
| Exhibition History | Charles James: Genius Deconstructed. Chicago History Museum (2011/10/22 - 2012/04/16) |
| Object Number | 1965.392 |
| Image File Name | i64448.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 | Evening dress, Pouff, 1952. Silk taffeta, silk velvet, silk satin. Charles James, U.S.A. Worn by donor Mrs. Harvey Byron, Jr. née Kathleen Whitcomb. 1965.392 |
| Title | i64448 |
| 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 |
