i63477 |
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Object Description
| Basic ID | Evening dress, La Sirène, circa 1941. Silk crepe, satin-backed lining. Charles James, U.S.A. Worn by donor Mrs. William O. Hunt neé Jeannette Peterkin. 1959.11 |
| Artists/Makers | James, Charles, 1906-1978 (designer) |
| Title | La Sirène |
| Other Title | Dress |
| Place of Origin | New York (N.Y.) |
| Date | circa 1941 |
| Description | Dress of dark blue silk crepe, with high rounded neck, padded shoulders, and pleated short sleeves. Pin tucked panels in center front and back secures drapes flow to sides. Long zip closure at center back. Floor-length with slight train. Drapery forms a mermaid effect. |
| Materials/Techniques |
silk (fiber) crepe |
| Object History | James launched this mermaid-like gown early in his career and created several versions of it over a period of twenty years. The name of the dress, La Sirène, refers to sea creatures in Greek mythology who used their enchanting voices to lure sailors to their deaths. The soft folds cascading around the wearer's hips beautifully highlighted the silhouette of the wearer. Worn by donor Mrs. William O. Hunt neé Jeannette Peterkin. CT scan images were taken of this garment at the Field Museum of Natural History in Chicago. |
| Curatorial Statement | This dress uses a series of hand stitched horizontal pleats down both the center front of the dress and the sleeves. Although James made it to the measurements of the client, the pleats create soft folds around the hips that allow for slight variations in the width of the wearer's hips. |
| Subjects | Hunt, William O., 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. William O. Hunt |
| Owner | Chicago Historical Society |
| Exhibition History | Chic Chicago : Couture Treasures from the Chicago History Museum. Museum at the Fashion Institute of Technology. (2007/10/12 - 2008/01/05); Chic Chicago : Couture Treasures from the Chicago History Museum. Chicago History Museum (2008/09/27 - 2009/07/26); Charles James: Genius Deconstructed. Chicago History Museum (2011/10/22 - 2012/04/16) |
| Object Number | 1959.11 |
| Image File Name | i63477.jpg |
| 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, La Sirène, circa 1941. Silk crepe, satin-backed lining. Charles James, U.S.A. Worn by donor Mrs. William O. Hunt neé Jeannette Peterkin. 1959.11 |
| Title | i63477 |
| Image File Name | i63477.jpg |
| 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 |
