Dress

Antonio del Castillo|Lanvin-Castillo

1956 · synthetic, metal · Costume Institute

Following the death of Jeanne Lanvin in 1946, the couture house she founded continued under the direction of her daughter, Marie-Blanche, who hired Antonio del Castillo as head designer in 1950. This evening dress by Castillo both recalls the tiered trimmings and bustled silhouettes of 1880s fashions and embodies the romantic, youthful spirit for which the house was known. The style was captured in a striking photograph by Richard Avedon for Harper’s Bazaar in 1956 (1979.512.10), in which model Suzy Parker leans over a pinball machine, forming a sweeping arc of dramatically lit tulle against a dark background.

Artist

Antonio del Castillo|Lanvin-Castillo

Date

1956

Medium

synthetic, metal

Culture

French

Department

Costume Institute

Credit line

Purchase, Funds from various donors, by exchange, 2015