Ensemble

Gucci|Tom Ford

fall/winter 1996–97 · (a) silk, (b) silk, metal · Costume Institute

Tom Ford's fall/winter 1996–97 collection for Gucci was a watershed moment which brought a sensual minimalism and hedonist flair to the second half of a decade primarily defined by grunge and deconstructionist aesthetics. The ovoid hole in the floor-length and long-sleeved dress, reveals Ford's signature thong hugging the waist. The Gucci thong precipitated a wave of logomania. Vogue dubbed Ford's seminal collection the "equivalent of a one-night stand at Studio 54" and this body-conscious gown is indeed a nod to the 1970s aesthetic of American minimalist Halston, renowned for his glamorous designs for the Studio 54 crowd.

Artist

Gucci|Tom Ford

Date

fall/winter 1996–97

Medium

(a) silk, (b) silk, metal

Culture

Italian

Department

Costume Institute

Credit line

Purchase, Friends of The Costume Institute Gifts, 2019