Ensemble

Rudi Gernreich

1967 · wool, plastic, nylon · Costume Institute

In these Gernreich creations, vertical and horizontal windows—like the zips in a Barnett Newman painting overlaid on a figure—delineate an axis of nudity on the body. These dresses appeared on the cover of "Time" (December 1, 1967) accompanying a story on Gernreich that described him as "the most way-out, far-ahead designer in the U.S." The ensembles exemplify Gernreich's famous declaration: "A woman today can be anything she wants to be—a Gainsborough or a Reynolds or a Reynolds Wrap." Apparently, she can also be a Saran Wrap. (Shown with 1988.74.1a-f in foreground, also by Gernreich.)

Artist

Rudi Gernreich

Date

1967

Medium

wool, plastic, nylon

Culture

American

Department

Costume Institute

Credit line

Gift of Léon Bing and Oreste F. Pucciani, 1988