Evening dress

Hubert de Givenchy|House of Givenchy

1963 · cotton, glass, coral · Costume Institute

Coral with matching glass beads is applied in high relief on the armature of a minimalist Givenchy silhouette. A princess-seam dress skimming the torso, but flaring to the hem, is almost severe, but it is rendered rococo and ornate by the surface treatment. Givenchy's special trait was to find an equilibrium between excess and the reductive. An austere form supports a heavily encrusted embroidery, making a gown that works both as an extravagance and as a spartan design.

Artist

Hubert de Givenchy|House of Givenchy

Date

1963

Medium

cotton, glass, coral

Culture

French

Department

Costume Institute

Credit line

Gift of Mrs. John Hay Whitney, 1974