Cocktail dress

Madeleine Vionnet|Hattie Carnegie, Inc.

1936 · silk, metal · Costume Institute

Vionnet offered an ultimate performance in lithe equilibrium with a bodice constructed of one piece, seamed at the waist. All shaping is created by the graduated hexagons. Thus, Vionnet imposed form through the illusion of embellishment but carefully concealed a system of miniscule adjustments into the design of the tucking. This sublimated essential structure is akin to modern architecture's streamlined vocabulary of ornament to serve compositional needs.

Artist

Madeleine Vionnet|Hattie Carnegie, Inc.

Date

1936

Medium

silk, metal

Culture

French

Department

Costume Institute

Credit line

Gift of Mrs. John Chambers Hughes, 1958