Evening wrap

Cristobal Balenciaga|House of Balenciaga

1951 · silk · Costume Institute

Conversant with Spanish ceremonial and vernacular dress as an expression of European regionalism, Balenciaga likewise respected Orientalist effects. The cocoon shape of the back alludes to the way a Japanese woman's outer kimono accommodates over her obi to create an elegant arc. More evidently, in emphasizing the nape of the neck by dropping the bias-rolled collar, he evokes the kimono's band neckline, which dips at the back.

Artist

Cristobal Balenciaga|House of Balenciaga

Date

1951

Medium

silk

Culture

French

Department

Costume Institute

Credit line

Gift of Baroness Philippe de Rothschild, 1973