Evening dress

Gabrielle Chanel|House of Chanel

1937 · cotton, rayon b) (medium not available) c) rayon · Costume Institute

Beyond the archetype of the soft cardigan suit, Chanel in the 1930s created dresses of tiered and contrived lace akin to modern architecture. Inherently the lace and small ruffles seem insubstantial, but Chanel uses the pliant form as the inherent structure for a lightly fabricated dressmaking. Furrows of ruffles are both delicate and architectonic on this dress.

Artist

Gabrielle Chanel|House of Chanel

Date

1937

Medium

cotton, rayon b) (medium not available) c) rayon

Culture

French

Department

Costume Institute

Credit line

Gift of Mrs. Harrison Williams, 1948