Evening dress

House of Balenciaga|Cristobal Balenciaga

1940–43 · silk, jet beading · Costume Institute

Evening gowns of the mid- to late-1930s mirrored the excesses and extravagances of the period. Just as the blithe world of le beau monde reflected the opulence of a by-gone age, fashions revealed a propensity towards ostentation and lavishness. Designers rejected the stripped-down purism of international modernism in favor of theatricality and ornamentation. It was a form of reactionary anti-modernism that was also prevalent in the decorative arts of the time. This proud, stately gown heavily encrusted with jet beads reveals Balenciaga's Spanish influences. Its monumentality is enhanced by a prominent bustle, a silhouette that references the 1880s.

Artist

House of Balenciaga|Cristobal Balenciaga

Date

1940–43

Medium

silk, jet beading

Culture

French

Department

Costume Institute

Credit line

Gift of Mrs. Loel Guinness, 1965