Evening dress

John Galliano

spring/summer 1999 · nylon · Costume Institute

The sleek, sensual modernity of Madeleine Vionnet’s body- skimming fashions has continued to inspire contemporary designers—notably John Galliano. In this evening dress, he adheres to her streamlined aesthetic, minimizing the use of darts and seams and shaping them in a manner reminiscent of those in Vionnet’s skillfully cut gowns of the 1920s and 1930s. Galliano’s contemporary reinterpretation of the silhouette takes on a more provocative form by his elimination of the slip that would otherwise provide modesty under the transparent lace.

Artist

John Galliano

Date

spring/summer 1999

Medium

nylon

Culture

British

Department

Costume Institute

Credit line

Gift of John Galliano, 2000