Evening dress

Elsa Schiaparelli

summer 1939 · silk, synthetic, rhinestones, metal · Costume Institute

From Schiaparelli's summer 1939 collection, this unique dress references Schiaparelli's enduring attraction to heavenly themes. The pairs of embroidered keys are Peter's "keys of the kingdom of heaven" received from Christ, an interesting expression of her interest in the heavens. The pearl bead latticework along the neck and around the sleeves references sixteenth-century decoration, such as seen on Queen Elizabeth and Catherine de Medici's clothing, studded with pearls and jewels. Millicent Rogers, who’s chic knew no rival, was the original owner of this dress, and was a devoted Schiaparelli client.

Artist

Elsa Schiaparelli

Date

summer 1939

Medium

silk, synthetic, rhinestones, metal

Culture

French

Department

Costume Institute

Credit line

Brooklyn Museum Costume Collection at The Metropolitan Museum of Art, Gift of the Brooklyn Museum, 2009; Gift of Arturo and Paul Peralta-Ramos, 1954