Evening dress

Unknown

1925 · silk · Costume Institute

During the 1920s, nightlife ruled over the day. Men and women dressed for an evening out, filled with dinner, cocktails and dancing. Dress for women changed dramatically, as hemlines rose and waistlines dropped, creating a tubular silhouette. Ladies wearing these slightly revealing dresses, made of delicate fabrics and decorated with heavy beading were often referred to as flappers. This dress is a wonderful example of the style of the period. An unusual pattern of free-form elements concentrically outlined in clear beads enlivens this piece and the textured surface of the sequins creates an interesting play of light.

Artist

Unknown

Date

1925

Medium

silk

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 Lewis Gompers, 1961