Evening dress

Unknown

ca. 1925 · silk, metal · Costume Institute

During the 1920s, the days were for working and the nights were for dancing. Women's dress was liberating, as the hemlines rose and the waistlines dropped. Evenings were spent at clubs and it was common to see ladies dancing the Charleston and Black Bottom, sipping cocktails and enjoying an occasional cigarette. Featured, is a quintessential dance dress from the 1920s. This piece is visually appealing because of the various textures and patterns created by the surface decoration. The detailed beadwork is quite stunning and would catch the light as the wearer was in motion. To add a feminine touch, the tulle bow has been added at the waist, and the extra fabric drapes over the shoulder.

Artist

Unknown

Date

ca. 1925

Medium

silk, 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 William Garrigues, 1967