Evening ensemble

Delman|Valentina

1930 · silk, leather · Costume Institute

The construction of this dress by Valentina makes for a beautiful fit, especially around the torso where the bodice is bloused at front and seamlessly fits over the hips, then dips dramatically low in back, with an elegant loop of fabric to draw the eye. Her designs were known for their simplicity but also for their precise construction and the convertibleness of the pieces. This dress could be worn with the cape or not, depending on the wearer's mood. This ensemble is typical of the 1930s, with the slinky bias-cut skirt, bare draped back and the high-quality Delman accessories.

Artist

Delman|Valentina

Date

1930

Medium

silk, leather

Culture

American

Department

Costume Institute

Credit line

Brooklyn Museum Costume Collection at The Metropolitan Museum of Art, Gift of the Brooklyn Museum, 2009; Gift of C. Otto v. Kienbusch in memory of Mildred Clarke v. Kienbusch, 1968