Robe de Style

Jeanne Lanvin|House of Lanvin

1922 · metal, silk · Costume Institute

Jeanne Lanvin was apprenticed to a milliner and a dressmaker before opening her own millinery shop in 1889. She expanded into dressmaking when her clients began asking for the ensembles in which she adorned her daughter, Marguerite di Pietro (1897-1958). Her style embodied the femininity of youth in a most modern way with meticulous and relatively sparse surface embellishments and robe de style silhouettes, which could be worn by women of all ages. Lanvin's aptitude can be seen through her house's 1920s expansion into fur, lingerie, men's wear, household goods and perfume. She even had the forethought to open her own dye factory which produced the inimitable 'Lanvin blue.' The longevity of the House of Lanvin can be credited to her attentive management and design standards from its inception. The 17th and 18th century inspired robe de style of the 1920s was mastered by Lanvin from season to season. It was popular because of its versatility at enhancing every figure and creating a youthful air. Simple refined decoration was employed by Lanvin to enhance the vast amounts of textile which made up the skirt on such dresses. This rare example of an intact gold lamé robe de style personifies the sophistication of the style. Its textile and scattered velvet flowers indicate Lanvin's aptitude at modernizing the classic silhouette.

Artist

Jeanne Lanvin|House of Lanvin

Date

1922

Medium

metal, 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 Mrs. Norman W. Wassman, 1956