Evening dress

Hattie Carnegie

ca. 1949 · silk, beads · Costume Institute

Hattie Carnegie began her career as a milliner, partnering with Rae Roth to open Carnegie - Ladies Hatter in 1909. Eventually, ladies dresses were added to their merchandise and by 1919 Carnegie had full ownership of the business. Growing in popularity, Carnegie opened her rather large specialty department store at East Forty-Ninth Street. In addition to offering imported French designs, she also sold in-house designs, hats, custom-made pocketbooks, perfume, furs and even chocolates. Carnegie offered something for everyone and her innovative, as well as classic designs drew quite a devoted clientele. This evening dress is a wonderful example of the fine work being produced in-house. The sheer material of the bodice and skirt creates a romantic effect, as if the wearer was floating on air.

Artist

Hattie Carnegie

Date

ca. 1949

Medium

silk, beads

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 Mrs. Leon A. Mnuchin, 1961