Evening coat

Madeleine Vionnet|H. Jaeckal & Sons

ca. 1935 · fur, silk · Costume Institute

Madeleine Vionnet was a consummate technician, particularly known for her innovative use of the bias cut and the mathematically precise construction of her garments. Hallmarks of her design sensibilities with silks translate here into fur in the fit and flare styling as well as in the dolman sleeve treatment. Notably, the coat was worn by Anna May Wong (1905-1961), the eminent Chinese-American star of both silent and sound film as well as radio, stage and television. Often regarded as the first Asian-American film star in the United States, if not the world, Wong was known for her personal style. The right front lining is embroidered with Chinese characters that represent Wong's name, "Wong Liu Tsong," in traditional Chinese.

Artist

Madeleine Vionnet|H. Jaeckal & Sons

Date

ca. 1935

Medium

fur, 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 Anna May Wong, 1956