Nightgown

Iris Lingerie Co., Inc.|Mrs. Sylvia Pedlar

1957 · cotton, synthetic fiber · Costume Institute

The apron form of this nightgown refers to earlier times and Pedlar has cleverly worked this design into a very elegant item of sleepwear. A testament to its quality is the use of Valenciennes lace insertions and whitework, both decorative techniques that were used in fine white nightgowns and lingerie throughout the nineteenth century. The nightgown itself was created for the great luxury department store, Neiman Marcus in the 1950s, for one of the two-week celebrations known as "Fortnight" during which there were parties and designer events. According to the records this was made for Fortnight 1957, which was the inaugural event, described as "Dallas in Wonderland." The event was billed as a French extravaganza and included French decor, fashions, perfumes, and cuisine. Fortnight was created by owner Stanley Marcus to create interest in the period between the fall fashion rush and the Christmas shopping rush. Fortnight 1957 was the first event in celebration of the anniversary of the flagship Dallas store.

Artist

Iris Lingerie Co., Inc.|Mrs. Sylvia Pedlar

Date

1957

Medium

cotton, synthetic fiber

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 Sylvia Pedlar and Mr. Philip Saffir, 1970