Evening ensemble

Jessie Franklin Turner

ca. 1930 · silk · Costume Institute

The luxurious slipper satin and bias-cut construction used in this evening ensemble epitomizes the body-conscious drama of the 1930s. Turner's particular expression of this drama is shown in the effective, graphic combination of black and white and the inventive cut of the three pieces--the dress, the jacket and the overbodice. As the wearer dons each of the three pieces (or takes them off) the mood of the ensemble changes, allowing the wearer to choose which look would best suit the occasion. Evening wear and teagowns were Turner's forte, and this beautifully crafted design, a combination of dramatic shapes and lush materials, exhibits her creativity beautifully.

Artist

Jessie Franklin Turner

Date

ca. 1930

Medium

silk

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 the estate of Mary Boocock Leavitt, 1974