Dress form

Charles James

1951–53 · linen/cotton, papier-mâché, wood, metal · Costume Institute

During one of his most creative periods, James developed a dress form that updated the fashion industry’s outdated version. His design originated from the belief that the standard forms contributed to the bad fit of Seventh Avenue clothes. Called the “Jennie,” the new form reflected the slender long-waisted silhouettes of Millicent Rogers and Jennifer Jones, the actress after whom it was supposedly named.

Artist

Charles James

Date

1951–53

Medium

linen/cotton, papier-mâché, wood, metal

Culture

American

Department

Costume Institute

Credit line

Gift of Eleanor Searle Whitney McCollum, 1975