Dress

Charles James|Samuel Winston|Rodier

1953 · wool · Costume Institute

This narrow dress, designed for the Samuel Winston line, is literally molded to the figure at the bustline. The seams that cleave the cloth to the rest of the body segment it into atypical pattern pieces. The horizontal seams across the bust and at the upper thigh are connected by vertical seams. What would normally be princess seams are shifted to the side of the bust while, at the back, long darts from the shoulder yoke enhance the glovelike fit.

Artist

Charles James|Samuel Winston|Rodier

Date

1953

Medium

wool

Culture

American

Department

Costume Institute

Credit line

Purchase, Costume Institute Benefit Fund, Friends of The Costume Institute Gifts, and Acquisitions Fund, 2013