Dress

Gilbert Adrian

1942–52 · silk, metal · Costume Institute

This dress, with its simple construction, is a tribute to Adrian's surprising and sophisticated use of color. Surprising because it is rare to find three different shades of green and brown in such large blocks on a one-piece evening dress and sophisticated because of their coherence. Adrian's assistant designer remembered him contemplating color combinations from across the room, then asking them to be brought closer to make sure they still "looked good." With "colors,“remembered the assistant forty-five years after Adrian's death, "he was perfect."

Artist

Gilbert Adrian

Date

1942–52

Medium

silk, metal

Culture

American

Department

Costume Institute

Credit line

Gift of Patricia Pastor and Barry Friedman, 2012