KCIDigital Archives

The KCI Digital Archives on the KCI website presents image and text information for the objects in the collection, arranged in chronological order.

Evening Dress

© The Kyoto Costume Institute, photo by Takashi Hatakeyama

You can enlarge by putting the mouse cursor on the image.

Evening Dress

c. 1933

Designer
Madeleine Vionnet
Brand
Madeleine Vionnet
Label
none
Material
Black rayon jersey one-piece dress; vermillion silk crepe sash; bias cut.
Credit Line
Gift of the Estate of Tina Chaw
Inventory Number(s)
AC7652 92-43-2

The dress was made of rayon jersey, treated in bias cut to fit around the body. The surrounding sash has the effect of highlighting the sleek body. The dress is from Madeleine Vionnet's personal wardrobe.
The bias cut became a useful technique in the 1930s, when consciousness of body line was revived in fashion. As though Vionnet were an anatomist, her grasp of the body's form using her characteristic split line and bias cut fabric personified innovative garments.

1930s