APPLIED ART : COSTUME

Object Name: dress
Maker: Connolly, Sybil (Primary maker)
Connolly, Sybil (Maker)
Date Made: 1956
1956
Description: Full length sleeveless evening dress of royal blue satin sweetheart neckline, metal zip on left side bodic seam. Princess line front and back with centre panel extending from neck to hem. In skirt, the panel falls into a box pleat. Bodice is fitted to waist and the fullness of the skirt comes from side pleats extending from dropped waistline at hips. Bodice unlined, skirt lined with thick dark grey felt-like stiffening. Tape sewn inside at waist has typed lettering 'MAID OF HONOUR' (name of model). Worn by donor at dinner with Donald Davies at Chareville, on a trip to bring back a collection of Sybil Connolly for the front window display of Lord and Taylor, for whom the donor was a fashion buyer. Donated by Mrs Virginia Jimmie Booth of Brooklyn Label text: Sybil Connolly is one of Ireland's most famous couturieres. She grew up in Waterford and her fashion designs alway s incorporated Irish materials such as linen, tweed and crochet lace. Connollyy developed a technique of pleating linen in horizontal rows, which created a beautiful structured shape. These designs found great popularity in America with actresses and socialites. Jacqueline Kennedy wore one of the pleated linen dresses, in white, for her official White House portrait. From exhibition label early 2000s: Satin evening dress, late 1950s Sybil Connolly (1921-1998) We have put this dress on show rather than the better known pleasted linen dresses, because its flattering clever cut and strong rich colour fit in with the display of 1950s fashion which focuses on the manuipulation and experimentation with cut and shape.
Materials: Satin
Catalogue Number: BELUM.T4143
Copyright: National Museums NI

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