Evening dress
In the postwar period James was increasingly drawn to the muted sophistication of contrasting materials of differing luster. In this evening dress’s monochromatic duet of blacks, the dull sheen of jersey juxtaposes with the high shine of satin. Only after the eye has absorbed the nuanced surface contrasts is the rich geometry revealed. James eliminated the side seams, and the angled satin panel that constitutes the front bodice wraps over the shoulder to form an oblique panel across the back, resulting in an astonishing exposure of skin. Bill Cunningham likened this spiral of inky black fabrics to a stick of licorice.
Artwork Details
- Title: Evening dress
- Designer: Charles James (American, born Great Britain, 1906–1978)
- Date: 1947
- Culture: American
- Medium: silk
- Credit Line: Gift of Mrs. William Woodward Jr., 1964
- Object Number: C.I.64.74.1
- Curatorial Department: The Costume Institute
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Charles James
ca. 1944
Charles James
1940–1959
Charles James
1940–1959
Charles James
1940–1959
Charles James
1940–1959
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