"Sylvie"
Dior frequently paired his strapless, halter, or in other ways very revealing dresses with evening jackets and coats. A simple and narrow underdress is hidden under a voluminous taffeta coat. The fashion designer may have been sovereign, but this balance between disclosing and covering was, in such instances, determined by the client.
The detail of the sleeve points out how the fabric is gathered into a doughnut shape with a separate knot at the cap and then stitched onto the arm's eye. The effect is to distinguish clearly between this ring of bunched fabric and the shoulder and to form a powerful biceplike mass above the bust.
The detail of the sleeve points out how the fabric is gathered into a doughnut shape with a separate knot at the cap and then stitched onto the arm's eye. The effect is to distinguish clearly between this ring of bunched fabric and the shoulder and to form a powerful biceplike mass above the bust.
Artwork Details
- Title: "Sylvie"
- Design House: House of Dior (French, founded 1946)
- Designer: (a–d, f, g) Christian Dior (French, Granville 1905–1957 Montecatini)
- Designer: (e) Elsa Schiaparelli (Italian, 1890–1973)
- Date: spring/summer 1951
- Culture: French
- Medium: (a, b) silk
(c) silk, leather
(d) silk
(e) silk, cotton
(f, g) silk - Credit Line: Gift of Mrs. Byron C. Foy, 1953
- Object Number: C.I.53.40.24a–h
- Curatorial Department: The Costume Institute
More Artwork
A slider containing 5 items.
Press the down key to skip to the last item.
Press the down key to skip to the last item.
Multiple artists/makers
fall/winter 1961–62
House of Dior
Marc Bohan
1980s
House of Dior
Christian Dior
spring/summer 1955
House of Dior
Gianfranco Ferré
spring/summer 1993
House of Dior
Gianfranco Ferré
1990–97
Related Content
Publications
Books, guides, and catalogues published by The Met.
Free to download
Research Resources
The Met provides unparalleled resources for research and welcomes an international community of students and scholars. The Met's Open Access API is where creators and researchers can connect to the The Met collection. Open Access data and public domain images are available for unrestricted commercial and noncommercial use without permission or fee.
To request images under copyright and other restrictions, please use this Image Request form.
Feedback
We continue to research and examine historical and cultural context for objects in The Met collection. If you have comments or questions about this object record, please complete and submit this form. The Museum looks forward to receiving your comments.