April 1, 2017

Object: Evening Gown

Designer: Pierre Balmain

Medium: Silk Jersey, Chiffon

Date: Circa 1958

Country: France

Credit: Gift of Mrs. A. J. Drexel Biddle Jr.

This couture gown by Pierre Balmain, with its tiny waist and full skirt, is a typical example of the evening fashions of the 1950's. Couture rebounded in the post-war period with French designers like Christian Dior, Gabrielle Chanel, and Cristobal Balenciaga setting the tone.  Despite this resurgence, American ready-to-wear was more accepted than ever.