{"meta":{"version":"2.1","_links":{"self":{"href":"https://api.vam.ac.uk/v2/object/O133552"},"collection_page":{"href":"https://collections.vam.ac.uk/item/O133552/"}},"images":{"_primary_thumbnail":"https://framemark.vam.ac.uk/collections/2025PH0614/full/!100,100/0/default.jpg","_iiif_image":"https://framemark.vam.ac.uk/collections/2025PH0614/","_alt_iiif_image":[],"imageResolution":"low","_images_meta":[{"assetRef":"2025PH0614","copyright":"© Victoria and Albert Museum, London","sensitiveImage":false},{"assetRef":"2025PH0613","copyright":"© Victoria and Albert Museum, London","sensitiveImage":false},{"assetRef":"2025PH0615","copyright":"© Victoria and Albert Museum, London","sensitiveImage":false},{"assetRef":"2025PH0616","copyright":"© Victoria and Albert Museum, London","sensitiveImage":false},{"assetRef":"2025PH0617","copyright":"© Victoria and Albert Museum, London","sensitiveImage":false},{"assetRef":"2006BK4720","copyright":"© Victoria and Albert Museum, London","sensitiveImage":false},{"assetRef":"2006BK4722","copyright":"© Victoria and Albert Museum, London","sensitiveImage":false}]},"see_also":null},"record":{"systemNumber":"O133552","accessionNumber":"T.335-1987","objectType":"Evening dress","titles":[],"summaryDescription":"This white satin dress, designed by Elsa Schiaparelli, is flawlessly cut. The sleeveless sheath has a self-fabric belt at the waist. The front is pleated from the neckline, spreading out into sculptural folds at the hem. \r\n\r\nSchiaparelli was famous for elaborately decorated garments, and for using unexpected prints. She was also skilled at designing deceptively simple dresses which made a feature of skillful cutting and construction. Her designs often showed a sense of humour, which is evident here. The dress resembles a fluted marble pillar, making a surrealist pun on the term 'column dress'. Subtle, understated dresses such as this were the perfect foil for Schiaparelli's embellished jackets, outrageous jewellery, and attention-grabbing accessories.","physicalDescription":"White silk and rayon blend satin evening dress. Elongated rectangular neckline with folded back collar. Form-fitting, side waist sashes, and the front of the dress is pleated and the falling from neck to hem in fluted sculptural folds.","artistMakerPerson":[{"name":{"text":"Schiaparelli, Elsa","id":"A2375"},"association":{"text":"designer","id":"x36960"},"note":""}],"artistMakerOrganisations":[],"artistMakerPeople":[],"materials":[{"text":"silk (textile)","id":"AAT243428"},{"text":"rayon","id":"AAT14059"}],"techniques":[{"text":"satin","id":"x37324"},{"text":"pleated","id":"AAT228556"}],"materialsAndTechniques":"Satin, silk and rayon blend","categories":[{"text":"Fashion","id":"THES48957"},{"text":"Womenswear","id":"THES49044"},{"text":"Evening wear","id":"THES48999"}],"styles":[],"collectionCode":{"text":"T&F","id":"THES48601"},"images":["2025PH0614","2025PH0613","2025PH0615","2025PH0616","2025PH0617","2006BK4720","2006BK4722"],"imageResolution":"low","galleryLocations":[{"current":{"text":"SAINS","id":"THES276095"},"free":"","case":"FIG024","shelf":"","box":""}],"partTypes":[[{"text":"Evening dress","id":""}]],"contentWarnings":[{"apprise":"","note":""}],"placesOfOrigin":[{"place":{"text":"Paris","id":"x29068"},"association":{"text":"made","id":"x28654"},"note":""}],"productionDates":[{"date":{"text":"1938","earliest":"1938-01-01","latest":"1938-12-31"},"association":{"text":"made","id":"x28654"},"note":""}],"associatedObjects":[],"creditLine":"Bequeathed by Miss Katherine Raine","dimensions":[],"dimensionsNote":"","marksAndInscriptions":[],"objectHistory":"Elsa Schiaparelli (1890–1973) was one of the world’s revolutionary fashion designers. Her couture house, one of the most discussed of interwar Paris, redefined fashionable taste and perceptions of beauty in the 20th century.  With no formal training, she launched her first fashion collection in 1927. Her bold, often audacious, haute couture creations soon made her the designer of choice for a confident clientele. Within five years, Maison Schiaparelli employed 400 staff who created over 7000 couture garments each year.  \r\n\r\nOften designing to confront and shock, Schiaparelli’s radical approach embraced the new and experimental, resulting in clothes that were resolutely modern. Perhaps more than any fashion designer of the era, Schiaparelli urged textile manufacturers to bring her their newest and best materials. At the same time, Schiaparelli’s impact extended beyond fashion and she possessed a vibrant artistic sensibility. Embedded within Europe’s creative avantgarde, she positioned her work in direct dialogue with art, design and performance. Her collaborations with artists, including Salvador Dalí, Jean Cocteau and Meret Oppenheim, led to some of her most radical and memorable designs for clothing, accessories and jewellery. In 1954, Schiaparelli officially retired and closed the doors of her couture salon. She left an enduring mark on the world of fashion and a creative legacy that spanned the cities of Paris, London and New York.  \r\n\r\nRegistered File number 1987/2133.","historicalContext":"","briefDescription":"Silk and rayon blend satin column evening dress, designed by Elsa Schiaparelli, Paris, 1938","bibliographicReferences":[],"production":"Reason For Production: Commission","productionType":{"text":"Haute couture","id":"THES48861"},"contentDescription":"","contentPlaces":[],"associatedPlaces":[],"contentPerson":[],"associatedPerson":[],"contentOrganisations":[],"associatedOrganisations":[],"contentPeople":[],"associatedPeople":[],"contentEvents":[],"associatedEvents":[],"contentOthers":[],"contentConcepts":[],"contentLiteraryRefs":[],"galleryLabels":[],"partNumbers":["T.335-1987"],"accessionNumberNum":"335","accessionNumberPrefix":"T","accessionYear":1987,"otherNumbers":[],"copyNumber":"","aspects":["WHOLE"],"assets":[],"recordModificationDate":"2026-06-08","recordCreationDate":"2007-03-30","availableToBook":false}}