{"meta":{"version":"2.1","_links":{"self":{"href":"https://api.vam.ac.uk/v2/object/O138928"},"collection_page":{"href":"https://collections.vam.ac.uk/item/O138928/"}},"images":{"_primary_thumbnail":"https://framemark.vam.ac.uk/collections/2007BM6081/full/!100,100/0/default.jpg","_iiif_image":"https://framemark.vam.ac.uk/collections/2007BM6081/","_alt_iiif_image":[],"imageResolution":"low","_images_meta":[{"assetRef":"2007BM6081","copyright":"© Victoria and Albert Museum, London","sensitiveImage":false},{"assetRef":"2007BM6084","copyright":"© Victoria and Albert Museum, London","sensitiveImage":false},{"assetRef":"2007BM6083","copyright":"© Victoria and Albert Museum, London","sensitiveImage":false},{"assetRef":"2007BM6082","copyright":"© Victoria and Albert Museum, London","sensitiveImage":false},{"assetRef":"2019MB2831","copyright":"© Victoria and Albert Museum, London","sensitiveImage":false}]},"see_also":null},"record":{"systemNumber":"O138928","accessionNumber":"T.245&A-1974","objectType":"Cocktail dress","titles":[],"summaryDescription":"Cocktail dresses gained a new popularity after the Second world War. They were worn at early evening or '6 to 8' gatherings.  Since guests usually stood and mingled the gowns could include complex bustles and skirt details, which would be crushed if sat on. \r\n\r\nIn his book the <i>Little Dictionary of Fashion</i> (1954) Christian Dior (1905-57) described cocktail dresses as 'elaborate and dressy afternoon frocks', preferably in black taffeta, satin, chiffon and wool. These confections became the personification of the 'little black dress' and were often accessorised with gloves and small, elaborate hats.","physicalDescription":"Cocktail dress, just below knee length, in black spotted net. Net yoke and long sleeves, gathered skirt with side volant of fabric.","artistMakerPerson":[{"name":{"text":"Grès, Madame","id":"A2179"},"association":{"text":"designer","id":"x36960"},"note":""}],"artistMakerOrganisations":[],"artistMakerPeople":[],"materials":[{"text":"net","id":"AAT249438"},{"text":"silk (textile)","id":"AAT243428"}],"techniques":[],"materialsAndTechniques":"Spotted net","categories":[{"text":"Fashion","id":"THES48957"},{"text":"Evening wear","id":"THES48999"},{"text":"Clothing","id":"THES48975"}],"styles":[],"collectionCode":{"text":"T&F","id":"THES48601"},"images":["2007BM6081","2007BM6084","2007BM6083","2007BM6082","2019MB2831"],"imageResolution":"low","galleryLocations":[{"current":{"text":"003","id":"THES307889"},"free":"","case":"","shelf":"","box":""},{"current":{"text":"005","id":"THES306645"},"free":"","case":"","shelf":"","box":""}],"partTypes":[[{"text":"Dress","id":""}],[{"text":"Belt","id":""}]],"contentWarnings":[{"apprise":"","note":""},{"apprise":"","note":""},{"apprise":"","note":""}],"placesOfOrigin":[{"place":{"text":"Paris","id":"x29068"},"association":{"text":"made","id":"x28654"},"note":""}],"productionDates":[{"date":{"text":"ca. 1955","earliest":"1950-01-01","latest":"1959-12-31"},"association":{"text":"made","id":"x28654"},"note":""}],"associatedObjects":[],"creditLine":"Given by Mrs Leo d'Erlanger","dimensions":[{"dimension":"Circumference","value":"91","unit":"cm","qualifier":"","date":{"text":"","earliest":null,"latest":null},"part":"bust","note":""},{"dimension":"Circumference","value":"27","unit":"cm","qualifier":"","date":{"text":"","earliest":null,"latest":null},"part":"waist","note":""}],"dimensionsNote":"","marksAndInscriptions":[],"objectHistory":"","historicalContext":"","briefDescription":"Cocktail dress and belt of spotted net, designed by Madame Grès, Paris, ca. 1955.","bibliographicReferences":[{"reference":{"text":"<i>Fashion : An Anthology by Cecil Beaton</i>. London : H.M.S.O., 1971","id":"AUTH354373"},"details":"p.31","free":""},{"reference":{"text":"","id":""},"details":"","free":"Vickers, H., 'Cecil Beaton' in Wilcox, C., ed., <i>The Golden Age of Couture: Paris and London 1947-57</i> (V&A Publications, London), p.170"},{"reference":{"text":"","id":""},"details":"","free":"Vickers, H., 'Cecil Beaton' in Wilcox, C., ed., <i>The Golden Age of Couture: Paris and London 1947-57</i> (V&A Publications, London), pl.7.14"},{"reference":{"text":"","id":""},"details":"","free":"<i>Vogue</i> (British), June 1949.  Photograph by Cecil Beaton of Mrs Leo d'Erlanger wearing a hat by Vernier."}],"production":"","productionType":{"text":"Haute couture","id":"THES48861"},"contentDescription":"","contentPlaces":[],"associatedPlaces":[],"contentPerson":[],"associatedPerson":[],"contentOrganisations":[],"associatedOrganisations":[],"contentPeople":[],"associatedPeople":[],"contentEvents":[],"associatedEvents":[],"contentOthers":[],"contentConcepts":[],"contentLiteraryRefs":[],"galleryLabels":[{"text":"[case panel]\r\nCocktail and Early Evening\r\n\r\nDaywear was followed by formal afternoon dresses (robes après-midi habillées), cocktail dresses (robes de cocktail), semi-evening (robes demi-soir) and short evening dresses (robes du soir courtes). These distinctions became simpler as the decade progressed and social codes began to break down.\r\n\r\nCocktail dresses first appeared in the 1920s and gained a new popularity after the war. They were worn at early evening or ‘6 to 8’ gatherings, where guests usually stood and mingled. The gowns could include complex bustles and skirt details, which would be crushed if sat on. \r\n\r\nIn his book the Little Dictionary of Fashion (1954) Christian Dior described cocktail dresses as ‘elaborate and dressy afternoon frocks’, preferably in black taffeta, satin, chiffon and wool. These confections became the personification of the ‘little black dress’ and were often accessorised with gloves and small hats.\r\n\r\n[object label]\r\nCocktail dress (robe de cocktail)\r\nMme Grès (1903-93)\r\nParis\r\nAbout 1955\r\n\r\nThis chic dress mimics the fashion for cocktail hats, which were often made of decorated silk and tulle and included asymmetric elements.\r\n\r\nSpotted net with gathered side drape\r\n\r\nGiven by Mrs Leo D'Erlanger\r\nV&A: T.245&A-1974\r\n\r\n[displayed with]\r\nHat\r\nCaroline Reboux, Paris\r\n1947\r\nGiven by Mrs Frank Wooster\r\nV&A: T.381-1974","date":{"text":"22/09/2007-06/01/2008","earliest":"2007-09-22","latest":"2008-01-06"}}],"partNumbers":["T.245-1974","T.245A-1974"],"accessionNumberNum":"245","accessionNumberPrefix":"T","accessionYear":1974,"otherNumbers":[],"copyNumber":"","aspects":["WHOLE","Dress","Belt"],"assets":[],"recordModificationDate":"2025-09-01","recordCreationDate":"2007-09-04","availableToBook":true}}