{"meta":{"version":"2.1","_links":{"self":{"href":"https://api.vam.ac.uk/v2/object/O138994"},"collection_page":{"href":"https://collections.vam.ac.uk/item/O138994/"}},"images":{"_primary_thumbnail":"https://framemark.vam.ac.uk/collections/2007BM6076/full/!100,100/0/default.jpg","_iiif_image":"https://framemark.vam.ac.uk/collections/2007BM6076/","_alt_iiif_image":[],"imageResolution":"low","_images_meta":[{"assetRef":"2007BM6076","copyright":"© Victoria and Albert Museum, London","sensitiveImage":false},{"assetRef":"2007BM6080","copyright":"© Victoria and Albert Museum, London","sensitiveImage":false},{"assetRef":"2007BM6079","copyright":"© Victoria and Albert Museum, London","sensitiveImage":false},{"assetRef":"2007BM6078","copyright":"© Victoria and Albert Museum, London","sensitiveImage":false},{"assetRef":"2007BM6077","copyright":"© Victoria and Albert Museum, London","sensitiveImage":false}]},"see_also":null},"record":{"systemNumber":"O138994","accessionNumber":"T.403-1974","objectType":"Evening 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, appliqué 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.\r\n\r\nThis dress was designed by Michael Sherard (1910–98) for his acclaimed 1958 spring collection.  \r\n\r\nThe flamenco dress was a recurring theme in 1950s cocktail and evening wear. Sherard’s version has a bell-like skirt and train made entirely of lace, his trademark fabric.","physicalDescription":"Black lace evening dress, with wide V neckline, long tight sleeves, fitted bodice and full skirt. The skirt has a short hemline in the front, dipping into a train in the back. Trimmed with appliqué flowers of taffeta.","artistMakerPerson":[{"name":{"text":"Michael Sherard","id":"A20081"},"association":{"text":"designer","id":"x36960"},"note":""}],"artistMakerOrganisations":[],"artistMakerPeople":[],"materials":[{"text":"silk (textile)","id":"AAT243428"},{"text":"Lace","id":"AAT132861"},{"text":"Taffeta","id":"AAT249434"}],"techniques":[{"text":"applique","id":"AAT53646"}],"materialsAndTechniques":"French re-embroidered ribbon lace, with taffeta","categories":[{"text":"Fashion","id":"THES48957"},{"text":"Evening wear","id":"THES48999"},{"text":"Womenswear","id":"THES49044"}],"styles":[],"collectionCode":{"text":"T&F","id":"THES48601"},"images":["2007BM6076","2007BM6080","2007BM6079","2007BM6078","2007BM6077"],"imageResolution":"low","galleryLocations":[{"current":{"text":"001","id":"THES404188"},"free":"","case":"","shelf":"","box":""}],"partTypes":[[{"text":"Evening dress","id":""}]],"contentWarnings":[{"apprise":"","note":""}],"placesOfOrigin":[{"place":{"text":"London","id":"x28980"},"association":{"text":"made","id":"x28654"},"note":""}],"productionDates":[{"date":{"text":"1958","earliest":"1958-03-01","latest":"1958-08-31"},"association":{"text":"made","id":"x28654"},"note":"Spring/summer "}],"associatedObjects":[],"creditLine":"Given by Mr John Fraser and Mr Michael Sherard","dimensions":[{"dimension":"Circumference","value":"80","unit":"cm","qualifier":"","date":{"text":"","earliest":null,"latest":null},"part":"bust","note":""},{"dimension":"Circumference","value":"58","unit":"cm","qualifier":"","date":{"text":"","earliest":null,"latest":null},"part":"waist","note":""},{"dimension":"Diameter","value":"81","unit":"cm","qualifier":"","date":{"text":"","earliest":null,"latest":null},"part":"footprint of skirt","note":""}],"dimensionsNote":"","marksAndInscriptions":[],"objectHistory":"Given by the designer","historicalContext":"","briefDescription":"Lace evening dress, designed by Michael Sherard, London, spring/summer 1958.","bibliographicReferences":[{"reference":{"text":"","id":""},"details":"","free":"De la Haye, A., 'Material Evidence' in Wilcox, C., ed., <i>The Golden Age of Couture: Paris and London 1947-57</i> (V&A Publications, London), p.102 & pl.4.12"},{"reference":{"text":"<i>Fashion : An Anthology by Cecil Beaton</i>. London : H.M.S.O., 1971","id":"AUTH354373"},"details":"","free":""}],"production":"","productionType":{"text":"Haute couture","id":"THES48861"},"contentDescription":"","contentPlaces":[],"associatedPlaces":[],"contentPerson":[],"associatedPerson":[{"text":"Beaton, Cecil","id":"N2787"}],"contentOrganisations":[],"associatedOrganisations":[],"contentPeople":[],"associatedPeople":[],"contentEvents":[],"associatedEvents":[],"contentOthers":[{"text":"Flowers","id":"x31099"}],"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\nMichael Sherard (1910–98) \r\nLondon\r\n1958\r\n\r\nThe flamenco dress was a reoccurring theme in 1950s evening wear. Sherard’s version has a bell-like skirt and train made entirely of lace, his trademark fabric. \r\n\r\nFrench re-embroidered ribbon lace, with taffeta \r\n\r\nGiven by Mr John Fraser and Mr Michael Sherard\r\nV&A: T.403-1974","date":{"text":"22/09/2007-06/01/2008","earliest":"2007-09-22","latest":"2008-01-06"}}],"partNumbers":["T.403-1974"],"accessionNumberNum":"403","accessionNumberPrefix":"T","accessionYear":1974,"otherNumbers":[],"copyNumber":"","aspects":["WHOLE"],"assets":[],"recordModificationDate":"2025-06-25","recordCreationDate":"2007-09-06","availableToBook":false}}