{"meta":{"version":"2.1","_links":{"self":{"href":"https://api.vam.ac.uk/v2/object/O297176"},"collection_page":{"href":"https://collections.vam.ac.uk/item/O297176/"}},"images":{"_primary_thumbnail":"https://framemark.vam.ac.uk/collections/2021MU8169/full/!100,100/0/default.jpg","_iiif_image":"https://framemark.vam.ac.uk/collections/2021MU8169/","_alt_iiif_image":[],"imageResolution":"low","_images_meta":[{"assetRef":"2021MU8169","copyright":"© Victoria and Albert Museum, London","sensitiveImage":false}]},"see_also":null},"record":{"systemNumber":"O297176","accessionNumber":"T.69-2008","objectType":"Evening dress","titles":[{"title":"Silhouette","type":"named collection"}],"summaryDescription":"Jean Dessès opened his Parisian atelier in 1937, two years before France went to war. His business survived the war, and the period of post-war recovery. During the first half-decade of his house's existence, when continuing restrictions on materials and shifting client fortunes might have threatened his young business, Dessès found success. His career-long preoccupation with draping and form resulted in gowns such as this blue chiffon evening dress: defined by their femininity, technical complexity and use of sheer fabrics. \r\n\r\nIn his early designs, Dessès's evening wear is characterised by a subtle colour palette of creams, beiges and pale pinks, but he later introduced vibrant colours such as the varied blue shades seen in this dress of 1951. The luxurious textiles and skilled construction of this dress suggest the high level of craftsmanship that French couture houses achieved within a few years of the war's end.","physicalDescription":"Blue silk chiffon full length sheath evening dress, ombré shades of pale to dark blue, bodice with draped shoulder straps and cowled neckline, twisted chiffon shoulder straps, the skirt tightly pleated and falling into a constraining band around the hem which is concealed by a swag of dark and medium chiffon which swoops back round into a fan-pleated short train of chiffon falling from the centre back.","artistMakerPerson":[{"name":{"text":"Dessès, Jean","id":"A2118"},"association":{"text":"designer","id":"x36960"},"note":""}],"artistMakerOrganisations":[],"artistMakerPeople":[],"materials":[{"text":"silk chiffon","id":"x32757"}],"techniques":[],"materialsAndTechniques":"Silk chiffon","categories":[{"text":"Fashion","id":"THES48957"},{"text":"Clothing","id":"THES48975"},{"text":"Evening wear","id":"THES48999"},{"text":"Formal wear","id":"THES48950"}],"styles":[],"collectionCode":{"text":"T&F","id":"THES48601"},"images":["2021MU8169"],"imageResolution":"low","galleryLocations":[{"current":{"text":"007","id":"THES307893"},"free":"","case":"","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":"Spring-Summer 1951","earliest":"1951-01-01","latest":"1951-12-31"},"association":{"text":"designed","id":"x29338"},"note":""}],"associatedObjects":[],"creditLine":"Purchased with support from a generous individual","dimensions":[{"dimension":"Circumference","value":"86","unit":"cm","qualifier":"","date":{"text":"","earliest":null,"latest":null},"part":"bust","note":""},{"dimension":"Circumference","value":"57","unit":"cm","qualifier":"","date":{"text":"","earliest":null,"latest":null},"part":"waist","note":""}],"dimensionsNote":"","marksAndInscriptions":[],"objectHistory":"","historicalContext":"","briefDescription":"Blue chiffon evening dress, Jean Dessès, 1951","bibliographicReferences":[],"production":"","productionType":{"text":"Haute couture","id":"THES48861"},"contentDescription":"","contentPlaces":[],"associatedPlaces":[],"contentPerson":[],"associatedPerson":[],"contentOrganisations":[],"associatedOrganisations":[],"contentPeople":[],"associatedPeople":[],"contentEvents":[],"associatedEvents":[],"contentOthers":[],"contentConcepts":[],"contentLiteraryRefs":[],"galleryLabels":[],"partNumbers":["T.69-2008"],"accessionNumberNum":"69","accessionNumberPrefix":"T","accessionYear":2008,"otherNumbers":[],"copyNumber":"","aspects":["WHOLE"],"assets":[],"recordModificationDate":"2025-04-11","recordCreationDate":"2009-06-24","availableToBook":true}}