{"meta":{"version":"2.1","_links":{"self":{"href":"https://api.vam.ac.uk/v2/object/O74957"},"collection_page":{"href":"https://collections.vam.ac.uk/item/O74957/"}},"images":{"_primary_thumbnail":"https://framemark.vam.ac.uk/collections/2006AP3390/full/!100,100/0/default.jpg","_iiif_image":"https://framemark.vam.ac.uk/collections/2006AP3390/","_alt_iiif_image":[],"imageResolution":"low","_images_meta":[{"assetRef":"2006AP3390","copyright":"©Victoria and Albert Museum, London/Jean Dessès","sensitiveImage":false},{"assetRef":"2006AP3389","copyright":"©Victoria and Albert Museum, London/Jean Dessès","sensitiveImage":false}]},"see_also":null},"record":{"systemNumber":"O74957","accessionNumber":"T.104-1982","objectType":"Dress","titles":[],"summaryDescription":"The little black dress was a classic design. Women could wear them for work during the day and then, with a change of accessories, wear them out in the evening. This version was designed by Jean Dessès in about 1955. It has a modest bodice with a high neck and long sleeves. The bodice is made in matte wool and fastens in the front with self-covered buttons. It has been cut and fitted to fit closely. The skirt is made of pleated lustrous silk taffeta.","physicalDescription":"Black cocktail dress in wool and sun-ray pleated silk taffeta. Long sleeved top of matte wool with front fastening self-covered buttons to the waist.  Full skirt of sun-ray pleated silk taffeta.","artistMakerPerson":[{"name":{"text":"Dessès, Jean","id":"A2118"},"association":{"text":"designer","id":"AAT25190"},"note":""}],"artistMakerOrganisations":[],"artistMakerPeople":[],"materials":[],"techniques":[],"materialsAndTechniques":"Wool and pleated silk taffeta","categories":[{"text":"Day wear","id":"THES49000"},{"text":"Fashion","id":"THES48957"},{"text":"Womenswear","id":"THES49044"},{"text":"Europeana Fashion Project","id":"THES265804"}],"styles":[],"collectionCode":{"text":"T&F","id":"THES48601"},"images":["2006AP3390","2006AP3389"],"imageResolution":"low","galleryLocations":[{"current":{"text":"010","id":"THES307578"},"free":"","case":"","shelf":"","box":""}],"partTypes":[[{"text":"Dress","id":""}]],"contentWarnings":[{"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 D.M. Haynes and Mrs M. Clark","dimensions":[{"dimension":"Circumference","value":"100","unit":"cm","qualifier":"","date":{"text":"","earliest":null,"latest":null},"part":"bust","note":""},{"dimension":"Circumference","value":"63","unit":"cm","qualifier":"","date":{"text":"","earliest":null,"latest":null},"part":"waist","note":""},{"dimension":"Length","value":"77","unit":"cm","qualifier":"","date":{"text":"","earliest":null,"latest":null},"part":"skirt","note":""},{"dimension":"Diameter","value":"100","unit":"cm","qualifier":"","date":{"text":"","earliest":null,"latest":null},"part":"footprint of skirt","note":""}],"dimensionsNote":"","marksAndInscriptions":[],"objectHistory":"Opal Holt was born in Canada in 1887 but lived in the US until the end of the Second World War.  She travelled extensively between the wars and was in the first plane to land in Bali.  She married Herbert Holt, a Canadian who lived a large part of his life in England, as her third husband in 1946.  They came to England and Europe every summer and Opal Holt began buying clothes in Paris for her life in England, and for the Bahamas in Winter, over a period of about thirty years.  She died in 1980.\r\n\r\nGiven by Mrs D.M Haynes and Mrs. Clark (nee Holt; Opal Holt's step-daughters).","historicalContext":"","briefDescription":"Cocktail dress in wool and sun-ray pleated silk taffeta, designed by Jean Dessès, Paris, ca. 1955","bibliographicReferences":[{"reference":{"text":"","id":""},"details":"","free":"Mendes, Valerie. <u>Black In Fashion</u>. London: V&A Publications, 1999."}],"production":"","productionType":{"text":"Haute couture","id":"THES48861"},"contentDescription":"","contentPlaces":[],"associatedPlaces":[],"contentPerson":[],"associatedPerson":[],"contentOrganisations":[],"associatedOrganisations":[],"contentPeople":[],"associatedPeople":[],"contentEvents":[],"associatedEvents":[],"contentOthers":[],"contentConcepts":[],"contentLiteraryRefs":[],"galleryLabels":[{"text":"[Cocktail case]\r\n\r\nAfternoon dress (robe après-midi habillée)\r\nJean Dessès (1904-70)\r\nParis\r\nAbout 1955\r\n\r\nHybrid garments, suitable for both day and evening, often combined different fabrics. Here, the close fitting wool bodice has a modest, high neck and long sleeves. The skirt is made of pleated silk taffeta. Woman and Beauty (1951) advised, 'Invest your all in one good little black dress'.\r\n\r\nWool and silk taffeta\r\n\r\nWorn by Mrs Opal Holt and given by Mrs Haynes and Mrs Clark\r\nV&A: T.104-1982\r\n\r\n[displayed with]\r\nHat\r\nSimone Mirman, London\r\nAbout 1955\r\nVelvet and net\r\nV&A: T.114-1980","date":{"text":"22/09/2007-06/01/2008","earliest":"2007-09-22","latest":"2008-01-06"}},{"text":"DAY DRESS, plain weave wool and accordion-pleated silk taffeta.\r\nFrench, Paris, Jean Desses, about 1955.\r\n\r\nPerhaps the most desirable black dress is the one which can be worn with ease during both day and evening and demands nothing more than an accessory change. Here is such a comfortable, cool season dress with a modest, high-necked, long-sleeved bodice which front-fastens with self-covered buttons. From the narrow waist of non-reflective wool spreads a permanently pleated, calf-length lustrous silk taffeta skirt. During working hours accessories of white collar or coloured scarf, leather belt, sensible shoes and handbag would not look amiss, while at the witching hour these could be swiftly exchanged for evening pearls, patent belt, sandals and clutch bag. 1950s fashion magazines frequently included such 'transformation' advicen for the busy, well-dressed woman - and a basic black dress was the ideal starting point.\r\n\r\nWorn by Mrs Opal Holt and given by Mrs D M Haynes and Mrs M Clark\r\nT.104-1982","date":{"text":"1983-84","earliest":"1983-01-01","latest":"1984-12-31"}}],"partNumbers":["T.104-1982"],"accessionNumberNum":"104","accessionNumberPrefix":"T","accessionYear":1982,"otherNumbers":[],"copyNumber":"","aspects":["WHOLE"],"assets":[],"recordModificationDate":"2026-03-28","recordCreationDate":"2003-02-24","availableToBook":true}}