{"meta":{"version":"2.1","_links":{"self":{"href":"https://api.vam.ac.uk/v2/object/O74965"},"collection_page":{"href":"https://collections.vam.ac.uk/item/O74965/"}},"images":{"_primary_thumbnail":"https://framemark.vam.ac.uk/collections/2006AP3295/full/!100,100/0/default.jpg","_iiif_image":"https://framemark.vam.ac.uk/collections/2006AP3295/","_alt_iiif_image":[],"imageResolution":"low","_images_meta":[{"assetRef":"2006AP3295","copyright":"©Victoria and Albert Museum, London/Pierre Balmain","sensitiveImage":false},{"assetRef":"2006AP3296","copyright":"©Victoria and Albert Museum, London/Pierre Balmain","sensitiveImage":false},{"assetRef":"2006AP3294","copyright":"©Victoria and Albert Museum, London/Pierre Balmain","sensitiveImage":false}]},"see_also":null},"record":{"systemNumber":"O74965","accessionNumber":"T.51-1974","objectType":"Evening dress","titles":[{"title":"Boston","type":"assigned by artist"}],"summaryDescription":"This evening dress has a low necked and adorned bodice which drops to the hip level at the sides and is tightly fitted to the body by curved seams and long darts. It is of tulle stretched over taffeta and mounted on a firmly boned foundation. Springing from the lowered waist is a frou-frou skirt of accordion-pleated triple flounces in frail tulle edged with shining satin ribbon. At the sides additional fullness is achived by tiers of enormous rosettes of pleated tulle interleaved with supporting ruches of nylon crin. \r\nPierre Balmain (1914-1982) opened his salon in 1945. Having studied architecture he worked on the structure of garments, defining the body with simple, modern lines. This cocktail dress, designed for the increasing elegant youth of the late 1950s is  inspired by ballet and Spanish flamenco dress. It epitomises Balmain's harmonious balance between extravagance and elegance.","physicalDescription":"Short evening dress of tulle stretched over taffeta and mounted on a firmly boned foundation. It has a low necked and adorned bodice, which drops to the hip level at the sides and is tightly fitted to the body by curved seams and long darts. Springing from the lowered waist is a frou-frou skirt of accordion-pleated triple flounces in frail tulle edged with shining satin ribbon. At the sides additional fullness is achieved by tiers of enormous rosettes of pleated tulle interleaved with supporting ruches of nylon. The dress is lined with many layers of net, stiffened with nylon and plastic mesh.","artistMakerPerson":[{"name":{"text":"Pierre Balmain","id":"A2012"},"association":{"text":"designer","id":"AAT25190"},"note":""}],"artistMakerOrganisations":[],"artistMakerPeople":[],"materials":[],"techniques":[],"materialsAndTechniques":"Tulle stretched over taffeta, mounted on boned foundation, frail tulle edged with satin ribbon, and lined with net stiffened with nylon and plastic mesh","categories":[{"text":"Evening wear","id":"THES48999"},{"text":"Fashion","id":"THES48957"},{"text":"Womenswear","id":"THES49044"}],"styles":[],"collectionCode":{"text":"T&F","id":"THES48601"},"images":["2006AP3295","2006AP3296","2006AP3294"],"imageResolution":"low","galleryLocations":[{"current":{"text":"003","id":"THES404992"},"free":"","case":"","shelf":"","box":""}],"partTypes":[[{"text":"Evening dress","id":""}]],"contentWarnings":[{"apprise":"No","note":""}],"placesOfOrigin":[{"place":{"text":"Paris","id":"x29068"},"association":{"text":"made","id":"x28654"},"note":""}],"productionDates":[{"date":{"text":"1957","earliest":"1957-01-01","latest":"1957-12-31"},"association":{"text":"made","id":"x28654"},"note":""}],"associatedObjects":[],"creditLine":"Given by Lady Elizabeth von Hofmannsthal","dimensions":[{"dimension":"Width","value":"50","unit":"cm","qualifier":"","date":{"text":"07/02/2020","earliest":"2020-02-07","latest":"2020-02-07"},"part":"","note":"Maximum Width on Stockman"},{"dimension":"Depth","value":"40","unit":"cm","qualifier":"","date":{"text":"07/02/2020","earliest":"2020-02-07","latest":"2020-02-07"},"part":"","note":"Maximum Width on Stockman"},{"dimension":"Height","value":"1650","unit":"cm","qualifier":"","date":{"text":"07/02/2020","earliest":"2020-02-07","latest":"2020-02-07"},"part":"","note":"Maximum Width on Stockman"}],"dimensionsNote":"UK size 12.","marksAndInscriptions":[],"objectHistory":"This dress has been displayed in the following V&A exhibitions:\n\n1972: Fashion an Anthology by Cecil Beaton\r\n1984: The Little Black Dress\r\n1999: Black in Fashion\r\n2007: The Golden Age of Couture: Paris and London 1947-1957\r\n\r\nAn original sketch from Patrimoine Balmain's archives for this dress confirms its date as Spring-Summer 1958 and the title of the design as Boston.\r\n","historicalContext":"","briefDescription":"'Boston' tulle on tafetta evening dress, designed by Pierre Balmain, Paris, Spring-Summer 1958.","bibliographicReferences":[{"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.167"},{"reference":{"text":"","id":""},"details":"","free":"Elizabeth von Hofmannsthal, photographed by Cecil Beaton for British <i>Vogue</i>, September 1948 p.72"},{"reference":{"text":"","id":""},"details":"","free":"Mendes, Valerie. <u>Black In Fashion</u>. London: V&A Publications, 1999."},{"reference":{"text":"<i>Fashion : An Anthology by Cecil Beaton</i>. London : H.M.S.O., 1971","id":"AUTH354373"},"details":"no. 37","free":""}],"production":"","productionType":{"text":"","id":""},"contentDescription":"","contentPlaces":[],"associatedPlaces":[],"contentPerson":[],"associatedPerson":[{"text":"Beaton, Cecil","id":"N2787"}],"contentOrganisations":[],"associatedOrganisations":[],"contentPeople":[],"associatedPeople":[],"contentEvents":[],"associatedEvents":[],"contentOthers":[],"contentConcepts":[],"contentLiteraryRefs":[],"galleryLabels":[{"text":"[Cocktail dress case]\r\n\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\nPierre Balmain (1914-82)\r\nParis\r\n1957\r\n\r\nDresses like this achieved their air of weightlessness by floating on a firmly boned foundation. Pleated tulle flounces and rosettes edged with ribbon spring from the lowered waist and preclude sitting down. \r\n\r\nSilk taffeta and tulle \r\n\r\nGiven by Lady Elizabeth von Hofmannsthal\r\nV&A: T.51-1974","date":{"text":"22/09/2007-06/01/2008","earliest":"2007-09-22","latest":"2008-01-06"}},{"text":"EVENING DRESS, silk net, taffeta and ribbon.\r\nFrench, Paris, Pierre Balmain; 1957\r\n\r\nInspired by ballerina's attire this luxurious dress has a sharply contrasting bodice and skirt. The severely plain low-necked bodice drops to the hips at the sides and is tightly fitted by curved seams and long darts. It is of net stretched over taffeta and mounted on a firmly boned net foundation. Attached is a bouffant frou-frou skirt of pleated triple flounces of net edged with ribbon. At the sides additional fullness is achieved by rows of enormous rosettes formed by pleated net frills interleaved with bands of stiffening. The frilled mass is held buoyant by two full and complicated petticoats of nylon, stiffening and further net frills. The strain of the heavy skirts is mainly taken by the waist stay, and zips and hooks and eyes fastenthe back.\r\n\r\nWorn and given by Lady Elizabeth von Hoffmannsthal\r\nThe Cecil Beaton Collection\r\nT.51-1974","date":{"text":"1983-84","earliest":"1983-01-01","latest":"1984-12-31"}}],"partNumbers":["T.51-1974"],"accessionNumberNum":"51","accessionNumberPrefix":"T","accessionYear":1974,"otherNumbers":[],"copyNumber":"","aspects":["WHOLE"],"assets":["2007BP3278","2007BP3277"],"recordModificationDate":"2025-08-15","recordCreationDate":"2003-02-24","availableToBook":false}}