{"meta":{"version":"2.1","_links":{"self":{"href":"https://api.vam.ac.uk/v2/object/O83764"},"collection_page":{"href":"https://collections.vam.ac.uk/item/O83764/"}},"images":null,"see_also":null},"record":{"systemNumber":"O83764","accessionNumber":"T.279-1988","objectType":"Dress","titles":[],"summaryDescription":"Laura Ashley (1925-1985) was a self-taught designer who formed a company with her husband in 1953, selling printed scarves, table mats and other textiles. In 1969, the company launched a clothing range based on Edwardian summer dresses and gardening smocks. These designs captured the escapist mood and pastoral style popular throughout the 1970s in Britain and North American.  From the early 1970s Laura Ashley expanded, with shops established across Britain, Europe and the United States. \r\n\r\nThe pavement-sweeping style of this full-length dress features the sprigged cottons for which Laura Ashley became known, prints which exploited the British love of country life.","physicalDescription":"Navy blue printed cotton dress with a white cherry blossom motif. The dress features short, capped sleeves and a square neckline. The full-length skirt is gathered at a high waist and features two front pockets at hip height. There is a centre-back zip closure.","artistMakerPerson":[],"artistMakerOrganisations":[{"name":{"text":"Laura Ashley Ltd","id":"A1947"},"association":{"text":"designer","id":"AAT25190"},"note":""}],"artistMakerPeople":[],"materials":[{"text":"cotton (textile)","id":"AAT14067"}],"techniques":[{"text":"printed","id":"AAT53319"}],"materialsAndTechniques":"Printed cotton","categories":[{"text":"Fashion","id":"THES48957"},{"text":"Textiles","id":"THES48885"},{"text":"Day wear","id":"THES49000"},{"text":"Womenswear","id":"THES49044"}],"styles":[],"collectionCode":{"text":"T&F","id":"THES48601"},"images":[],"imageResolution":"high","galleryLocations":[{"current":{"text":"010","id":"THES307380"},"free":"","case":"","shelf":"","box":""}],"partTypes":[[{"text":"Dress","id":""}]],"contentWarnings":[{"apprise":"","note":""}],"placesOfOrigin":[{"place":{"text":"Wales","id":"x29337"},"association":{"text":"made","id":"x28654"},"note":""}],"productionDates":[{"date":{"text":"1972-1975","earliest":"1972-01-01","latest":"1975-12-31"},"association":{"text":"made","id":"x28654"},"note":""}],"associatedObjects":[],"creditLine":"Given by Mrs Valerie Mendes","dimensions":[{"dimension":"Length","value":"140","unit":"cm","qualifier":"","date":{"text":"","earliest":null,"latest":null},"part":"","note":""},{"dimension":"Circumference","value":"64","unit":"cm","qualifier":"","date":{"text":"","earliest":null,"latest":null},"part":"waist","note":""},{"dimension":"Circumference","value":"78","unit":"cm","qualifier":"","date":{"text":"","earliest":null,"latest":null},"part":"bust","note":""}],"dimensionsNote":"","marksAndInscriptions":[{"content":"'Laura Ashley / Dyers and Printers / Made in Wales / S'","inscriber":{"name":{"text":"","id":""},"association":{"text":"","id":""}},"date":{"text":"","earliest":null,"latest":null},"description":"","interpretation":"","language":"","medium":"","method":"","position":"","script":"","translation":"","transliteration":"","type":"","note":""}],"objectHistory":"","historicalContext":"","briefDescription":"Printed cotton dress, designed by Laura Ashley Ltd., Wales, 1972-1975","bibliographicReferences":[{"reference":{"text":"","id":""},"details":"","free":"De La Haye, Amy, ed. <u>The Cutting Edge: 50 Years of British Fashion 1947-1997</u>. London: V&A Publications, 1997."}],"production":"","productionType":{"text":"Ready to wear","id":"THES48866"},"contentDescription":"","contentPlaces":[],"associatedPlaces":[],"contentPerson":[],"associatedPerson":[],"contentOrganisations":[],"associatedOrganisations":[],"contentPeople":[],"associatedPeople":[],"contentEvents":[],"associatedEvents":[],"contentOthers":[{"text":"cherry","id":"AAT12403"},{"text":"blossom","id":"x36410"}],"contentConcepts":[],"contentLiteraryRefs":[],"galleryLabels":[{"text":"Laura Ashley made the 'milk-maid' look fashionable and widely accessible.  Such pavement-sweeping styles satisfied yearnings for the rural idyll.  Laura Ashley revived sprigged cottons which were perfect for the company's demure, feminine output.  This dress was worn to attend a wedding in the Caribbean.","date":{"text":"1997","earliest":"1997-01-01","latest":"1997-12-31"}}],"partNumbers":["T.279-1988"],"accessionNumberNum":"279","accessionNumberPrefix":"T","accessionYear":1988,"otherNumbers":[],"copyNumber":"","aspects":["WHOLE"],"assets":[],"recordModificationDate":"2025-04-12","recordCreationDate":"2003-08-26","availableToBook":true}}