Evening dress

This dress, designed by Jeanne Lanvin, is made of purple satin, cut on the bias of the fabric. It is sleeveless and has a low cut rectangular neckline. The back of the dress is cut into a point, attached to the back of the collar and showing two triangles of naked flesh. A huge collar based on a rectangular form is made of triangles and squares. The collar is covered with narrow parallel rows of stitching which reinforce the fabric and allow the collar to keep its shape. Lanvin broke the long line of the dress by attaching two ribbons, equally covered with stitches, at either sides of the waist. The ribbons, once fastened, emphasise the waist, a new and important feature of 1930s fashion. By

Evening dress · Paris · 1935. Satin, machine-sewn. By Jeanne Lanvin. Victoria and Albert Museum, London.