Minuit Sonne

The label in this little black dress simply reads 'Lord and Taylor'. This was the name of a prestigious department store on Fifth Avenue in New York. They imported Paris original haute couture (high fashion) and excellent copies of French models. They also sold unnamed ready-to-wear American designs. An illustration in the American edition of the fashion magazine Vogue of 15 April 1926 identifies this dress. It was called 'Minuit Sonne' and designed by Drecoll. The dress is made of fine black silk voile and decorated with strass (a brilliant paste used for imitation stones). The diamanté butterfly bursting over the hips is a perfect example of the Art Deco style. The sleeveless design and lo

Evening dress · Paris · 1926. Silk voile with embroidered diamanté decoration. By Drecoll. Victoria and Albert Museum, London.