- Choice 1: Evening Dress by Dior
Designer: Yves Saint Laurent (French, 1 August 1936 – 1 June 2008)
Topic Choice: an ankle-length evening gown with a white sash
Model: Dovima
Photographer: Richard Avedon
Photographed at a Paris circus in August 1955 for Harper’s Bazaar
This image is remarkable because of the contradiction of wild animals, Dovima’s beauty, and the elegant dress of Dior. When Laurent designed this dress, he was 19-year-old.
I saw this dress while I was taking a photography class in my first year. Since it was the photography class, I focused on the prominent photographer Avedon and the gorgeous figure Dovima’s appearance; however, I thought the dress was incredibly beautiful and I did not think the picture was able to succeed without the dress. After that, I watched the movie about Yves Saint Laurent and I recognized the dress in the movie. Laurent spontaneously ornamented with the sash when he joined Maison Dior, and I believe that people who see this moment can realize Laurent was a genius. Although I have not thought about designing this type of an elegant dress, I chose this dress because Yves Saint Laurent is my one of the most favorite fashion designers, and this dress was designed when Laurent started his career.
- Choice 2: Azure Blue Silk Gown worn by Jacqueline Kennedy
Designer: Oleg Cassini (American, b. France 1913-2006)
Place Made: USA
Date Made: ca. 1960
Medium: Silk crepe giselle
Jacqueline Kennedy is my favorite figure and I considered to choose the pink Chanel ensemble when she wore when J.F. Kennedy died; however, I chose this dress because she wore this dress twice and she looked happier in this dress. She wore this dress at a foreign ministry reception in Mexico City, Mexico on June 29, 1962, and a dinner hosted by Ambassador Howard Beale in New Port, Rhode Island on September 14, 1962. Azure blue strapless evening gown was aesthetic and showed her prominent fashion taste. She was the person who knew how to wear clothing and could use her ability in a positive way as the first lady of a country. I would like to learn about her sense to improve my design work.
- Choice 3: The little black dress by Coco Chanel
Designer: Coco Chanel (French, 19 August 1883 – 10 January 1971)
Date Made: 1926
Medium: silk
I chose this dress, which was called as “Ford” by American Vogue because it represents the period of transformation of the notion of women’s wear after WWI. The women’s fashion before WWI seemed to be the Renaissance of fashion because the dresses had been extravagant and elaborate. As its nickname “Ford” and Chanel’s principle of her design, this dress shows simplicity. This iconic dress is one of the most noticeable dresses in fashion history. Although elaborate dresses like Poiret’s design were beautiful, this simple dress was a great invention of the fashion industry in the 20th century. I love simplistic qualities in fashion as much as delicate details. In addition, I admire that Chanel brought freedom of movements and functionality to women’s outfit, which I want to do on my design work.
- Choice 3-1: The Delphos Gown
Designer: Mariano Fortuny (Spanish, 11 May 1871 – 3 May 1949)
Date Made: 1909
Medium: fine pleated taffeta
I chose this Delphos gown because this iconic dress is one of the most noticeable dresses in fashion history. Besides, its silhouette and delicate textures help a woman body to look more beautiful and feminine, and to make a human’s body look more beautiful is the goal of my design (See the attached image below). Luisa Casati confirmed this dress’ name as Delphos in September 1909 when she purchased the gown. The designer was inspired by archaic Greek Korai; however, the exact method of the pleating of the fabric is unknown.
- Choice: My Grandmother
I love to choose this ensemble as my final topic; however, my grandmother passed away and my mother was too young to remember about her mother’s outfit. Therefore, I do not have any information about this ensemble.
