I have thought about that everyone would have some specific garments in their minds which are unforgettable because they are beautiful or meaningful. Likewise, there have been special garments in fashion history, I believe this black evening gown which was designed by young Yves Saint Laurent for Christian Dior is one of the most beautiful dress in fashion history. In 1955, which was two years before Dior died, Michel de Brunhoff introduced Laurent to Dior. He said that this kid would be a giant. As his mention, this kid Laurent designed this amazing dress just right after hiring on Maison Dior. This dress was his first design for Dior. The dress was shown at the 1955-1956 F/W collection. The material of this dress is black velvet and the sash was made of sateen. We can see very deep and rich black color because velvet tends to absorb light. It is very elegant and luxurious. The contrast to black velvet, the sateen sash us bright cream color, crispy texture, and reflect light. Laurent used two simple colors but the consequence is extraordinary. The silhouette is simple as well; however, it emphasizes the beauty of femininity with the low-cut neckline, the sleek sleeves, and the widely draped long sateen sash which follows the mannequin’s bodyline. The title of my final paper is “Eternal Moments in Fashion History,” because I loved not only the gorgeous dress but also everything and everyone that participated in this moments. Since various elements are related to fashion, we cannot discuss fashion with just fashion instead we need to consider economies, culture, art, societies, history, etc. I believe I need to aware of those complex relationship with diverse aspects. This dress and this picture were able to succeed due to the model Dovima’s beauty, the genius photographer Avedon’s specialty, Laurent’s remarkable dress, and the wildness of elephants. If there had been missing one thing among them, this moment could never have been successful. Everything in this moment was perfectly harmonized and it remained as a legendary moment in fashion history, and it will be eternally cherished in our minds.
