Category: 1950-1959
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1955 – Charles James, Butterfly dress
Charles James’ 1955 “Butterfly” gown features a body-conscious sculpted sheath and large bustle skirt, which is reminiscent of the tightly fitted bustle dresses of the early 1880s.
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1958 – Dior (Yves Saint Laurent), L’Eléphant Blanc
L’Eléphant Blanc is part of Yves Saint Laurent’s Trapèze collection for the House of Dior, Spring/Summer 1958, which introduced the versatile trapèze silhouette to haute couture. Saint Laurent’s first collection at Dior placed him firmly on the path to becoming one of the most well-known designers of the twentieth century.
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1927-2001 – Maija Isola
The designer of many of Marimekko’s classic stand-out prints was Maija Isola, who famously abandoned conservative designs in favor of bold, graphic styles. Her work includes unique floral and nature-inspired designs, and is exhibited in museums including the Victoria and Albert Museum, Design Museum Copenhagen, and the Minneapolis Institute of Arts
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1952 – Christian Dior, La Cigale
La Cigale is a sharply structured gown by Christian Dior for his 1952 A/W collection Profile Line. This collection followed the lines of his New Look style and added contrasts in color and shape.
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1898-1981 – Ann Lowe
No longer “society’s best kept secret” as the Saturday Evening Post called her, Ann Lowe is recognized as a pioneering African American couturier. Her pieces are preserved in renowned museum collections including the Smithsonian, the Metropolitan Museum of Art, and The Museum at FIT.
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1953 – Ann Lowe, Jacqueline Kennedy’s Wedding dress
Jacqueline Kennedy’s wedding dress symbolizes the political ambitions of the Kennedys and the unsung story of African-American designer Ann Lowe.
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Norell: Dean of American Fashion
Timeless design, clean silhouettes and sequins–The Museum at FIT takes a look at the innovative legacy of Norman Norell, an American designer that created luxurious ready-to-wear style.
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1939 – Cukor, The Women / 1956 – Miller, The Opposite Sex
Trusting Park Avenue socialite Mary Haines (Norma Shearer) loses her husband to scheming shopgirl Crystal Allen (Joan Crawford), and can only win him back if she becomes as cunning as her so-called friends.
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1953 – Sophie Gimbel, Cocktail Dress
Sophie Gimbel’s black cocktail dress is studded with sequins and rhinestones, which gives the impression that the dress is covered in stars. It reflects the influence of Christian Dior’s “New Look” silhouette and the emergence of cocktail attire in the 1950s.
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