Woman's Dinner Suit: Jacket and Skirt

Currently not on view

Woman's Dinner Suit: Jacket and Skirt

1955

Designed by Charles James (American (born England), 1906–1978) Worn by Mrs. H. Michael Cline (American)

Gold morning glories against vibrant red silk make this dressy suit stand out, although Charles James’s extraordinary diagonal seaming is more noticeable in plain fabric versions of the suit. James produced designs that were completely idiosyncratic. A self-taught perfectionist, he obsessed over the cut and construction of each garment. He took four years to develop this suit, inspired by Asian shapes, and considered it to be his tailoring masterpiece.

Currently not on view

Object Details

Titles:

Woman's Dinner Suit: Jacket and Skirt

Date:

1955

Artists:

Designed by Charles James (American (born England), 1906–1978) Worn by Mrs. H. Michael Cline (American)

Medium:

Silk/cotton/nylon/metallic double-cloth with wool supplementary padding wefts

Dimensions:

Center Back Length (Jacket): 30 inches (76.2 cm) Length (Skirt): 26 1/2 inches (67.3 cm)

Classification:

Costume (including accessories)

Credit Line:

Gift of Mrs. H. Michael Cline, 1976

Accession Number:

1976-20-2a,b

Geography:

Made in United States, North and Central America

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Currently not on view