Wednesday, June 3, 2015

Visiting Legion of Honor Part 2 - The Temporary Exhibit

Gentle Friends,  after our breakfast and walk-a-bout,we headed for the museum.......the Legion of Honor is a lovely classically inspired building just full of beautiful things to see.....


....the temporary exhibit we had come to see.......
......  the gowns in the exhibit were spectacular and so worth the visit!!!  Here we go...........

Gilbert Adrian, better known as just Adrian when designing for films, "The Tigress"
Evening ensemble, 1949 - black,gold and orange silk taffeta chine and gold lame....
______________________________

... I lost the info about these two pieces, but seem to remember the one of the left was from 1960 or so and the right one from the late 1980's (I do not care for the one on the right)
___________________________

This spectacular gown......

Charles James, "Four-leaf Clover" evening gown, 1953 - Duchesse satin, lace and silk Shantung

...close up of the lace overlay......

....and the back of the gown.......
___________________________

another lovely gown by......
Charles James - "Ball Gown" 1951 - Ivory Silk Satin - was a gown with four poufs reinterpreting the Victorian bustle...  the bodice looked very tight and not that comfortable to wear....
______________________

This gown was one of the show stopper pieces of the exhibit.....

another Charles James creation called "Tree" Ball Gown 1953 - Dark Pink Silk Taffeta with red, pink and white nylon tulle......

.... here's the back of the gown...
______________________

This ensemble was worn by Ava Gardner in the film "The Barefoot Contessa" 1954.....

Designed by Sorelle Fontana - 1954 - Pink Duchesse Silk Satin, black velvet applique with pearlescent and iridescent sequins and beads.

_________________________

Two earlier gowns......

................the one on the left is by J. Suzanne Talbot ca. 1925 - Rust silk crepe with gold, silver and white embroidery.  The one on the right is by Jean Patou ca. 1927 Ivory silk twill with a self-fabric belt.  The Cloche hat is ca. 1923 and is beige glazed linen with self-fabric band.
______________________
Here's a much earlier gown from the House of Worth......

Jean Philippe Worth - Evening Dress 1907-10 - Cream silk Satin, silk tulle, and lavender silk chiffon embroidered with rhinestones, pearls and crystal beads.
__________________




Arthur Silver - from Liberty & Co  - 1900-1915 - silk brocade woven in peacock pattern
__________________________

Callot Soeurs (The Callot Sisters) - Two Evening Ensembles ca. 1913 - 

_______________________

Elsa Schiaparelli - "Evening Dress" - Summer 1937 - Ivory crepe-backed silk patterned in multicoloured butterflies - with matching umbrella
______________________________

Madeleine Vionnet "Evening Ensemble" ca 1935 - magenta silk crepe
______________________________

Left - Yves Saint Laurent - "Refrain" cocktail dress - Spring/Summer 1958- White silk surah printed with grey and black pebble pattern

Right - Cristobal Balenciaga - Dress - Autumn/Winter 1957 - Black silk crepe
____________________________

There were quite a few other pieces in the Exhibit, but this post is getting, or gotten really long so I'll wrap it up. Do stop by tomorrow for the final Part 3 of our visit to the LoH.

Take care,
edgar

8 comments:

  1. I loved this post! The gowns are beautiful! Looking forward to the next part.

    Paula

    ReplyDelete
  2. That's when ball gowns were works of art! Reminds me of Young Frankenstein line, Madeline Kahn say " Taffeta darling, Taffeta! ).

    ReplyDelete
  3. Great dresses! We had the chance to see some similar exhibition while in MET.AriadnefromGreece!

    ReplyDelete
  4. Great snaps. I have to hightail it down there before the exhibit closes.

    ReplyDelete
  5. Be still my heart....wonderful exhibit. I wonder
    if the wrap on the J Suzanne Talbot creation is
    attached....If you were not sewing couture in the
    20's or learning by the 50's from someone who had,
    the ebbing thread of expertise and diligence made
    it likely we will not see such detailed skill again..
    Thank you for sharing.

    ReplyDelete
  6. Dearest Edgar: What a beautiful post, love how the dresses are displayed.
    Thank-you for sharing this fun day with us.


    Blessings
    Catherine

    ReplyDelete
  7. What a gorgeous exhibit! I was not familiar with the Legion of Honor--so nice to hear about it!
    Each dress is to die for! So lovely--thanks for sharing!

    ReplyDelete
  8. What a feast for the eyes! Weren't the fabrics and styles divine? Thanks so much for sharing.

    ReplyDelete

“In every end, there is also a beginning.”

 Gentle Friends, I finished the sampler last night and here's a snaperooo... Village Square Sampler from Samplers Remembered   1/8 - 3/2...