Eveningwear
Evening Dress

This two-toned silk velvet evening dress with batwing sleeves, cowl neckline and attached belt, reflects the fashions of the 1930s. The streamlined geometric jeweled belt buckle and matching buttons at the neck evoke the art deco trend in evening wear.

Sketch and Garment Pairing: These sketches were chosen to pair with this evening dress due to the similarity of their loose, fluttering lower sleeves. Coats much like those illustrated could have been worn over this dress.

Conservation Treatment: The dress had several weak and unsightly previous repairs that had to be removed; a ten-inch rip at the center back that tore through the back neckline area; a shattered bodice lining; and multiple visible holes in the yellow velvet at the cowl neck and sleeves. The rip in the center back, as well as areas of the shattering bodice lining, were reinforced with a support material of brown silk crepeline coated with a conservation adhesive. The multiple holes in the yellow velvet in the cowl neck and sleeves were stitched in place with a velvet of a similar weight and color, which was toned through tea dying.

Conservation treatment performed by Bobbi Wall.