Object description

The dress is formal, worn in 1959, but made from a paper pattern which appeared in the Sunday Times in 1957. It was worn to a New Year's Eve party which suggests that it was made specifically for formal evening functions.

It is full length, constructed from a 6 piece bodice and 3 piece lined skirt. It has no sleeves. The bodice is constructed to create a sweetheart neckline, which emphasises the cleavage. It is fitted to create a slim-line.

The skirt is straight, shorter at the front than the back. The longer length back panels create a sense of a train, further emphasising the formality of the garment. There is a thigh high slit from the floor on the left hand side of the garment, which would reveal a large amount of leg, when in movement.

The pattern consists of large tea roses in three sizes which suggest roses in tree stages of development, from semi-open bud, to full bloom. The pattern extends across the whole garment in vertical upwards lines, which suggest that the roses have grown onto the dress. The print itself is naturalistic as it attempts to show the depth of each rose through use of colour and painterly technique. The colours span from deep red to wine, and from a deep grey to a near black, emphasising shade and depth. The leaves repeat the tonality of the greys, but also are interspersed with leaves in variant forms of khaki.