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Friday, May 14, 2010

American Woman: Here are the Dresses We Like Best from Each Room, and What Cinderella Peachy Would Have Worn to the Ball

As you may remember, we asked Anna Wintour which dress from the American Woman exhibit she would have wanted to wear to the Costume Institute Ball:


Peachy Deegan: Of the different decades in the different rooms that were featured, which did you enjoy the most?
Anna Wintour: Well I think they're all wonderful.  I think what Shane and Nathan did with the screens and backdrops- is absolutely just extraordinary and each one reflects the archetype personally so I was just thrilled with the whole exhibition.

Of the whole exhibition, if you could pick one gown to wear tonight, which one would you pick and why?
Oh well that's an impossible question to answer they're all wonderful!

How about 5?
Well, one from each room!  (And she smiled.)
So, we went back through the exhibit, and picked one from each room!
The Heiress:
House of Worth, French
Jean-Philippe Worth
Ball Gown 1898-90
Pink silk satin voided with white and pink silk velvet in a floral motif and pink and cream silk tulle embroidered with pearls and brilliants in a lattice pattern; pearl-bead tassels.
***
The Gibson Girl

American
Bathing Suit 1905-08
Black plain-weave wool with white cotton piping

***
The Bohemian
Callot Soeurs
Madame Marie Gerber
Evening Dress ca. 1910
Dress of Black Silk Charmeuse
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The Flapper
French, Evening Dress ca. 1925
White silk tulle embroidered overall with silver metallic bugle beads, sequins, thread, and pearl beads in a geometric pattern 
***
The Screen Siren
Madeleine Vionnet, French
Evening Dress ca. 1936
Black Silk Crepe with Rhinestone Buckles
***
Which are your favorite?

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