Background
In Paris, Mainbocher’s collections were sold to private clients and, as models, to merchant buyers as well. American stores, such as Saks Fifth Avenue, filled their exclusive salons with Paris creations, including this evening dress and its in-house produced jacket (not shown). However, with the opening of his New York salon in 1940, Mainbocher severed his connections to commercial outlets, rejecting the haute couture tradition of sales to American stores.
Description
Dress: Sheath; full-length; wide V-neck, overlapped, tucks at center front into seam below bust; plunging V-back; sleeveless; bias-cut fishtail skirt with train.
Jacket: Box shape; below-waist length; high round neck, narrow band collar; short set-in sleeves; self scallop trim around edges; lined in black silk organza.
Worn by wife of donor.
Gift of Dr. A. Hamilton Rice, 1944.