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Charles James: Beyond Fashion

"Four Leaf Clover" Evening Dress, 1953, White silk satin, white silk faille, black silk-rayon velvet. The Metropolitan Museum of Art, New York, Gift of Elizabeth Fairall, 1953 

Photo: © The Metropolitan Museum of Art, by Karin Willis 

 

"Butterfly" Ball Gown, ca. 1955 Brown silk chiffon, cream silk satin, brown silk satin, dark brown nylon tulle. The Metropolitan Museum of Art, New York, Purchase, Friends of The Costume Institute Fund, 2013. 

Photo: © The Metropolitan Museum of Art, by Karin Willis 

 

 

"Taxi" Dress, ca. 1932. Black wool ribbed knit. The Metropolitan Museum of Art, New York, Purchase, Alan W. Kornberg Gift, 2013

Photo: © The Metropolitan Museum of Art, by Karin Willis 

Charles James, Evening Dress, 1946. Black silk-rayon velvet, red silk satin, brown silk faille, black silk crepe. The Metropolitan Museum of Art, New York, Brooklyn Museum Costume Collection at The Metropolitan Museum of Art, Gift of the Brooklyn Museum, 2009; Gift of Arturo and Paul Peralta-Ramos, 1954

Photo: © The Metropolitan Museum of Art, by Karin Willis 

 

Evening Dress, 1948. Black silk satin and black silk velvet. The Metropolitan Museum of Art, New York, Brooklyn Museum Costume Collection at The Metropolitan Museum of Art, Gift of the Brooklyn Museum, 2009; Gift of Millicent Huttleston Rogers, 1949

Photo: © The Metropolitan Museum of Art, by Karin Willis