evening dress & petticoat

Sir Norman Hartnell 1901 - 1979

Summary

Green satin and bead embroidery. Sleeveless with low curved neckline in front. Two tongue-shaped satin panels covered with beadwork and lined with silver cloth covering front, and forming shoulder straps. Band of beadwork continuing down bodice back to form V neck filled in with flesh coloured silk crepe, and round low waist to bodice front. Skirt hangs free. Panels very heavily embroidered with beads round edges and at hem. Petticoat : Slightly shaped bodice of white silk with silver ribbon straps, joined to slightly shaped silver fabric skirt with band of bead embroidery at hem. Label : "Norman Hartnell 10 Bruton Street W" Dress made by Norman Hartnell for donor's mother in 1927. Hartnell opened his salon in Bruton Street in Mayfair in 1923 and quickly became very successful, dressing society women and actresses such as Gladys Cooper and Gertrude Lawrence. He specialised in lavish embroidery and his in-house embroidery workroom became very celebrated, especially after he was commissioned to dress the royal family. See also matching Fan 1963.284