Fashion Design thumbnail 1
Image of Gallery in South Kensington
Request to view at the Prints & Drawings Study Room, level D , Case FD, Shelf 10

Fashion Design

1948-1949 (designed)
Artist/Maker
Place of origin

This fashion design shows a navy and white evening dress, with shoulders entirely and back partially naked designed by Marjorie Field who with her husband Mr Rhoades, whom she married in 1945, set up the haute couture firm Field Rhoades. It was registered in the London street directories at 77, South Audley Street, London W1 for the years 1948-1949. On the back of the dress, there is a prominent ribbon tied. The front of the skirt, the band, and the lower part of the ribbon are in the colour navy , while the bodice, the back of the dress, and the upper part of the ribbon are in white. On the band, a brooch made of diamond and rubies, is fastened. To the right, a smaller drawing shows the front of the dress. At top right, the designer noted, in pencil, the fabric, which is faille, a plain-woven textile characterised by slight, flat ribs in the weft, and the colours out of which the dress was intended to be made and special features of the design.

This design was in a folder marked 'Marjorie Field Rhoades' and 'Matita'. There are advertisements for the Matita label in the following editions of Vogue: Vogue, June, 1941, p.13, a photographic advertisement in Vogue, January, 1948, p.2, Vogue, March, 1948, p.34, Vogue, May, 1948, p.3. and Vogue, November, 1948, p.39.


Object details

Categories
Object type
Materials and techniques
Pencil, watercolour and bodycolour on paper
Brief description
Fashion design for evening dress by Marjorie Field, 1948-1949.
Physical description
A drawing depicting a woman wearing a navy and white faille evening dress, with shoulders entirely and back partially naked. On the back of the dress, there is a prominent ribbon tied. The front of the skirt, the band and the lower part of the ribbon are in the colour navy, while the bodice, the back of the dress and the upper part of the ribbon are in white. This gives an impression of contrasting colours used. On the band, a brooch made of diamond and rubies, is fastened. To the right, a smaller drawing shows the front of the dress.
Dimensions
  • Height: 39.1cm
  • Width: 29cm
Marks and inscriptions
'Navy & white faille / evening dress / Brooch of diamonds & rubies' (In pencil at the top right side)
Credit line
Given by Paul Williamson
Object history
The provenance can be traced back to Gwen Mandley, an artist who was a friend of the designer, Marjorie Field.

This design was in a folder marked 'Marjorie Field Rhoades' and 'Matita'. There are advertisements for the Matita label in the following editions of Vogue: Vogue, June, 1941, p.13, a photographic advertisement in Vogue, January, 1948, p.2, Vogue, March, 1948, p.34, Vogue, May, 1948, p.3. and Vogue, November, 1948, p.39.
Summary
This fashion design shows a navy and white evening dress, with shoulders entirely and back partially naked designed by Marjorie Field who with her husband Mr Rhoades, whom she married in 1945, set up the haute couture firm Field Rhoades. It was registered in the London street directories at 77, South Audley Street, London W1 for the years 1948-1949. On the back of the dress, there is a prominent ribbon tied. The front of the skirt, the band, and the lower part of the ribbon are in the colour navy , while the bodice, the back of the dress, and the upper part of the ribbon are in white. On the band, a brooch made of diamond and rubies, is fastened. To the right, a smaller drawing shows the front of the dress. At top right, the designer noted, in pencil, the fabric, which is faille, a plain-woven textile characterised by slight, flat ribs in the weft, and the colours out of which the dress was intended to be made and special features of the design.

This design was in a folder marked 'Marjorie Field Rhoades' and 'Matita'. There are advertisements for the Matita label in the following editions of Vogue: Vogue, June, 1941, p.13, a photographic advertisement in Vogue, January, 1948, p.2, Vogue, March, 1948, p.34, Vogue, May, 1948, p.3. and Vogue, November, 1948, p.39.
Collection
Accession number
E.425-2005

About this object record

Explore the Collections contains over a million catalogue records, and over half a million images. It is a working database that includes information compiled over the life of the museum. Some of our records may contain offensive and discriminatory language, or reflect outdated ideas, practice and analysis. We are committed to addressing these issues, and to review and update our records accordingly.

You can write to us to suggest improvements to the record.

Suggest feedback

Record createdMay 25, 2006
Record URL
Download as: JSON