State Evening Dress
May 1965 (made)
| Artist/Maker | |
| Place of origin |
Queen Elizabeth II wore this gown on a state visit to West Germany in 1965, when she attended a State Reception at Schloss Augustusburg in Brühl. The design of this single-occasion gown diplomatically pays tribute to her hosts. Blue and white were the host family's colours, and the design of the embroidery is directly based upon rococo designs seen in the castle interior.
This dress featured on the front page of the Daily Express for May 19th 1965, the day after the State Reception. A few years later, the Queen presented this gown and a Norman Hartnell 1957 state evening gown (T.264-1974) to the Cecil Beaton Collection.
The aim of Cecil Beaton's collection was to create a lasting monument to the art of dress. To this end he acquired garments from designers and the well-dressed elite of Europe and America. The collection was exhibited at the V&A in 1971, accompanied by a catalogue detailing its enormous range, and was subsequently presented to the Museum.
This dress featured on the front page of the Daily Express for May 19th 1965, the day after the State Reception. A few years later, the Queen presented this gown and a Norman Hartnell 1957 state evening gown (T.264-1974) to the Cecil Beaton Collection.
The aim of Cecil Beaton's collection was to create a lasting monument to the art of dress. To this end he acquired garments from designers and the well-dressed elite of Europe and America. The collection was exhibited at the V&A in 1971, accompanied by a catalogue detailing its enormous range, and was subsequently presented to the Museum.
Object details
| Categories | |
| Object type | |
| Materials and techniques | Silk satin with diamanté and porcelain bead embroidery |
| Brief description | State evening dress of embroidered satin, designed by Hardy Amies, made in London and worn in Germany, May 1965. |
| Physical description | State evening dress of turquoise double faced silk satin. The bodice is entirely embroidered with rose-cut diamanté and white china beads. It is tiered with stitched hemline. |
| Dimensions |
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| Production type | Haute couture |
| Credit line | Given by Her Majesty Queen Elizabeth II |
| Object history | Worn by Queen Elizabeth II on a state visit to West Germany on May 19th 1965. The embroidery and beading design was inspired by the rococo decoration by Cuivillés of Schloss-Augustusburg,. The blue and white colours of the dress are in tribute to the family who built the house. This dress featured on the front page of the Daily Express for May 19th 1965 |
| Production | Worn by HRH Queen Elizabeth II at the State Reception at Schloss Augustusborg in Brühl, West Germany |
| Association | |
| Summary | Queen Elizabeth II wore this gown on a state visit to West Germany in 1965, when she attended a State Reception at Schloss Augustusburg in Brühl. The design of this single-occasion gown diplomatically pays tribute to her hosts. Blue and white were the host family's colours, and the design of the embroidery is directly based upon rococo designs seen in the castle interior. This dress featured on the front page of the Daily Express for May 19th 1965, the day after the State Reception. A few years later, the Queen presented this gown and a Norman Hartnell 1957 state evening gown (T.264-1974) to the Cecil Beaton Collection. The aim of Cecil Beaton's collection was to create a lasting monument to the art of dress. To this end he acquired garments from designers and the well-dressed elite of Europe and America. The collection was exhibited at the V&A in 1971, accompanied by a catalogue detailing its enormous range, and was subsequently presented to the Museum. |
| Bibliographic references |
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| Collection | |
| Accession number | T.4-1974 |
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| Record created | August 29, 2007 |
| Record URL |
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