Dress
James Galanos · 1959
James Galanos
- Couture-finished ready-to-wear
- Precision tailoring
James Galanos established his career in Los Angeles and became known for ready-to-wear with the finish and material sophistication associated with couture. The Met emphasizes his exacting attention to both interior and exterior construction.
Five looks to know
Collection selection
Dress
1959
Pleats at the bust and precise seams at the hips shape this black wool sheath. The Met emphasizes how its construction follows the body’s curves, demonstrating the meticulous finish associated with Galanos’s ready-to-wear.
The Metropolitan Museum of Art
Collection selection
Evening dress
1959 · V&A collection
Chiffon and velvet, embroidered with bugle beads, chenille and soutache, lined with silk.
© Victoria and Albert Museum, London
Collection selection
Evening dress
late 1985 · V&A collection
Wool jersey, black plastic.
© Victoria and Albert Museum, London
Collection selection
Evening dress
late 1993 · V&A collection
Wool crepe, black sequins, black lace.
© Victoria and Albert Museum, London
Collection selection
Evening coat dress
1960s · V&A collection
© Victoria and Albert Museum, LondonArchive pieces, grouped by date
1 piece1959
1 piece · Season not recorded
About James Galanos
His 1959 wool sheath demonstrates that approach through the bust pleats and hip seams that closely articulate the body.
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The Met: collection record