Evening dress
Jean Louis · 1982
Jean Louis
- Eveningwear
- Soft draping
Jean Louis was a French-born American designer, identified separately in museum records from Jean-Louis Scherrer. The 1982 silk evening dress included here uses a draped neckline, gathered waist and long sleeves to organize a soft, flowing silhouette.
Five looks to know
Landmark design
Marlene Dietrich’s illusion gown
c. 1953
Dietrich’s sparkling illusion gown exemplifies Jean Louis’s celebrated stagewear.
John Engstead / Courtesy of Rizzoli via Vogue
Landmark design
Rita Hayworth’s Gilda gown
1946
Hayworth’s black satin gown became a defining image of Gilda and Hollywood glamour.
Courtesy of Rizzoli via Vogue
Landmark design
Rita Hayworth’s Down to Earth costume
1947
A draped costume for Hayworth’s goddess role in the 1947 musical Down to Earth.
Sunset Boulevard / Getty Images via Vogue
Archival photograph
Judy Holliday in The Solid Gold Cadillac
1956
Archival portrait of Holliday’s costume in the film that earned Jean Louis an Academy Award.
Silver Screen Collection / Getty Images via Vogue
Landmark design
Marilyn Monroe’s Happy Birthday gown
1962
Monroe wore this rhinestone-covered gown to sing for President Kennedy. Jean Louis designed it, with the original sketch by Bob Mackie.
Ripley’s Believe It or Not!Archive pieces, grouped by date
1 piece1982
1 piece · Season not recorded
About Jean Louis
Its restrained surface puts the emphasis on fabric, proportion and the way the garment falls around the body.
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The Met: Evening dress