Evening dress
Lucien Lelong · early 1930s
Lucien Lelong
- Paris couture
- Embellished eveningwear
Lucien Lelong grew up around his parents' couture business and took over its creative direction in 1920. His house cultivated polished elegance, represented here by a narrow dark evening dress and a rose-appliquéd gown.
Official house websiteFive looks to know
Collection selection
Evening dress
early 1930s
This black silk evening dress shows a close upper body opening into a long, spreading hem. Its narrow straps and dark ornamental edges make a useful study in how a restrained palette can still create a complex outline. The Met records it as an early-1930s design by Lucien Lelong for the House of Lelong.
The Metropolitan Museum of Art
Collection selection
Evening dress
spring/summer 1938
Lelong's spring/summer 1938 evening dress carries rose stems across lightweight organdy. The Met identifies ivory and green silk-mousseline appliqués outlined with matching bugle beads. The botanical decoration extends over a spacious skirt, offering a fuller, more romantic alternative to the narrow evening silhouettes also associated with the decade.
© 2019 Nicholas Alan Cope / The Metropolitan Museum of Art
Collection selection
Evening dress
1925 · V&A collection
©Victoria and Albert Museum, London/Jeanne Paquin
Collection selection
Evening dress
1946 · V&A collection
Silk velvet and silk taffeta.
© Victoria and Albert Museum, London
Collection selection
Evening dress
ca. 1932 · V&A collection
Velvet devoré.
©Victoria & Albert Museum, LondonCollections & archive pieces
1 collections represented · 2 piecesearly 1930s
1 piece · Season not recorded
spring/summer 1938
1 piece
Evening dress
Lucien Lelong · spring/summer 1938
About Lucien Lelong
As president of the Chambre Syndicale from 1937 to 1945, he also helped guide French couture through the German occupation of Paris.