Browse Items (452 total)
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Dress
Black silk chiffon fit and flare cocktail dress; band collar with attached tie that pleats into the neckline, underlined with silk crepe. Bodice has halter effect, very bare in back. Dolman sleeves, bias ties stitched down at back waistline, then released. Natural waist dips at center back, gathered skirt, knee length, underlined with silk crepe. Worn by Valentina. -
Overdress and underdress
Black silk tulle surplice wrap overdress; jewel neckline, straight long sleeves, hook and eye closure at left side front. Gathered skirt with stabilized waistband, mid-calf length. Finished with tiny machine-sewn French seams. Worn over underdress (Object ID #1995.331). Worn by Valentina. -
Dress
Black silk tulle surplice wrap dress; v-shaped neckline, straight bracelet-length sleeves cut on the bias, natural waist seam, five button/loop closures at left side front of surplice wrap (two buttons missing), full length bell skirt. Finished with tiny machined French seams. Worn by Valentina. -
Evening coat
Black silk taffeta evening coat; A-line trapeze shape, jewel neckline, tucks off of neckline; one button and bound buttonhole closure at center front neck, short batwing sleeves with tucks, A-line skirt with deep pleats at underarm side seams, hidden pockets, tea length, appears to have been re-lined. Worn by Valentina. -
Skirt
Black wool crepe skirt; inverted pleats to either side of center front, no side seams, diagonal darts at side fronts with inseam style pockets, center back zipper, split at center front waistband, hand finished. Worn by Valentina. -
Cocktail dress
Black silk brocade cocktail dress; black floral damask of rose bouquets in twill. Sheath-style sleeveless dress; bateau neckline with deep center front slit. Bodice shaped with both vertical and horizontal darting, deep plunging V-back, center back zipper closure with a fabric loop over the top of the zipper, unlined. Worn by Valentina.
From Valentina's wardrobe but does not have the hand finishing of her couture house. -
Skirt
Black wool crepe flared skirt; cut on bias, high waisted with small ‘v’ cut out at center front, two large buttons on placket for center front closure with inverted pleat at center front, waistline faced with silk crepe, tea length, completely hand over-cast and finished. Worn by Valentina. -
Stole
Royal blue silk shantung stole with flocked black linear daisy pattern; Pelerine type; shaped triangle with black silk taffeta linging used as binding; double snap closure. Possibly not designed by Valentina due to different construction techniques. Worn by Valentina. -
Evening gown
Black silk faille strapless evening gown; two turned-back triangular pieces above bust have hand-appliquéd velvet leaves, natural waist with horizontal and vertical seaming, darts and boning in bodice, full-length flared skirt has in-seam side front pockets. Completely hand-overcast and finished. Worn with black faille bolero. Worn by Valentina. -
Evening coat
Black silk satin cardigan evening coat with large cut velvet flower design; neck built up, no front closure, single welt inseam pockets, straight short sleeves, flange down center back, underlined with silk organza, completely hand-overcast and finished. Worn by Valentina. Possibly 1940s fabric re-made into a coat. -
Evening capelet
Black silk brocade and velvet pelerine evening capelet; floral jacquard with clipped velvet design accented with jet beads. Lined with silk velvet, forms deep front facings. Edge between jacquard and velvet beaded with sequins and jet caviar beads on netting.
Antique Spanish capelet or shawl often worn by Valentina to complement her own garments. Likely served as an inspiration for wraps and shawls she designed.
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Bolero
Black silk ottoman bolero jacket; jewel neckline with hook and eye closure, slightly asymmetrical center front with hook and eye closure, dolman sleeves, bracelet length. Cut from one piece of cloth; only seams are underarm, shoulder dart, and vertical bust dart. Completely hand overcast; facings are double overcast. Worn by Valentina. -
Blouse
Black silk organza sheer windowpane blouse; jewel neckline, peek-a-boo waist, asymmetrical wrap front with hook and eye closure, straight elbow length sleeves, multiple darts for shaping, camisole-style lining of silk crepe, completely hand-overcast and double overcasting on facings and camisole. Worn by Valentina. -
Bolero
Black wool crepe bolero jacket; neck falls straight from neckline without closure, kimono square set elbow length sleeves, lined with ivory silk crepe. Worn by Valentina. -
Two piece ensemble
Blouse and skirt ensemble of black silk brocade with all over floral motif of five-petaled flowers and leaves. A. Short overblouse; jewel neckline, center front opening, slight asymmetrical wrap front with three hook and eye closures at the waist, bracelet-length dolman sleeves are cut in one with bodice, unlined with hand-overcast seams and double overcast facings. B. Skirt gathers into a straight waistband with hook and eye closures, midcalf length, unlined. All hand-overcast. Worn by Valentina. -
Cocktail dress
Black silk tissue taffeta fit and flare cocktail dress; halter neckline with multiple pleats and intricate seaming through the bustline, two pieces of fabric off of the center back, natural waist dipping at the center back, flare skirt cut on the bias with small pleats, midcalf length. Completely hand over-cast and hand rolled hems. Worn by Valentina. -
Evening cape
Black panne velvet evening cape; jewel neckline, one hook and eye closure at the neck, center back seam, shaping through the shoulders, midcalf length, unlined, unfinished. Seams turned in and double overcast by hand. Large tear near right shoulder, opening near hem on one side has been widened. Worn by Valentina.