Mount Mary University Digital Collections

Browse Items (90 total)

  • Black silk faille evening bolero jacket; jewel neckline, shaped hemline in front. Cut on the bias. Bias cut straight long sleeves. Unlined, seams are all hand overcast. Worn over evening gown (Object ID #1995.347). Worn by Valentina.
  • 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.
  • 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.
  • 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.
  • Beige silk gazierre evening coat; cardigan style, convertible collar, dolman sleeves, clutch, no center front closure, unusual seaming, inseam pockets; midcalf length, lined with silk taffeta. Lustrous thread in fabric gives subtle shine. Small red stains near pockets. Worn by Valentina.
  • 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.
  • Pale gold silk shantung evening coat; square set 3/4 length sleeves; Hong Kong seam finishes; floor length. Worn with evening gown (Object ID #1983.254).

    Worn by Lynn Fontanne to receive a special Tony Award for Lifetime Achievement in 1970, although the gown was created much earlier. This gown was possibly made by Valentina, but has been significantly altered. Purchased at the auction of Lynn Fontanne's estate using funds from Mount Mary alumnae.
  • Black silk faille strapless evening gown; Natural waist; horizontal and vertical seaming, darts and boning in bodice; two turned back triangular pieces above bust have hand-appliquéd velvet leaves; Full length, flared skirt has pockets in seams at side center front. Completely hand-overcast and finished. Worn with evening bolero (Object ID #1995.335).
  • 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.
  • Lavender matte silk jersey evening gown; peignoir style, V-shaped neckline, ¾ length sleeves, square-set armscye, high waistline, twisted fabric caught in side bodice and wrapped through center front slit, flare skirt, bias cut, full length, unlined. All inside seams hand-overcast, hand-rolled hem. Worn by Valentina.
  • White silk organza evening gown; V-neckline, long full bell sleeves, full skirt, belt or waist tie made of the same fabric to accompany the gown. Several stains and discoloration throughout.

    Worn by Lynn Fontanne. Either this version or the pale pink version (Object ID #1983.184.ABC) was worn to the 1941 Academy Awards. Donor was the niece of Lynn Fontanne and Alfred Lunt.
  • Pale pink silk organza evening gown ensemble. A. Gown; v-neckline, long full bell sleeves, criss-cross bodice extending into tie belt at center front, very full flared skirt, ankle length. B. Neck sash; 120" long by 5.5" wide, doubled. C. Slip; one layer of organza and one layer of taffeta, V-neckline with 2" strap narrowing to 1" at shoulder, full length. Slight discoloration throughout, torn in several places near waist and bodice. Some patching has been done.

    Worn by Lynn Fontanne. Either this version or the white version (Object ID #1983.185) was worn to the 1941 Academy Awards ceremony. Donor was the niece of Lynn Fontanne and Alfred Lunt.
  • Monastic style black silk velvet evening gown; jewel neckline edged with black cording, long dolman sleeves, empire waist, cording runs through thread carriers at waistline, extended with shirring at wrist, A-line skirt, full evening length. Hand over-cast & hand finished. Lots of small tears throughout, some of which have been patched or mended. Worn by Valentina.
  • Off-white silk chiffon over silk evening gown with blue rose print; V-neckline in front, square neckline in back; square set-in sleeves. Worn with evening coat (Object ID #1983.239).

    Worn by Lynn Fontanne to receive a special Tony Award for Lifetime Achievement in 1970, although the gown was created much earlier. This gown was possibly made by Valentina, but has been significantly altered. Purchased at the auction of Lynn Fontanne's estate using funds from Mount Mary alumnae.
  • Reproduction of Valentina white evening gown worn by Lynn Fontanne (Object ID #1983.185); white chiffon; low V-neckline; full, long bishop sleeves; attached waist ties wrap around the midriff; very large gored skirt; ankle length; lined.

    This was made for an exhibition. The maker Pam Rehberg was a professor of theatrical costume at the University of Wisconsin-Milwaukee.
  • Beige with brown spatter print silk ensemble. A. Fit and flare dress; normal waist, halter neckline, center back nylon zipper. Halter has a front slit with a reverse, skirt is gathered. Unlined, knee length. B. A-line coat; jewel neckline, Chinese ball and loop center front closure, 3/4 length kimono sleeves, cut in one with the coat. Same length as dress, unlined. Possibly had longer sleeves at some point. C. Short bolero jacket; jewel neckline, 3/4 length kimono sleeves, cut in one with body of jacket. French darts, unlined. D. Wrap, single piece of fabric. E. Belt latches in back with hook and eyes and snap closure. Small, flat bow.

    This ensemble was used for Valentina's famous "Quick change" routine.
  • A. Purple crepe back satin evening gown; Grecian inspired, very deep U-shaped neckline, sleeveless with shoulder pads. A-line skirt, ankle length. Unlined. B. Very long sash of the same fabric. Possibly worn by Lynn Fontanne.
  • Off-white silk charmeuse peignoir gown; bias cut, standing collar, drop shoulder long sleeves with gussets, pointed seaming into shoulder, dips to "v" at center back, high waist forms a point at center front and center back, full evening length flared skirt. All seaming is hand-faggoting, fabric over-printed with subtle brushy floral. Worn with ochre crepe cape (Object ID #1995.369). Worn by Valentina.
  • Navy blue wool bouclé cardigan jacket; jewel neckline with one large covered button closure at the neck, center front opening is formed with the selvedges, two diagonal single welt pockets, drop shoulder sleeves with gussets. Sleeves are cut on the bias. Swing style slightly longer at center back, hip length. Unlined, hand finished. Worn by Valentina.
  • Dark brown wool crepe swing jacket; Chelsea collar with multiple rows of topstitching, drop shoulder sleeves with double gusset, buttonhole opening through collar with bias tube tie closure, two tiny slash pockets, inverted pleat at center back. Multiple rows of topstitching down center front, hemline, and at back yoke. Reversible. Worn by Valentina.
Output Formats

atom, dc-rdf, dcmes-xml, json, omeka-xml, rss2