Charles james

Like the metamorphosis from caterpillar to shimmering butterfly, the woman who wriggles into the narrow body of this gown assumes the enchantment of a winged beauty. For the effect, James exaggerated the torso length of the sheath with “the highest bustline in 125 years” and layered transparent tulle in unexpected colors to accrue depth of tone and iridescent shimmer to the surrogate wings

Umbrella Evening Dress Charles James (American, born Great Britain, 1906–1978) Date:1938 Culture:American Medium:silk

Charles James produced some of the most memorable garments ever made. He began his design career in the 1930s. It peaked between the late 1940s and mid- 1950s, when his scarce and highly original gowns were sought after by society's most prominent women

At “Charles James: Genius Deconstructed” people will have the chance to look at three iconic James designs that visitors can lift and touch and one dress even has a cut window in a vast skirt, so viewers can gaze at the 20 layers of fabric employed.

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I know I keep giving you reasons to dash over to The Met… and here is another, opening tomorrow: Costume Institute’s Charles James Exhibition and

Evening jacket of quilted white satin, designed by Charles James, Paris, 1937

Brooklyn Museum. "The Genius of Charles James," October 16, 1982–February 13, 1983.Brooklyn Museum. "American High Style: Fashioning a National Collection," May 7, 2010–August 1, 2010.The Metropolitan Museum of Art, The Costume Institute

While James' inspiration for this dress was likely the 1860s silhouette supported by a cage crinoline, its construction is far more complex than its precursor made of concentric steel wires connected by linen tapes