Traditionally, white clothing has been reserved for the summer months, between Memorial Day and Labor Day. Now that Memorial Day has come and gone, we're getting our summer whites out of storage!
Marc Bohan for Christian Dior
Spring/Summer 1968
Gift of Mrs. Alfred Bloomingdale
77.116.20AB
These two summer frocks were created by Marc Bohan for Christian Dior and worn by one of the FIDM Museum's major donors, Los Angeles native and haute couture client Betsy Bloomingdale. Betsy's husband, Alfred, was the grandson of the founder of Bloomingdale's department store and, as president of Diner's Club, introduced the credit card system to France. Betsy bought and wore French couture on the couple's frequent visits to Paris.
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This evening gown of white cotton organdy has a strikingly modern high-low silhouette, a key theme of Dior's Spring/Summer 1968 collection. The gown's neckline dips to a "V" shape in the back, mirroring the cut of the skirt. The flounces at the collar, sleeves, and hemline are edged with white satin. This gown was shown paired with low-heeled, square-toed white slingbacks in the French fashion magazine L'Officiel de la Couture et de la Mode de Paris in March 1968.
Marc Bohan for Christian Dior
Spring/Summer 1973
Gift of Mrs. Alfred Bloomingdale
79.116.2AB
This day dress of snowy silk gazar is from Dior's Spring/Summer 1973 collection, which was built around shirtdresses, The A-line skirt with a nipped-in waist was the silhouette of the season. Women's Wear Daily praised the collection's "fresh simplicity," reporting: "The buyers considered the collection Bohan at his best, but there were a few worries about fitting wide-waisted customers" (January 26, 1974; January 23, 1973),
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Tall, slim Betsy Bloomingdale had no such worries. Like many of her dresses, this has clean, simple lines enlivened by one key detail; in this case, a matching belt cinched around the wide inset waistband for an obi-like effect.
79.116.2AB
The "02027" stamped on the label is the dresses' couture number, indicating that it is a one-of-a-kind creation. Although Dior had branches in London and New York, the label specifies that this original was made in Paris. What better place for a summer vacation?
