Dress

Silk satin couture evening dress, 1948. Designed by Norman Hartnell.

This dress is an interpretation of the 'New Look' introduced by Christian Dior in 1947. Internal corsetry and wadding supports have been used to create the style's nipped-in waist and full hips. The dress is open from the front waist and has a pink silk satin underdress.

The dress silk is decorated with painted roses. Hartnell had made garments using painted fabrics during the Second World War because embroidery, his favourite decorative technique, was too labour and materials intensive. The paint is water-soluble making it difficult to clean the fabric.

Hermione Wills ordered the dress from Hartnell when she was preparing to emigrate to the United States of America. Her mother, Mrs. Cecil Wills, was a director of Norman Hartnell Limited.

Norman Hartnell was Britain's most successful mid-20th century designer. In 1942 he was a founder member of The Incorporated Society of London Fashion Designers. He was appointed dressmaker to the late Queen Mother and Queen Elizabeth II and was the first fashion designer to be knighted in 1977.