Dress

Maison Pingat

An item at Metropolitan Museum of Art

Emile Pingat had a proclivity for designing carefully finished dresses and outerwear which made him one of the top three French fashion designers during the second half of the 19th century. Active between 1860 and 1896, Pingat was adroit at manipulating multiple textiles and trimmings into a cohesive and elevated garment. He was inspired by design elements of other cultures and often reinterpreted them into his own work, making them unique and intriguing. His elaborately decorated and impeccably tailored outwear was particularly sought after. In this exemplary dress, Pingat presents a complex monochromatic scheme with a variety of textiles. The variations in tonality are created through textures of low luster patterned crepe contrasting with the sheen of faille alongside a sense of openness and light in the blue eyelet. All of these combined create an air of sophistication while the simple hint of cream cotton eyelet lends a sense of informality.

The Costume Institute

An exhibit at Metropolitan Museum of Art

The Costume Institute's collection of more than thirty-three thousand objects represents seven centuries of fashionable dress and accessories for men, women, and children, from the fifteenth century to the present.

Metropolitan Museum of Art