Cecil BEATON
England 1904–80
Charles James evening dresses 1948
gelatin silver photograph
19.4 x 24.1 cm
National Gallery of Australia, Canberra

BERGDORF GOODMAN, New York (fashion retailer)
est. 1909
Christian DIOR (designer)
France 1905–57
Gruau evening dress 1949 autumn-winter
silk satin, metal
(a) 26.0 cm (centre back) 30.0 cm (waist, flat) (bodice); (b) 105.5 cm (centre back) 31.0 cm (waist, flat) (skirt)
National Gallery of Victoria, Melbourne
Purchased, 2005

ISSEY MIYAKE, Tokyo (fashion house)
est. 1971
Issey MIYAKE (designer)
born Japan 1938
Top and skirt 2000 autumn-winter (detail)
polyester, polyurethane, cotton, acrylic, modarcylic
(a) 55.0 cm (centre back length) 37.8 cm (waist, flat) (top); (b) 64.2 cm (centre back length) 36.3 cm (waist, flat) (skirt)
National Gallery of Victoria, Melbourne
Presented through the NGV Foundation by Lucinia Pinto, 2003

GIANNI VERSACE, Milan (fashion house)
est. 1978
Gianni VERSACE (designer)
born Italy 1946, died United States 1997
Evening dress 1996 autumn-winter
silk, glass beads
152.0 cm (centre back length) 32.5 cm (waist, flat)
National Gallery of Victoria, Melbourne
Presented through the NGV Foundation by the Versace Archives, Milan, Governor, 2001

YOHJI YAMAMOTO Paris (fashion house)
est. 1972
Yohji YAMAMOTO (designer)
born Japan 1943
Opera coat 1999 autumn-winter
rayon, wool, acrylic, polyester
117.7 cm (centre back length) 50.5 cm (sleeve length)
National Gallery of Victoria, Melbourne
Purchased through the NGV Foundation with the assistance of Andrea Ziegler, Governor, 2002

ITALY, Lucania
The Amykos Painter (attributed to)
Column krater (Lucanian red-figure ware)
Classical Period, 420–400 BC
fired clay
42.8 x 40.8 x 35.0 cm
National Gallery of Victoria, Melbourne
Felton Bequest, 1977

CHRISTIAN DIOR, Paris (fashion house)
est. 1946
Marc BOHAN (designer)
born France 1926
Evening outfit: Tunic and trousers with cummerbund 1977 autumn-winter (back view)
viscose jersey
(a) 70.0 cm (centre front), 36.0 cm (waist, flat) (tunic); (b) 103.0 cm (outer leg); 34.0 cm (waist, flat) (trousers); (c) 25.0 x 41.0 cm (cummerbund)
National Gallery of Victoria, Melbourne
Purchased, 2008

JEAN DESSÉS Paris (couture house)
France 1937–60
Jean DESSÉS (designer)
born Egypt 1904, worked in France 1925–60, worked in Greece 1960–70, died Greece 1970
Evening dress 1954
silk, bone, zip, metal, acetate
141.0 cm (centre back length); 65.0 cm (waist, flat)
National Gallery of Victoria, Melbourne
Gift of Mr John Kenny, 1986

VIONNET, Paris (couture house)
1912–14, 1918–40
Madeleine VIONNET (designer)
France 1876–1975
Evening dress and underbodice (c. 1927)
silk, metallic thread lamé, satin ribbon, metal clasps
(a) 129.0 cm (centre back length) 61.4 cm (waist, flat) (evening dress);
(b) 27.9 cm (centre back length) 43.0 cm (waist, flat) (underbodice)
National Gallery of Victoria, Melbourne
Purchased through The Art Foundation of Victoria with the assistance of David Syme & Co. Limited, Fellow, 1979

COMME DES GARÇONS, Tokyo (fashion house)
est. 1969
Rei KAWAKUBO (designer)
born Japan 1942
Dress 1997 spring-summer
cotton, polyester, nylon tulle
122.0 cm (centre back length) 47.4 cm (waist, flat)
National Gallery of Victoria, Melbourne
Presented through the NGV Foundation by Takamasa Takahashi, 2005

DOLCE AND GABBANA, Milan (fashion house)
est. 1982
Domenico DOLCE (designer)
born Italy 1958
Stefano GABBANA (designer)
born Italy 1962
Dress 2001
silk chiffon, leather, metal
81.0 cm (centre back length); 65.0 cm (sleeve)
The Arts Centre, Performing Arts Collection, Melbourne
Gift of Kylie Minogue, 2004
Photo: Jeremy Dillon

HUSSEIN CHALAYAN, London (fashion house)
est. 1995
Hussein CHALAYAN (designer)
born Cyprus 1970, emigrated to England 1982
Cast dress no. 2 2001 spring-summer, Ventriloquy collection (detail)
polyester resin
(a) 44.0 x 39.0 x 20.0 cm (front) (top); (b) 45.0 x 40.0 x 22.0 cm (back) (top); (c) 60.0 x 95.5 x 34.0 cm (front) (skirt); (d) 60.0 x 88.5 x 30.0 cm (back) (skirt)
National Gallery of Victoria, Melbourne
Presented through the NGV Foundation by Norma and Stuart Leslie, Governors, 2001

PACO RABANNE, Paris (couture house)
est. 1966
Paco RABANNE (designer)
born Spain 1934, emigrated to France 1939
Evening dress (c. 1973)
aluminium, silk
149.0 cm (centre back length); 32.7 cm (waist, flat)
National Gallery of Victoria, Melbourne
Purchased, 1994

VIVIENNE WESTWOOD, London (fashion house)
est. 1985
Vivienne WESTWOOD (designer)
born England 1941
Wedding dress 1999 (back view)
silk, acetate, nylon, metal
(a) 51.0 cm (centre back) 37.0 cm (waist, flat) (bodice); (b) 147.0 cm (centre back) 39.0 cm (waist, flat) (skirt)
National Gallery of Victoria, Melbourne
Purchased, 2001