evening dress with wrap c.1980

detail

  

This evening dress has horizontal gathers on the outside and boning construction inside the bodice. The piece looks like it was hand-made, with topstitching on the bodice. Tulle and taffeta are the main fabrics, and an invisible zipper was sewn in the back of the garment. A striking pink bow brings a dramatic touch to the vibrant black. The bow continues to trail down the back of the garment, making the dress visually appealing from behind as well as from the front.   Black tulle fabric is sewn on the left side of the garment and can be worn as a shawl. This style gesture adds an elegant finish to the design.  

The 1980's were a decade in which there were so many types of clothing that rules for appropriate dress by occasion, time of day, and personal status were vague. Fashion varied so much that there was no typical dress or style. The oversized look, ethnic styles, minimalism, and activewear were popular trends.

-Joy Sun

 
 
 

This webpage was made possible with the support of the Department of Family and Consumer Sciences, the College of Social Sciences and Interdisciplinary Studies, and the CSUS Media Center.

The website and costume research were created by Dr. Mary Botkin and the students of FACS 199;Courtney Haueter, Chelsea Perri, Joy Sun, and Rachel Young.

The costumes belong to the Costume Collection of the Department of Family and Consumer Sciences.

Costume photographs by Sam Parsons of the CSUS Media Center.