Quite often the word Easter conjures up visions of soft Spring-inspired pastel shades whenever it is mentioned in connection with fashion. Yet Hollywood costume and fashion designer Gilbert Adrian (1903-1959) may have had different visions of this celebration. This post features indeed two of his dresses in colourful prints that we could directly link with Easter.
The first dress was designed in 1942 and shows gamboling lambs on a green field with pale blue skies in the background. Adrian was quite often inspired by his Southern California surroundings and the lifestyle of the San Fernando Valley, an early suburb of Los Angeles. Many stars, including Adrian and his wife, actress Janet Gaynor, owned homes in the valley where people working in the film industry in the late 1930s and 1940s would retreat and rest. The casual lifestyle of the suburbs required an informal wardrobe and Adrian designed a series of whimsical "patio dresses" just like this one suitable for outdoor entertaining.
Adrian seemed to have a passion for animal motifs in his designs, and in the Spring/Summer 1947 collection he included this ensemble dubbed "The Egg and I" dress (featured also in the volume Adrian by Christian Esquevin).
This printed rayon crepe dress is almost identical for what regards the shape and silhouette to the lamb dress, it featured draped cut-in-one sleeves, jewel collar neckline with tie and full circle skirt sewn at waistband and attached tie belt. The print included a red hen house on the front and back of the bodice while the skirt was populated by several feathered roosters in various sizes and positions in red, pink, black and green.
Adrian was known for designing limited theme fashion collections and only 10 dresses were made with this henhouse theme, that's why this design is currently available at €13.164,06 on the 1stdibs auction site. Happy Easter to all Irenebrination readers!
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