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Sketch | Norman Hartnell | c. 1923

Hartnell designed this dress with two materials in mind: the under dress is of solid material and is covered from shoulder to hem with chiffon. The dress has a boat neck line with tight sleeves up to the elbow where they fan out with ‘scollop’ edging. This matches the hem of the dress. Hartnell added a beaded belt with tassels, matched by a band of beads on the sleeves. The design also shows a large head band with sparkling embroidery.

The simplicity and grace of this dress would have been perfect for the fashionable cocktail parties of the era.