Irene Castle dress

Irene Castle
Dress
Black silk crepe, ecru lace, embroidery
Circa 1923, USA
Museum purchase, P91.76.1
 

The dancer Irene Castle was known for her romantic and modern style. She parlayed her status as a fashion icon into a successful collaboration with Corticelli Silks, designing and promoting clothes based on her personal taste. This dress combines the functional chic of a little black dress with the charm of a naively rendered floral bouquet. The tiered ruffles and narrow embroidered panel emphasize movement, a consistent theme in Castle’s own wardrobe.