Evening designs from three famous houses, illustrated for Delineator in May, 1927.
A little guessing game: Can you guess the designers of these three evening gowns illustrated in May, 1927? Hint: Here are some names in alphabetical order; Chanel, Doeuillet, Lanvin, Patou, Vionnet.
Full length images; It’s 1927, and the skirt on the left bares the kneecaps. The dress in the center is a “bolero” fashion.
Answer:
From left, gowns by Vionnet, Lanvin, and Chanel. 1927.
It shouldn’t be a surprise that the simple gown with ingenious twisted fabric is the work of Madeleine Vionnet.
“Vionnet ties white crepe satin into a Gordian knot to give the swathed hip and up in front movement of the new season.” Delineator, May 1927.
The gown by Lanvin is elaborately sequinned, and — surprise — under the sheer skirt, it has knee-length trousers!
Lanvin bolero dress, heavily spangled. Delineator, May 1927.
“Gold and silver spangles outline the bolero in a heavy rope design and trim the bodice of Lanvin’s white crepe version of the Zouave silhouette with lamé trousers.”
The Metropolitan museum collection includes a black evening coat by Lanvin, also from 1927.
A “vanilla color” lace gown by Chanel, shown in Delineator, 1927.
“The square decolletage, fulness [sic] at the hips, and the use of vanilla color lace characterize Chanel’s frock.” It’s also notable for the bow shaped pin.
Pins in the shape of bows were widely copied. A nearly identical Chanel dress with similar joined bands of lace is in the collection of the Metropolitan Museum. (Click to see the additional images. It has a long tunic to be worn over a slip with two more layers of lace, plus a belt.)
These three dresses could be purchased in New York: the Vionnet and Lanvin from Altman, and the Chanel from Lord & Taylor.
Another interesting fact: All three dresses were designed by women at the top of French fashion — Madeleine Vionnet, Jeanne Lanvin, and Gabrielle Chanel.
Also illustrated in the same issue of Delineator were these lovely French gowns:
Fringed and beaded gown by Doueillet; Delineator, May 1927. The fringe is apparently tubes or strips of white chiffon.
A froth of a dress in black net, with pink satin bow. By Patou. Delineator, May 1927.
The Metropolitan museum has a similar (but not identical) 1927 black net dress by Patou.
For formal afternoon wear, Lanvin showed this:
An afternoon dress by Lanvin, seen in Delineator, May 1927. The curves of the embroidered design on the overskirt are echoed in the shape of the yoke. The taffeta sash is crimson.
Black and white organdy with a red sash is dramatic for an afternoon dress. Delineator explained the most popular evening color schemes from Paris:
Text from Delineator‘s fashion coverage, May 1927. Colors of the evening include “lipstick red.”
P.S. I can’t resist a shout out to Glamourdaze’s beautifully illustrated history of 1920’s fashions.
witness2fashion 
That Lanvin afternoon dress is so beautiful! Going on my imaginary wishlist 😀
The drape and twist of the Vionnet would translate to a dress today.
I love how you can just barely make out the trousers under the Lanvin dress!
What a good idea for women who did a vigorous Charleston and didn’t want to show their knickers! Wonder if anyone was inspired to make gold lame trousers.