pattern
date: label: Date made
content: 1948-1955
name: label: maker
content: Charlotte Villaret
notes: label: Description
content: Pattern; natural fine-weave muslin; R half of dress with folded-back triangular collar lapel in F, above triangular flange forming bustline dart; high boat neckline in B; cap sleeve with flange from sleeve edge running across upper B; skirt has side seam pocket, with curved stitched opening, and flanged, pointed overlap at side with narrow-pleated insert below, to hem; self-belt with pointed end attached; decorative stitching along flanges and button trim indicated in blue tailor's chalk; also placement of buckle on belt; loosely hand-stitched seams and hems; turn-under edges frayed; measures 44 1/2" (113 cm) down B edge.
label: Description
content: Donor was daughter of Charlotte Villaret. Villaret worked for Valentina, Muriel King, and Charles James in late 1930s through 1950s; then was in business for herself in New York and San Antonio, Texas. According to donor, Villaret's clients included Elise A. Roosevelt, Elizabeth Taylor, Katherine Hepburn, Grace Moore and Lily Pons. Pattern was probably acquired while Villaret was working for designers Valentina, Muriel King, or Charles James in NYC as stylist, where she would cut and fit the garment. The Smithsonian accepted some Villaret garments from donor and the rest went to Marymount University's Costume and Textile collection.
label: Description
content: A short biography of Villaret written by donor includes personal anecdotes about her experience working for Muriel King and Charles James. See accession file for details.
setName: label: See more items in
content: Home and Community Life: Costume
creditLine: label: Credit Line
content: Gift of Ginette V. Patch
dataSource: label: Data Source
content: National Museum of American History
identifier: label: ID Number
content: 1994.0263.009
objectType: label: Object Name
content: Pattern