Evening Gown with Tango Train

This dress, with elevated waist, has a V-shaped neckline. Its blousy top with trimmed short sleeves consists of delicate silk voile over black lace and cream coloured voile. Decorative round rhinestone brooches shirr the delicate voile on the shoulders and neckline. The dress is lined with a boned bodice of silk taffeta. A wide transversely shirred sash that is tied on the left and ends in a loose, fringed scarf marks the waist and hip. The black satin skirt begins beneath, asymmetrically formed from a parallelogram. The fabric is held high at the left rear and ends in a weighted train on the right. The dress is typical of the tango style popular in 1912. Tailor and draper John Redfern became established on the Isle of White in the 1850s, opened establishments in London and Paris in 1881, and later more in New York and Chicago. In 1888 he became a court supplier to Queen Victoria. Although the real speciality of the house was riding clothes and costumes, Redfern also designed elegant evening gowns.