Woman's Ensemble: Dress and Jacket

Currently not on view

Woman's Ensemble: Dress and Jacket

1973

During the early 1970s Japanese college students and working women favored mid-calf to ankle-length peasant-style dresses. Kansai's version is daringly bare but can be covered up with a short, full-sleeved jacket that buttons along the left shoulder and down the side in a style associated with traditional Chinese dress. (Buttoning on the left, however, was considered by the Chinese to be "the fashion of barbarians.") The ensemble is decorated with Kansai's name written in script and scattered lotus flowers in punch needle embroidery known as bunka, a play on the name of the renowned Bunka Fashion College from which Kansai graduated in 1967.

Currently not on view

Object Details

Title:

Woman's Ensemble: Dress and Jacket

Date:

1973

Artist:

Medium:

Wool plain weave with punch needle embroidery

Dimensions:

Waist (dress): 24 inches (61 cm) Waist to Hem Length (dress): 38 inches (96.5 cm)

Classification:

Costume (including accessories)

Credit Line:

Gift of Hess's Department Store, Allentown, 1974

Accession Number:

1974-3-7a,b

Geography:

Made in Japan, Asia

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Currently not on view