c. 1960

Woman's "Mermaid" Evening Dress

“In the evening you have to knock ’em dead with glitter,” proclaimed Norman Norell. His philosophy is evident in his most famous creations, all-over sequined dresses. Throughout his career, Norell made versions of these form-fitting gowns—which by 1952 came to be known as “mermaid dresses.” These expensive and eye-catching dresses are marvels of workmanship; each sequin was sewn to the silk by hand, taking up to 250 hours per dress.