labelled, the tiered black silk dress embroidered with ogivals applied with large black plastic discs with bead centres, with pierrot collar, flared sleeves, bust 112cm 44in; together with a pair of matching tights with beaded discs, reproduction sequined skull cap with long single pheasant plume and pair of modern Pretty Ballerina patent ballet flats (5)
Literature: 'The Rudi Gernreich Book' Peggy Moffitt & William Claxton p143. Peggy described, “We fed each other,” Moffitt said and when he created a black skullcap with feathers for her, she completed the look by putting on white foundation to give the impression of a skull bleaching her eyebrows to give her face a deathly pallor.
Exhibited:
‘The Total Look The Creative Collaboration between Rudi Gernreich, Peggy Moffitt, and William Claxton’ - Museum of Contemporary Arts, Los Angeles, Feb 26 - May 27, 2012, Scad Museum of Art, June 22 - Oct. 7, 2012; Cincinnati Arts Museum, Feb 28 - May 24, 2015,
‘Fearless Fashion: Rudi Gernreich’ Phoenix Art Museum, April 7-September 26, 2021
See The Metropolitan Museum collection for an identical suit, accession no 1985.374.21a, b for the full length version of this ensemble.
1960s