Exhibition
  

   
The Artistry of Adrian:
Hollywood's Celebrated Design Innovator
   
Second Rotation: April 25 to August 31, 2003
First Presented: June 5, 2002, to November 17, 2002
Noel Palomo-Lovinski, Guest-Curator
   

The Retail Years: Evening Wear

 

   
Two-piece skirt suit with purple, teal, pink and blue
sheet sequins in a chevron pattern.
Label: Adrian Original
From the wardrobe of Claudette Colbert
mid 1940s, United States of America
Kent State University Museum
Rodgers/Silverman Collection
KSUM 1983.1.399ab

Claudette Colbert, an actress that was with Paramount Studios her entire career, never worked with Adrian while he was in Hollywood. She liked his simple and uncomplicated approach to design and collected several pieces of his work for her personal wardrobe.
       

 

  
Mid-calf lenght cocktail dress in black rayon crepe
with tab details at wrist running up the arm and asymmetrical taffeta peplums from the waist
Label: Adrian Original
c.1945, United States of America
From the wardrobe of Mrs. Irma M. Ciridan, Fortville, Indiana
Kent State University Museum
Gift of Mrs. Irma M. Ciridan through Joseph Simms
KSUM 1984.23.34ab

Many Adrian dresses have in common a dressmaker detail that the designer brought back throughout his collections. The fabric bands that hang off the sleeve or drape across the figure gave dimension and texture to an already interesting dress and, in this case, the design details call attention to a small waist. The dress is one of several evening ensembles inspired by the fine art, architecture and decorative art style termed bio-morphism.
         

 

   
Two-piece skirt suit in black wool with bugle beads
in a herringbone pattern with black metal studs
Label: Adrian Original: The Halle Bros. Co.
c. 1947-1948, United States of America
From the wardrobe of Dorothey Battles, Cleveland, Ohio
Kent State University Museum
Gift of Judy Bourne in honor of her mother, Dorothey Battles, Fashion Illustrator
KSUM 2001.3.1abc
  

 


  
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