1961. This photo (another copy is in the Hagley Digital Archives) is annotated in pencil on the reverse ‘253527’ and ‘RICHARD AVEDON’. A mimeographed page, with Avedon’s signature in pencil, reads:
PLEASE OBSERVE RELEASE DATE SET BY THE NEW YORK COUTURE GROUP
The short, covered dance frock is high fashion from the designing hand of Wilson Folmar of Edward Abbott. The sure fire elements in this dance dress are the deliciousness of the tangerine color and the soft floatiness of the chiffon — a combination of nylon and silk by American Silk Mills which had proved its practical as well as its fashion value. The elbow-sleeved gold embroidered over blouse is Turkish in feeling. This item costs approximately $325.
Edward Abbott gown style #1951; sizes 8-14; coral; American Silk Mills’ chiffon of 60 per cent nylon and 40 per cent silk.
Photograph #CA 253527
Du Pont Company
Public Relations Dept.
350 Fifth Avenue
New York 1, N.Y.The above design is one of a group of over 100 costumes in Du Pont fibers presented in the fall/winter collections by 29 members of the New York Couture Group.
Photographed at Old Westbury Gardens, Westbury, New York
In editing his archive, Avedon destroyed a portion of his work. This commercial shot may well have been among the casualties. The fluidity of the movement has an Avedon feel and the signature looks genuine but has not been validated, so the image is only attributed to Avedon.
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