The ‘Hand’ T-shirt Dress from the V&A features a cool Sixties image on the front, but the story behind it reveals something even more interesting for lovers of fashion from that period.
The image is taken from the packaging of a 1968 poster dress, which were made by Poster Dresses Ltd, London and featured photographs by Marc Leonard. Poster dresses were made of a strong, non-woven fabric (screenprinted tissue, wood pulp and rayon mesh) that you cut to fit and had 'magic shoulder fastenings'. Whilst disposable paper dresses are well-known trend from that period, the poster dresses weren’t to be considered throw way, but the packaging encouraged owners to use it as a poster, table cloth or even a bedspread once they tired of it as an item of clothing. This revival piece sadly is more conventional, being made from 100% cotton and intended just to wear. The dress is available in four sizes, small to extra large, each costing £35.
Visit the V&A shop to buy.
