Claire McCardell was a pioneer in American female sportswear design. In the 1940s, she perfected the “Pop-Over Dress”—a casual, easy-to-wear dress that resembled a kimo. Doris Duke owned many examples of McCardell’s work, including this day dress dating to the mid-1950s. The dress includes a fabric belt to tie around the waist and the label at the neck reads “Claire McCardell Clothes by Townley.” McCardell was a partner at Townley Frocks (a clothing manufacturer) at the time she designed this dress.
Day dress, 1955
