Delphos gown

The Delphos gown is a finely pleated silk dress first created in about 1907 by French designer Henriette Negrin and her husband, Mariano Fortuny y Madrazo (1871–1949). It was inspired by, and named after, a classical Greek statue, the Charioteer of Delphi.

Fortuny became famous for his pleated dresses, the “Delphos” and the related “Peplos”.

Tunics of various configurations of pleated dyed silk, weighted with Murano glass beads, were the basis of Fortuny’s collections and became the most recognizable type of clothing in his atelier. The method of silk processing invented by him is called “Fortuny pleating”. This technology is considered fundamentally important: silk does not lend itself well to systematic deformation and the discovery of new technological principles allowed Fortuny to create new forms and types of clothing.

Tunic dresses did not involve the use of a tight corset, they were made with or without sleeves, they could be worn with or without a belt.