Between Tradition and Modern Glamour

Vitrine display - Elegant evening gown

Curator: Nava Mussafi

In the vitrine display case located in the museum’s entrance lobby, an elegant evening gown is exhibited, created for the bride Doris Sasson (née Susa) for her henna ceremony, which took place in 1948. The dress, featuring an asymmetrical neckline, is made of luxurious silk fabric and adorned with hand crafted metallic thread embroidery (tel) in a floral motif.

The choice of a bold silhouette for its time in Baghdad reflects a sense of fashion openness among upper-class Jewish women, as well as Western influences that permeated the community through the press, cinema, educational institutions, haute couture, and international connections, alongside enduring local traditions. The dress embodies the eclectic character of the period, a meeting point between East and West, and between tradition and innovation.