Dress
Artifact IDMO 68.39.2
Object Type
Dress
Date
1962
Date Worn12/29/62
Designer
Joan Morse
(fashion designer, American 1932-1972)
Place MadeUnited States, North America
Place WornMiami, Florida, United States
Medium
Wool
DimensionsOverall L 37 in (94 cm )
Physical DescriptionA sleeveless rose-pink dress in basket-weave wool with an A-line skirt and a bow at the center of the waist. This dress was purchased from Joan Morse's Manhattan boutique, A La Carte.
Historical NoteFirst Lady Jacqueline Kennedy's fluency in other languages proved an effective diplomatic tool to her husband. Mrs. Kennedy wore this dress when she accompanied President Kennedy to the Orange Bowl stadium in Miami, Florida on December 29, 1962. There he greeted members of Assault Brigade 2506 who had carried out the failed Bay of Pigs invasion in Cuba the year before and had recently been released from a Cuban prison after months of negotiations. The First Lady overshadowed JFK's speech when she addressed the audience in Spanish, endearing herself to the Cuban exiles. The brigade members later presented her with a certificate of appreciation (MO 63.6034).
Later, Mrs. Kennedy wore the dress publicly when she visited the Delphi amphitheater during her unofficial visit to Greece in 1963.
The designer of the dress, Joan "Tiger" Morse, had begun her fashion career only a few years earlier. By the late 1960s her simple, traditional designs gave way to avant-garde creations (including illuminated mini-dresses made out of Mylar) sometimes called "extreme pop."
Additional DetailsLater, Mrs. Kennedy wore the dress publicly when she visited the Delphi amphitheater during her unofficial visit to Greece in 1963.
The designer of the dress, Joan "Tiger" Morse, had begun her fashion career only a few years earlier. By the late 1960s her simple, traditional designs gave way to avant-garde creations (including illuminated mini-dresses made out of Mylar) sometimes called "extreme pop."
Custodial History NoteItem was owned by First Lady Jacqueline Kennedy as part of her wardrobe. It was donated to the John F. Kennedy Presidential Library and Museum by Jacqueline Kennedy through the Estate of President John F. Kennedy.
Credit LineJohn F. Kennedy Presidential Library and Museum, Boston, MA; Gift of the Estate of President John F. Kennedy
Place WornMiami, Florida, United States
National Archives Catalog CollectionJohn F. Kennedy Library Museum Collection (National Archives Identifier 1676934)
National Archives Catalog SeriesFirst Lady Jacqueline Kennedy Collection (National Archives Identifier 1676959)
Use Restriction StatusRestricted - FullyUse Restriction NotePlease contact the John F. Kennedy Library Foundation for permission to use this image. IP@jfklfoundation.org
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