An Important Silver Satin Gown Worn by Shirley Temple, 1940s, for Publicity Photographs

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Of very heavy weight silver satin with interwoven grey and white brocade design, the floor-length gown was designed to be worn strapless or with the detachable straps. The fitted bodice has unusual seaming to accentuate the woven flowers, and the flared skirt falls in deep folds to the floor. Included with gown are two vintage photographs, one being a color transparency. The dress was clearly a favorite of Shirley Temple for various social and publicity occasions. Most notably, in January 1949, Shirley wore the gown to the inaugural ball of Harry S. Truman (numerous newspaper clippings of this appear in the 1949 album (#251 of this book). On September 23, 1949 a photograph of Shirley in this gown was featured on the cover of Cine Review magazine, and in a May 1949 issue of Movie Life she is shown gaily dancing a Mexican folk dance at a party for Errol Flynn.