Ball gown

Woman's evening dress or ball gown, in pale beige silk taffeta, with a low sweetheart neckline with pleated detailing and wide shoulder straps, fitted, structured bodice with off-centre seams and padded bust and wide curving pleats to full stiffened skirt, three-quarter length, labelled in the centre back, the bodice of the dress is unlined, the skirt lined with stiffened paper: American, by Ceil Chapman, mid 1950s

Ball gown

Woman's ball gown of pale pink satin, bodice embroidered with stylised flowers and seeds, large elliptical topaz coloured pastes, chunky beads and raised couched threads and braids and scattered silver and gold sequins, designed to be worn with cape of matching pale pink satin K.2014.49.2: French, Paris, designed by Jacques Fath, probably Spring-Summer, 1948