Object Timeline

  • We acquired this object.

1998

  • Work on this object ended.

2020

2025

  • You found it!

Wedding Dress And Abaya

This is a Wedding dress and abaya. It was designed by John Galliano and made for Christian Dior.

This object is not part of the Cooper Hewitt's permanent collection. It was able to spend time at the museum on loan from Fine Arts Museums of San Francisco as part of Contemporary Muslim Fashions.

It is dated Autumn/Winter Collection 1998–99. Its medium is silk and silk tulle with silk and metallic embroidery, sequins, beads. It is a part of the department.


In the Najd and Riyadh regions of Saudi Arabia, weddings are multi-day events during which the bride wears several different outfits. This gown and the one next to it were custom made for special clients to celebrate tihwal, an event hosted by the groom’s family that commemorates the bride’s move to her husband’s home. Each gown is slim fitting with a flared hem, a signature silhouette for tihwal and one that is also popular for contemporary brides around the world.

It is credited Private collection.

This object was previously on display as a part of the exhibition Contemporary Muslim Fashions.

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If you would like to cite this object in a Wikipedia article please use the following template:

<ref name=CH>{{cite web |url=https://www-6.collection.cooperhewitt.org/objects/2318797386/ |title=Wedding Dress And Abaya |author=Cooper Hewitt, Smithsonian Design Museum |accessdate=20 March 2025 |publisher=Smithsonian Institution}}</ref>