Delphos dress by Mariano Fortuny, on display as part of the "Jazz Age" exhibit at the Cleveland Museum of Art in Cleveland, Ohio, in the United States.

Fortuny ( 1871-1949) was a Spanish-born fashion designer who worked in Italy. He emphasized long, simple lines that reached to the floor. He and his wife, Henriette, created the Delphos gown together in 1907 based on the "chiton" worn in ancient Greece. It was a shift dress, which meant it was to be worn without undergarments. Intended as informal clothing or a tea gown for wearing in the privacy of the home, it swiftly became haute couture.

The Delphos was made of silk which was finely pleated. The exact method of pleating was a closely guarded secret involving heat, pressure, and ceramic rods, and the exact process has never been replicated. Glass beads are strung on a silk cord along each side seam. The beads weigh down the silk, ensuring a smooth fit.

The exact date of manufacture of this Delphos dress cannot be said with certainty, but it was made between 1910 and 1932.

1. CMAJazzAge