1942 Gilbert Adrian Iconic 'Gamboling Lambs' Scenic Print Scalloped Patio Dress

This extremely rare and heavily documented Gilbert Adrian 'Gamboling Lambs' scenic print patio dress from 1942 captures a moment when American fashion, Hollywood fantasy, and textile design converged in a single, unforgettable garment. Gilbert Adrian, universally known simply as Adrian, was the visionary costume designer behind MGM’s most iconic silver-screen wardrobes; most notably The Wizard of Oz. He shaped the Hollywood glamour image for stars such as Joan Crawford, Greta Garbo, and Katharine Hepburn with his bold silhouettes, sculptural shoulders, and cinematic sense of drama.

On that note, what elevates this epic piece is its remarkable origins. The dress comes directly from Betty Barker, longtime secretary and assistant to Joan Crawford, who was gifted the garment by Crawford herself. After Barker’s passing in 2012 at the age of 95, the dress was then passed down to her caretaker, preserving an unbroken and deeply personal provenance. Accompanying the designer label is the original numbered model tag, bearing the name “May Lou”—a level of documentation and survival that is virtually unprecedented for an Adrian garment. The significance of this dress is reinforced by extensive documentation. As shown, an advertisement featuring the design appears in the 1948 March issue of Vogue. A version in the same length and identical print resides in the Textile and Costume Collection at Thomas Jefferson University in Philadelphia, PA, while a floor-length iteration is held in the permanent collection of The Metropolitan Museum of Art.

Adrian’s 'Patio Dresses' emerged as a uniquely American answer to wartime dressing—designed for entertaining at home yet imbued with couture-level artistry. They combined ease with imagination, transforming casual silhouettes into expressive canvases. This sought-after example features the “Gambol on the Green” print, a joyful pastoral tableau depicting frolicking lambs scattered across a vivid meadow. The stunning scalloped hemline complimenting the whimsical motif.  The skirt’s animated scene flows into a serene bodice rendered as an open blue sky, softly clouded and punctuated by subtle birds in flight. Fluid cap sleeves and light pleating at the neckline down to the defined waist creates a very flattering silhouette.

Opportunities to acquire a garment of this caliber are extraordinarily uncommon. This is more than a beautiful dress—it is a museum-worthy artifact with cinematic lineage, scholarly documentation, and deeply personal provenance. To own this piece is to have a tangible chapter of 'Old Hollywood' fashion history in your collection.