This skirt was designed by Adrian to be worn with a brassiere top in a harem-style gown. This was Adrian's first design to feature a bare midriff since Mata Hari made 8 years earlier in 1931 and it was designed with a specific scene in mind - in the film, Joan Crawford, plays shop girl, Crystal Allen, who entraps and later marries the husband of Socialite Mary Haines. She appears in this skirt with brassiere during the scene in the Casino Roof nightclub, instantly looking out of place amongst the other more somberly-dressed women. Apparently, when Louis B. Mayer saw Crawford wearing the dress in the rushes, he insisted the gown be changed, claiming it was in poor taste. Adrian then designed a replacement gown similar in style to that worn by Norma Shearer in the same scene, knowing Shearer would object and, after much argument, Crawford remained in her gold sequins.

The vendor purchased this skirt and belt from the David Weisz auction of the M.G.M. wardrobe in May, 1970. The skirt was not in the original catalogue but was an extra lot added on the day - the vendor recalls that when the auctioneer read out the details of this skirt, the audience clapped and cheered.

Please note that the belt included in this lot is similar to but not identical to that worn with the skirt in the film.