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The black cornette is folded over twice and draped to create height at one side at the front. The cap underneath is slightly exposed by the very high swoop of fabric. The back is more softly folded and doesn’t create sharp edges.

The black cornette is folded over twice and draped to create height at one side at the front. The cap underneath is slightly exposed by the very high swoop of fabric. The back is more softly folded and doesn’t create sharp edges.

A cornette is a large, starched piece of white cloth that is folded to create the resemblance of horns or in French: cornes. They were originally worn by Parisian women in the 1800s and were adopted by The Dominican Sisters of Charity. In the 1960s, the habit was redesigned by Dior.

This is one of five cornettes designed by Jonathan Anderson and gifted to Amgueddfa Cymru – National Museum Wales. They are inspired by the work of Gwen John and her fascination with the costume of Catholicism. They were created especially for the Gwen John: Strange Beauties exhibition held in Cardiff in 2026. Jonathan Anderson is a Northern Irish fashion designer and the founder of the eponymous brand, JW Anderson. He was appointed Creative Director of Dior in 2025.