In 1938, Dalí gave Elsa a drawing depicting a skeleton woman, accompanied by a short note: "Dear Elsa, I REALLY love the idea of ​​the bones on the outside (...)." The inspiration likely came from a circus act called "The Skeleton Man."

This evening dress was presented at the 1938 Le Cirque fashion show. It stood out from the other models in this joyful and whimsical collection with its dark and almost gothic look before its time.

The trompe-l'œil effect of the three-dimensional bones is achieved by quilting embroidered on the rayon crepe.