Madame Grès Couture Paris

Book excerpt: The definitive monograph on iconic Parisian designer Madame Grès, seen by her peers as the tutelary genius of French haute couture. Renowned for her signature draping and innovative asymmetrical dresses, Madame Grès (1903–1993) was one of the leading fashion designers of twentieth-century Paris. Formally trained as a sculptor, her complex yet delicate haute couture designs evoke ancient statuary and exude a timeless elegance. Known as a designer’s designer, Madame Grès’s prime was between the 1930s and 1950s, but she also saw a comeback in the 1970s, with Yves Saint Laurent and Issey Miyake advocating for her work. A pioneer of sophisticated minimalism and of the attention and respect for the female body, she has had a lasting effect on haute couture. Her creations have inspired many of fashion’s most illustrious designers including Cristóbal Balenciaga, Azzedine Alaïa, Yohji Yamamoto, and Haider Ackermann, and 1990s pioneers of contemporary minimalism Calvin Klein and Jil Sander. Her legacy continues to inspire new generations to design clothes that enhance the movement of the body without compromises. In this book, readers discover the couture work of Madame Grès, which was beloved by an array of fashionable women including Marlene Dietrich, Princess Grace of Monaco, Jackie Kennedy, the Duchess of Windsor, and Edith Piaf. Edited by celebrated fashion historian Olivier Saillard, this volume notably features stunning shots of Madame Grès dresses displayed as works of art in the exclusive settings of the Bourdelle Museum and the SCAD FASH Museum in Atlanta.