1981 Madame Gres Haute Couture Silk Taffeta Skirt & Blouse Ensemble w/Shoes
About the Item
- Designer:
- Brand:
- Dimensions:Marked Size: XXS (US)Bust: 32 in (81.28 cm)Waist: 23 in (58.42 cm)
- Place of Origin:
- Period:
- Condition:***See in the description.
- Seller Location:Studio City, CA
- Reference Number:1stDibs: LU357978362
Madame Gres
Forever credited with having altered the fashion world with her pleated silk dresses, Madame Grès was one of the greatest couturiers of the 20th century. She defied the orders of Nazi soldiers and designed gowns and evening dresses that mirrored the colors and pattern of the French flag, working by hand with material that hung directly from live models. A consummate artist, Grès created garments that were demonstrative of exemplary construction and meticulous attention to detail — her signature floor-length gowns left a lasting impact on every aspect of haute couture.
Born Germaine Émilie Krebs to a French Jewish family in Paris, Grès initially studied painting and sculpture. For her, making dresses and working in sculpture were one and the same, and she pursued a career in fashion. Grès worked in millinery and was trained in haute couture dressmaking at the illustrious House of Prémet.
Grès opened her inaugural couture fashion house in 1932, and within a couple of years she began working under the name Alix Barton — the surname came from her coworker, couturier Julie Barton — calling her business La Maison Alix and creating gowns until 1942 in what became her signature style. She perfected modern pleating techniques and worked directly on live models, mostly with generous amounts of silk jersey and airy silk paper taffeta. Her designs showed the influence of Greco-Roman sculpture and would go on to help shape the work of Jean-Paul Gaultier, Jil Sander and Azzedine Alaïa, who also thought of haute couture as sculpture.
Grès’s work was photographed by the likes of Horst P. Horst, and her gowns for Jean Giraudaux’s play The Trojan War Will Not Take Place in 1935 established her as a leading designer, though Nazi occupation stalled her growth.
During WWII, Grès refused to design the utilitarian garb that German forces requested and instead made clothes using the colors of the French flag as her own act of rebellion. Ultimately, she was forced to close her boutique in Paris. The designer married Russian painter Serge Czerefkov, changed her name to Grès — which is how her husband signed his name — and fled to the Pyrenees before returning to establish her second couture house under her new name.
Madame Grès’s second maison was widely successful and attracted a long list of rich and powerful clientele ranging from movie stars to royalty. A single dress could take hundreds of hours to complete. Some of the couturier’s clients became deeply loyal over the course of her career, including the Duchess of Windsor, Oscar-winning actresses Grace Kelly and Greta Garbo, iconic Tiffany & Co. jewelry designer Paloma Picasso and former First Lady Jacqueline Kennedy. Grès guarded her personal life closely and let her delicate, impeccable work speak for itself.
Original Madame Grès evening dresses and gowns, coats, jackets and day dresses, which transformed women into Greek deities, are held in the collections of the Metropolitan Museum of Art, the Museum at FIT and the Musée Bourdelle.
“Her dresses were about a sense of power, strength and beauty, not objectification,” explains Patricia Mears, deputy director of the Museum at FIT and author of Madame Grès: Sphinx of Fashion. “Everyone knows Chanel, Dior and Saint Laurent,” Mears says, “but I believe that the great triumvirate was Madeleine Vionnet, Balenciaga and Madame Grès — those who knew how to make clothes with their own hands, couturiers in the old sense of the word.”
Find vintage Madame Grès clothing and accessories on 1stDibs.
- ShippingRetrieving quote...Ships From: Studio City, CA
- Return PolicyThis item cannot be returned.
- Yves Saint Laurent YSL Red Strapless Gown Dress w/Black Velvet Band at BustBy Yves Saint LaurentLocated in Studio City, CAYves Saint Laurent YSL red strapless gown with a black velvet band at the top of the bust. There is no fabric tag but fabric is silky with a satin ...Category
Late 20th Century French Evening Dresses and Gowns
- Jean Paul Gaultier Orange Sheer Dress w/Deep V-Neckline & Ruched WaistlineBy Jean Paul GaultierLocated in Studio City, CAA Jean Paul Gaultier "Soleil" label sleeveless orange gown made of sheer double-layered stretch netting. Features a deep v-neckline, decorative ruching at ...Category
Late 20th Century French Evening Dresses and Gowns
- Christian Dior by John Galliano Burgundy Chiffon Asymmetrical Cocktail DressBy Christian DiorLocated in Studio City, CAChristian Dior by John Galliano burgundy chiffon double layered cocktail dress with asymmetric fabric pattern at top layer. In...Category
Early 2000s European Evening Dresses and Gowns
- 1920s Maria Gallenga Couture Metallic Stencilled Velvet Novelty GownBy Maria GallengaLocated in Studio City, CA1920's Maria Gallenga couture velvet novelty gown printed with a stenciled silver and copper/gold repeating pattern depicting mythical creatures. The floor length gown features drama...Category
20th Century Italian Evening Dresses and Gowns
- 1994 F/W Gianni Versace Couture Gold Oroton Metal Mesh Chainmail Top & SkirtBy Gianni Versace CoutureLocated in Studio City, CAA rare 1994 F/W Gianni Versace Couture gold metal Oroton chainmail top and skirt ensemble - seen on the model Amber Valetta in listing photo #4 - an editorial photo of the collection...Category
1990s Italian Evening Dresses and Gowns
- Vintage Gianni Versace Navy Striped Oroton Metal Mesh Chainmail Dress Ca. 1983By Gianni VersaceLocated in Studio City, CACa. 1983 Gianni Versace striped navy Oroton metal mesh chainmail dress featuring a deep V-neckline, cutouts at the back bodice, a gathered waistline and multiple folds at center fron...Category
1980s Italian Evening Dresses and Gowns
- New Versace Color block Crystal Embellished Metal Mesh DressBy VersaceLocated in Montgomery, TXVersace Crystal embellished metal mesh dress Nude tulle detail Made in Italy IT Size: 38 - US 4 Brand New, with tagsCategory
21st Century and Contemporary Italian Cocktail Dresses
- Gucci Blended Cotton Dress Sewn with JewelryBy GucciLocated in SAINT-OUEN-SUR-SEINE, FRGucci - (Made in Italy) Blended cotton dress sewn with jewelry. Size M, it fits a 36FR. Additional information: Condition: Very good condition Dimensions: Shoulder width: 35 cm - Ch...Category
2010s Italian Evening Dresses
- Yves Saint Laurent Vintage red silk DressLocated in Carnate, ITYves Saint Laurent dress in intense red silk satin, French size 36, balloon sleeves with embroidered. the only flaw is a small button on the back which is broken, measurements: shoul...Category
18th Century and Earlier Ball Gowns
- HUISHAN ZHANG red floral embroidered lace black spot flared cocktail dress US4 SLocated in Hong Kong, NTHUISHAN ZHANG red floral embroidered lace black spot flared cocktail dress US4 S Reference: TGAS/A01552 Brand: Huishan Zhang Material: Cotton Color: Red Pattern: Other Closure: Zip E...Category
21st Century and Contemporary Chinese Cocktail Dresses
- Red silk and rhinestone sleeveless cocktail dress Azzaro ParisBy Loris Azzaro ParisLocated in Saint-Ouen-Sur-Seine, FRRed silk, rhinestone and glass beads sleeveless cocktail dress. Silk lining. Hook&eye closure in the middle top front. Invisible zip and hook&eye in the middle back. SIZE 40 (Fr) ...Category
Early 2000s French Cocktail Dresses
- Vintage 90s Gianni Versace Couture Red Asymmetric DressBy Gianni VersaceLocated in Sheung Wan, HK- Vintage 90s Gianni Versace couture red asymmetric dress. - Cut out asymmetric detail neckline. - Knee length asymmetric hemline. - Fire red long sleeves stretch jersey dress. ...Category
1990s Italian Cocktail Dresses