Born 1903 as Germaine Krebs in Paris, Madame Grès was a remarkable couturier in the 20th century, known for using delicate pleats which turned ordinary fabric into Greek sculpture. She originally wanted to be a sculptor, but was unsuccessful. She then ventured into millinery, changing her name to Alix Barton. Her design house would be known as Alix from 1934 through 1942.
Fashion designs by Madame Grès in the 1950s
Grès first gained attention by designing the costumes for Jean Giraudoux’s play The Trojan War Will Not Take Place, and quickly became a leading designer of the day, whose clients included everything from duchesses to movie stars (Grace Kelly, Greta Garbo and Marlene Dietrich are a few of her more famous clients).
The New York Times called her couture house “the most intellectual place in Europe to buy clothes”. While Grès is most known for her draped Grecianesque gowns, she also showed talent in less formal designs. Her every day wear showed the same attention to detail and impeccable tailoring that her gowns did.
Grès had an extraordinarily long career, working until the late 1980s. She died in 1993 at the age of 90. These stunning photos are some of her designs that were wore by classic beauties in the 1950s.
Model in intricately draped red faille on black faille gown by Grès, photo by Philippe Pottier, 1950
Natalie Paine in bleached beige high tiny top and ingenious combination of skirt and knickers, the one joined inseparably to the other, by Grès, photo by Louise Dahl-Wolfe, Harper’s Bazaar, June 1950
Model in black wool sheath dress, the bodice is of peacock blue faille, by Grès, photo by Philippe Pottier, 1951
Model in blue linen two-piece, exquisite in its simplicity, by Grès, photo by Philippe Pottier, 1951
Model in figure-hugging black dress worn with light sheer organza plaid jacket by Grés, hat by Gilbert Orcel, photo by Philippe Pottier, 1951
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