Renowned for her signature draping and innovative asymmetrical dresses, Madame Gres (1903 1993) has been one of the leading fashion designers of twentieth-century Paris. Formally trained as a sculptress, her complex yet delicate haute couture designs evoke ancient statuary and exude a timeless elegance. Known as a designer s designer, Madame Gres 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, her personality has had a lasting effect on haute couture. Her creations have inspired many of fashion s most illustrious designers including Cristobal Balenciaga, Azzedine Alaia, 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 Gres, that 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 Gres dresses displayed as works of art in the exclusive settings of the Bourdelle Museum and the SCAD FASH Museum in Atlanta.

About the Author
Olivier Saillard is a French fashion historian, poet, and performer. He edited Alaia Afore Alaia and authored Embodying Pasolini (Rizzoli, 2022). Anne Graire, the granddaughter of Madame Gres, is a freelance writer.

Reviews
"The 20th-century Parisian designer Madame Gres, who wrapped bodies in cascading pleats and folds, was known for her sensual drapery and reverence for a woman's curves. Her sculptural fashion gets the high-gloss treatment in this monograph by the French fashion historian Olivier Saillard and Anne Graire, the granddaughter of the couturier." - THE NY TIMES



Book Information
ISBN 9780847838820
Author Olivier Saillard
Format Hardback
Page Count 128
Imprint Rizzoli International Publications
Publisher Rizzoli International Publications