The sculptural fashion of Madame Grès

If you happen to be in Antwerp, Belgium this winter be sure to check the gallery dedicated to an important fashion visionary at Mode Museum. Until February 10th, 2013, MoMu presents “Madame Grès. Sculptural Fashion”, an exhibition of the Parisian couturier’s designs.

Madame Grès gallery at MoMu, AnversMadame Grès gallery at MoMu, Anvers

An example of uncompromising vision Germaine Emilie Krebs (1903– 1993) is known as the pioneer of seamless garments. Trained initially as a sculptor she carried her artistic sensibilities to the fashion world, making a name for herself with draped and pleated breathtaking evening dresses. Mostly in flowing silk jersey Madame Gres’ Hellenistic gowns clothed European aristocracy and Hollywood divas including Marlène Dietrich, Greta Garbo, Vivien Leigh, Duchess of Talleyrand the Princesses of Bourbon-Parma or the Duchess of Windsor.

Madame Grès -Sculptural Fashion gallery at MoMu, Antwerp

First shown in 2011 at the Bourdelle Museum in collaboration with the Fashion Museum Galliera in Paris this design retrospective gathers Madame Grès’ works mostly from the Gallièra collections as well as some private ones along with photographs by Cecil Beaton and Henry Clarke and the designer's original sketches and drawings.

The gallery classically inspired minimalist settings, created by Belgian artist Renato Nicolodi enhance the sculptural quality of Madame Grès high fashion designs.

Madame Grès gallery at MoMu, Antwerp

Madame Grès also created unique daytime garments with splendid volumes and shapes using the same techniques of draping, pleating, bias-cut that took hundreds of hours of manual work. As Bill Blass once declared: fashion, a technical craft, becomes art only in the hands of Mme Grès or Balenciaga.

Madame Grès casual garments, Galliera collectionMadame Grès casual garments, Galliera collection

She held tightly on to her haute couture mark, despising mass production and commercial artifices, creating for discreet and refined women like herself. Her life and career knew many ups and downs: named president of the Chambre Syndicale de la Couture Parisienne in 1970 and awarded with the first Dé d'or prize (Golden Thimble) in 1976, Germaine Emilie Krebs was forced to sell her fashion business in 1984 and ended up impoverished and forgotten but her timeless, sculptural creations will inspire artists and designers for many years to come.

Madame Grès evening gowns, Galliera collectionMadame Grès evening gowns, Galliera collection

image credit @ www.momu.be, Stéphane Piera / Galliera / Roger-Viollet

Category
in

All things chic

Daphne Guinness

If you are fascinated like me by innovative fashion you might want to check out this recently opened show at Phoenix Art Museum called...read more

in

All things chic

Kinga Rajzak

Reading about awards bestowed in the fashion industry you will stumble upon most interesting fashion labels. Paris based Dice Kayek...read more

in

All things chic

gold fish

I really enjoy buying crazy accessories that make me fill unique. It is an old obsession I had since I was in high school when I actually freaked out my folks...read more

in

Shoes

leather sandal boots

Super fresh black leather sandal boots by Maison Martin Margiela that I can only dream of owning.. sigh. The sandal boot is slingback and has a peep...read more

in

All things chic

denim trends

I’ve always been fascinated with this fabric but I was never sure how and where to wear it so the result was that I’ve never bought anything in velvet. But...read more

in

All things chic

summer 2008 collections

Big fashion online magazines have established the main trends for this fall. Fashion editors of Style.com named the season’s key looks: 1. Detail...read more

in

All things chic

cotton handbag

There was a fun pajamas party at Stella McCartney. Her latest collection showed pretty and wearable clothes in a very laid-back, signature style with a...read more

in

All things chic

star necklace

Anja Hynynen (born 1983, Köping, Sweden) is a young designer that transforms organic fabrics into lovely, lady-like designs. With a strong artistic family...read more

in

All things chic

Vogue UK

Plaids are no longer fall season prints. In fact I saw many fashion rules being dashed these past few season and that's a good thing, right? That's what it's...read more

in

All things chic

Undercover handbags

And the Oscar goes to....the red gown, which was the major hit of this year ceremony. Rich shades of rose and scarlet red made the parade runner fade away....read more

in

All things chic

costume exhibition

Life hasn't been kind with Romanian artist Ion Barladeanu. During the communist regime he worked as grave digger and doorman, and after year...read more

in

All things chic

Hye Park

Also named as one of the season's ten most promising new talents by online Style magazine is young British designer Hannah Marshall who reinvented...read more