The oeuvre of Madame Grès

Madame Grès was an enigmatic figure. Beginning her career in the twenties, she was a reclusive but dedicated legend for the coterie of fashion insiders over the decades. Her oeuvre is now the triumphant subject of an exhibition in Paris, which showcases her creations (until 28 August). 

Customers of Madame Grès loved the flattery of her carefully conceived shapes in silk, wool and taffeta, but she will always be remembered for the brilliance of her draping, based on the classic Greek style. It was not like today's machine made draping - which swirls around the body in not always flattering horizontal swathes - but hangs vertically, falling softly from the shoulders, caught gently at the waist and flowing free to the ground. And totally flattering to any figure type because everything Grès made was draped and moulded on the figure, almost like sculpture.

It is appropriate then, that the show is held at the Musée Bourdelle, in the studio of the nineteenth century sculptor Antoine Bourdelle, for the woman who trained as a sculptor.

Read Colin McDowell's review of the exhibition.