Madame Grès: The Sphinx of Fashion's Legacy
Madame Grès, originally named Germaine Emilie Krebs, was born in Paris in 1903 and became a trailblazer in haute couture, celebrated for her Grecian-style dresses. After initially pursuing painting, she transitioned to fashion due to her parents' disapproval. In 1932, she founded La Maison Alix and worked alongside Juliette Barton. Her designs, inspired by ancient Greek aesthetics, received recognition in 1935 through her costumes for 'The Trojan War Will Not Take Place.' During World War II, she resisted Nazi pressures, resulting in the temporary closure of her fashion house. She resumed operations in 1944 under the name Madame Grès. Renowned for her elaborate gowns, she retired in the late 1980s and passed away in Toulon in 1993, with her daughter keeping the news private for a year. Notable posthumous exhibitions include those at The Met in 1994 and the Museum at FIT in 2008.
Key facts
- Madame Grès was born Germaine Emilie Krebs in 1903 in Paris.
- She opened her first haute couture house, La Maison Alix, in 1932.
- She gained acclaim in 1935 for costumes in Jean Giraudoux's play 'The Trojan War Will Not Take Place.'
- During WWII, she refused Nazi demands and fled to the Pyrenees.
- She reopened her fashion house in 1944 under the name Madame Grès.
- Her Grecian gowns could take up to 300 hours to complete.
- She launched the fragrance Cabochard in 1959.
- She died in 1993 in Toulon; her death was concealed for a year by her daughter.
Entities
Artists
- Madame Grès
- Germaine Emilie Krebs
- Serge Czerefkov
- Juliette Barton
- Peggy Huynh Kinh
- Hubert de Givenchy
- Yves Saint Laurent
- Pierre Cardin
- Cristobal Balenciaga
- Azzedine Alaia
- Anne (daughter)
- Jean Giraudoux
- Duchess of Windsor
- Paloma Picasso
- Grace Kelly
- Marlene Dietrich
- Greta Garbo
- Lord Snowdon
Institutions
- La Maison Alix
- Alix Barton
- House of Grès
- Museum at FIT
- Musée Bourdelle
- The Metropolitan Museum of Art
- National Gallery of Victoria
- CR Fashion Book
- AnOther Magazine
- Into The Fashion
- What Grandma Wore
Locations
- Paris
- France
- Pyrenees
- Toulon
- Melbourne
- Australia
- New York
- USA