Evening dress

Madame Grès (Germaine Émilie Krebs)

1950–55 · silk · Costume Institute

This silk jersey column evokes the wondrous caryatids and relief figures of classical Greek sculpture. Alix begins with silk jersey panels disposed vertically and seamed together. She gathers the panels tightly in pleated bud or leaf simulations over the bust and anchors the shirred jersey to the bodice's fitted understructure. The supple fabric is then released to the loose fullness of the skirt from a lightly tacked line of stitches at the waist. Her miraculous accomplishment is an unbroken flow of jersey from neckline to hem.

Artist

Madame Grès (Germaine Émilie Krebs)

Date

1950–55

Medium

silk

Culture

French

Department

Costume Institute

Credit line

Gift of Madame Alix Grés, 1955