Madame Gres’

Styles of the 1930’s

By: Hannah Barrett

History of the 1930’s

Franklin Roosevelt: President

The Great Depression

The Dust Bowl

The Social Security Act

Laissez-Fair economy

Wagner Act of 1935

WWII

History of Madame Gres’

Real Name: Germaine Emilie Krebs

Born in Paris 1903

Was Jewish

Began as sculptor

1st house: Alix Barton

Used live mannequin's

Married Serge Czerefkov in 1930

Sold Rights to name: Alix

New Name: Gres’ (Husbands First Name Backwards)

Died in 1993

Madame Gres’ Style

Training as sculptor influenced designs

Most gowns were silk jersey

Draped & pleated gowns right on models

Sophisticated, Clean, & clung in right places

After war: Grecian pleated dresses

Each pleat done by hand

Grecian style dresses made 1-2 pieces of fabric

Began tailoring in 1950’s

1987: House went bankrupt

Key Gres’ Look:

pleats, created by hand then sewn together

lots of folds and drapes

bias cut, away from the body

Greco-roman influence, togas, capes, wraps, Asian and Eastern influence

“Grecian” evening dress (front detail), off-white

silk jersey

“Turandot” evening dress, black silk faille

“Grecian” evening dress, navy blue silk jersey

Two-piece evening ensemble, coral wool and

angora jersey

“Grecian” evening dress (back view), aubergine

silk jersey

“Grecian” evening gown, blue silk jersey

Sources

Mendoza, Sandra. “Alix Gres.” Vintage Fashion Guild. 2008. VFG Label Resource. Oct.1,2008. <Vintagefashionguild.org>

Mears, Patricia. Madame Gres’: Sphinx of Fashion. New Haven: Yale UP, 2008.

Mollina, Joanne. “The Sphinx of Fashion.” International Decorative Arts Exhibitions & Curiosities. 2008. the Curated Object. <www.curatedobject.us >

Sutton, Bettye. “1930-1939.” American Cultural History. June 2008. Lonestar College. Oct. 1,2008. <Kclibrary.lonestar.edu>