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Category Archives: Fashion
Petits mains
When I saw the fabulous Dior exhibit at the Musée des Arts Décoratifs a few years ago, one of my favorite parts was the display of miniature couture models. During World War II, Dior sent scaled-down, perfect copies of couture … Continue reading
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Tagged Dior, miniature dresses, Musée des Arts Décoratifs, petits mains
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L’histoire de Cartier
We in the midst of moving to a new state, so I’m going to keep it short and simple this week. Here’s a lovely short video about the history of the Cartier jewelry brand. It’s narrated by the curator of … Continue reading
Paris vers le passé
When I was a pre-teen, I fell in love with Anne of Green Gables and her quest for kindred spirits. When I read Paris to the Past: Traveling Through French History by Train, by Ina Caro, I felt like I’d … Continue reading
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Madeleine Vionnet
Madeleine Vionnet was born on June 22, 1876. She trained with London dressmaker Kate Reily, and French designers Jacques Doucet, and Callot Sœurs before opening her own fashion house in 1912. She was forced to close her business only two … Continue reading
Le roi de la mode française
French fashion designer Pierre Balmain was born on May 18, 1914. He was studying architecture at the École des Beaux-Arts in Paris in 1934 when Edward Molyneux offered him a job. He had already undertaken some freelance design drawing work … Continue reading
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Tagged French fashion, French fashion designer, haute couture, Parisian chic, Pierre Balmain
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En coulisses
Today I got the news that I knew was inevitable, the summer program in Paris where I have worked for a decade will not run this year. As the French economy begins to re-open, there is currently no word on … Continue reading
Posted in Fashion, Media
Tagged Christian Dior, Designer of Dreams, Musée des Arts Décoratifs
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Honoré Daumier
French Realist graphic artist, painter, and sculptor Honoré Daumier was born on February 26, 1808. He was noted above all for his stinging caricatures. Daumier had a deprived childhood, which fueled the campaigning nature of much of his art. His … Continue reading
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Jacques Doucet
Jacques Doucet, often described as one of the great “old masters” of fashion design, was born on February 19, 1853. As early as 1817, his family established the House of Doucet in Paris, a business specializing in fine linens, lingerie, … Continue reading
Hubert de Givenchy
At the summer program where I work in Paris, we frequently have the children of famous people among our students. I’m generally pretty blasé about the star power, but one connection did get my interest. We had the great-niece of Hubert de … Continue reading
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Tagged Audrey Hepburn, Cristobal Balenciaga, French fashion designer, Hubert de Givenchy
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Maison Callot Sœurs
Maison Callot Sœurs was opened in 1895 by four sisters: Marie Callot Gerber; Regina Callot Tennyson-Chantrell, and Joséphine Callot Crimont. Sœurs (sir) means “sisters” and I find it interesting that all of the sisters in the business were married, as … Continue reading
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