Evening dress
Madame Alix Grès' career spanned five decades and throughout them all she excelled in her ability to manipulate fabric and use its innate characteristics to enhance her designs. Known for her classically inspired, form-fitting silk jersey evening gowns, which she introduced in the 1930s, Grès also experimented with taffeta, using it to create smooth, shell-like surfaces as well as billowing, extravagant details. Here, the long narrow skirt presents an unbroken tube of fabric that extends up into an exaggerated blouson bodice. The bodice, draped and gathered at front, gives way to an enormous bubble of fabric in the back. Interpreted in taffeta, the bodice back resembles a pop art soft sculpture in the style of Claus Oldenburg (1929). It is a testament to Grès' skill that she is able to create both the clinging rose crepe evening gown with classical himaton wrap (2009.300.34) and this more audacious dress within consecutive seasons.
Artwork Details
- Title: Evening dress
- Designer: Madame Grès (Germaine Émilie Krebs) (French, Paris 1903–1993 Var region)
- Date: spring/summer 1974
- Culture: French
- Medium: silk
- Credit Line: Brooklyn Museum Costume Collection at The Metropolitan Museum of Art, Gift of the Brooklyn Museum, 2009; Gift of Mrs. William Randolph Hearst, Jr., 1988
- Object Number: 2009.300.1051a, b
- Curatorial Department: The Costume Institute
More Artwork
A slider containing 5 items.
Press the down key to skip to the last item.
Press the down key to skip to the last item.
Madame Grès (Germaine Émilie Krebs)
ca. 1982
Madame Grès (Germaine Émilie Krebs)
1981–83
Madame Grès (Germaine Émilie Krebs)
ca. 1980
Madame Grès (Germaine Émilie Krebs)
1960s
Madame Grès (Germaine Émilie Krebs)
ca. 1968
Research Resources
The Met provides unparalleled resources for research and welcomes an international community of students and scholars. The Met's Open Access API is where creators and researchers can connect to the The Met collection. Open Access data and public domain images are available for unrestricted commercial and noncommercial use without permission or fee.
To request images under copyright and other restrictions, please use this Image Request form.
Feedback
We continue to research and examine historical and cultural context for objects in The Met collection. If you have comments or questions about this object record, please complete and submit this form. The Museum looks forward to receiving your comments.