Two Exhibitions in France

By Heather Vaughan, July 30th, 2008 at 5:00 am (Exhibitions, Uncategorized)

(Sonia Rykiel by Andy Warhol 1986, © Andy Warhol Foundation/Corbis)

For those who might be planning to visit France in the near future, here are two exhibits at Les Arts Décoratifs:

EXHIBITION
Sonia Rykiel. Exhibition
20 November 2008 – 19 April 2009

This first retrospective of the couturière’s work, marking the 40th anniversary of her fashion house, is composed of clothes, fashion photographs (Sarah Moon, Isserman) and fashion show videos. If Sonia Rykiel’s designs have withstood the test of time so well, this is because it they embraced their era so completely… Sonia Rykiel is a pioneer: using figure-hugging black fabrics in the late 60s, exposing the insides and unfinished hems of her garments, and even daring to use materials such as sponge…

Mini-sweater by Sonia Rykiel (1973) © Bettmann/CORBIS

EXHIBITION
Madeleine Vionnet (1876-1975)
18 June 2009 – 24 January 2010

Les Arts Décoratifs is devoting a major exhibition to Madeleine Vionnet. In 1952, the couturière donated 22 dresses, 750 dress patterns and 75 photo albums to Les Arts Décoratifs. Selected from her major works between 1912 and 1939 and now restored with the aid of Natixis, this exceptional collection of avant-garde designs can at last be shown to the public. Madeleine Vionnet’s entire career was marked by her constant quest for freedom in extremely refined but unfettered designs close to antique drapery, which continue to fascinate couturiers such as Azzedine Alaia, Issey Miyake, Yohji Yamamoto and John Galliano.

Model in Goddess dress by Vionnet, George Hoyningen-Huene (photographer), c.1931, © Condé Nast Archive/CORBIS.

Until Next Time,

Heather

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