Penguin Random House LLC - Madame Grès Couture Paris

Renowned for her signature draping and innovative asymmetrical dresses, Madame Grès (1903–1993) was one of the leading fashion designers of twentieth-century Paris. Formally trained as a sculptor, her complex yet delicate haute couture designs evoke ancient statuary and exude a timeless elegance. Known as a designer’s designer, Madame Grès’s prime was between the 1930s and 1950s, but she also saw a comeback in the 1970s, with Yves Saint Laurent and Issey Miyake advocating for her work. A pioneer of sophisticated minimalism and of the attention and respect for the female body, she has had a lasting effect on haute couture. Her creations have inspired many of fashion’s most illustrious designers including Cristóbal Balenciaga, Azzedine Alaïa, Yohji Yamamoto, and Haider Ackermann, and 1990s pioneers of contemporary minimalism Calvin Klein and Jil Sander.