Robe du soir, Grès

• Grès

• Gift of Bernard Hardion
• Autumn-Winter 1956-1957
• Shot silk velvet by L. Bodin
• GAL1979.24.25
• Palais Galliera, musée de la Mode de la Ville de Paris

For her pleated evening dresses Madame Grès habitually used a fine silk jersey mixed with viscose, which makes this bustier-style garment one of the few examples of her pleating technique as applied to another fabric: in this case a shot silk velvet offering glints of beige and wild rose. The considerable quantities of fabric used for the skirt are held in place solely by chevron pleats on the hip that drape downwards to form broad pointed pleats on the side.