Le XVIIIe au gout du jour, Couturiers et créateurs de mode au Grand Trianon
July 8 to October 9, 2011 – Grand Trianon
In the apartments of the Grand Trianon, the Château de Versailles and the Musée Galliera present an exhibition devoted to the influence of the Age of Enlightenment on fashion today. Between haute couture and prêt-à-porter, some 50 models by leading 20th-century designers interact with 18th-century costumes and accessories, showing how this century is cited with constant interest. These pieces are drawn from the archives of the couture houses and the Galliera collections.
French culture, with its influence on the courts of Europe, sheds light on the 18th century embodied by Madame de Pompadour, Madame Du Barry and, above all, Marie-Antoinette – figures of frivolity who so fascinated cinema, literature and fashion. Huge powdered hairstyles, whalebone bodies and basket skirts, flounces and falbalas, escarpolettes and whispers – such was the 18th century, when artifice reached its peak…
A fantasy style that gives free rein to interpretation: Les Soeurs Boué revive baskets and lace with stylish gowns from the ’20s, Christian Dior and Pierre Balmain offer evening gowns embroidered with decorative motifs typical of the 18th century, Vivienne Westwood breathes new life into mischievous courtesans, Azzedine Alaïa corsets the throats of galantes, Karl Lagerfeld for Chanel invites Watteau into his French-style gowns, the House of Dior adorns its ladies-in-waiting in a thousand finery, Christian Lacroix drapes his queens in jeweled brocades and Olivier Theyskens for Rochas conjures up the ghost of Marie-Antoinette in a Hollywood movie.
While Yves Saint Laurent plays the role of black & white purity, Martin Margiela transforms men’s garments into women’s wear, Nicolas Ghesquière for Balenciaga dresses women in little marquises adorned with millefeuille lace, and Alexander McQueen for Givenchy dresses his marquises in leotards embroidered with gold thread. With Yohji Yamamoto, court dresses were destructured, and with Rei Kawakubo, it was the turn of frock coats. Thierry Mugler hid oversized baskets under dresses, while Jean Paul Gaultier turned them upside down.
Cette publication est également disponible en : Français (French)
