Philippe et Gaston was a Paris couture house established in 1922.[1] It rapidly became a prestigious establishment. In 1926 it was ranked alongside Chanel, Madeleine Vionnet and Jeanne Lanvin as a notable French fashion house.[2] By 1931, it was well known enough to rate a mention in Bruno Jasieński's 1931 play The Ball of the Mannequins.[3] However, by 1946, the house was in need of resurrection.[4] That year, the French textile baron, entrepreneur, and one of France's richest men, Marcel Boussac invited Christian Dior to become head designer for Philippe et Gaston and rejuvenate the brand.[1] Dior declined, as he wanted to launch his own label under his own terms, rather than resurrect an "old-fashioned and rundown house."[1] Boussac and Dior subsequently launched Christian Dior S. A.[1][4]
Two 1920s garments by the House, an evening gown and a fur-trimmed coat, are in the Costume Institute at the Metropolitan Museum of Art.[5][6]
External links
References
- Alexandra Palmer. Dior's Scandalous New Look ROM Magazine, Royal Ontario Museum, Spring 2010, retrieved 6 November 2015^
- Regina Lee Blaszczyk. The color revolution MIT Press in association with the Lemelson Center, Smithsonian Institution, 2012^
- Nina Kolesnikoff. Bruno Jasieński : his evolution from futurism to socialist realism Wilfrid Laurier U.P., 1982^
- Marie-France Pochna, Joanna (translator) Savill. Christian Dior : the man who made the world look new Arcade Pub., 1996^
- Staff writer. Evening coat by Philippe et Gaston, ca. 1928 The Collection Online, Metropolitan Museum of Art, retrieved 6 November 2015^
- Staff writer. Evening dress by Philippe et Gaston, ca. 1925 The Collection Online, Metropolitan Museum of Art, retrieved 6 November 2015^