Alaïa / Grès beyond fashion

Published on the occasion of the current exhibition at the Fondation Azzedine Alaïa in Paris. The creations presented into the book reveal the dialogue between Grès and Alaïa, two determined stylists who became sculptors of dresses.

While there is no evidence that the two couturiers ever crossed paths, their creations undoubtedly did. Apostles of a certain form of simplicity, the seemingly simple creations of Grès and Alaïa hide an inherent complexity in their cut and design.

Madame Grès, whose real name was Germaine Krebs, began working in the 1930s. She founded the house Grès in 1942, and presented her timeless collections here until 1987. Among her famous clients were Greta Garbo, Marlene Dietrich, Maria Casares, Delphine Seyrig, and Grace Kelly. Alaïa was a great collector, having acquired over 15,000 pieces, bearing witness to the creations of fashion history in the 19th and 20th centuries. These include 700 dresses by Madame Grès now owned by the foundation that he wished for.