Remembering André Courrèges, The Master of Space-Age Couture: A Look Back

Remembering André Courrèges, The Master of Space-Age Couture: A Look Back

Couture Astranaut: Fashion designer André Courrèges (1923-2015)

Fashion designer André Courrèges passed away yesterday at the age of 92
after a long battle with Parkinson's Disease. Courrèges worked under
Cristobal Balenciaga until 1961, when he launched his Maison de la Haute
Couture. He met his wife, Coqueline, while at Balenciaga. Together with his
contemporaries, Pierre Cardin and Paco Rabanne, he became famous for his
Futurist designs that revolutionized fashion during the 1960's.

Boxy, A-Line...Ankle Boots! 60's Modernistic Couture from André Courrèges

Spage-Age 1960's: Fashion designer André Courrèges with his designs

Courrèges was most know for his Modernist "Space-Age" styles.
He redefined the silhouettes and styles from what was then, rather
strict lady-like shapes. He was known for peek-a-boo dresses, miniskirts (André Courrèges is widely credited as inventing the mini, even though some would dispute
this and give credit to British designer Mary Quant), jumpsuits, and what
would become iconic accessories such as flat ankle boots and bug-eye
"Space" sunglasses. He loved using unusual materials such as PVC
and plastic as well as favored the A-line shape, saying that he wanted clothes
to "float". 

Onesie Gals: Colorful ribbed Knit with white fur onsesie looks from André Courrèges

He celebrated the moon landing by designing a onesie. Oh,
and it was mirrored! Courrèges could often be seen wearing get-ups
like Mylar jumpsuits and shiny white go-go boots (naturally!). NASA even
brought him in to visit mission control at Cape Canavaral, probably a first for
a fashion designer.

My Space-Age Homme Muse: Designer André Courrèges

Audrey Hepburn, Brigitte Bardot, Betsy Bloomingdale, Jacqueline Kennedy as well as her sister Lee Radziwill, among others were devotees of his fashion-forward designs:

 Audrey Hepburn (above)--from a shot of the 1966 film "How to Steal a Million"

Socialite Lee Radziwill in André Courrèges Haute Couture--Dress and jacket made of plastic and fur, which she gifted to the Metropolitan Museum of Art New York City

 Yellow coat from André Courrèges 1968 Collection--worn by Mrs. Alfred Bloomingdale (Betsy Bloomingdale)--The suit is entirely made by hand, exclusively using french seams throughout the coat and features varnished leather buttons. It was gifted to the FIDM Museum & Galleries

Photos courtesy of FIDM Museum

In the ’90s,
he left his label to become a painter and sculptor, and his wife and longtime
collaborator Coqueline took over design duties at the house. Since then, the
House of Courrèges has changed
owners and designers; the latest of which seem to be inclined to follow the
designer's original Futuristic directive.

Here are more of André Courrèges' fabulous designs that shook the fashion world:

Onesies, Minis, Flat Boots, Scalloped Details

Looks from André Courrèges

A-Line Couture--André Courrèges

The Courrèges fashion brigade--models in André Courrèges designs

Adieu. RIP André Courrèges.

FIDM Museum: 6th Annual Outstanding Art of Television Costume Design Exhibition!

FIDM Museum: 6th Annual Outstanding Art of Television Costume Design Exhibition!

TV Costume Heaven:

Stewardess Fab: Costumes from ABC series "Pan Am", Pilot Costumes by Chrisi Karvonides, Series Costumes by Ane Crabtree, 6th Annual Outstanding Art of Television Costume Design Exhibition, FIDM Museum and Galleries (photo courtesy of Alex J. Berliner/ABImages)

Where can you find Pan Am Stewardesses, a Dowager Countess, an Evil Queen, and Marylin Monroe-inspired "NBC's Smash" gold gown? Oh yes, in Downtown LA of course! Well, fashionistas and costume design aficionados, Tuesday was the Opening Day of the 6th Annual Outstanding Art Television Costume Design Exhibition at the Fashion Institute of Design and Merchandising/FIDM, my alma mater, and college of which I am the Official Fashion Spokesperson.

6th Annual Outstanding Art of Television Costume Design Exhibition Party/Reception at Hope Park/FIDM (photo courtesy of Alex J. Berliner/ABImages)

The exhibition, presented by FIDM Museum and Galleries and Academy of
Television Arts and Sciences, was Guest Curated by Mary Rose,
Costume Designer and President of the Costume Designers Guild. It features over 75
(!) costumes from a variety of TV shows (sixteen of them), period and contemporary, including
seven nominated for an Emmy® for Outstanding Achievement in Costume
Design. This past weekend, a VIP reception/party was held at the FIDM Campus to "unveil" this fabulous new exhibition. Guests included:

(Left to right) Eduardo Castro, Costume Designer for ABC's "Once Upon A Time" (he was also the Costume Designer for ABC's "Ugly Betty"!) and Julie Weiss (love her oversized paillette tunic-dress!) Costume Designer for many films including "American Beauty" "Frida" "The Ring" and (my personal favorite) "Blades of Glory" (photo courtesy of Alex J. Berliner/ABImages)

(Left to right) Chrisi Karvonides, Costume Designer nominated for FX's "American Horror Story", seen here with Mary Rose, President of the Costume Designers Guild and Guest Curator of the 6th Annual Outstanding Art of Television Costume Design Exhibition (photo courtesy of Alex J. Berliner/ABImages)

Mandi Line, Costume Designer for ABC Family's "Pretty Little Liars" (above in front of her costumes for the show). Fun fact: Mandi is an FIDM Alumna (photo courtesy of Alex J. Berliner/ABImages)

Now, let's get to the costumes at the exhibition. Like I said at the top of this post, there are over 75 costumes featured and some of the highlights include:

English Class: The Emmy® nominated for Outstanding Achievement in Costume
Design Costumes from PBS' "Downton Abbey": Yes, that's Maggie Smith's "Dowager Countess" silk velvet and sequin ensemble on the far left--PS: She's Tall! (photo courtesy of Alex J. Berliner/ABImages)

Costumes from NBC's "Smash" --The gold sequin gown is worn by Katharine McPhee's character and the one on the far right is worn by actress Anjelica Huston (photo courtesy of Alex J. Berliner/ABImages)

The Emmy® nominated for Outstanding Achievement in Costume
Design costumes from HBO's "Game of Thrones"--And yes, that's the costume worn by actor Peter Dinklage above (top photo courtesy of Alex J. Berliner/ABImages)

 

 The Emmy® nominated for Outstanding Achievement in Costume
Design costumes from ABC's "Once Upon a Time"--This tableau at FIDM Museum is HUGE--above photo is the "Rainbow Fairy" costume from the ABC show (photos courtesy of Alex J. Berliner/ABImages)

The Emmy® nominated for Outstanding Achievement in Costume
Design costumes from HBO's "Hemingway and Gellhorn"--Nicole Kidman starred in this and I have a fun fact from the costume designer, Ruth Myers: Kidman's inseam is 34". That's the inseam of well, a 6' 2" man ! (she's got fabulously LONG legs) (photo courtesy of Alex J. Berliner/ABImages)

Nick Verreos and KTLA-TV's Gayle Anderson, 6th Annual Outstanding Art of Costume Design Costume Design Exhibition, FIDM Museum

On Monday, I had the pleasure of filming some Morning TV segments for KTLA-TV Channel 5 LIVE direct from the FIDM Museum and the brand new exhibition with the always fantastic (and my TV Production Segment MUSE!) Gayle Anderson. We had such a blast filming these segments. Miss Gayle is my "sister from another mister" darlings! LOVE her. As a special VIP treat, two of the Emmy® nominated for Outstanding Achievement in Costume
Design costume designers from this past year--Ruth Myers ("Hemingway and Gellhorn") and Chrisi Karvonides ("American Horror Story")--were there for some of the KTLA-TV Morning Show interviews at FIDM Museum so I had the honor of meeting them and of course, getting some behind-the-scenes costume design DISH.

Costume Designer Ruth Myers and Nick Verreos, FIDM Museum

Nick Verreos and Costume Designer Chrisi Karvonides: I had such a ball chatting with Chrisi---she also designed the costumes for ABC's "Pan Am" series pilot so she gave me such great behind-the-scenes dish on the Pan Am stewardess uniforms (you know I LOVE me some Stewardess Uniforms!!).

Coffee, Tea...or Fab Uniforms: ABC's "Pan Am" TV show stewardess uniforms

Stewardess Dish: Costume Designer Chrisi Karvonides and Nick Verreos, 6th Annual Outstanding Art of Television Costume Design Exhibition, FIDM Museum

As you can see from the photo above, Costume Designer Chrisi Karvonides and I were in some SERIOUS "Wait, how many pattern pieces to that Pan Am pill box hat? And the Pan Am logo was actually GOLD!!??" conversation. LOVED every minute of it!






You can click HERE to see the segments I did with Gayle and KTLA-TV!! (scroll on the videos to find all the FIDM Costume Design Exhibition segments).

The Dish:



WHAT: 

The 6th Annual Outstanding Art of Television Costume Design Exhibition, over 75 Costumes, including 2011-2012 Emmy® nominated for Outstanding Achievement in Costume
Design costumes 





WHERE: 

FIDM Museum and Galleries, Fashion Institute of Design and Merchandising

919 South Grand Avenue, Los Angeles, California 90015



WHEN:

July 31 through October 20, 2012

open 10am-5pm Tuesday through Saturday. Closed Sunday and Monday



Admission:

FREE!!