Artwork

Pantalon marron avec fourrure de la même couleur au bas de la jambe

Marie-Louise Carven , 1963

Pantalon marron avec fourrure de la même couleur au bas de la jambe is a drawing by Marie-Louise Carven. It dates from 1963 and is held in the collection of the Palais Galliera - Musée de la Mode de la Ville de Paris.

About this work

Overview

Pantalon marron avec fourrure de la même couleur au bas de la jambe is a fashion design sketch created by Marie-Louise Carven around 1963. The piece features a simple outfit consisting of a white top and wide brown trousers with matching-colored furry cuffs. Executed in loose, quick lines, the work appears to be a preliminary study rather than a finished design.

Subject & Meaning

The subject of the sketch is a person wearing a casual, brown-trousered outfit with an unexpected playful element: furry cuffs that resemble animal legs. This detail may reflect Carven's approach to blending practicality with whimsy, characteristic of her designs for petite women.

Technique & Style

The sketch is characterized by loose, rapid lines, suggesting a quick exploratory draft. The use of simple, expressive drawing emphasizes the overall silhouette and texture of the furry cuffs, prioritizing the concept over meticulous detail.

History & Provenance

Created circa 1963 by Marie-Louise Carven, founder of the Carven fashion house (established in 1945), this sketch is now part of the Museum of Ethnography's collection. Carven was an early adopter of prêt-à-porter, though this work's context within her broader design process is not specified.

Context

Within the context of 1960s fashion, the sketch reflects the era's shift towards more casual, accessible clothing. Carven's focus on petite women and her pioneering work in prêt-à-porter position this design within the evolving landscape of mid-20th-century fashion.