Who painted Tailleur amande?

Tailleur amande was painted by Marie-Louise Carven in 1957.

Where can I see Tailleur amande?

Tailleur amande is held by Palais Galliera - Musée de la Mode de la Ville de Paris.

Artwork

Tailleur amande

Marie-Louise Carven , 1957

Tailleur amande is a drawing by Marie-Louise Carven. It dates from 1957 and is held in the collection of the Palais Galliera - Musée de la Mode de la Ville de Paris.

About this work

The artist wrote "Retours Toile" in the corner, which might mean something about the design process.

This sketch shows a woman in a bright green suit with big shoulder pads and a fitted waist. Her hair is short and neat, and she stands confidently with her hands on her hips. Next to her is a dress form wearing a floral-patterned dress, drawn in a simpler style.

The artist wrote "Retours Toile" in the corner, which might mean something about the design process. The green suit looks like it’s from the mid-20th century, with a bold, boxy shape.

Check out womenswear from the 1950s for more suits like this one.

Overview

Tailleur amande, created circa 1957 by French fashion designer Marie-Louise Carven, is a design sketch featuring a woman in a bold, bright green suit alongside a dress form in a floral-patterned dress. The piece is now part of the Museum of Ethnography's collection.

Subject & Meaning

The sketch juxtaposes a confidently posed woman in a modern, boxy green suit with a mannequin in a simpler, floral dress. This contrast may reflect Carven's dual approach to fashion, blending innovative, structured designs with more traditional elements.

Technique & Style

The design showcases Carven's penchant for bold, geometric silhouettes (evident in the green suit's broad shoulders and fitted waist) and her focus on petite figures. The side-by-side composition highlights her design process, with 'Retours Toile' possibly indicating a fabric or design iteration note.

History & Provenance

Created around 1957 by Marie-Louise Carven, a pioneering couturier who introduced ready-to-wear lines, Tailleur amande is now housed at the Museum of Ethnography, though the acquisition details are not specified here.

Context

The green suit's style, with its prominent shoulder pads and boxy shape, is characteristic of mid-20th-century womenswear, particularly the 1950s. Carven's work catered to petite women and often featured lightweight fabrics, though the sketch's medium does not highlight this aspect.

Legacy

As part of Carven's oeuvre, Tailleur amande represents her contribution to the evolution of ready-to-wear fashion and her influence on mid-century fashion aesthetics, especially in designing for smaller frames.