Artwork
Tailleur gris foncé à jupe à larges plis

Tailleur gris foncé à jupe à larges plis is a drawing by Marie-Louise Carven. It dates from 1959 and is held in the collection of the Palais Galliera - Musée de la Mode de la Ville de Paris.
About this work
Overview
Tailleur gris foncé à jupe à larges plis, created by French fashion designer Marie-Louise Carven around 1959, is a design for a dark gray suit characterized by a wide-pleated skirt. The ensemble embodies Carven's approach to crafting tailored, accessible fashion.
Subject & Meaning
The design features a woman in a dark gray suit with a short, collared jacket and a knee-length, wide-pleated skirt. Accompanying back-view outlines highlight the outfit's structural harmony, emphasizing practicality and style for petite frames.
Technique & Style
The piece showcases Carven's preference for clean lines, lightweight fabrics (implied by the design's simplicity), and attention to detail for petite women. The inclusion of a back-view sketch demonstrates a focus on overall silhouette and wearability.
History & Provenance
Created in 1959 by Marie-Louise Carven, founder of her eponymous fashion house (est. 1945) and an early adopter of prêt-à-porter, this design reflects her pioneering approach to making high fashion more accessible.
Context
Emerging from 1950s Paris, the design navigates the shift towards more relaxed, wearable couture. Carven's focus on petite women and prêt-à-porter positioned her at the forefront of fashion's democratization.
Legacy
Tailleur gris foncé à jupe à larges plis contributes to Carven's legacy of influencing accessible, tailored fashion. Her designs, including this piece, remain relevant in the history of prêt-à-porter and petite fashion.
Artist & collection
Artist
Marie-Louise Carven (31 August 1909 – 8 June 2015), born Carmen de Tommaso, was a French fashion designer who founded the house of Carven in 1945.
Museum
Palais Galliera - Musée de la Mode de la Ville de Paris
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