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André Courrèges

Artist Info
André Courrèges1923 - 2016

André Courrèges studied engineering before going into fashion. After a decade working as a tailor under Cristobal Balenciaga, Courrèges opened his own couture house in Paris in 1961. Courrèges was influenced by Balenciaga's aesthetic of simplicity and his bold use of color. His striking 1964 spring collection, imbued with the "Pop" sensibility of the 1960s art scene, created a sensation. He quickly became a pioneer of youth fashion. Courrèges claimed to have "invented" the mini-skirt, but Mary Quant preceded him. As she put it, "It wasn't me or Courrèges - it was the girls in the street." Lacking a youth culture like London's, advanced French designers, such as Courrèges, used the future as a metaphor for youth. He is most famous for his "Space Age" designs - futuristic garments in crisp fabrics, worn with iconic accessories, such as the calf-length white "go-go" boot. He was a leader in what became a global movement of designers from elite couture work to opening ready-to-wear boutiques and licensing their names and designs. By 1965 Courrèges’s influence was indisputable. However, in the decades that followed, the designer had difficulty further developing his style, and he eventually closed his couture business in 1986. Courrèges passed away in 2016.

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Yellow suit with small notched lapels and knee length straight skirt
Suit
Courrèges
c. 1961
76.89.2
Mustard yellow wool twill ensemble with matching boxy jacket with kimono sleeves; sleeveless yellow silk blouse with open round neck and CF buttons; slim skirt gathered into waistband
Black and off-white wool houndstooth check jacket with 3/4 sleeves, matching slim skirt and bla…
Suit
Courrèges
Fall/Winter 1961-1962
2007.46.4
Three piece charcoal grey and white houndstooth wool suit: short cropped boxy jacket and matching skirt with coordinating black suede sleeveless top with bow; couture
Purple leather hat with shallow brim and bow at back
Hat
Courrèges
1962
2007.46.79
Purple leather hat with shallow rounded brim, unusual sloping crown with abstract bow at CB
Off-white leather hat with short visor brim with bow
Hat
Courrèges
1963
2007.46.75
Off white leather hat with visor style brim and CF self bow
Pair of off-white leather boots with open toes and cut-out slits at tops
Boots
Courrèges
1964
77.183.2CD
Futuristic go-go boots in off white kid leather, with cut-out slit and self knot at top; flat heel and open toe; CB zipper and velcro closure
Orange twill suit with short sleeved top, matching flared pants with cuffed bottons
Set
Courrèges
c. 1966
81.24.9
Orange wool twill suit with short sleeved top; stand collar with turndown top; matching flared pants with cuffed bottons; couture
Red double breasted jacket with white lapels over white knee length dress
Set
Courrèges
1965
77.183.3
Gabardine suit; red double breasted jacket with short sleeves; roll collar and squared lapel facings in white wool; dress in white double faced gabardine
Yellow green double breasted short coat, two rounded flap pockets and round neckline
Set
Courrèges
c. 1967
78.57.3
Short mini double breasted A-line coat of petit point gabardine heavy wool in yellow green; narrow rolled spread collar; long shaped two piece sleeves with wrist button and bound buttonhole; straight shoulder yoke with pointed dip at center back; 5 cm x 27 cm short belt at high waist; center back to attach with two bound buttonholes and large matching green buttons; two rounded and flapped patch pockets on each front hip; white synthetic taffeta lining; all edges and seams topstitched at 1.5 cm; center front closing with four sets of bound buttonholes and large green buttons. Short mini matching yellow wool A-line dress; low round neckline with tiny slash at center front; short sleeves; straight one-piece shoulder yoke front and back; dropped unfitted waistline with four self belt loops and 2 cm wide self belt; two small U shaped patch pockets each front hip; white synthetic lining; center back neck zip. Couture.
Brown suit with long sleeve battle jacket, matching flared pants
Pantsuit
Hyperbole
c. 1967
81.132.6
Brown wool suit with long sleeved battle jacket; convertible collar and flapped diagonal pockets; matching flared bottom pants with CF invisible zipper
Ivory sunglasses with curved slit at eye center; gold metal studs at temples; stamped Depose an…
Sunglasses
Courrèges
Spring/Summer 1965
2014.56.2
Eskimo Lunettes; ivory sunglasses in molded plastic with curved slit at eye center; gold metal studs at temples; stamped Depose and Patent PV5262
Light grey A-line mini dress, cap sleeves, belted drop waist, and round patch pockets
Dress
Courrèges
c. 1968
78.170.5
A-line mini dress in light grey heavy wool with contoured shoulder yoke, cap sleeves, belted drop waist and rounded patch pockets, topstitched; wool belt with round plastic buckle
White short sleeved dress with wide round neck and faux pockets
Dress
Courrèges
c. 1968
72.112.19
White wool short sleeved dress with wide round neck and cb zipper; couture