Mainbocher anticipated Dior's "New Look" in the early 30s.
He also introduced the cropped jacket (first outfit on the left).
Interactive display in the "Making Mainbocher" exhibit.
Uniforms designed by Mainbocher.
Look who's talking about the Mainbocher exhibit at the Chicago History Museum:
Vogue: Mainbocher—The Most Important American Designer You’ve Never Heard Of—Is Getting His Due in Chicago
The Wall Street Journal: Celebrating the First American Couturier
A total must-see! The story behind the couturier is also fascinating - make sure you learn about it in the very instructive website of the exhibit: makingmainbocher.com.
-------
A few fun facts:
- He was born on the West Side here in Chicago!
- He moved to Paris after enlisting in the US Army, in which he served as a sergeant in the Intelligence Corps. He used "music student" as his cover.
- He started his ascent in the fashion industry as an illustrator for Harper's Bazaar; shortly after he became the editor-in-chief of French Vogue. When he didn't get the raise he asked for, he decided to open his own fashion house.
- Mainbocher brought back the corset and anticipated Dior's "New Look" in the early 30s.
- He designed the Duchess of Windsor's iconic wedding dress.
And so many more! I highly recommend the exhibit catalog, on sale at the Chicago History Museum shop.
More Mainbocher soon to come! I'll be talking about the lecture with Arnaud de Lummen, the managing director of Luvanis - the group that owns the Mainbocher name. Have you heard of "sleeping beauty" brands? Stay tuned and you'll find out!
