The transparent creations of Yves Saint Laurent, the journey of a forgotten muse, small precious objects from the 18th centurye century: here are five fashion exhibitions not to be missed in the capital.
Lisa Fonssagrives-Penn, first top model in history
Lisa Fonssagrives-Penn (1911-1992) has a little air of Grace Kelly mixed with a hint of Catherine Deneuve. She was a dancer, photographer, sculptor and stylist. But it is her modeling career that is being celebrated this spring by the European House of Photography, in the Marais, through a rich photographic exhibition, on view until May 26, running from 1935 to 1955. She was, in these years – there, the greatest supermodel of her time, before this expression even existed.
Born in Sweden, the young woman moved to Paris in 1933 and became one of Christian Dior’s favorite models. She then collaborated with numerous photographers – Horst P. Horst, Erwin Blumenfeld, Richard Avedon and Irving Penn, who would become her husband –, frequently appearing on the front pages of Vogue or Harper’s Bazaar. The exhibition, which includes around one hundred and fifty prints, is also an opportunity to admire the creations of Cristobal Balenciaga (1895-1972), Lucien Lelong (1889-1958), Charles James (1906-1978) or the Weill brand.
“Lisa Fonssagrives-Penn. Fashion icon”, until May 26, at the European House of Photography (4e borough).
From the tabattoir with candy box, the luxury of the Enlightenment
Embroidered fabric pouches, snuff boxes, candy boxes, ointment bottles, fly or cosmetic boxes, these small luxurious – and portable – objects marked the style of the 18th centurye century, while highlighting the growing development of artisanal know-how. It is in the very beautiful Donon hotel, in the Marais, that the Cognacq-Jay Museum is located, which is offering an exhibition devoted to these articles until September 29.
Ernest Cognacq (1839-1928), co-founder, with his wife, Marie-Louise Jaÿ (1838-1925), of La Samaritaine, in 1870, bequeathed his collection of works of art and objects to the City of Paris precious. This is the starting point for this exhibition, enriched with loans from the Louvre, the Museum of Decorative Arts in Paris, the Palais Galliera and the Victoria and Albert Museum in London, among others. We can also see period clothing, which shares aesthetic affinities with these small items: the buttons are adorned with mother-of-pearl, the men’s vests are in silk taffeta, the canes have their pommel in enameled porcelain, while pocket watches are made of gold and enamel, and sometimes studded with rubies. A work of goldsmith to see up close.
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