Jean Lanvin, Palais Galliera, March 7 – August 23, 2015
Unlike Coco Chanel, who was titled by the fashion world as “Mademoiselle”, Jeanne Lanvin has never been called anything but “Madame”. This grand dame of French fashion, founder of the oldest fashion house still in operation, was known for her strict, uncompromising work ethic – the seamstresses in the Lanvin ateliers were not allowed to chat, and workers were rarely allowed into her office. Born into a family headed by a journalist and his home-maker wife, Jeanne Lanvin began working at the early age of 13, and was completely self-taught in the field of fashion. The major turning point in her career came with her marriage to an Italian aristocrat and the subsequent birth of their two daughters. Jeanne's daughter became both her source of inspiration and a marketing instrument – Jeanne's clients would first order clothes for their children, and then ask for something similar for themselves. The Lanvin style embodied a concept that was virtually revolutionary for its time – comfort combined with elegance, whereas her trademark colour became a shade of blue that she had seen in a Fra Angelico painting in Florence. This exhibition at the Palais Galliera is the first retrospective of Jean Lanvin to be held in France.
10 Avenue Pierre 1er de Serbie, Rue de Galliera, 75016 Paris
www.palaisgalliera.paris.fr