Philippe et Gaston was a Paris couture house established in 1922.[1] It rapidly became a prestigious establishment. In 1926 it was ranked alongside Chanel, Madeleine Vionnet and Jeanne Lanvin as a notable French fashion house.[2] By 1931, it was well known enough to rate a mention in Bruno Jasieński's 1931 play The Ball of the Mannequins.[3] However, by 1946, the house was in need of resurrection.[4] That year, the French textile baron, entrepreneur, and one of France's richest men, Marcel Boussac invited Christian Dior to become head designer for Philippe et Gaston and rejuvenate the brand.[1] Dior declined, as he wanted to launch his own label under his own terms, rather than resurrect an "old-fashioned and rundown house."[1] Boussac and Dior subsequently launched Christian Dior S. A.[1][4]

Two 1920s garments by the House, an evening gown and a fur-trimmed coat, are in the Costume Institute at the Metropolitan Museum of Art.[5][6]

References

  1. ^ a b c d Palmer, Alexandra (Spring 2010). "Dior's Scandalous New Look". ROM Magazine. Royal Ontario Museum. Retrieved 6 November 2015.
  2. ^ Blaszczyk, Regina Lee (2012). The color revolution. Cambridge, Mass.: MIT Press in association with the Lemelson Center, Smithsonian Institution. p. 125. ISBN 9780262017770.
  3. ^ Kolesnikoff, Nina (1982). Bruno Jasieński : his evolution from futurism to socialist realism. Waterloo, Ont.: Wilfrid Laurier U.P. p. 120. ISBN 9780889201101.
  4. ^ a b Pochna, Marie-France; Savill, Joanna (translator) (1996). Christian Dior : the man who made the world look new (1st English language ed.). New York: Arcade Pub. pp. 90–92. ISBN 9781559703406. ((cite book)): |first2= has generic name (help)
  5. ^ Staff writer. "Evening coat by Philippe et Gaston, ca. 1928". The Collection Online. Metropolitan Museum of Art. Retrieved 6 November 2015.
  6. ^ Staff writer. "Evening dress by Philippe et Gaston, ca. 1925". The Collection Online. Metropolitan Museum of Art. Retrieved 6 November 2015.

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