André Courrèges (9 March 1923 – 7 January 2016) was a French fashion designer. He was particularly known for his streamlined 1960s designs influenced by modernism and futurism, exploiting modern technology and new fabrics. Courrèges defined the go-go boot and along with Mary Quant, is one of the designers credited with inventing the miniskirt.
Courrège’s Spring 1964 collection established his impact on the fashion industry and named him the Space Age designer. The line consisted of “architecturally-sculpted, double-breasted coats with contrasting trim, well-tailored, sleeveless or short-sleeved minidresses with dropped waistlines and detailed welt seaming, and tunics worn with hipster pants”.
A notable look was the linear minidresses with revolutionary tailoring with cut-out panels that displayed waists, midriffs and backs. Courrège had strong beliefs within the liberation of fashion. He emphasized that “A woman’s body must be hard and free, not soft and harnessed. The harness – the girdle and bra – is the chain of the slave.” Which is why his cut-out panel garments were worn without bras.
Accessories were inspired by astronauts equipment such as; goggles, helmets and flat boots. White and metallic color ways were implemented to emphasize the futuristic collection. He utilized unconventional materials such as metal, plastic and PVC which was unusual for couture ateliers.
The entire collection was celebrated with British Vogue announced that 1964 was “the year of Courrèges”. The New York Times described him as “the brightest blaze of the year” to emphasis the change from the little black dress to the white dress. Designers such as Pierre Cardin and Paco Rabanne taking influences towards “future” fashion looks. With new popularity, his designs trickled down to mass production companies that created affordable designs similar to Courrèges.
Courrège’s Spring 1964 collection established his impact on the fashion industry and named him the Space Age designer. The line consisted of “architecturally-sculpted, double-breasted coats with contrasting trim, well-tailored, sleeveless or short-sleeved minidresses with dropped waistlines and detailed welt seaming, and tunics worn with hipster pants”.
A notable look was the linear minidresses with revolutionary tailoring with cut-out panels that displayed waists, midriffs and backs. Courrège had strong beliefs within the liberation of fashion. He emphasized that “A woman’s body must be hard and free, not soft and harnessed. The harness – the girdle and bra – is the chain of the slave.” Which is why his cut-out panel garments were worn without bras.
Accessories were inspired by astronauts equipment such as; goggles, helmets and flat boots. White and metallic color ways were implemented to emphasize the futuristic collection. He utilized unconventional materials such as metal, plastic and PVC which was unusual for couture ateliers.
The entire collection was celebrated with British Vogue announced that 1964 was “the year of Courrèges”. The New York Times described him as “the brightest blaze of the year” to emphasis the change from the little black dress to the white dress. Designers such as Pierre Cardin and Paco Rabanne taking influences towards “future” fashion looks. With new popularity, his designs trickled down to mass production companies that created affordable designs similar to Courrèges.
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| André Courrèges, Dresses, photographed by F.C. Gundlach, 1965 |
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| André Courrèges, Ensemble, photographed by F.C. Gundlach, 1965 |
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| André Courrèges, Ensemble, photographed by Peter Knapp, 1965 |
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| André Courrèges, Dress, photographed by William Laxton, 1960s |
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| Audrey Hepburn in André Courrèges Hat, photographed by Douglas Kirkland, 1965 |
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| Kellie Wilson in André Courrèges Ensemble, photographed by Bert Stern, 1969 |
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| André Courrèges, Ensemble, photographed by F.C. Gundlach, 1965 |
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| André Courrèges, Mini-Dress, photographed by F.C. Gundlach, 1965 |
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| André Courrèges, Dress, photographed by William Klein, 1965 |
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| Catherine Deneuve in André Courrèges Boots and Coat, 1965 |
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| André Courrèges, Ensemble, photographed by Pierre Boulat for LIFE, 1965 |
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| Simon D'Aillencourt in André Courrèges Coat, photographed by John French, 1964 |
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| André Courrèges, Dress, 1965 |
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| André Courrèges, Overalls, 1970 |
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| Diana Ross in André Courrèges Dress, 1966 |
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| André Courrèges, Ensemble, photographed by John French, 1960s |
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| André Courrèges, Ensemble, photographed by Robert Cohen, 1977 |
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| André Courrèges, Ensemble, 1968 |
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| André Courrèges, Dress, 1967 |
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| André Courrèges, Coat, 1969 |
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| André Courrèges, Ensembles, photographed by Bert Stern for Vogue, 1969 |
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| Patti Boyd in André Courrèges Ensemble, photographed by David Bailey for Vogue, 1969 |
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| André Courrèges, Ensemble, photographed by Paul Huf, 1969 |
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| Catherine Deneuve in André Courrèges Dress, photographed by David Bailey for Vogue, 1967 |
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| André Courrèges, Ensembles and Dresses, photographed by Bill Ray, 1968 |
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| André Courrèges, Ensemble, 1965 |
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| André Courrèges, Ensemble, 1965 |
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| André Courrèges, Ensemble, 1965 |
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| André Courrèges, Mini-Dress, photographed by Pierre Boulat, 1965 |
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| André Courrèges, Ensembles, photographed by Alain Dejean, 1971 |
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| André Courrèges, Ensemble, 1965 |
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| André Courrèges Fashion Show, 1972 |
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| André Courrèges, Sunglasses, photographed by Peter Knapp, 1965 |
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| André Courrèges, Ensemble, 1965 |
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| Astrid Heeren in André Courrèges Suit, photographed by Philippe Pottier, 1963 |
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| André Courrèges, Tunic, 1968-1969 |
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| Simone D'Aillencourt in André Courrèges Ensemble, photographed by John French, 1964 |
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| André Courrèges Fashion Show, 1972 |
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| Tilly Tizzani in André Courrèges Dress, photographed by William Klein, 1962 |
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| Melanie Hampshire in André Courrèges Coat, photographed by Melvin Sokolsky for Harper's Bazaar, 1965 |
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| Astrid Schiller in André Courrèges Mini-Dress, photographed by F.C. Gundlach, 1965 |
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| André Courrèges, Coat, 1969 |
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| André Courrèges, Dress, photographed by Regina Relang, 1972 |
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| André Courrèges, Dress, photographed by F.C. Gundlach, 1965 |
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| Marella Agnelli in André Courrèges Dress, photographed by Henry Clark for Vogue, 1967 |
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| Audrey Hepburn in André Courrèges Hat, photographed by Douglas Kirkland, 1965 |
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| André Courrèges, Ensemble, photographed by John French, 1964 |
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| André Courrèges, Dress, photographed by Bert Stern for Vogue, 1967 |
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| André Courrèges, Coat and Shoes, photographed by Bert Stern, 1969 |
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| André Courrèges, Dress, 1970 |
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| André Courrèges, Mini-Dress, photographed by F.C. Gundlach, 1965 |
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| André Courrèges, Ensembles, photographed by Peter Knapp for ELLE, 1965 |
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| Melanie Hampshire in André Courrèges Ensemble, photographed by Melvin Sokolsky for Harper's Bazaar, 1965 |
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| André Courrèges, Dress, 1972 |
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| André Courrèges, Ensembles, 1965 |
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| Simone D'Aillencourt in André Courrèges Sunglasses, photographed by Richard Avedon, 1965 |
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| André Courrèges, Glasses, 1970 |
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| André Courrèges, Short, photographed by F.C. Gundlach, 1965 |
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| André Courrèges, Pantsuit, photographed by F.C. Gundlach, 1965 |
I bet We Happy Few got some of it's designs from here
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