Marie-Lise Grès (1939–1983) was the epitome of early-Sixties French chic — as French, perhaps, as only someone who’d grown up in suburban London could be. Born in Mauritius, Marie-Lise Volpeliere-Pierrot cane to England with her family aged 8, and came to prominence as a model a decade later. In an era of fragile blondes, Volpeliere-Pierrot’s blunt features, huge eyes and dark, heavy fringe set her apart from the pack — and though she shortened her surname for work, it was to the no-less Gallic Grès.
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| Marie-Lise Grès in the 1960s |
Working with Frank Horvat, Eugene Vernier, Terence Donovan and David Bailey, Grès was lauded as one of the most promising faces of the coming decade. She fulfilled that promise by appearing in some of the era’s most dramatic fashion images — perhaps most notably for William Klein, who shot her outside the Paris Opera in Yves Saint Laurent, the only recognizable figure in a faceless crowd.
In 1967, Denholm Elliott introduced Grès to Hurt. Within a week they moved in together, marking the start of an enduring affair. Grès gave up modeling, and indulged in her passion for horse riding instead. One January morning, sixteen years later — a day that was ‘cold, wet, nasty altogether,’ Hurt would remember — the couple were out riding near their Oxfordshire home when their horses bolted. Grès was thrown into a ditch, and died.
A decade later, a journalist asked Ossie Clark which models had first inspired him. Clark’s answer, instantly, was the “truly wonderful” Grès. Take a look at these glamorous photos to see portraits of Marie-Lise Grès in the 1960s.
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| Marie Lise Gres in strapless tiered lace evening dress by unidentified designer, photo by Frank Horvat, 1960 |
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| Marie Lise Gres in black lace dress with swinging bolero, tiny waist and swirling skirt ruffled with lace and tied with satin by Nettie Vogues, shoes by Charles Jourdan, photo by Michel Molinare, Harper's Bazaar UK, December 1961 |
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| Marie Lise Gres during fashion shoot at the home of Otto Lucas (milliner), photo by Sandra Lousada for Queen magazine, 1962 |
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| Marie Lise Gres has a straight-on haircut, beautifully asymmetric that frames the face with a soft fringe, by John, photo by Michael Williams, Harper's Bazaar UK, July 1962 |
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| Marie Lise Gres in black faille ball gown with gored skirt and braided and sequined top by Julian Rose, satin stole from Jacqmar, photo by Richard Dormer, Scott Memorial, Edinburgh, Scotland, Harper's Bazaar UK, August 1962 |
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| Marie Lise Gres in black-and-white calfskin jerkin over black leggy pants and polo neck sweater, all from Debenham & Freebody, photo by David Hurn, Harper's Bazaar UK, December 1962 |
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| Marie Lise Gres in black-and-white silk dress scattered with tiny hearts, belted and flattering bow at the shoulder by Christian Dior-London, photo by Michel Molinare, Harper's Bazaar UK, July 1962 |
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| Marie Lise Gres in black-and-white tweed suit fastened under a fringed pocketed stole by Brenner, hat by Dolores, photo by Richard Dormer, Harper's Bazaar UK, August 1962 |
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| Marie Lise Gres in blue-and-white spotted dress in satinised cotton with wide brass-buckled belt by Hildebrand, photo by Richard Dormer, Harper's Bazaar UK, June 1962 |
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| Marie Lise Gres in bright orange silk shantung dress with a high front, bare shoulders and swallow-tail fullness by Nettie Vogues, photo by Richard Dormer, Royal College of Art, Harper's Bazaar UK, June 1962 |
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| Marie Lise Gres in brilliant scarlet blazer with its own sleeveless white sheath by Sambo, straw roller by Chez Elle, photo by Richard Dormer at the Royal College of Art, fashion school, Harper's Bazaar UK, June 1962 |
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| Marie Lise Gres in corn-colored Italian heavy-knit jacket over multi-striped hood-collared sweater both at Hupperts, cavalry twill trousers by Gor-ray, boots by Gamba, photo by Michael Williams, Harper's Bazaar UK, February 1962 |
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| Marie Lise Gres in dark brown pony-skin cardigan with rib-knit sleeves and roll collar from Albert Hart, photo by David Hurn, Harper's Bazaar UK, December 1962 |
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| Marie Lise Gres in flaming-yellow Thai silk coat cut narrow and softly sashed from Liberty, exotic necklace in jet and gold also from Liberty, photo by Michael Williams, Harper's Bazaar UK, December 1962 |
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| Marie Lise Gres in green-and-white Glen-check cardigan jacket over a sleevless dress of green flannel, chain belted, both at Darlings, Edinburgh, photo by David Hurn, Harper's Bazaar UK, October 1962 |
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| Marie Lise Gres in honey-colored sheared Australian opossum double-breasted jacket from S.London of Sloane St., photo by David Hurn, Harper's Bazaar UK, December 1962 |
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| Marie Lise Gres in kidskin jacket under camouflage of leopard markings, jacket has giant revers, furry brown hood by Chez Elle, photo by David Hurn, Harper's Bazaar UK, December 1962 |
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| Marie Lise Gres in olive-brown tweed redingote coat, side-buttoned with a mandarin collar muffled with sable tie, worn with sabel beret, by Hardy Amies, photo by Michael Williams, Harper's Bazaar UK, September 1962 |
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| Marie Lise Gres in turquoise chiffon sheath with a cascade of ruffles falling from a scooped neckline by Marcel Fenez, photo by Richard Dormer at the Royal College of Art, Harper's Bazaar UK, June 1962 |
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| Marie Lise Gres in yellow, black and white tweed dress with black knit sleeves by San-Clair, photo by Richard Dormer, Harper's Bazaar UK, August 1962 |
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| Marie Lise Gres, photo by Brian Duffy, Ireland, Vogue UK, 1962 |
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| Marie Lise Gres, photo by Brian Duffy, Ireland, Vogue, 1962 |
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| Marie Lise Gres, photo by Sandra Lousada, Queen magazine, 1962 |
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| Marie Lise Gres in carved white sheath of thick, ribbed ottoman, embossed in pattern of Roman stripes, thickly fringed, with a black sailor hat by Capucci, photo by William Klein, Vogue, April 1, 1963 |
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| Marie Lise Gres in long white gown of double satin with crystal embroidered bodice by Christian Dior-London, photo by David Hurn, Harper's Bazaar UK, August 1963 |
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| Marie Lise Gres in superb sculpted coat of gray worsted whipcord worn with white hat and gloves and black beads, by Courrèges, shoes by Roger Vivier, photo by William Klein, Vogue, March 15, 1963 |
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| Marie Lise Gres in superbly tailored three-piece suit of pale gray worsted worn with shiny black hat and black-tie silk scarf by Capucci, photo by William Klein, Vogue, March 15, 1963 |
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| Marie Lise Gres is wearing a bright red bowler in fine and coarse straw by Dolores Model at Dickins & Jones, photo by Richard Dormer, Harper's Bazaar UK, February 1963 |
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| Marie Lise Gres in oatmeal wool smock by Jean Muir for Jane and Jane, photo by Norman Eales at Vogue Studios, July 1964 |
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| Marie Lise Gres in a fine wool pleated skirt and top of navy edged in white by John Cavanagh, navy straw cloche by Reed Crawford, photo by Henry Clarke, Vogue, 1965 |
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| Marie Lise Gres in dazzling navy-and-white check wool coat worn over its own navy linen dress worn with navy-and-white foulard tied in a turban all by Jacques Heim, photo by John Carter, Harper's Bazaar UK, June 1965 |
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| Marie Lise Gres in Italian jersey suit exclusive at Harvey Nichols, Harper's Bazaar UK, October 1965 |
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| Marie Lise Gres in navy chiffon pleated dress hemmed with feather petals by Christian Dior Boutique, pearl and diamanté brooch by Bijoux Christian Dior, photo by John Carter, Harper's Bazaar UK, June 1965 |
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| Marie Lise Gres in navy crêpe pleated dress by Henri Gowns, worn with navy cloche pinned with turquoise and diamond brooch from Gosschalk, photo by John Carter, Harper's Bazaar UK, June 1965 |
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| Marie Lise Gres in white crêpe dress by Susan Small, Harper's Bazaar UK, May 1965 |
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