I'm Green With Envy

I just listed some wonderful fashion illustrations today from a 1951-1952 French magazine, L'Art et la Mode, and I really am green with envy over these clothes.  The illustrations were done by Bernard Blossac and Durani.

Paquin & Nina Ricci Cocktail Dresses

L'Art et la Mode

Winter 1951-1952

Etsy Listing # 72950313

 

 Jacques Fath Wool Coat & Hat

L'Art et la Mode

Winter 1951-1952

Etsy Listing #72948937 

 Balenciaga Evening Dress & Evening Coat

L'Art et la Mode

Winter 1951-1952

Etsy Listing # 72836287 

 

Pierre Balmain & Jean Patou Evening Dresses

L'Art et la Mode

Winter 1951-1952

Etsy Listing # 72836381

Bernard de la Bourdonnaie-Blossac was born in Neuilly-sur-Seine in 1917 and studied at great length in various art academies including “Collard” and “La Grande Chaumière” and in the atelier of Paul Colin before the fashion designer Robert Piguet discovered him.  He soon started publishing drawings in Vogue, L’Officiel, L’Art et la Mode, Harper’s Bazaar and International Textiles. His postwar drawings conveyed a sense of aristocratic elegance and he was a wonderful painter of mundane Parisian life.

Jacques Fath Cocktail Dress

Jacques Fath
Alpaca Wool Cocktail Dress
L'Officiel de La Couture et de la Mode de Paris
March 1955 
Etsy Listing #69872674

Fath was a popular and occasionally innovative designer known for dressing "the chic young Parisienne".  He utilized such materials as hemp sacking and sequins made of walnut and almond shells. His 1950 collection was called Lily, and its skirts were shaped to resemble flowers. For eveningwear, he advocated velvet gowns. During World War II, Fath was known for "wide fluttering skirts" which, The New York Times explained, "he conceived for the benefit of women forced to ride bicycles during gasoline rationing". His clients included Ava Gardner, Greta Garbo, and Rita Hayworth, who wore a Fath dress for her wedding to Prince Aly Khan.