Au Revoir Madame

French designer Madame Carven has passed away at age 105. Born Carmen de Tomasso, she orginally opened her design house with the petite woman (like herself, standing at only 5'1") in mind. The name "Carven" was a combination of her own first name and the last name of the aunt that inspired her love of couture, Josy Boyriven. In the years following WWII she dressed such French luminaries as Edith Piaf and Leslie Caron. Her talent combined with her knack for marketing led to contracts designing uniforms for over 20 different airlines as well as Paris's female traffic wardens. Her elaborate designs for bustier bodices also led to her patent for the push-up bra! A brilliant talent, her gowns are breathtaking works of art.

Spring 1951, this detail is incredible.

sister sister

The Callot Souers (sisters) were comprised of Marie Callot Gerber, Marthe Callot Bertrand, Regina Callot Tennyson-Chantrell and Joséphine Callot Crimon. A group fo French designers, they learned their skill from sister Marie, initially starting by working antique lace and ribbons on blouses and lingerie...graduating to dressmaking. Noted designed Madeleine Vionnet apprentices with the Callot sisters, and American designer Elizabeth Hawes wore their designs far past when it was considered "fashionable", happily sporting elaborate and exotics laces and embroidery. Their work is a tremdous part of early 1900s and 1920s fashion.

Callot Soeurs ( Marie Callot Gerber, Martha Callot Bertrand, and Regina Callot Chantrelle)

~Ang