- Jean Desses
Jean Desses (
August 6 ,1904 –August 2 ,1970 ), was a world leadingfashion design er in the 1940s, 1950s and 1960s. His designs reflected the influences of his travels, specializing in creating draped evening gowns in chiffon and mousseline, based on early Greek and Egyptian robes.Biography
Born Jean Dimitre Verginie in
Alexandria ,Egypt , to Greek parents [http://www.google.com/search?q=cache:4QxS077GCQkJ:www.designerhistory.com/historyofashion/desses.html+Jean+Desses+&hl=en&gl=us&ct=clnk&cd=4] [http://www.google.com/search?q=cache:Q4_UssIcCmcJ:www.hellenicnews.com/readnews.html%3Fnewsid%3D2006%26lang%3DUS+Jean+Desses+greek+fashion&hl=en&gl=us&ct=clnk&cd=5] , he originally set out to study law, but, in 1925, he abandoned his legal studies and began working for Maison Jane, aParis ian couture house where, in 1937, he opened his own couture salon. AfterWorld War II , he traveled extensively throughout the world. His work was influenced by his travels, creating draped evening gowns inchiffon , embroidered dresses, sheath dresses with tight jackets and flowing skirts. His fashion was very popular withEurope an royalty and movie stars. Among his clientele were the Queen and royal princesses of Greece, theDuchess of Windsor and society hostessElsa Maxwell . In 1962, he designed the wedding gown worn by Princess Sophia of Greece (laterQueen Sofia of Spain ) for her marriage to the futureKing Juan Carlos of Spain . [http://www.elmundo.es/magazine/2004/242/1084292506.html] Valentino worked with Desses for several years in the 1950s and gained much hands-on experience, as didGuy Laroche who in the 1950s was Desses' assistant.In 1963, at age 60, he retired to Greece because of poor health, where he ran a small boutique which he had opened eight years earlier. He died in
Athens in 1970. In the 1990s, his fashion designs saw a revival with the interest in vintage dresses.Naomi Campbell wore a vintage boned bodice and ruched silk Desses gown in May 1999 at aChristie's party. Later, in 2001,Renée Zellweger wore a lemon yellow strapless 1950s Desses gown to theAcademy Awards . Similarly,Jennifer Lopez wore a vintage moss green Desses gown, made with 50 yards of chiffon, to the 2006Academy Awards . [http://www.oscar.com/style/women/?pn=gallery&g=0&i=72]The fashion designer Jean Desses brought also out a perfume called "Kalispera".
External links
* [http://www.designerhistory.com/historyofashion/desses.html Designer History]
* [http://www.imdb.com/name/nm1754967/ IMDB Profile]
* cite web |publisher=Victoria and Albert Museum
url= http://www.vam.ac.uk/vastatic/microsites/1486_couture/exhibHighDessesChiffon.php
title= Jean Dessès - Chiffon Evening Dress
accessdate= 2007-11-13
* cite web |publisher=Victoria and Albert Museum
url= http://www.vam.ac.uk/vastatic/microsites/1486_couture/explore.php
title= Interactive timeline of couture houses and couturier biographies
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