Théâtre de la Mode - Theatre of Fashion
Theatre de
la Mode was touring exhibition of travelling 1/3 scale size of human body fashion
mannequins during 1945-1946.
Théâtre de la Mode was created after World War II, to help
rebuild the Paris fashion industry. As during the Nazi regime many designers
had to close their fashion houses and some never re-opened. The war devastated
France, a nation where fashion was once the second largest national industry
and employer.
French fashion was not only important economically to the country
it was an important part of France's cultural identity. As funds and clothing
was all went to the war effort, Robert Ricci, son of Nina Ricci, and head of
commission of public relations at the Chambre Syndicale (governing organization
for haute couture) had an idea to rebuild the fashion industry. Ricci’s idea
was an event that would be a collection of dolls dressed by 53 of the 70 registered
couture houses in Paris. This event would help raise money and put Paris at the
top of the fashion world once again.
The dolls were made of transparent wire, with plaster heads
and as there was little money they only stood 1/3 scale of the human body. Each
couture house created 5 designs and there were a total of 237 dolls at the
opening of the exhibition in March 1945. The dolls were flawlessly dressed, and
the details on their clothing were exquisite, proper linings, trimmings, small
purses and powder compacts. The outfit’s included jewellery made by Cartier and
Van Cleef & Arpels.
The exhibit 100, 00 people attended it before it moved on to
travel around Europe and then the states, before its final show in San
Francisco were the mannequins were left behind but the jewellery was returned
to Paris.
