If you are in Paris over the next few weeks, you will still have time to take in this fantastic costume exhibition at the Musée Carnavalet.
An entire wardrobe, along with designers’ sketches and photos have been donated by the family of Alice Alleaume, a young girl who worked in the couture house of Chéruit in the early 1900’s. The dresses belonged to Alice, and come from the great couture houses of the turn of the century: Worth, Chéruit and Lanvin. Her shoes were signed Hellstern, her hats from Alphonsine, and Le Monnier.
If, like me, you enjoy the novels of Edith Wharton, you will be in seventh heaven. These are the dresses that were worn by the finest ladies of the turn of the century, each a work of art.
And the exhibition is more than just a series of costumes, it is also filled with photos and papers that chart the life of a family and a young fashionable woman, and the couture house that she loved so much.
Musée Carnavelet, The novel of a Wardrobe
10 comments
Sharon, I saw this when I was in Paris and just loved it. My favorite was the amazing floor length black Lanvin and the dresses from the 20s that looked like what Lady Edith would wear when sneaking off to London! Wish I could visit again. XO
Oh how I wish that I could TGV up to see this! Positively makes my heart go pitterpat and no one does such exhibitions better than the Carnavalet. Wow.
PS. Admittedly, I am technically challenged so Instagram is a whole new world to me–but if G&G are there, it must be the cool place to be! 😉
What a wonderful exhibition to take in. I love the dresses of that era. My current reading is a biography of Chanel. What an enigmatic creature.
Now that is an exhibit I would love to visit!
What an amazing time period of fashion and women’s wear.
Many thanks for this post, so interesting. Only recently read a really comprehensive and fascinating biography of Edith Wharton. Would love to have seen this exhibition. The Carnavalet is wonderful.
Do you know if there are any really good special exhibitions coming up in Paris for June this year? There, or at other galleries/museums? Best wishes, Pamela
I am so tempted…
Dear Sharon,
What a lovely, amazing exhibition!!! I adore this time period and now simply must read Edith Wharton…..something I’ve been wanting to do for a while now!!!
Thank you, as always, for your uplifting posts!!!! B. xx
Oh how I would love to peruse an exhibition like this! 🙂 I love learning about fashions from the past and seeing the exquisite work put into them. 🙂
I would love to see that exhibition; wish it could travel to the US. My reading stack for the year includes “The Custom of the Country,” and there’s an excellent biography of Edith Wharton — “No Gifts from Chance,” by Shari Benstock.
There seems to be such mystery behind the women wearing their beautiful clothes. If we could only go back in time to visit. I am sure this would be a wonderful exhibition to see.