Andre Courreges Overview

Andre Courreges was born in Pau, in the Basque country of France in 1923. Although he studied and became a civil engineer, he was always interested in architecture and textile design. He found work designing footwear and men's clothing for a... [more]

Andre Courreges was born in Pau, in the Basque country of France in 1923. Although he studied and became a civil engineer, he was always interested in architecture and textile design. He found work designing footwear and men's clothing for a tailor, while occupying himself with Rugby and Mountain climbing. From 1941-1945 Courreges was a pilot in the Air Force in World War II. In 1945, He came to Paris and worked briefly for a designer named Jeanne LaFaurie. In 1950 he was apprenticed to the Master, Balenciaga, also from the Basque region, though in Spain. He had been keen to join him for a long time, but only in 1950 did a position open up. He still considers Balenciaga his mentor. He remained with him for ten years. Andre Courreges opened his own house, "Maison de Courreges" at 48 ave Kleber in 1961. From here he began his leap into the future, taking his "ascetic scissors" and turning out clothes that were magical in their simplicity. In 1964 he elongated the leg. He was the father of the mini-skirt and the shift dress. His mini-skirts were the shortest in Paris, and were designed in cool colours, pink, white, ice-blue, pale turquoise, day-glow orange and lime green. He showed skinny pant styles, with tunics and jackets, slit black boxy tops with no bra back, baby bonnets tied under the chin and oversized sunglasses. His garments featured welt seams, top stitching bias, in gaberdine, double-faced wool, cotton lace, organdy and leather. This year of 1964 was HIS year, the start of his brief reign as King of Paris Fashion. He also created the MOON GIRL look. Featured in his Fall 1964 collection, were flared mini dresses with plastic portholes for waistlines and an assortment of hats shaped like platters. But even more revolutionary, was the footwear. Low-heeled, calf high boots made of white plastic and ornamented only with a clear cut-out slot near the top. This 'Go-go' boot quickly moved from the catwalk to the street and the dance floor. [show less]