The late 1940s and 1950s was a golden age for French fashion. Christian Dior presented his first collection in 1947 and his 'woman-flower' silhouette, with pinched-in waist, rounded hips, and a very full skirt, dubber ‘The New Look’ had become an instant success. Other newcomers on the Parisian fashion scene in this period included Pierre Balmain,  Pierre Cardin, and Hubert de Givenchy, and together they helped Paris regain its pre-war title of fashion capital of the world.

A new exhibition at the Palais Galliera in Paris, “Fashion in France, 1947-1957” set to open this summer, will retrace this golden period and the evolution of the female form during the decade from the birth of the New Look by Christian Dior to the advent of Yves Saint Laurent.

Corolla skirts, basques, brightly colored floral and striped prints, strapless sheath dresses, along with close-fitting pullovers and pedal pushers: such was the competing styles of the fifties. The exhibition will draw on the Palais Galliera’s collection and present some 100 models and accessories from the most famous enduring couturiers of the time, as well as some who are now less well known (Jean Dessès, Lola Prusac, Madeleine Vramant).

“Fashion in France, 1947-1957” will run July 12th to November 9th.

As first written for BLOUINARTINFO.com