Monday, November 01, 2010

CHARLES JAMES

Charles James (1906-1978) was one of the pasts great Couturier, that I admire and that continues to inspire designers of today

He was born in England by Anglo-American parents, but moved to USA in 1924, where he started out as a milliner and tailor in Chicago and later in New York from 1928-29.

From 1929-39 he worked in London and Paris, but at the same time he sold ready-to-wear garments to New York, where he finally moved back to in 1939.
In New York, among other things he designed the Couture-collection for Elisabeth Arden from 1943-45.

After that he establish himself as independent couturier until 1958 and was very succeesful.

Charles James was known as the first independent Couturier in USA. He was designated as a champion in cutting and known for his great aesthetic sense. He is especially famous for his sculptural evening-dresses in lavish fabrics. Take a look and enjoy some of them here.






These exsamples are very graphic and sculptural in their expression and in turn, timeless in all their simplicity.

As you can see, the term Colorblocking (composition of color fields in the design ) as used often today, was also known at that time

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