Left to right:

Pierre Cardin, French, 1922-

Dress, 1965

Wool jersey

Gift of Mrs. Peter Lipton     1975.c.250

Pierre Cardin, French, 1922-

Dress, 1969

Wool jersey

Gift of Mrs. Peter Lipton     1979.c.337

Pierre Cardin, French, 1922-

Dress, 1967

Leather

Gift of Mrs. Peter Lipton     1975.c.253

From his training in architecture to his work for the House of Dior, Cardin’s work has always demonstrated an exceptional knowledge of the sculptural qualities that can be achieved in the construction of clothing. The geometric rigidity of his designs from the 1960s utilized thick fabrics to produce their asexual sculptural shapes.

As the first couturier to introduce a ready-made line in 1959, Cardin caused a scandal in the Chambre Syndicale that lead to his eviction from this organizing body of the haute couture. His entrepreneurial skills were later recognized when he was named Chevalier de la Legion de Honneur in 1983.

The extensive licensing of Pierre Cardin made him one of the world’s richest fashion designers and a household name. Pierre Cardin developed his fashion design career by working for some of the most prominent haute couture designers of his time - Madame Paquin and Elsa Schiaparelli in the 1930s and as the head of workrooms at Christian Dior from 1946-1950. It is significant that even with such strong influences as Dior’s overtly feminine “New Look,” Cardin’s work evolved into a completely new style.

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