Photo by Gilles Berquet.
Top bra: Lejaby archives, 1930’s. Middle bra: Lejaby archives, 1939. Lower left girdle: Chantelle archives, 1940’s. Lower right pregnancy belt: Chantelle archives, 1930’s.
Today, I had the chance to visit the Lingerie Française Exhibit that has finally made it’s way to Toronto. The remarkable show, curated by Catherine Ormen, has toured London, Paris, New York, Dubai and Berlin. It features 150 highly curated pieces and takes the viewer across a long history of French lingerie in chronological and thematic order.
Lingerie Française: in Toronto September 26 – October 13, 2013 at the Design Exchange
The exhibit features pieces from the archives of Chantelle, Lejaby, Aubade, Simone Pérèle, Lou, Empreinte, Princesse Tam.Tam, Passionata, Lise Charmel, Barbara and Implicite.
The show begins with corsets and early 20th century lingerie. Following are sections which have been separated by decade. A carefully selected assortment of lingerie representative of the period is accompanied by a brief overview of the cultural landscape of the time, and innovations that would had an impact the industry (such as the invention of Lycra in 1959). The show ends with a life size striptease hologram; need I say more?
Below are a few favourite photos that I took at the exhibit today.
Close up of a “Bust Support” in elastic weave. Mother of pearl button closure in front, laced in back, straps of cotton satin ribbon. Chantelle, 1905-1910.
“Bust Supporter” with open cups, cotton sateen. Lejaby, 1930’s
Pregnancy belt in stretch knit. Chantelle, 1930’s
Simone Pérèle unwired bra, 1970’s
Contemporary lingerie at left, hologram striptease at right.
Lingerie Française is at the Design Exchange, 234 Bay Street, September 26 – October 13 in Toronto. Admission is free.
MISS MILADO 