Exhibitions

Many Shades of Grès: Fashion Becomes Art

Berlin, Germany

Madame Grès’ sculptural silk pleats bridge the gap between ancient stone and 20th-century fashion in Berlin’s premier design museum.

Exhibition view: “Many Shades of Grès"

Image credit

Exhibition view: “Many Shades of Grès. Fashion Becomes Art”Exhibition view: “Many Shades of Grès. Fashion Becomes Art” © Staatliche Museen zu Berlin, Kunstgewerbemuseum / David von Becker

Meet the artist

Madame Grès

ArtLovers Tip

Look closely at the waistband of the draped dresses; Madame Grès was famous for using her scissors as her primary tool, creating complex volumes from surprisingly simple patterns without traditional seams.

Exhibition Highlights - What you'll see

Madame Grès approached fabric with the unwavering eye of a sculptor, famously pinning and draping silk directly onto the body rather than sketching on paper. This exhibition marks the first major retrospective of her pioneering haute couture in the German-speaking world, celebrating a woman who redefined elegance through technical mastery. Her signature jersey dresses, which once dressed Marlene Dietrich and Greta Garbo, remain quiet lessons in volume and grace.

You're watching twenty-five original models take center stage, surrounded by a dialogue of classical antiquities and modern student interpretations. The lighting catches the precise, rhythmic folds of floor-length gowns, revealing how meters of fabric can be compressed into mere centimeters of structural perfection. In these rooms, the distinction between a garment and a statue dissolves completely.

Worth the trip

  • A Rarity Abroad: This is one of the most significant collections of Grès models outside of her native Paris, offering a rare look at her private archive.
  • Artistic Dialogue: The curation places fashion alongside classical sculptures and paintings, highlighting the ancient Greek roots of her modern aesthetic.
  • Process Unveiled: Beyond finished gowns, the inclusion of drawings, photographs, and multimedia installations provides a deep dive into her secretive creative methods.

How to experience it

Move slowly through the nine thematic sections to notice how the weight of the fabric changes from the early Alix Barton evening blouses to the heavy, floor-length masterpieces. Focus on the shimmering evening blouse from the 1930s—a delicate net of gemstones that feels startlingly contemporary. After leaving the Kulturforum, walk toward the nearby Tiergarten to let the stillness of the park mirror the quiet, structured beauty of the exhibition.

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