“In Paris this season, classic French elegance was supposed to be the big thing —
until youth and internationalism asserted itself.”
“There was Yves St. Laurent, the young innovator who reasserted his capacity to surprise with a zippy, varied and superbly stylish show that, amongst other things, Gallicized an American teenage fad of some seasons back, pop art dresses.”
“Made of jersey, a fabric that St. Laurent calls ‘the only modern material,’ the dresses are mostly short-skirted shifts.”
“A year before De Gaulle made his state visit to the U.S.S.R. last June, Marc Bohan of Dior and Pierre Cardin went there to establish their own Franco-Russian rapport with visits to museums and research into the designs of old costumes.” (dress by Cardin)
“From old Russia with long coats, Boyar shirts, lavish fur.” (Cardin, left; Capucci, right)
“…Cardin adapted the Boyar shirt of the pre-Revolutionary nobility. Long version with extravagantly embroidered necklace is photographed against Chagall-like painting in Paris restaurant, Coq d’Or.”
“Newest clothes for Paris evenings are shown at New Jimmy’s, its most famous discothèque.
Castillo’s beaded dress (left) is a discreet cover-up– but is slit above the knee…
Halter necks topping short skinny sheaths are hits at Dior.” (right)
“The draped jersey dresses of Grès are favorites with elegant ladies like Jacqueline Kennedy. This year’s prettiest is backless and almost sideless, and thinly strapped.”
“Three deep ruffles cut on the bias seem about all there is to Cardin’s bouncy short evening dress worn well above the knee. It is natural for the dancing Paris young.”
“Dinner pajamas are everywhere in Paris. The most dramatic version is Dior’s black crepe outfit trimmed with enough fox fur to appeal to the most Marlene Dietrich type.” (left)
“Velvet and lace fit for Fauntleroy are at St. Laurent, along with his pop art. His ruffled cocktail dress (right) is demure up top but shows lots of leg.”
Photography: Jean-Claude Sauer