Revisiting the Théâtre de la Mode

Created in Paris starting in 1944, the Théâtre de la Mode is a work of haute couture, theater and art, with stage sets and dolls designed and created by artists, and fashions by over 55 design houses. During WWII, they came together for the survival of haute couture.

Some of the clothing designers who dressed these artful dolls in miniature versions of their best and most current fashions include Balmain, Balenciaga, Fath, Hermès, Lanvin, Paquin, Schiaparelli and Ricci.

A couple years ago I was able to visit the Maryhill Museum and its display of the Théâtre de la Mode. The museum shows three sets at a time, rotating between groups every few years. The museum has recently expanded and plans to show all the sets at one time, although the date is not yet in the calendar for this change.

When I first saw the exhibit, I wrote a seven-post series about the Théâtre:

My visit to the Théâtre de la Mode, part I

Théâtre de la Mode, part II: The Dolls

Théâtre de la Mode, part III: The Sets

Théâtre de la Mode, part IV: The Fashion Designers

Théâtre de la Mode, part V: Down to the Tiniest Details

Théâtre de la Mode, part VI: Loss & Rebirth—Again

Théâtre de la Mode, part VII: Seeing the Exhibit at Maryhill

Recently I was able to visit Maryhill again, and was treated to seeing a different rotation of sets. 

The current exhibit’s entrance

Please visit these Théâtre de la Mode sets with me in upcoming posts.