The News that Made Fashion Weep

In honor of Madame Gres, the "Sphynx of Fashion", a snippet of news coverage from AP news originally Broadcast on ABC on Dec. 14th, 1994. Lloyd Klein, Head Designer of Gres at that time, Jacques Muclier, President of the Chambre Syndicale de la Haute Couture and former house model Su Bitterman comment about the shocking news that Madame Gres, who was presumed alive and living in retirement, had died 13 months prior to the news of her passing on Dec 14, 1994. It is reported that her daughter had assumed the identity of her revered mother by answering correspondence as Madame Gres and telling those that would visit hoping to see the Couturier, that her mother did not want to receive visitors. When asked why, she was assuming her mothers identity, she indicated that she could not afford a tombstone for her mother and it would be easier to pretend she was alive. Madame Gres' life was full of mysteries this would be the last of a long list of head scratchers.