1970-1985

Woman's Ensemble: Top, Skirt and Slip

The couturier Kelly admired most was the legendary Madame Grès, a master at draping and manipulating fabric into Greek goddess-like gowns. Kelly’s versions of her iconic silhouettes were much more practical and included body-conscious knitted jersey dresses with wraps that could be tied in various ways. Possibly the admiration went both ways, for in 1986 Grès designed a seamless woven tube dress, using slashes to make openings for the hem, neck, and arms.