All about Christophe

"Recently I ended up falling down what turned out to be an especially large and beautiful rabbit hole on the Met museum's online database"

As many of you know, I take great pleasure in losing myself in online museum archives and I frequently share images of the wonderful garments I come across on my instagram account.

Recently I ended up falling down what turned out to be an especially large and beautiful rabbit hole on the Met museum's online database when I came across the designs of an elusive designer by the name of Christophe. I say elusive, because I cannot seem to find out any further information about him other than the fact that he was working in France during the 1920's. 

He seems to have specialised in lingerie and lounge wear however, as there are quite a number of stunning examples in the Met Museums online collection and nearly all are undergarments and boudoir sets.

"Lingerie is my all time favourite type of vintage garment. I would go so far to say that I am obsessed with it"

Lingerie is my all time favourite type of vintage garment. I would go so far to say that I am obsessed with it, I think it's the lace. I never fail to be amazed at the never ending ways in which the same garment can be constructed and with lingerie this often involves varying shaped panels of the most exquisite lace work. There is also something about the sensuality and intimacy of a garment which lies directly next to the skin and seen only the wearer save a privileged few. 

So when I came across quite possibly some of the most beautiful knickers I think I have ever seen, I felt that this warranted more than just an instagram post!

Christophe has designed beautifully intricate undergarments with playfully feminine design features. The stand out item for me are the knickers featuring a heart shaped panel in contrasting silk and lace (last image). The humorous design simultaneously alludes to the shape of the female derrière as well as making a clear romantic statement intensified by the intimate nature of the garment!  

So please enjoy these incredible images from the Met Museum online database (which by the way is one of the most amazing online educational resources in the world for fashion history) and share in my love for the work of a man called Christophe. 

"please enjoy these incredible images from the Met Museum online database"

 Accession Number:1979.569.67

Accession Number:1979.569.38

Accession Number: 1980.487.7

Accession Number: 1979.569.30a–c

Accession Number: 1979.569.66a, b

Accession Number: 1979.569.34

"The humorous design simultaneously alludes to the shape of the female derrière as well as making a clear romantic statement intensified by the intimate nature of the garment!" 

Written by Hannah Mays Chandler for Dressedinhistory.com. Please do not cite this work without the explicit permission of Dressed in History. 

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