1958
By the 1950s cobbler aprons were very popular. With its bust darts, curved sides, and pocket detailing, Cardin's interpretation for McCall's is a little tonier than the completely unstructured tabard-style aprons offered by most pattern companies at this time.
Pierre Cardin was trained as a tailor and worked at Paquin, Schiaparelli, and Dior before setting out on his own and showing his first couture collection in 1953. He would release his first ready-to-wear collection in 1959, but in 1958 he enters American popular culture with a series of patterns for McCall. The elegant little suits and cocktail dresses one understands, but the thinking behind the apron and "casual tunic" is a bit mysterious; can you imagine a Calvin Klein apron pattern, for example - or better yet - Karl Lagerfeld?
But compare the tunic to Cardin's "Cosmos" dress from 1967. The evolution is very clear.
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| Victoria and Albert Museum |
