Mainbocher

“I am the Rolls-Royce of the fashion trade”

Joey LiMandri

Early Life1890 - born Main Rousseau Bocher, Chicago1907 - Lewis Institute &Chicago Academy of Fine Arts 1909 - New York, studied at the Art Students’ League1911 - attended University of Chicago1911 - death of father led to Sears Complaints Dept. 1911 - Königliche Kunstgewerbe-museum in Munich1913 – studied painting with E.A. Taylor, Paris1914 - New York sketch artist for clothing manufacturer E.L. Mayer.

Parisian Life1917-1939

Dutchess of Windsor1937

Designed For WAVES1942

Designed for Girl Scouts

Mainbocher (1946)

Modern

Designed for American Red Cross

1948

American Life•1939 - opened couture house, New York•1940s – introduces “glamour belts”•1950 - opened La Galerie•1960s - designs considered old-fashioned•1971 - retired

Inspiration•Augustabernard- godets in skirts- shoulder bows

•Madeleine Vionnet- bias cut

Mainbocher’s Pieces

Mainbocher dies 1976