The culottes
Our Bernard Perris set demonstrates the importance of the skirt-pants throughout history.
Around 1850, the use of bicycles popularised Amelia Bloomer’s invention: a double-breasted skirt that could be transformed into trousers, making travel easier and safer. Later, in 1911, Poiret introduced the trouser skirt, which caused a great scandal. And in 1973, Karl Lagerfeld is said to have created the “surprise skirt” for Chloé.
In 1911, at the same time that Poiret presented his skort-skirt, the same concept could also be seen in Madrid, Spain, even making newspaper headlines. La Vanguardia reported the incident in the 23 February edition, recounting how the watching crowd had forced the women wearing them to take refuge in a porter’s lodge.
Poiret’s garment also has a cameo in the series Downton Abbey, when Sybil Crawley appears showing the new outfit to her family, who look on in complete surprise.
Bernard Perris, French designer, stood out on the fashion scene for his innovative and avant-garde approach. Known for his work in haute couture and ready-to-wear, Perris combined architectural lines with a sleek, modern aesthetic, reflecting the bold spirit of the times. His designs were characterised by the use of structured cuts, sophisticated fabrics and meticulous attention to detail.
In the 1980s, he worked for prestigious fashion houses and left his mark on the industry thanks to his contemporary vision and his ability to reinterpret luxury with a fresh and dynamic approach. His contribution helped define the fashion of a decade marked by extravagance and stylistic experimentation.
