labelled, the dress formed from top-stitched ridged gores of wool, with paper interlining, bust 81cm, 32in; together with a modern herringbone weave skull cap faced in camel wool and a pair of herringbone weave loafers (4)
Exhibited:
‘The Total Look The Creative Collaboration between Rudi Gernreich, Peggy Moffitt, and William Claxton’ - Museum of Contemporary Arts, Los Angeles, Feb 26 - May 27, 2012, Scad Museum of Art, June 22 - Oct. 7, 2012; Cincinnati Arts Museum, Feb 28 - May 24, 2015,
‘Fearless Fashion: Rudi Gernreich’ Phoenix Art Museum, April 7-September 26, 2021
n 1955, aged 17, Moffitt worked as a Saturday girl in a designer boutique in Beverley Hills called JAX. It was here that she first encountered Gernreich’s radical designs. Jack Hanson, the shop owner, tentatively placed an initial order which sold out in hours much to everyone’s surprise and delight. It was not until 1962 that Moffitt officially joined Gernreich as his model. Whilst Gernreich designed the clothes Moffitt ‘performed’ them. During these struggling early years (when American fashion was still dictated by the Paris Houses) Gernreich was given encouragement from Hollywood designer Jean-Louis and renowned Harper’s editor Diana Vreeland. After blagging his way into her office one day armed with some samples she enquired: ‘Who are you young man? You’re very talented!’
1950s