Budget wartime fashion.

Accessoires et Objets, Témoignages de Vies de Femmes à Paris 1940-1944

Above: Dunand, sandales en taffetas violet; semelle compensée en bois, 1941. (Taffeta sandals with wooden soles by Dunand in 1941) © © E. Emo et S. Piera / Galliera / Roger-Viollet.

Exhibition dates: 20 mai au 15 Novembre 2009

If you have time, do spend some time at this coloourful exhibition celebrating the fashions and objects created for Parisiennes during the difficult and dark days of Nazi Occupation.

The exhibition, “Accessoires et Objets, Témoignages de Vies de Femmes à Paris 1940-1944,” is on at the Musée Jean Moulin, on top of the Gare Montparnasse, and shows us how the human spirit managed to triumph during the difficult years of World War II.

When it was impossible to source luxurious materials, the creative artisans of Paris created shoes, scarves, purses out of innovative products in ways not seen before using a combination of wood, paper, straw etc in extremely attractive and classically elegant forms.

There are wonderful items on display, a prime example is these most exquisitely sculpted shoes by Jean Dunand – I love the purple taffeta and the striking yellow of the wooden soles.

Click here to read a French review >>