The First American Coutourier
Born in Chicago in 1890, Main Rousseau Bocher was an unlikely man to become a couturier. When he opened his Paris salon in 1930, he had very little formal training. Despite being an American working in the tightly guarded tradition of French couture, by 1931 his designs were presented in the fashion press alongside those by Vionnet, Molyneux, and Chanel.
Learn more in this Google Arts & Culture story.
Credits
“Making Mainbocher: The First American Couturier” is presented by the Costume Council of the Chicago History Museum.
Special thanks to the following individuals who made this Google Arts & Culture exhibit possible:
Rosemary K. Adams – Director of Print & Multimedia Publications
Petra Slinkard – Costume Curator
Samuel Snodgrass – Costume Intern
Julius L. Jones – Digital Content Manager
Jessica Pushor – Collection Manager
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The exhibition “Making Mainbocher: The First American Couturier” was on display at the Chicago History Museum from October 22, 2016 to August 20, 2017.
