Madame Alix Gres' career spanned five decades and throughout she excelled in the ability to manipulate fabric and used its innate characteristics to enhance her designs. She executed flowing body-skimming forms inspired by Greek dress; minimalist, sculptural forms, and voluminous and dramatic shapes. Silk jersey was Gres' fabric of choice when creating her classical quotations. Here, while not distinctly Grecian in shape, the shirred shaping of the bodice and hip yoke, as well as the column-like appearance of the skirt evoke those origins.