A visionary designer, Chantal Thomass has established herself as a key figure in the ready-to-wear and lingerie sectors. She belongs to the first generation of designers who succeeded the stylists, but who do not identify themselves with Haute Couture.
Chantal Thomass for "Ter & Bantine" - 1970
ember of the ‘Palace generation’, Chantal Thomass began her career with Elie and Jacqueline Jacobson. She went on to found Ter & Bantine in 1967 with her fiancé Bruce, a former student of the Beaux Arts in Paris. Her first creations, dresses, seduced icons such as Michèle Mercier and Brigitte Bardot on the markets of Saint-Tropez.
Michèle Mercier on the cover of Jours de France, wearing a painted dress designed by Chantal Thomass
In 1971, for the first time, she unveiled her collection in a collective show alongside Kenzo (then under the name Jungle Jap) and Dorothée Bis, held at the Salle Wagram.
First fashion show with Kenzo and Dorothée Bis - 1971
Following the success of her designs, Chantal Thomass began to sign her collections with her own name in 1975, with a more mature project that evolved through Ter & Bantine. She brought lingerie up to date by integrating it into her ready-to-wear collections, in particular by using lace and transparency.
By incorporating Calais lace into her creations, she showcases a French savoir-faire produced in the traditional way on century-old looms.
Chantal Thomass fashion show SS 1989 ready-to-wear collection | The bride at the end of the show
In 2021, the Millon auction house is devoting an auction to his most famous creations. More than 270 pieces of all types will be on offer to collectors and fashion enthusiasts, providing an opportunity for retrospective work.
At Café Society we love her work with cuts, materials and the attention to every detail. We present pieces from the 1970s to the 1990s, under different lines: Ter & Bantine, Chantal Thomass and Suite...
