Jean DESSÈS (August 6, 1904-August 2, 1970), was a world leading fashion designer in the 1940s, 1950s, and 1960s. His designs reflected the influences of his travels, specializing in creating draped evening gowns in chiffon and mousseline, based on early Greek and Egyptian robes. Born Jean Dimitre VERGINIE in Alexandria, Egypt to Greek parents, DESSÈS originally set out to study law, but in 1925, he abandoned his legal studies and began working for Maison Jane, a Parisian couture house. In 1937, however, he opened his own couture salon. After WWII, he traveled extensively throughout the world. His work was influenced by his travels, creating draped evening gowns in chiffon, embroidered dresses with tight jackets and flowing skirts. His fashion was very popular with European royalty and movie stories. In 1963, at age 60, he retired to Greece because of poor health, where he ran a small boutique which he opened 8 eight years earlier. He died in Athens in 1970. In the 1990s, his fashion designs saw a revival with the interest in vintage dresses.