As an introduction to some more or less eclectic stories and narrations about my mother and her association with Pierre Balmain, I have included a personal narrative from a friend of my mother, Daniele Georgiou, who also worked with Pierre Balmain. She gives a lot of details that will provide some background and understanding for my mother's experiences -- I think it is very revealing and gives some ambiance for my mother's anecdotes that will follow. So I'll begin with that.

--- Catherine Thorpe