Paul Poiret Biography

Name Paul Poiret pic Born April 20, 1879 April 30, 1944 Biography Born in capital of France to a wealthy family an attended a Catholic lycee. After school he started an apprenticeship with an umbrella maker, which did not suit him. In 1896, as a teenager, he began working for Jacques Doucet, a prominent Parisian couturier of the time. In four years Poiret worked up the ranks to become head of the adapting department for Jacques Doucet. Poiret designed for some(prenominal) actresses of the time, while working on the play LAiglon, he snuck into a dress rehearsal and his harsh critique of the sets and costumes got him fired from the movie.But, that did not stop actresses from requesting his designs. Joined the tin of Worth in 1901 as an assistant designer, there he deigned clothes in a stark contrast to the opulent garments from Worth his were more for the ordinary woman. While he felt himself that his fel get-go designers looked down on him for his more simplistic designs, t hey were commercially very successful. While at the bear of Worth, Poiret designed his basic Asian-inspired piece, which was a simple Chinese-style cloak called Confucius.It offended a Russian princess, who though it was too simple, and not grand enough for any remains but peasants to wear. After opening his House of expressive style the mandarin-robe-style cloaks were best sellers. In 1903 he opened his own couture house, in 1909 he relocated to a very large and spectacular location with a parterre garden. In the October 1908 publication of Les Robes de Paul Poiret, it featured Poirets designs using the pochoir method of printing, giving the images brilliantly saturated areas of color. Poiret worked with artist Paul Iribe to achieve this.Who juxtaposed Poirets graphically striking clothes to stylishly arranged backgrounds. With this they helped fuse fashion and art even further. Also, in 1908 Poiret introduced his lean, high-waisted silhouette. Featuring narrow lines, high waists, covered arms, and low decolletes, making the hourglass silhouette passe. Poirets designs removed the corset, which interfered with his narrow lines, and with that many other designers followed and corsets started to become a thing of the past. The Poiret Rose became a trademark for the designer by and by a hree-dimensional silk chiffon rose was sewn to the empire bodice of Josephine, one of the 1907 dresses that was featured in Les Robes de Paul Poiret. While producing his second album of designs, Les Choses de Paul Poiret (1911), Poiret asked artist Georges Lapape for inspiration for a new look. But Mme. Lepape was the one who inspired one of his most iconic designs, the jupe-culotte, with her sketch. In April of 1911 Poiret opened Martine, named after one of his daughters, which was a school where creativity could show and not be stifled by discipline or only being taught one way. Also, in the same year, 1911, the house of Poiret introduced their first fragrance, Ros ine, named after other daughter. Poiret was involved in every aspect of the production of the fragrance. He expanded the fragrance to include soaps and lotions, which was then replicated by other designers. Poiret was a military tailor throughout the war and had to relaunch his business in 1919 after the war was over. But by 1929 the House was doing poorly and he sold his business, it is due to this that he lost the rights to his name. Poiret passed away on April 28th 1944 from Parkinsons disease. Signature looks pic pic pic Significance Paul Poiret was incredibly significant because he pushed the boundaries on what was then considered fashion. He changed the shape of the femal body with his daring silhouettes. Poiret revolutionized the way fashion photography was done and essentially created editorials. Poiret also is a great example of a spirit of the times with his lavish life-style and designs he very much captured the spirit of the 1910s and 20s.Poiret was influenced by ma ny other cultures and would often bring it in to his designs, especially Asian and Persian. The piano ballooning legs, turbans, and tunic effect become Poiret signature looks. Poiret is regarded by many as the first genius of fashion he himself proclaims that he is the King of make in his autobiography of the same name. He is also the first designer to have come out with a beauty line, which has since set the standard for fashion houses. Signature Looks Today pic pic Works Cited Caroline Milbank, A-Z Fashion, Berg Fashion Library, Berg Publishers, online, 10/21/12.Images Cited Online Image, Timeless Fashion and Art, 2007, 10/21/12 Online Image, cheerfulness Sentinel Fashion and Style, December 15th, 2011. Online Image, FIDM Museum Blog, FIDM, August 19, 2009 Online Image, Zappos. com, Zappos, 10/21/12 Online Image, Styleite. com, Styleite Paris Couture Week, July 6th, 2011 Poirets jupe-culotte and tunic, 1913. Poirets fragrance, featuring trademark rose. Asian influenced de signs, 1913. Modern couture take on Asian-influence fashion. Baggy trouser pants similar to Poirets jupe-culotte.