Poiret, Paul

born April 20, 1879, Paris, Fr.

died April 30, 1944, Paris

French fashion designer.

After working in the Parisian fashion house of Charles Frederick Worth, he opened his own shop in 1902. In 1908 he revived the Empire style, popular in France during the reign of Napoleon I. Seeking to restore naturalness to female garb, he was principally responsible for the decline of the corset. He is best known for the hobble skirt, to which he later added draped and belted knee-length tunics. Fringed and tasseled capes, multicoloured feathers, and fox stoles imparted a theatrical look to his designs. His flowing Greek costumes were extremely popular in the prewar era, but his popularity faded in the 1920s and he died in poverty.

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▪ French fashion designer

born April 20, 1879, Paris, France

died April 30, 1944, Paris

 French couturier, the most fashionable dress designer of pre-World War I Paris. Poiret was particularly noted for his Neoclassical and Orientalist styles, for advocating the replacement of the corset with the brassiere, and for the introduction of the hobble skirt, a vertical, tight-bottomed style that confined women to mincing steps. “I freed the bust,” boasted Poiret, “and I shackled the legs.”

      After serving as a designer in the house of Parisian fashion designer Charles Frederick Worth (Worth, Charles Frederick), Poiret opened a small shop in Paris in 1903. By 1907 he had been instrumental in reviving the Empire style, popular in France during the reign of Napoleon I. Inspired by a widespread interest in Eastern art and Russian ballet, he created flamboyant, theatrical designs. His evening gowns, turbans (turban), and harem pants appeared in brilliant shades of purple, red, orange, green, and blue. He was extremely influential in the pre-World War I period, but his popularity waned in the 1920s.

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