Paul Poiret “The King of Fashion” By: Ciara Church

About Paul Poiret Paul Poiret was a leading French fashion designer, a master couturier during the first two decades of the 20th century. He was known for haute couture and perfumery. This influences on fashion were an introduction to free-flowing dresses,he replaced tight corsets with brassieres, and added a new standard of artistic value to his fashion plates. He lead the fashion revolution and became known as “The King of Fashion”

History & Culture & Society Influences During his period of time life while designing life in France was peaceful. The only major event was World War One. Poiret bravely left to fight in the war and when he came back the Poiret house was on the verge of bankruptcy and in the end he had to leave the house behind and that was the sad end to his carrer.

"La Perse" He wanted to incorporate art into his designs Poiret wrote, "Am I a fool when I dream of putting art into my dresses, a fool when I say dressmaking is an art? For I have always loved painters, and felt on an equal footing with them. It seems to me that we practice the same craft, and that they are my fellow workers."

"Paris" Poiret wanted to create a three-dimensional form that maintains the integrity of its two-dimensional fabric.

Coat Poiret introduced an avant- garde sensibility into couture. Inspiration from Chinese or Near Eastern robes and coats.

"Irudree" Poiret's vision of beauty was also at odds with la garçonne, the feminine archetype of modernism. 

Evening dress Poiret’s wanted to create a "liberating" style This is two separate but identical squares of cloth, one worn like a short poncho and the other wrapped into a cylindrical skirt, create a peplos effect with its apoptygma-style top.

"Pré Catelan" Inspired restaurant in the Bois de Boulogne famous for its lavish Belle Époque interiors and attractive garden.

Season to Season In all of Poiret’s work he wanted to express his dressmaking as an artform in itself. He liked to create high-class yet simplistic work that really accentuated a woman’s body. He took inspiration from the beauty of nature and other countries around him. He was a great designer that will continue to this day to inspire other designers, it is a shame that he ended his life loosing the Poiret House, but his work will always be remembered and respected.