Georges Doeuillet

Portrait of Georges Doeuillet
Georges Doeuillet in his Place Vendôme maison

Georges Camille Doeuillet was born 17 July 1865 in Oise, Northern France.[1] Doeuillet became one of France's best known Couturiers along with his peers Louise Chéruit, Jeanne Paquin, Paul Poiret, Redfern & Sons and the House of Charles Worth.[2][3] In 1911 he was made an Officer of the Legion of Honour in recognition of his contribution to fashion.[4][5] Georges Doeuillet was President of the Chambre Syndicale de la Haute Couture until 1915.[6] He was known for his refined and elegant design style.[7]

Early in his career Georges Doeuillet was business manager at the fashion house of Callot Soeurs.[6] Doeuillet was ardent in business.[4] At Callot Soeurs he was responsible for discovering Madeleine Vionnet who undertook an apprenticeship at the house[8] prior to establishing her own fashion house Vionnet.

In 1900 Georges Doeuillet opened his maison at 18 Place Vendôme in Paris, France.[4] Doeuillet, his fashion house was considered one of the most influential houses in France.[6][9] He was the first designer to locate his maison in the Place Vendôme before other fashion houses followed him to this location.[6] In 1914, he moved his maison to a larger location at 24 Place Vendôme.[4]

Doeuillet designed the dresses for the first performance at the Théâtre Mogador when it opened in 1913.[6] At the performance he showed the world's first robes de style (Cocktail Dress)[10] that influenced a generation of fashion designers who incorporated such styles into their collections.[6] [11] In 1914, in reference to his influential introduction of the cocktail dress he was quoted by Vogue as saying, "[these] styles are much younger and prettier. In fact, I think we now have the most beautiful style that has been evolved in modern times. It is so good that we can't change it. The women who wear fine clothes insist upon keeping essentially the same silhouette and they are quite right."[4]

The French Government supported the couture "old masters" including Doeuillet during World War I.[12] They sent dresses from their prestigious designers to demonstrate French fashion at the Panama Pacific International Exposition of 1915.[12][13] Dresses designed by Georges Doeuillet can be found at the Metropolitan Museum of Art in New York City[14] and the Musée des Arts Décoratifs at the Louvre in Paris.[15]

References

  1. ↑ Ancestry.com. Paris & Vicinity, France Electoral Rolls, 1891 [database on-line]. Provo, UT, USA: Ancestry.com Operations Inc, 2008. Original data: Archives électorales: Electeurs 1891.
  2. ↑ TROY, N. J. (2003). Couture culture: A study in modern art and fashion. p. 188. Cambridge, Mass, MIT Press.
  3. ↑ Rittenhouse, Anne (1912-02-18). "What The Well-Dressed Woman Is Wearing - Paris Dressmakers in Secret Conclave With American Dressmakers and Buyers as to Spring Fashions.". New York Times. Retrieved 2012-09-29.
  4. ↑ 4.0 4.1 4.2 4.3 4.4 M. Doeuillet at Home in the Place Vendome 1915, Vogue, New York, United States, New York.
  5. ↑ "Distinctions honorifiques, 1849-1914". Archives de France, Paris, France, pg. 9. Retrieved 2012-09-29.
  6. ↑ 6.0 6.1 6.2 6.3 6.4 6.5 Robert, F.W. 1926, Vogue, Fashion: The House of Doeuillet, New York, United States, New York.
  7. ↑ "Premet Is Economical and Doeuillet Refined - DOEUILLET'S NARROW SKIRTS.". Nw York Times. 2012-06-10. Retrieved 2012-09-29.
  8. ↑ "The Metropolitan Museum of Art - Dress, Evening". The Metropolitan Museum of Art. Retrieved 2012-09-29.
  9. ↑ CALASIBETTA, C. M. (1988). Fairchild's dictionary of fashion. New York, Fairchild Publications. p. 544.
  10. ↑ "A Year in Fashion: Fashion Designers: House of Georges Doeuillet". The Costume Gallery. 1922-12-16. Retrieved 2012-09-29.
  11. ↑ "Georges Doeuillet - Fashion Designer Profile with biography". Fashionmodeldirectory.com. Retrieved 2012-09-29.
  12. ↑ 12.0 12.1 "Paris to Providence: French Couture and the Tirocchi Shop". Museum of Art, Rhode Island School of Design. Retrieved 2012-09-29.
  13. ↑ "Famous Dressmakers Offer Examples of Next Season's Fashions.". New York Times. 1915-02-12. Retrieved 2012-09-29.
  14. ↑ "Georges Doeuillet Museum Collection". The Metropolitan Museum of Art. Retrieved 2012-09-29.
  15. ↑ "DOEUILLET ensemble gown". Les Arts Décoratifs. Retrieved 2012-09-29.