Georges Doeuillet

Georges Doeuillet
Portrait of Georges Doeuillet
Born(1865-07-16)16 July 1865
Oise, France
Died20 March 1934(1934-03-20) (aged 68)
Paris, France
OccupationCouturier
Georges Doeuillet (right) in his Place Vendôme maison

Georges Camille Doeuillet (16 July 1865, Oise, Northern France - 20 March 1934, Paris)[1] was 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]

Biography

Early career

Early in his career, Doeuillet worked as a business manager at the fashion house of Callot Soeurs,[4] where he was known for being ardent in business.[5] At Callot Soeurs, he was responsible for discovering Madeleine Vionnet who undertook an apprenticeship at the house[6] prior to establishing her own fashion house Vionnet.

In 1900, Doeuillet opened his maison at 18 Place Vendôme in Paris, France.[5] Doeuillet, his fashion house was considered one of the most influential houses in France.[4][7] He was the first designer to locate his maison in the Place Vendôme before other fashion houses followed him to this location.[4]

Recognition and business expansion

In 1911, Doeuillet was made an Officer of the Legion of Honour in recognition of his contribution to fashion.[5][8]

Doeuillet designed the dresses for the first performance at the Théâtre Mogador when it opened in 1913.[4] At the performance he showed the world's first robes de style (Cocktail Dress)[9] that influenced a generation of fashion designers who incorporated such styles into their collections.[4] [10] 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."[5]

In 1914, he moved his maison to a larger location at 24 Place Vendôme.[5]

Doeuillet served as the President of the Chambre Syndicale de la Haute Couture until 1915.[4] He was known for his refined and elegant design style.[11]

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] the Musée des Arts Décoratifs at the Louvre in Paris,[15] the Fabyan Villa Museum in Geneva, Illinois, and at Alingsås Museeum in Alingsås, Sweden.

Death

Georges Doeuillet died on 20 March 1934, in his flat, which was located at 34 avenue Montaigne in Paris.[16]

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. ^ a b c d e f Robert, F.W. 1926, Vogue, Fashion: The House of Doeuillet, New York, United States, New York.
  5. ^ a b c d e M. Doeuillet at Home in the Place Vendome 1915, Vogue, New York, United States, New York.
  6. ^ "The Metropolitan Museum of Art - Dress, Evening". The Metropolitan Museum of Art. Retrieved 2012-09-29.
  7. ^ CALASIBETTA, C. M. (1988). Fairchild's dictionary of fashion. New York, Fairchild Publications. p. 544.
  8. ^ "Distinctions honorifiques, 1849-1914" (PDF). Archives de France, Paris, France, pg. 9. Retrieved 2012-09-29.
  9. ^ "A Year in Fashion: Fashion Designers: House of Georges Doeuillet". The Costume Gallery. 1922-12-16. Retrieved 2012-09-29.
  10. ^ "Georges Doeuillet - Fashion Designer Profile with biography". Fashionmodeldirectory.com. Retrieved 2012-09-29.
  11. ^ "Premet Is Economical and Doeuillet Refined - DOEUILLET'S NARROW SKIRTS". New York Times. 2012-06-10. Retrieved 2012-09-29.
  12. ^ a b "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. Archived from the original on 2012-08-30. Retrieved 2012-09-29.
  16. ^ Death certificate, Etat Civil de Paris, Paris Archives, 1934