French Designer Dresses
from the Gazette du Bon Ton 1912-1915

The French magazine Gazette du Bon Ton, was a unique Parisian fashion journal started by Lucien Vogel in 1912. Vogel, in an effort to emphasize the connections between fashion and art, provided exquisite fashion plates created by modern artists such as  Paul Iribe, George Lepape, Georges Barbier, Charles Martin, Pierre Brissaud and others. Marketed towards the Paris elite, prints of exclusive and trend-setting fashions appeared in limited editions, but without an explanatory text. Many designs were idealistic leisure scenes of the well-to-do, illustrating the latest creations of Paris fashion houses such as Worth, Lanvin, Doucet, Poiret, Callot Soeurs, Paquin and Beers. Each fashion pochoir (stencil) print was hand-painted in vivid colors on handmade paper, thus, Gazette du Bon Ton is one of the most desired period fashion magazines for collectors.
 

PAUL POIRET:

Paul Poiret, (1879-1944) was one of the most innovative designers of the 20th century. In 1896, Poiret joined the House of Doucet as an assistant, where his first design-- a red cape-- was extremely popular. Soon he was selling designs to Madame Cheruit, Redfern and Maggy Rouff. Poiret's dramatic flair for the rich and exotic soon replaced the soft pastel coloring made fashionable by Callot Soeurs. Poiret threw in vivid greens, royal blues and brilliant reds; within four years he had Paris at his feet. The stage brought Poiret his first success; under the patronage of Rejané, a popular actress of the day, he opened is own salon  in 1904. Poiret promoted turbans, harem pants and the hobble skirt. Artists Paul Iribe and Georges Lepape were commissioned by Poiret to illustrate his creations in Les Robes de Paul Poiret and Les Choses de Paul Poiret. 
 

POIRET EVENING GOWN, c1914
  

From the Library of Congress, Prints & Photographs Division, [LC-USZ62-85524]

CALLOT SOEURS:

Callot Soeurs (Callot sisters) was a prominent French fashion design house opened in 1895 on Rue Taitbout in Paris. The fashion house was operated by the four Callot sisters: Regina, Marie, Marthe and Joséphine. In 1914 they relocated their couture house to grander quarters in Avenue Matignon. Callot Soeurs sold a line of clothing known for its exotic detail; they designed day wear, lingerie, exotic gowns with an Oriental theme, and evening dresses made from antique fabrics and lace. Their gossamer silk lingerie creations were embellished with bands of exquisite lace and bouquets of silk flowers. Callot Soeurs were among the first designers to use silver and gold lame during the 1910s and 1920s for evening wear, thus their designs were popular with actresses and high society patrons. Designer Madame Madeleine Vionnet, who trained at Callot Soeurs, stated, "Without the example of the Callot sisters, I would have continued to make Fords. It is because of them that I have been able to make Rolls-Royces." During the 1920s, Callot Soeurs was one of the leading fashion houses in Paris, catering to an exclusive American and European clientele. 

CALLOT EVENING GOWN, 1915

From the Library of Congress, Prints & Photographs Division, [LC-USZ62-85521]

JEANNE PAQUIN:

Jeanne Paquin trained at the French fashion house, Maison Rouff.  In 1890 Jeanne and her husband, Isidore Paquin, opened their own Maison de Couture on Rue de la Paix, just next door to the great house of Worth. Jeanne Paquin transformed the 19th century mournful look of the color black by lining black coats with bright shimmering red silk or embellishing a sedate black gown with iridescent jewel-tone embroidery and lavish lace. Jeanne Paquin was president of the Fashion Section of the Universal Exhibition in Paris in 1900; and was the first Parisian couturier to open foreign branches in London, Buenos Aires and Madrid. Although noted primarily for her Edwardian fashions, Paquin did develop a more modern style which was illustrated in Gazette du Bon Ton by Iribe and Barbier.

LA FONTAINE DE COQUILLAGES
Robe du soir de Paquin, 1914. Illustrated by G. Barbier

PAQUIN GOWN, C1915

From the Library of Congress, Prints & Photographs Division, [LC-USZ62-85522]

HOUSE OF WORTH:

The House of Worth was founded by Charles Frederick Worth in 1858 and continued into the 20th century under the control of his two sons, Gaston-Lucien and Jean-Philippe. While Gaston was the business administrator, Jean-Phillippe was the designer who modernized the Parisian couture house and created his own name with his dramatic use of fabrics and lavish trimmings. The House of Worth flourished throughout the early 20th century and was continued by four generations of the family before the great fashion dynasty was taken over by the house of Paquin in the early 1950s.
 

JACQUES DOUCET:

Jacques Doucet was one of the great designers of the late 19th and early 20th centuries. Doucet was popular with actresses, royalty, and socialites; his designs were noted for their appealing pastel colors. Doucet opened his own couture house in 1875, the Doucet house merged with Doeuillet after his death in 1929

GUSTAV BEER:

Although Beer was a German fashion designer, he opened a couture house in Paris' fashion elite Place Vendome in 1905. Beer designed feminine day and evening wear and was particularly popular for his lingerie creations. As his popularity grew, Beer opened other couture salons in Nizza, Italy and Monte Carlo.

BEER EVENING GOWN, C1914

From the Library of Congress, Prints & Photographs Division, [LC-USZ62-85523]
 

GEORGES DOEUILLET:

Doeuillet was one of the prominent and successful couture houses in Paris in the early 20th century. His designs were of highly detailed dresses of elaborate designs. The House of Doeuillet merged with Doucet in 1929.

MORE INFO:

Gazette du Bon Ton Videos
Watch videos featuring fashions from Gazette du Bon Ton

Gazette du Bon Ton at the Races
The French magazine Gazette du Bon Ton shows the latest haute couture for the races by Worth and Redfern. 

  RETURN TO FASHIONS

Lady in a Green Suit with Matching Hat, 1914 Giclee Print

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