Paul Poiret

Paul Poiret (1879–1944) is widely credited with bringing fashion into the modern age. In the vibrant cultural context of the first decades of the 20th century, the man that Elsa Schiaparelli called ‘the Leonardo of fashion’ reshaped the world of style, creating beautiful clothes that freed women from restrictive corsets and allowed them to experience a new kind of liberation. A deep dive into Poiret’s creative realm, this book explores the renowned couturier’s artistry and audacity in fields that extended beyond fashion, into perfume and interior design, gastronomy and glittering events. It draws on the vast collections of the Musée des Arts Décoratifs in Paris, encompassing garments, textiles, sketches, photographs, objects and more, exploring the influences that marked Poiret’s life and work. This captivating volume brings the work of this multi-talented renaissance man to life for a new audience.