Paul Poiret, Couturier, Decorator and Perfumer

He became a fashion designer in 1903, formulating a tailor-made lifestyle for a rich and cultivated clientèle that loved innovation. Following the example of his mentor, couturier Jacques Doucet, he built up a personal collection of works by artists of his time, some of whom were friends: from Matisse to Picasso, to Brancusi, as well as Van Dongen and Dunoyer de Segonzac. Paul Poiret revolutionized fashion by simplifying silhouettes and introducing structural changes such as low waistlines adorned with grosgrain ribbons. His vibrant and bold color palette, inspired by fauvism and Orientalism, reflects his innovative spirit. Drawing on the Musée des Arts Décoratifs’ extensive collections (fashion, textiles, furniture, drawings, photographs, illustrations and posters), the exhibition explores the various themes that marked Paul Poiret’s life and work, his fascination with Russian Ballets, his artistic collaboration with Raoul Dufy and the 1925 International Arts and Modern Decorative and Industrial Arts Exhibition, as well as his stylistic influence.