Paul Poiret

Born in 1879 in the humble Les Halles neighborhood of Paris, Alexandre Paul Poiret began his journey into fashion by sketching designs for a doll and selling them to prominent Parisian couture houses like Louise Chéruit. His talent quickly caught the eye of Jacques Doucet in 1898, where his first design, a red cloth cape, sold an impressive 400 copies. Poiret’s early career was marked by a bold modernity that often clashed with the conservative tastes of his employers, parti…