Poiret on the Faubourg Saint-Honore

Paul and Denise Poiret having breakfast in bed.
their design style?
Bohemian- full of pattern-the walls were a red and blue fabric, bold floors, a stripe,a provencal style printed cloth. The Poiret's set up a small table at the foot of the bed with stools pulled up for idling the afternoon in away with a guest or two perhaps?  Above the bed-Dutch painter-Kees van Dongen's Quietude.

Denise shown here in the same room- but a different painting by van Dongen and a Indiennes print on the bed. Kees van Dongen's circle of friends-the Poirets, of course, and the likes of the infamous Marchesa CASATI.

Kees van Dongen "Woman with black stockings"

 Marquesa Casati- Kees van Dongen

Kiki Montparnasse- Kees van Dongen

Josephine Baker- Kees van Dongen

Poiret's father- a shopkeeper.
Poiret -Legendary Couturier.
Paul Poiret turned to dressmaking in 1896 after meeting Jacques Doucet. A visit to Vienna in 1910 & an introduction to Josef Hoffman solidified the Poiret look. His Atelier Martine and Maison Martine on the Fauborg Saint -Honore drew stylish women and men to gaze at the designs of Poiret: rugs, carpets, wallpapers and of course the clothes. Painter Julian Louis Sue worked with Paul Poiret on designs and atelier interiors- Sue left to establish his own design firm and went on to become an influential designer in Paris with Andre Mare.

 Poiret's creativity knew no bounds at the time-Raoul Dufy and Poiret began printing their textile designs, long time collaborators-In their studio- La Petite Usine- the two captured in daring color combinations and patterns-the spirit of the restless era their friends ran about in.

les pavots
from the Textile Blog here

A costly undertaking to decorate 3 barges at the 1925 Paris Exposition, brought  Paul Poiret to his knees financially. Like so many designers, Poiret could not reduce the cost of the creative process. That Poiret's style lives on is evident in that the POIRET aesthetic continues to reappear on the fashion and design landscape.

Poiret pochoir by Paul Iribe

Poiret inspired by John Galiano for Dior.

"A Couturier, has as many languages as he has fabrics 

with which to sing of the beauty of women."

Poiret

Steven Meisel photographs Natalia Vodianova

for Vogue

Poiret screen

"If you want to attract attention," Doucet is said to have told a young Poiret, "be seen in fashionable places with a striking young lady whom you dress according to your own ideas and develop into a special type of your own."

Denise Poiret in Paul Poiret’s "Faune" ensemble, 

1919 Photograph by Delphi 

Courtesy of Les Arts Décoratifs, Fonds

Mme Poiret wore wigs of kingfisher-blue and viridian-green, stockings in purple silk or golden mesh, 

and one-shouldered mini-length nightgowns in pale silks sashed with brilliant-colored satin.

read a Hamish Bowles article about Poiret-here

Denise Poiret 

 POIRET'S best model

a POIRET

 Denise Poiret
She had "a very independent, almost exhibitionist spirit." Harold Koda

Denise Poiret's Own
at Drouot Richelieu Auction House
photograph from Luxe Chronicles.

 images from GYPSET STYLE
by Julia Chaplin

 an Edward Zajac designed Dining Room
walls covered in custom designed papers and cutouts.

 POIRET STYLE

A Garouste & Bonetti interior, Hong Kong

in Elle Decor The Grand Book of French Style

A Poiret designed bedroom

Mural design by Fromental

"Willow"

...in fact one need only look back to the bedroom Denise and Paul Poiret shared on the Faubourg Saint-Honore to find all the elements of POIRET style.

read this essay by Sue Hay,Curator of Costume and Textiles Museum of Art, RID here
read about Kees van Dongen here
images from mensioranne at Picasa here
Iribe's pochoir "Les Robes de Paul Poiret" (1908) at artphile here
.