Lampshade tunic
Paul Poiret’s flared tunic over a narrow skirt – Oriental, colourful and corset-free.
Paul Poiret showed the tunic in 1911 and 1912, inspired by the Ballets Russes and by a Persian-themed party he gave in Paris. The dresses were worn without the old corset, but with narrow skirts that made walking difficult.
He worked with artists and illustrators, and his colourful style anticipated Art Deco. After the war clients preferred Chanel’s simpler clothes.
Materials: Silk, velvet and lamé; sometimes fur trim
Manufacture: Made in Poiret’s house in Paris; the fabrics were sometimes printed after designs by artists such as Raoul Dufy.
A tunic that stands out like a lampshade over the hips.
Strong colours, gold and Oriental motifs.
Poiret’s label with a rose, often drawn by Paul Iribe.