by Donna Klein
Doucet – a Name in Fashion for Three Generations
Jacques Doucet may not be a household name anymore, but he was once one of the most prosperous and well-respected fashion designers of the late 19th and early 20th centuries. The Doucet name had been associated with lingerie and fine linen in Paris since the early 19th century. The family started out in the lingerie and linens business on the rue de la Paix in 1816 and was known as Doucet Lingerie. Jacque’s father, Edouard, expanded the business into linens for gentlemen, garnering a client list that included French noblemen and aristocrats.
It is little wonder that Jacques, born in 1853, would join the family fashion house. He developed an interest in art and women’s fashion at an early age and joined the family business in 1871, in a new ladies division created just for him. It wasn’t long before he was considered the King of Haute Couture.
Designs by Jacques Doucet, from the Metropolitan Museum of Art collection
He was an avid fan of 18th century art and literature. He collected furniture, poetry, paintings and sculptures of the period. It is no surprise that when he opened his salon, it featured gowns inspired by the elegance of the era. According to Architectural Digest, “he was the first fashion designer to graft his lifestyle onto his professional persona, paving the way for modern tastemakers such as Yves Saint Laurent and Karl Lagerfeld.”
He used lace, silk ribbons, flowers, feathers, braid, beadwork, and embroidery in his evening gowns. He was known to use rare gros point de Venise lace for entire dresses. He designed for novelist Edith Wharton. He designed for actresses of the day, such as Cécile Sorel, Réjane, and Sarah Bernhardt. They wore his clothing both on stage and off. He used a style unique to this group of women. The designs for them contained frills, sinuous curving lines, and lace ruffles in the colors of faded flowers.
Jacques Doucet fashions from the Metropolitan Museum of Art collection
Ducet designed for a generation of women at a time when fashion was going through a paradigm change. Unfortunately, he did not attract the daughters of these women with his designs and he faded from popularity during the 1920s.
Jacques Ducet died in 1929, leaving an indelible mark on the world of fashion and art. His life as an art collector is just as interesting as his life as a fashion designer. Read more about Jacques Ducet at:
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Jacques_Doucet_%28fashion_designer%29
http://www.architecturaldigest.com/story/jacques-doucet-furniture-art-collection-article
http://headtotoefashionart.com/jacques-doucet-1853-1929/
http://www.metmuseum.org/collection/the-collection-online/search/158232
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