Jeanne Paquin
1869-1936
Biography

"Jeanne Paquin was born in Saint Denis, Paris. Jeanne’s first specialist training commenced as a dressmaker at a Fashion House of Rouff, and in 1891 she opened her own. She was made the President of the Fashion Section of the Paris Universal International Exhibition and showed spectacular evening gowns, modeling some of them herself. She used pastel colors in a very feminine way for her evening gowns, and was soon identified by smart styling in her tailored clothes. One of her most important assets was the fact that she knew how to market her Fashion House in interesting ways, showing off her model’s in a vast number of Paris Events.
She became connected with many Artists of the day including Leon Bakst, George Barbier, George Lepape and Paul Iribe. They all inspired one another in the quest for excellence.
Jeanne was known also to have drawn some Fashion Plates, however we have not seen any to date. Jeanne Paquin was the first Parisian Couturier to open foreign branches in London, Buenos Aires and Madrid. Many important Fashion Journals promoted Jeanne Paquin’s designs with drawings, colour plates and photography. Modes & Travaux, La Mode Illustee, L’Illustration and Les Modes are a few. Jeanne Paquin had strong connections with Maggy Rouff and was a great influence upon this famous Designer. They must have enjoyed each others fabulous drawings and ideas." (Headtotoefashionart)
She became connected with many Artists of the day including Leon Bakst, George Barbier, George Lepape and Paul Iribe. They all inspired one another in the quest for excellence.
Jeanne was known also to have drawn some Fashion Plates, however we have not seen any to date. Jeanne Paquin was the first Parisian Couturier to open foreign branches in London, Buenos Aires and Madrid. Many important Fashion Journals promoted Jeanne Paquin’s designs with drawings, colour plates and photography. Modes & Travaux, La Mode Illustee, L’Illustration and Les Modes are a few. Jeanne Paquin had strong connections with Maggy Rouff and was a great influence upon this famous Designer. They must have enjoyed each others fabulous drawings and ideas." (Headtotoefashionart)
Her Designs
Critical Analysis
Jeanne Paquin is considered by many people a fashion icon, even before Coco Chanel. She was also the first woman in cutourier to have a fashion house. "She was the first couturier to send mannequins to the races at Longchamps and Chantilly to show off her clothes. She also sent 12 girls to tour the major cities of America."(marybawa) "Monsieur Paquin died in 1919, and Jeanne suffered from the loss of his encouragement and guidance. She gave up her role as house designer to a lady called Mlle. Madeleine Wallis, who created the collections throughout the twenties and early 30's. She was followed by Ana de Pombo who designed for the house till 1941." (marybawa)
"Client relations played a larger part at Paquin than any other house. A client would give her season's requirements and Madame Paquin would make everything she might need. She knew how women actually moved in their clothing, rebelling against the hobble skirt in the early part of the century. She thought of women having the battle with the Metro, when designing. Madame Paquin had a graphic ability with vivid colors emphasized by the use of black. She rescued black from its mournful 19th century role, lining a black town coat with bright, glossy red silk, or using it as a foil for brilliant jewel-tone embroidery or fabulous lace. She made use of exuberant colors rather than the soft pastels other designers used. Her Tango dresses and lingerie were also very popular. She was noted for her romantic gowns and fine workmanship." She always kept in mind the modern women who required more freedom on movement.(marybawa)
Jeanne Paquin was the first Parisian couturier to gain access to an international market by opening foreign branches in London and New York, in 1912, and in Buenos Aires and Madrid, in 1914. "The prestigious House of Paquin had a rich and famous clientele." (Fashiontime) Always seeking novelty, Paquin incorporated styles and elements from other eras and cultures in her designs. She favored Oriental geometric shapes, motifs, and vivid colors. (fashion time)
"Client relations played a larger part at Paquin than any other house. A client would give her season's requirements and Madame Paquin would make everything she might need. She knew how women actually moved in their clothing, rebelling against the hobble skirt in the early part of the century. She thought of women having the battle with the Metro, when designing. Madame Paquin had a graphic ability with vivid colors emphasized by the use of black. She rescued black from its mournful 19th century role, lining a black town coat with bright, glossy red silk, or using it as a foil for brilliant jewel-tone embroidery or fabulous lace. She made use of exuberant colors rather than the soft pastels other designers used. Her Tango dresses and lingerie were also very popular. She was noted for her romantic gowns and fine workmanship." She always kept in mind the modern women who required more freedom on movement.(marybawa)
Jeanne Paquin was the first Parisian couturier to gain access to an international market by opening foreign branches in London and New York, in 1912, and in Buenos Aires and Madrid, in 1914. "The prestigious House of Paquin had a rich and famous clientele." (Fashiontime) Always seeking novelty, Paquin incorporated styles and elements from other eras and cultures in her designs. She favored Oriental geometric shapes, motifs, and vivid colors. (fashion time)
Future Trends
"Sometimes … it is the material that inspires me. But I get inspiration everywhere. When I am travelling or walking in the street, when I see a sunset with beautiful blendings of colour, I often get an inspiration that helps me to evolve new combinations.… Our work in some respects resembles that of the painter." (Jeanne Paquin) "In her time, Paquin had a prestige equal to that of Charles Worth and Jacques Doucet but is nowadays largely forgotten." (thefashionspot) Jeanne was an excellent marketer, she always knew what to do to get her designs noticed. She was one of the first to sells her clothing in department stores and wholesalers. She even opened branches overseas. Robert Forrest wrote that: “Fashion once simply did not know what to wear until Madame Paquin brought out her season’s models, and, as for her competitors, their plight was pitiful.” Paquin even has a pintrest page where users have created pages dedicated to her designs, and how they are being used today.
Someone who we can see using Paquin's designs, and is truly inspired by her is Alexander Mcqueen. When you look at his collections you can see similar silhouettes, and the similarities between the fabric and color.
Someone who we can see using Paquin's designs, and is truly inspired by her is Alexander Mcqueen. When you look at his collections you can see similar silhouettes, and the similarities between the fabric and color.
Works Cited
"French Fine Art Fashion Prints Collection." Head to Toe Fashion Art. Voila, 3 Sept. 2013. Web. 07 Dec. 2013." http://headtotoefashionart.com/about-httfa/
"1891-1956 House of Paquin - the Fashion Spot." The Fashion Spot RSS. N.p., n.d. Web. 10 Dec. 2013.
<http://forums.thefashionspot.com/f116/1891-1956-house-paquin-54259.html>.
Nation Master Encyclopedia. Jeanne Paquin. http://www.nationmaster.com/encyclopedia/Jeanne-Paquin
Haug, Joanne (1996-2011). Victoriana Magazine. Fashion 1900. French designer dresses. From the Gazette du Bon Ton, 1912-1915. Jeanne Paquin. http://www.victoriana.com/GazetteduBonTon/designerdresses.html
http://www.fashionintime.org/history-couturejeanne-paquin-18691956/
"History of Fashion Designer Madame Jeanne Paquin." Marybawa. Web. 10 Dec. 2013.
Paquin, Jeanne. Afternoon Dress. 1901. The Metropolitan Museum of Art./ House of Paquin. New York. MetMesuem.org. Image. 7 December 2013.
Paquin, Jeanne. Opera Coat. 1912. The Metropolitan Museum of Art./ House of Paquin. New York. MetMesuem.org. Image. 7 December 2013.
Paquin, Jeanne. Afternoon Suit. 1906. The Metropolitan Museum of Art./ House of Paquin. New York. MetMesuem.org. Image. 7 December 2013.
Paquin, Jeanne. Evening Dress. 1905. The Metropolitan Museum of Art./ House of Paquin. New York. MetMesuem.org. Image. 7 December 2013.
Paquin, Jeanne. Evening Dress. 1912. The Metropolitan Museum of Art./ House of Paquin. New York. MetMesuem.org. Image. 7 December 2013.
"1891-1956 House of Paquin - the Fashion Spot." The Fashion Spot RSS. N.p., n.d. Web. 10 Dec. 2013.
<http://forums.thefashionspot.com/f116/1891-1956-house-paquin-54259.html>.
Nation Master Encyclopedia. Jeanne Paquin. http://www.nationmaster.com/encyclopedia/Jeanne-Paquin
Haug, Joanne (1996-2011). Victoriana Magazine. Fashion 1900. French designer dresses. From the Gazette du Bon Ton, 1912-1915. Jeanne Paquin. http://www.victoriana.com/GazetteduBonTon/designerdresses.html
http://www.fashionintime.org/history-couturejeanne-paquin-18691956/
"History of Fashion Designer Madame Jeanne Paquin." Marybawa. Web. 10 Dec. 2013.
Paquin, Jeanne. Afternoon Dress. 1901. The Metropolitan Museum of Art./ House of Paquin. New York. MetMesuem.org. Image. 7 December 2013.
Paquin, Jeanne. Opera Coat. 1912. The Metropolitan Museum of Art./ House of Paquin. New York. MetMesuem.org. Image. 7 December 2013.
Paquin, Jeanne. Afternoon Suit. 1906. The Metropolitan Museum of Art./ House of Paquin. New York. MetMesuem.org. Image. 7 December 2013.
Paquin, Jeanne. Evening Dress. 1905. The Metropolitan Museum of Art./ House of Paquin. New York. MetMesuem.org. Image. 7 December 2013.
Paquin, Jeanne. Evening Dress. 1912. The Metropolitan Museum of Art./ House of Paquin. New York. MetMesuem.org. Image. 7 December 2013.