The Metropolitan Museum of Art in New York is having an exhibit titled “Poiret: King of Fashion.” Time has not been favorable to Paul Poiret, a truly avant-garde designer, who at the turn of the 20th century has not only liberated women from corsets, but also ushered in modernism in fashion and created the first line of fragrances associated with fashion (a decade before Coco Chanel and Chanel No 5, one might add). Parfums de Rosine fragrance line, composed by great perfumers like Henri Alméras and Maurice Schaller, was as unique as his fashion designs. Poiret, unable to adjust to the changing times due to the political and economic upheavals, died in poverty, and his achievements have never been truly recognized, neither in fashion nor in fragrance.
The exhibit give a chance to understand the complex personality of Poiret as well as the intricacies of his fashions and presentations. After visiting once, I am planning to return again, because it was simply one of the best fashion exhibits I have seen. It is time that Poiret has truly received the recognition he deserved. Please see more information on The Metropolitan Museum website. The exhibit runs till August, 2007.
Advertisement for Rosine’s Le Fruit Défendu (1914) from 1000 Fragrances blog.
9 Comments
sweetlife (ahtx): I’m dying to go to that exhibit and will try to make back up to NYC before it closes. I’ve been reading and writing a bit about Chanel, and as a result have gotten curious about Poiret, whose story is a kind of prequel to her entrance onto the scene. It’s very interesting to me that the critics say the same things about them re: inventing modernity, freeing women with their clothing and yet, what a huge difference in sensibilities! I’ve also just been working my way through a batch of the current Rosine samples, delicious in Austin’s late spring weather…
Have you ever had the opportunity to smell any of the original Rosine compositions? May 14, 2007 at 12:36am
k-amber: I have been there three times so far. Marvelous place. I wish I could be in NY 🙂 Thank you for posting the infomation.
Kaori May 13, 2007 at 9:27pm
BoisdeJasmin: Kaori, it is excellent! I highly recommend it. May 13, 2007 at 10:27pm
Judith: Ah, I just love Poiret’s fashions! I MUST go to this next time I am in NY! May 14, 2007 at 6:45am
violetnoir: That sounds like a wonderful exhibit, V! I have been reading (or attempting to read, ha, ha!) 1000 Fragrance’s post on the original Rosine fragrances. How sad that Msr. Poiret died in poverty.
Hugs! May 14, 2007 at 1:02pm
tmp00: I absolutely have to go and see this… May 16, 2007 at 10:04pm
Renee: I’ve yet to see this exhibit (and I live in New York!), but I am literally chomping at the bit. Lovely post and lovely website. May 19, 2007 at 10:44am
Christie Mayer Lefkowith: I thought that you and your visitors would be interested to learn that I loaned 40 Rosine items from my extensive personal collection of vintage perfume flacons and presentations to The Costume Institute exhibition “Poiret: King of Fashion” at the Metropolitan Museum of Art in New York, open until August 5th. Also published for this exhibition was my third book, “Paul Poiret and his Rosine Perfumes,” which is selling for $65 at the exhibition shop, at the Met Store, and on my website http://www.mayerlef.com
You and your site is doing a great job. This exhibition is an excellent one. Thank you for your interest.
Sincerely,
Christie Mayer Lefkowith
art historian, auction expert and author of
“The Art of Perfume,” “Masterpieces of the Perfume Industry,” and “Paul Poiret and his Rosine Perfumes.” May 30, 2007 at 5:32pm
maxtoo: I hope your wonderful website can provide me with answer.
I’m a real violet lover and enjoy various interpretations of this perfume.
Ajaccio Violets and Violetta di Parma are two favorite renditions of this flower.
My curiosity about different violet scents leads me to wonder how these two scents compare to Quelques Violettes by Parfums Claire and Penhaligon’s Violetta.
I’ve enjoyed the sweeter but not overly confectionary violet of April Violets by Yardley.
It would be a great help to hear from an expert.
Thanks in advance for your floral advice. June 21, 2007 at 1:25pm