Flonflon
Although Poiret’s atelier was capable of producing millinery that encompassed a wide range of materials and silhouettes, including cloches, turbans, small straws, jeweled headbands, and asymmetrically brimmed felts, he also worked with a number of milliners. In Denise Poiret's collection, many coifs were made by Madeleine Panizon (and survived with notes associating them to specific ensembles).
This example, however, was probably created in Poiret's own maison de couture. The coif is an improvisation in wire, strips of silk, and feathers and is little more than a headband. As with many of the hats and headdresses intended for pairing with evening ensembles, the ‘Flonflon’ is theatrical in spirit. In concept, it is similar to a more widely known example of gold lame and black monkey fur, worn by Denise Poiret with her ‘Paris’ evening coat. Both recall eighteenth-century depictions of the headdresses of the allegories of the Continents, notably of Africa and the Americas. For Poiret, evening dress, even in the details of its accessorization, offered an opportunity to evoke exotic referents.
This example, however, was probably created in Poiret's own maison de couture. The coif is an improvisation in wire, strips of silk, and feathers and is little more than a headband. As with many of the hats and headdresses intended for pairing with evening ensembles, the ‘Flonflon’ is theatrical in spirit. In concept, it is similar to a more widely known example of gold lame and black monkey fur, worn by Denise Poiret with her ‘Paris’ evening coat. Both recall eighteenth-century depictions of the headdresses of the allegories of the Continents, notably of Africa and the Americas. For Poiret, evening dress, even in the details of its accessorization, offered an opportunity to evoke exotic referents.
Artwork Details
- Title: Flonflon
- Designer: Paul Poiret (French, Paris 1879–1944 Paris)
- Date: ca. 1920
- Culture: French
- Medium: silk, metallic thread, feathers
- Credit Line: Purchase, Judith and Gerson Leiber Fund, 2005
- Object Number: 2005.191
- Curatorial Department: The Costume Institute
More Artwork
A slider containing 5 items.
Press the down key to skip to the last item.
Press the down key to skip to the last item.
Paul Poiret
spring/summer 1917
Paul Poiret
1924
Paul Poiret
1920s
Paul Poiret
1920
Paul Poiret
fall/winter 1928–29
Related Content
Publications
Books, guides, and catalogues published by The Met.
Free to download
Research Resources
The Met provides unparalleled resources for research and welcomes an international community of students and scholars. The Met's Open Access API is where creators and researchers can connect to the The Met collection. Open Access data and public domain images are available for unrestricted commercial and noncommercial use without permission or fee.
To request images under copyright and other restrictions, please use this Image Request form.
Feedback
We continue to research and examine historical and cultural context for objects in The Met collection. If you have comments or questions about this object record, please complete and submit this form. The Museum looks forward to receiving your comments.