Afternoon suit

Jacques Doucet was first, and foremost, a connoisseur of art. Additionally, his passion for the refined and exquisite overflowed into his dealings with fashion, making him one of the finest French couturiers during the Belle Époque. The House of Doucet began as a family business, specializing in women's lingerie and laces, as well as articles of clothing for men. Founded in 1817, the company rose to fame under the hand of Jacques. The house was known for its luxurious offerings, which were worn and coveted by royalty, members of the elite society in both Europe and America, and actresses of the stage.

This afternoon suit is a fine example of French couture. The monochromatic and textural aspects of the dress are of great interest, for the various textures are created by manipulating the fabrics through pleating, tucking and shirring. Unlike Doucet's other work, this piece has limited surface embellishment but is still visually interesting because of the abundance of techniques worked with the fabrics.