King of Fashion. The Autobiography of Paul Poiret

Paul Poiret. Translated by Stephen Haden Guest.

J.B. Lippincott. Philadelphia & London. 1931. First English-language edition. Hardback; black buckram-bound boards with gilt decoration and titles to front board and spine, top edge red. 331 pages. Portrait frontispiece and 15 hors texte b&w plates. English. 225 x 150mm. 0.85kg. . Good; some wear and rubbing to boards, spine ends and forecorners, rubbing to spine with gilt title faded and rubbed, loss of some gilt decoration to lower forecorner of front board; front inner hinge beginning to crack, slight browning to edges, some dustiness to top edge.

The first English language edition of Paul Poiret's autobiography, with a striking black and gold binding. The designer recounts how he changed the course of Parisian fashion, liberating women from their corsets. We learn about his influences and his designs, his fashion house, and his interior and perfume businesses. Poiret wrote his biography after his couture house had collapsed in 1929 and when he was struggling to make ends meet, although this side of his life is largely omitted from the book.