Antoinette is the daughter of Prudence and Claude Moreau.
She was born in 1891 in Papeete.
When she was about 9 years old, her father abandoned his family and returned to France.
Antoinette, her bothers and mother went to live with her cousins, the Fitzgerald's.
Antoinette loved clothing and design.
For a while she worked as a dressmaker in Papeete.
However, she longed to be a part of the design scene in Paris.
She emigrated to France and lived with her father, Claude.
She worked as a seamstress in a maison, a house of 'haute couture'.
This was the "Belle Epoque", which embraced the arts.
The beautiful era ran from 1874 until 1914.
By 1900 more than 20 fashion houses of Haute Couture were in Paris.
Rue de la Paix was the centre of fashion.
Coco Chanel opened her first shop in Paris in 1900,
although her fame as a designer did not come until after the end of World War 1.
Antoinette met Francois Paquin at the maison where she worked.
He was the business manager,
although later he opened his own salon.
They married in 1912.
They had 3 children:
Jeanne b. 1913
Louise b. 1914
Madeleine b. 1921
She was born in 1891 in Papeete.
When she was about 9 years old, her father abandoned his family and returned to France.
Antoinette, her bothers and mother went to live with her cousins, the Fitzgerald's.
Antoinette loved clothing and design.
For a while she worked as a dressmaker in Papeete.
However, she longed to be a part of the design scene in Paris.
She emigrated to France and lived with her father, Claude.
She worked as a seamstress in a maison, a house of 'haute couture'.
This was the "Belle Epoque", which embraced the arts.
The beautiful era ran from 1874 until 1914.
By 1900 more than 20 fashion houses of Haute Couture were in Paris.
Rue de la Paix was the centre of fashion.
Coco Chanel opened her first shop in Paris in 1900,
although her fame as a designer did not come until after the end of World War 1.
Antoinette met Francois Paquin at the maison where she worked.
He was the business manager,
although later he opened his own salon.
They married in 1912.
They had 3 children:
Jeanne b. 1913
Louise b. 1914
Madeleine b. 1921
For reflection ...
Antoinette worked in haute couture fashion.
What is the role of haute couture in dressing the masses?
How can we justify the expense?
Do we need this search for design excellence
to improve all designs?
Antoinette worked in haute couture fashion.
What is the role of haute couture in dressing the masses?
How can we justify the expense?
Do we need this search for design excellence
to improve all designs?