Antoine de Paris
Encyclopedia
Antoni "Antek" Cierplikowski (1884 – 1976) became the world's first celebrity hairdresser when he opened the salon Antoine de Paris in Paris and became known as Monsieur Antoine.
He was born in Sieradz
and learnt hairdressing by working for his uncle in Łódź. He moved to Paris
in 1901 where he worked in the salon
at Galeries Lafayette
. During the summer season, he worked in Deauville
, following the high society
of Paris who vacationed there. In 1904, he created a stylish coiffure for Lily de Moure when she lost her fashionable hat. When she appeared hatless on the arm of a royal prince, this caused a sensation and other fashionable ladies then wanted to have their hair styled by le petit rousse (the little Russian).
He started a fashion for a short bob cut
in 1909 which was inspired by Joan of Arc
. He then introduced the shingle cut
in the 1920s which became popular with daring young women — the Bloomsbury set and flapper
s. In 1924, he dyed his dog's hair blue. This blue hair
was taken up by the first professional interior designer, Lady Elsie De Wolfe Mendl, which started a new fad. In the 1930s, he introduced blonde highlight
s and a style of upswept hair.
In 1924, he opened a salon at Saks Fifth Avenue
in New York which became the most fashionable hair salon in America. Other famous hairdressers established their reputations there, such as Sydney Guilaroff. The peak of Antoine's career was the coronation of George VI in 1937, when he supervised 400 coiffures in one night.
After the death of his wife in 1973 Monsieur Antoine moved to his birthplace Sieradz
, where he died in July 1976.
He was born in Sieradz
Sieradz
Sieradz is a town on the Warta river in central Poland with 44,326 inhabitants . It is situated in the Łódź Voivodship , but was previously the eponymous capital of the Sieradz Voivodship , and historically one of the minor duchies in Greater Poland.It is one of the oldest towns in Poland,...
and learnt hairdressing by working for his uncle in Łódź. He moved to Paris
Paris
Paris is the capital and largest city in France, situated on the river Seine, in northern France, at the heart of the Île-de-France region...
in 1901 where he worked in the salon
Beauty salon
A beauty salon or beauty parlor is an establishment dealing with cosmetic treatments for men and women...
at Galeries Lafayette
Galeries Lafayette
- History :In 1893 Théophile Bader and his cousin Alphonse Kahn opened a fashion store in a small haberdasher's shop at the corner of rue La Fayette and the Chaussée d'Antin, Paris. In 1896, the company purchased the entire building at n°1 rue La Fayette and in 1905 the buildings at n°38, 40 et...
. During the summer season, he worked in Deauville
Deauville
Deauville is a commune in the Calvados département in the Basse-Normandie region in northwestern France.With its racecourse, harbour, international film festival, marinas, conference centre, villas, Grand Casino and sumptuous hotels, Deauville is regarded as the "queen of the Norman beaches" and...
, following the high society
Upper class
In social science, the "upper class" is the group of people at the top of a social hierarchy. Members of an upper class may have great power over the allocation of resources and governmental policy in their area.- Historical meaning :...
of Paris who vacationed there. In 1904, he created a stylish coiffure for Lily de Moure when she lost her fashionable hat. When she appeared hatless on the arm of a royal prince, this caused a sensation and other fashionable ladies then wanted to have their hair styled by le petit rousse (the little Russian).
He started a fashion for a short bob cut
Bob cut
A "bob cut" is a short haircut for women in which the hair is typically cut straight around the head at about jaw-level, often with a fringe at the front.-The beginning:...
in 1909 which was inspired by Joan of Arc
Joan of Arc
Saint Joan of Arc, nicknamed "The Maid of Orléans" , is a national heroine of France and a Roman Catholic saint. A peasant girl born in eastern France who claimed divine guidance, she led the French army to several important victories during the Hundred Years' War, which paved the way for the...
. He then introduced the shingle cut
Shingle bob
The shingle bob is a short hairstyle for women, introduced in 1924. Below a dome-shaped bob cut, the hair at the neck is razor cut very short in a v-shape. It is also commonly referred to as a "graduated bob."- External links :* - Hairarchives.com*...
in the 1920s which became popular with daring young women — the Bloomsbury set and flapper
Flapper
Flapper in the 1920s was a term applied to a "new breed" of young Western women who wore short skirts, bobbed their hair, listened to jazz, and flaunted their disdain for what was then considered acceptable behavior...
s. In 1924, he dyed his dog's hair blue. This blue hair
Blue hair
Blue hair is a type of hair color that does not naturally occur in human hair pigmentation, although the hair of some animals is described as blue. In humans, the color may occur after exposure to cobalt or indigo....
was taken up by the first professional interior designer, Lady Elsie De Wolfe Mendl, which started a new fad. In the 1930s, he introduced blonde highlight
Hair highlighting
Hair highlighting/lowlighting refers to changing a person's hair color, using lightener or haircolor to color strands of the hair in varying sizes. There are four basic types of highlights: foil highlights, hair painting, frosting, and chunking. Highlights can be done in natural or unnatural colors...
s and a style of upswept hair.
In 1924, he opened a salon at Saks Fifth Avenue
Saks Fifth Avenue
Saks Fifth Avenue is a luxury American specialty store owned and operated by Saks Fifth Avenue Enterprises , a subsidiary of Saks Incorporated. It competes in the high-end specialty store market in the Upper East Side of Manhattan, i.e. 'the 3 B's' Bergdorf, Barneys, Bloomingdale's and Lord & Taylor...
in New York which became the most fashionable hair salon in America. Other famous hairdressers established their reputations there, such as Sydney Guilaroff. The peak of Antoine's career was the coronation of George VI in 1937, when he supervised 400 coiffures in one night.
After the death of his wife in 1973 Monsieur Antoine moved to his birthplace Sieradz
Sieradz
Sieradz is a town on the Warta river in central Poland with 44,326 inhabitants . It is situated in the Łódź Voivodship , but was previously the eponymous capital of the Sieradz Voivodship , and historically one of the minor duchies in Greater Poland.It is one of the oldest towns in Poland,...
, where he died in July 1976.