Jacques Doucet (1853–1929) was a French fashion designer, known for his elegant dresses, made with flimsy translucent materials in superimposing pastel colors.

He was born in Paris in 1853 to a prosperous family whose lingerie

Lingerie

Lingerie are fashionable and possibly alluring undergarments.Lingerie usually incorporates one or more flexible, stretchy materials like Lycra, nylon , polyester, satin, lace, silk and sheer fabric which are not typically used in more functional, basic cotton undergarments.The term in the French...

 and linens

Linens

Linens are fabric household goods, such as pillowcases and towels.Originally, many, such as bed sheets and tablecloths, were made of linen. Today, the term "linen" has come to be applied to all related products even though most are made of cotton, synthetic fabrics or blends...

 business, Doucet Lingerie, had flourished in the Rue de la Paix since 1816. In 1871, Doucet opened a salon

Beauty salon

A beauty salon or beauty parlor is an establishment dealing with cosmetic treatments for men and women...

 selling ladies' apparel. An enthusiastic collector of eighteenth-century furniture, objets d'art

Work of art

A work of art, artwork, art piece, or art object is an aesthetic item or artistic creation.The term "a work of art" can apply to:*an example of fine art, such as a painting or sculpture*a fine work of architecture or landscape design...

, paintings and sculptures, many of his gowns were strongly influenced by this opulent era. A designer of taste and discrimination, Doucet valued dignity and luxury above novelty and practicality and therefore gradually went out of popularity during the 1920s. His most original designs were those he created for actresses of the time. Cecile Sorel, Rejane and Sarah Bernhardt

Sarah Bernhardt

Sarah Bernhardt was a French stage and early film actress, and has been referred to as "the most famous actress the world has ever known". Bernhardt made her fame on the stages of France in the 1870s, and was soon in demand in Europe and the Americas...

 (for whom he designed her famous white costume in L'Aiglon

L'Aiglon

L'Aiglon is a play in six acts by Edmond Rostand based on the life of Napoleon's son, Napoleon II of France, Duke of Reichstadt. The title comes from a nickname for Napoleon II, the French word for "eaglet" . The title role was created by Sarah Bernhardt in the play's premiere on 15 March 1900 at...

) all often wore his outfits, both on and off the stage. For the aforementioned actresses he reserved a particular style

Fashion

Fashion, a general term for a currently popular style or practice, especially in clothing, foot wear, or accessories. Fashion references to anything that is the current trend in look and dress up of a person...

, one which consisted of frills, sinuous curving lines and lace

Lace

Lace is an openwork fabric, patterned with open holes in the work, made by machine or by hand. The holes can be formed via removal of threads or cloth from a previously woven fabric, but more often open spaces are created as part of the lace fabric. Lace-making is an ancient craft. True lace was...

 ruffles the colors of faded flowers.

A collector of art and literature throughout his life, by the time of his death he had a collection of Post-Impressionist and Cubist paintings (including "Les Demoiselles d'Avignon

Les Demoiselles d'Avignon

He followed his success by developing into his Rose period from 1904 to 1907, which introduced a strong element of sensuality and sexuality into his work...

", which he bought direct from Picasso's studio), as well as two libraries of manuscripts by contemporary writers, both of which he left to the French nation.

Jacques Doucet donated his collection of art books and research to the University of Paris

University of Paris

The University of Paris was a university located in Paris, France and one of the earliest to be established in Europe. It was founded in the mid 12th century, and officially recognized as a university probably between 1160 and 1250...

when he died in 1929. The University created in his honour the Librairie Literaire Jacques Doucet. Francois Chapon wrote a book on the life of the fashion designer and art collector named C'etait Jacques Doucet. The Louvre will be hosting an exhibit in spring 2011 displaying some Doucet furniture, fashion and art collection. Some family members, Clemence from his sister's side and Eugene from his brother's side, will be involved. Terence Doucet, a graphic designer and descendant of the designer's uncle Eugene, mounted a plaque he designed on the Librairie Literaire Jacque Doucet on 24 September 2009. Terence Doucet will also be involved in the Louvres exhibit on his ancestor.

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