This first monograph on Paul Poiret explores his legacy from couture to perfume, and his avant-garde vision of fashion as an art of living.

A precursor of Art Deco, Paul Poiret was as interested in couture, theatrical costumes, and perfume as he was in gastronomy and the decorative arts. He revolutionized fashion by liberating women from corsets and paved the way for such fashion designers as Elsa Schiaparelli, Christian Dior, and Azzedine Alaïa. This is the first monograph on the couturier and a catalog from the exhibit at the Musée des Arts Décoratifs exploring his career. It reveals his avant-garde vision of fashion as an art of living.