Short evening coat of embroidered silk velvet with metal threads, designed by Paul Poiret, France, 1913

Short evening coat of embroidered silk velvet with metal threads. Orange and red silk velvet kimono with the orange embroidered all over with silver metallic threads. Rectangular and straight hanging sleeves in plain red velvet. Fully lined in yellow silk. Straight rectangles of fabric, with a band collar, and fastens in the front with a silk covered single hook and eye.

This coat was worn by Miss Emilie Grigsby (1876-1964) who was a wealthy independent American who came to England from New York. She established a salon which was frequented by writers and the military. She was considered to be one of the great international beauties, with extremely pale, almost transparent skin and golden hair. She was frequently the subject of articles in the New York Times during the early 20th century. Her clothes were purchased from couturiers in London, Paris, and New York, and demonstrated an elegantly avant-garde approach to style. While most of the clothes of hers held by the Museum are from the 1920s, the collection also includes a group of 1910s clothes such as this coat associated with Paul Poiret, who was a personal friend of Emilie Grigsby.

T.162-1967