Evening trousers in silk satin, designed by Paul Poiret, France, 1913

Evening trousers in oyster-coloured silk satin with side seams covered with gold lamé ribbon, and trimmed at knee height with gold metal ball buttons. Made from a straight piece of fabric which is folded round at the bottom and seamed up the sides, except for the ankle openings. Gauged onto a petersham waistband at the top which fastens with hook and eyes. White metal snap fasteners down the left seam.

These trousers were 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 these trousers associated with Paul Poiret, who was a personal friend of Emilie Grigsby.

T.164-1967