Pauline Trigere American fashion designer Country: USA

Biography of Pauline Trigère

Pauline Trigère, an American fashion designer of French origin, was known for her clean and minimalist style of her collections and innovative ideas. She was born in 1909 in Paris, France, to Russian Jewish immigrant parents. Pauline grew up in a sewing workshop, as her father was a tailor who made military uniforms for the Russian aristocracy, and her mother sewed dresses for ladies.

At the age of 10, Pauline already had a good command of a sewing machine and helped her mother. As she grew older, she faced financial difficulties and had to create and sew her own fancy dress made of plaid taffeta with a three-layered organdy collar trimmed with red, green, and blue trim. In 1971, for her own pleasure, she recreated this design.

After finishing school, Pauline became an intern cutter at the workshop of Martial et Armand on Place Vendôme in Paris. Within a few days of work, her employer noticed that she already knew everything he was supposed to teach her. She also created sketches as an unofficial designer and visited numerous Parisian fashion houses to sell her designs. It was during this time that she met American fashion designer and buyer Adele Simpson, who told Pauline about the glamorous world of New York. In 1937, at the age of 25, the Frenchwoman embarked on a journey to America.

In America, she secured a position at Ben Gerschel, where Adele worked, and then became an assistant designer at the renowned Hattie Carnegie's fashion house. She also worked with Travis Banton, the chief costume designer at Paramount Pictures. During this time, Pauline married Lazar Hadley and gave birth to two sons, Jean-Pierre and Philippe. However, by the early 1940s, her marriage ended, leaving Pauline without a husband, means to support herself, and two young children. Nevertheless, she saw this as an opportunity to pursue her dream of becoming a fashion professional.

In 1942, Pauline decided to open her own fashion house and invited her brother, Robert Trigère, to be the manager. She developed and produced a small collection of a dozen dresses, which her brother showed to buyers from department stores across the country. Surprisingly, most stores purchased the designs of the unknown emerging designer, enchanted by the extravagant yet refined outfits. By 1945, the Pauline Trigère label had become a highly respected New York brand.

In the late 1940s, Trigère launched a ready-to-wear clothing line and won her first professional award, the Coty award, in 1949. She also received the award in 1951 and 1959. Her name was immortalized in the Coty Hall of Fame. In the 1950s, she started producing costume jewelry specifically designed for her outfits, following the trend of many fashion houses at that time. By 1950, the name Pauline Trigère had become synonymous with glamorous and often extravagant Hollywood fashion. Her exquisite, distinctly feminine designs were highly sought after by the wealthy and famous. She created both simple and elegant daytime dresses that fit like a glove, as well as intricate gowns and coats for evening wear. Trigère's clothes often commanded high prices due to her use of expensive materials and embellishments such as real gold and precious stones. Her collections were carefully planned, and often pieces from later collections complemented and completed earlier ones.

Among her regular clients were the Duchess of Windsor, actress Claudette Colbert, and singer Lena Horne. Trigère created the wardrobe for Patricia Neal's character in the film "Breakfast at Tiffany's" (1961). Today, vintage dresses and accessories by Pauline Trigère are highly sought after, with actress Winona Ryder being a fan.

By the late 1970s, Trigère began to scale back her production and eventually transitioned into a beloved teacher, lecturing fashion school students. She wore her own designs and believed that the best way to maintain a good figure was to practice headstands. In 2000, at the age of over 90, Pauline launched a line of accessories for stylish elderly people, consisting of beautiful yet practical items such as elegant pillboxes and cases for hearing aids.

In June 2002, Pauline Trigère passed away at the age of 93. In 2000, New York established the Fashion Walk of Fame on 7th Avenue, honoring designers with bronze plaques, and Pauline Trigère was one of the first designers to receive this recognition. In 2001, she was awarded the French Order of the Legion of Honour.