Pauline Trigère coat and dress ensemble for Rolex ad Rolex chose ambassadors who embodied timeless style. Pauline Trigère became one such ambassador, appearing in a series of ads both by herself and alongside other iconic figure. One of the first appeared in 1959 featured Trigère with Commander Edward Whitehead . Whitehead, a World War II veteran later became an executive at Cadbury Schweppes . Known for his refined style and diverse passions—fox hunting, sailing, skiing, an

An article titled "Most Elegant Pauline," written by columnist James Brady and published in Town and Village  on December 1, 1994, opened with the catchy line: "Pauline Trigère, I can testify, still has great legs." Although Pauline was 86 years old at the time, this remark was fitting, as she was not only a brilliant fashion designer but also a vibrant presence at New York social events, where she would often steal the spotlight as a good dancer with striking legs. Author Ja

Beverly Valdes: Photo from FIT Pauline Trigère archive On June 19, 1961, the influential fashion journalist Eugenia Sheppard wrote in her  Inside Fashion  column in the  Herald Tribune  which featured an article titled: “ Another first for Pauline Trigère—she’s the first of Seventh Avenue’s top designers to employ a Black fashion model .” A few days later, on June 23, 1961, multiple articles began to recognize this milestone. Marilyn Bender of  The New York Times  credited

“ The surprise was a new generation’s discovery of the late Pauline Trigère’s beautifully constructed designs .”  Bill Cunningham for The New York Times, November 14, 2004 " Money is cheap, freedom is expensive"   . I adore these wise words from the very first street photographer, Bill Cunningham, undoubtedly the most significant fashion photojournalist of our era. Cunningham once said, " If you don’t take money, they can’t tell you what to do, that’s the key to the whole t

September 16, 2024 It must be because of the Presidential election looming.  I don’t know how a legendary late fashion designer born in 1908 has anything to do with the current political landscape. Yet it does. Somehow I stumbled upon a listing from Pauline Trigère's fashion show that had a style description as “ No Trump .” During one of the research trip in New York, I came across an old fashion show program. I loved it because of the unique design lay-out. The program was

“ I was considered the fastest pencil in the field, a mannequin need only do her turn down the catwalk at a fashion show and voila, an illustration .”  Joe Eula Joe Eula's sketch of Pauline Trigère Joe Eula's sketch of Pauline Trigère In the course of my research, I discovered several original sketches of Pauline Trigère by Joe Eula at Pauline's daughter-in-law Jane Tucker 's home. Andy Warhol famously described Joe Eula as " the most important person in New York, knowing e

Four Fashion Designers considered the most influential to American Fashion. 1958 Sharland for New York Times One of the most stunning portraits of Pauline Trigère was this 1958 photography by Sharland for The New York Times.   This black and white photograph featured the four giants in American fashion alongside their creations:  Charles James, James Galanos, Pauline Trigère and Normal Norell .   Since my book is solely devoted to Pauline Trigère, in this blog I am using th

Absolute Vodka ad featuring a dress designed by House of Trigère. Below sketches are by Pauline's long-time associate Lucie Porges. While reviewing the numerous boxes that Pauline Trigère’s closest collaborator and assistant Lucie Porges gifted to Parson School of Design archives in NYC, I came across an interesting photo of the collaboration of the House of Trigere with Absolute Vodka . The photo is an ad titled “Absolute Trigere” featuring a model in a black evening dress

United Airline 50 Year Anniversary Celebration Program cover from May 14, 1980. They Soared Into History. That was the title of the program for United Airline’s 50th Anniversary celebration in May of 1980. Former CFDA President Mr.Stan Herman hired Ebony magazine fashion editor Audrey Smaltz as the commentator for United Airline’s 50 year celebration event. The event spotlighted many of the original stewardess uniforms and new designs by five designers including Pauline

Dear John letter from Pauline Trigère to John Fairchild “ I have learned in fashion to be a little savage." - John Burr Fairchild The publisher of Women’s Wear Daily (WWD ), with his contrarian personality, viewed having a feud and a few scandals as stimulus for his publication.  Before all the social media that is abundant today, WWD was the major fashion trade publication and “the only game in town.” WWD was regarded as the “Bible” of the industry by all the

Lucie Porges working with Pauline Trigère with a model standing behind them. Lucie Porges was Pauline’s most important associate and closest collaborator starting from when she was hired in 1951 until the firm closed in 1993. An interview written by former Vogue Editor-at-Large Mr.Andre Leon Tally stated that Lucie was "The Second Trigère at Trigère." During an interview it was described when Lucie was pregnant with her first child: Claudia, Pauline jokingly stated she

This blog is an extension to the biography I am researching for the legendary fashion designer Pauline Trigère, whose name has largely been forgotten. This project stems from my time as an apprentice with Ms. Trigère after graduating from the Fashion Institute of Technology in New York. Although my apprenticeship with her was brief; she was 88 years old at the time, I was both in awe and intimated by her. She was once called "The Queen of New York's Seventh Avenue." It was