INFLUENTIAL EDWARDIAN DESIGNER PAUL POIRET

Ladies' Edwardian fashion was greatly influenced by the designer Paul Poiret, known as the creator of modern clothing shapes and designs. His clothing designs were inspired by art including classicism, Orientalism, and Art Nouveau. Poiret's comfortable styles freed women from the constriction of corsets and relied on draping for effect.

In 1908, he introduced the straight tube sheath dress. Women abandoned the S corset for longer, straighter corsets and bras. His Oriental style became popular after the Ballet Russes performed Scheherazade in Paris in 1910. Fashion concepts included exotic designs based on harem wear in bright colours with beaded embellishment. The lampshade tunic came into vogue toward the end of the Edwardian Era as did the Directoire style in 1912 which featured a high waist that accentuated a long, slim figure.

Turbans and jewelled slippers were a feature of Orientalism and a new exotic style of dress for Edwardian women.

But, the First World War put an end to extravagant trends as the world turned to a war economy with shortages of fabric and leather, and the more austere fashions usually dictated by the privations of war.
(Information from Bellatory)