Rose Valois was the name of a millinery establishment in Paris founded in 1927 by Madame Fernand Cleuet, Vera Leigh, and one other.[1] It closed in 1970.[2][3] During its time, it was considered one of the leading milliners of the 1930s, 40s and 50s.[2]

The founders of Rose Valois had all worked with Caroline Reboux, leaving in 1927 to found their own salon.[2] Rose was Mme Cleuet's first name, and Valois was a construct made up from the initials of Vera Leigh and the other (as yet unidentified) woman.[1][4] Leigh left Rose Valois in 1940,[4] which remained in business through the occupation of France by enemy German forces during World War II,[5] despite Leigh's later involvement as a member of the French Resistance, leading to her arrest and execution by the Germans in 1944.[3] Rose's husband, Fernand Cleuet (d. June 1961) was chief executive officer of the establishment.[6]

Simone Mirman, who later found fame as one of London's foremost milliners in the 1940s-1960s, served her apprenticeship with Valois.[7]

References

  1. ^ a b Perkins, Alice K. (1949). Paris Couturiers and Milliners. Fairchild Publications. p. 63.
  2. ^ a b c Waddell, Gavin (2004). How fashion works : couture, ready-to-wear, and mass production (Online-Ausg. ed.). Oxford, UK: Blackwell Science. p. 105. ISBN 9781118814994.
  3. ^ a b Escott, Beryl E. (2010). Heroines of the SOE Britain's secret women in France. Stroud: History. ISBN 9780752462455.
  4. ^ a b Nicholas, Elizabeth (1958). Death be not proud. London: Cresset Press. pp. 86–88.
  5. ^ Vaudoyer, Mary (2012). Whisper of truth. Memoirs Publishing. p. 88. ISBN 9781909304307.
  6. ^ "Obituary for Fernand Cleuet". L'officiel de la mode (in French). No. 473–474. 1961. p. 466. Retrieved 29 October 2015.
  7. ^ Horwell, Veronica (14 August 2008). "Obituary: Simone Mirman". The Guardian. Retrieved 18 July 2014.


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