Daché, Lilly, 1898-1989 (1898-1989)
Dates
- Existence: 1898-1989
Biography
Born in 1898 in the Bordeaux region of France, Lilly Daché received her millinery training under the famed Parisian milliners Caroline Reboux and Suzanne Talbot. In the early 1920s, she made her way to the United States and by 1924 had become part owner of The Bonnet Shop, which was eponymously named after the departure of her partner, shortly into the venture. The 1930s saw the business find great success with many Hollywood actresses patronizing the talents of the House of Daché. In 1931, Daché married COTY vice-president Jean Despres, in whom she found a warm and supporting partner through out her life. In 1940, Daché received the Neiman Marcus Award and the following year the Coty American Fashion Critics Award. The 1940s would also see her offer cosmetics and clothing to her clients as well as imported couture models of clothes and hats from Paris. When the demand for hats declined in the 1960s, Daché opened a hair salon on her premises and also sold wigs. In 1968, at the age of 73, Daché retired and liquidated her business assets. She died in Louvecienne, France in 1989. One of the many illustrious protegées who trained under Daché was Halston, who left her employ in 1958 to take the job of milliner for Bergdorf Goodman.
Found in 29 Collections and/or Records:
Council of Fashion Designers Memberships 1969, 1969
This folder contains membership lists and the master list for 1969. Included are show programs for the Washington D.C. show and the Cincinnati Show. Also included is correspondence pertaining to membership and a list of members attending the Lily Daché Luncheon in Washington.
Lilly Daché, 1955-1966, 1955-1966
This folder contains biographies of Lily Daché, a draft of an article written by her, and a clipping of an article by Lily Daché in the July 1955 Women's Home Companion. This folder also contains 22 black and white 8x10 photographs of hats and turbans from Lily Daché's Spring and Fall 1966 millinery collections.
Lilly Daché collection, 1935-1966
This collection contains original sketches of clothing and millinery purportedly by Daché herself, as well as sketches of models from Parisian couture houses dating to the 1950s. A selection of black and white press photographs and accompanying press releases documents her millinery output between 1962 and 1966.
Lilly Daché Sketches, 1950, 1950
This folder contains fifty-five 8 1/2x11" notebook pages (lined and unlined) of pencil sketches and design notations for garments, mostly dresses. Many sketches have fabric swatches attached.
Lilly Daché Sketches, 1950, 1935-1950
This folder contains one-hundred and two 8 1/2x11" notebook pages (lined and unlined) of pencil sketches and design notations for garments, mostly dresses. Many sketches have fabric swatches attached.
Lilly Daché Sketches, 1950, 1950
This folder contains eleven 9x12 3/4" mixed media sketches (ink, gouache, pencil and watercolor in various permutations) of dresses, hats and coats. One sketch Madeliene Vramant, another millinery sketch as (Rose) Descat.
Lilly Daché Sketches, 1950, 1950
This folder contains eleven 9 x 12 3/4" pencil and watercolor sketches of dresses, hats and coats, and one pencil sketch of the floral motif seen in one of the dresses' textiles.
Lilly Daché Sketches, 1950, 1950
This folder contains ten 9 x 12 3/4" pencil and watercolor sketches of dresses, hats and coats. Many sketches accompanied by fabric swatches.
Lilly Daché Sketches, 1950, 1951
This folder contains nine 9 x 12 3/4" pencil and watercolor sketches of dresses, hats and coats. Many sketches accompanied by fabric swatches. One ink sketch stamped "made in France", "Société des modelistes de France and signed Pierre Fournait.
Lilly Daché Sketches, 1951, 1951
This folder contains ten 9 x 12 3/4" pencil and watercolor sketches of dresses, hats and coats. Many sketches accompanied by fabric swatches.