Dress

Intricate lace and diaphanous textiles were among the specialties of Boué Soeurs. The house’s designs for undergarments and summer lingerie dresses were particularly popular, and American designers and department stores extensively imitated and copied its clothing throughout the early twentieth century. The sisters sought to distinguish their work through its quality: when they were unable to locate existing materials that pleased them, they worked with mills to manufacture to their requirements. In 1922 Jeanne d’Etreillis recounted some of their greatest achievements, including organdy that she described as “a marvel of exquisite beauty and refinement” and linen, “which in its texture and transparency was a miracle.” The overall effect of this dress reflects the sisters' interest in airy, romantic fabrics; the filet lace was among the house’s favored trimmings.