"John Redfern" redirects here. For the author, see Edith Pargeter.
Redfern & Sons (later Redfern Ltd) was a British tailoring firm founded by John Redfern (1820-1895) in Cowes on the Isle of Wight that developed into a leading Europeancouture house (active: 1855–1932; 1936–1940). By the early 1890s the business had branches in London, Edinburgh, Paris and New York. The Paris extension was operated as a couture establishment while its other branches functioned primarily as tailors and importers.
A tailored jacket with gold embroidery by Redfern, c.1880. PFF collection.An 1885 advertisement for the New York branch of the English tailoring house of Redfern.Gilda Darthy in a dinner dress and coat by Redfern, Les Modes, February 1908
John Redfern (11 November 1820 – 22 November 1895) started out as a tailor in Cowes in 1855, following in the sartorial footsteps of his father, also John Redfern, who first opened a Cowes specialty clothing shop in 1811.[1][2] With the support of sons Ernest Redfern and Charles Poynter Redfern (1853-1929), John Redfern opened tailoring houses in London and Paris in 1881, followed by two shops in New York in 1884–85, one for tailoring, the other for furs.
The Redferns are credited with making tailored clothing chic for women. Previously resigned to utilitarian wear, finely tailored dresses and suits, as introduced by Redfern, quickly became a craze among sporting aristocrats on holiday at Cowes, spreading soon to Paris.[3] In the 1870s the Redfern yachting suit or dress was swiftly becoming the most recognizably English mode of fashionable apparel. In this way, the Redfern label was essentially the first high-end sportswear brand. By the early 1890s, due largely to the patronage of British and European royalty, Redfern's Paris house had developed into a full scale couture business.[1][2][4] Ernest directed the London and New York branches, while Charles, and later, John Poynter Redfern, ran the Paris salon.[1][2] From 1892, when Redfern's sons took control of the business, the house became known as Redfern Ltd.
The firm's American outlet, however, did not prove a success and was eventually partly sustained by a commercial sideline for ready-made corsets.[5] The house in New York also did not function as a couture establishment but as an importer of other Parisian fashion brands which were sold alongside its own products.[6] Like the Paris salon, the New York branch was originally advertised as a ladies' tailoring concern.[7] The first English-based couturier to open full-scale American branches in the U.S. and to enjoy a lengthy success there was Lucile in the 1910s and '20s.[8]
It was in 1871 that the house of Redfern first expanded its tailoring business to include the design and sale of silk dresses and mourning clothes.[1] But it was tailored garments for women who rode, played tennis and went yachting that remained the Redfern specialty. Although intended for specific sporting pursuits, these tailored dresses and suits were increasingly adopted as everyday wear by influential Redfern clients.[4] For example, in 1879 the house created a simple jersey traveling dress for Lillie Langtry, the noted beauty and actress popularly known as the "Jersey Lily," a name deriving from her birthplace in Jersey.[1] The dress was widely copied and remained a favorite in the Redfern line for many years. In 1888, Redfern was formally named Dressmaker By Royal Appointment to Her Majesty the Queen and H.R.H. The Princess of Wales.
Redfern Ltd. was credited with helping popularize the high-waisted, so-called Grecian style of 1908.[1] In the early 1910s, the house's designs were often illustrated in Gazette du Bon Ton along with six other leading Paris couturiers – Cheruit, Doeuillet, Doucet, Paquin, Poiret, and Worth. In 1916 Redfern created the first officially designated women's uniform for the Red Cross.[1]
The Paris headquarters of Redfern closed in 1932, briefly reopened in 1936, and closed again in 1940.[4]
GalleryEdit
Redfern designs as illustrated in La Gazette du Bon Ton, 1912–14.
'Blanc et Noir'. Theatre coat. 1912–1913.
'De la Pomme aux Levres'. Serpent fancy-dress costume. February 1913
'Vous Dites... Cancan II'. Dress for the races. March 1913
'Une Rose Parmi Les Roses'. Garden-party dress. April 1913
'Sera-t-Il Vainqueur, ou Les Angoisses d'une Joueuse' Suit for the races, July 1913
'Les Préparatifs de Noel'. Afternoon dress. January 1914
'Rugby'. Hobble-skirted suit. April 1914
Further readingEdit
North, Susan (2008) "John Redfern and Sons, 1847 to 1892" Costume 42: pp. 145–68
North, Susan (2009) "Redfern Limited, 1892 to 1940" Costume 43: pp. 85–108
ReferencesEdit
^ abcdefgCallan, Georgina O'Hara (1998), The Thames and Hudson Dictionary of Fashion and Fashion Designers, London: Thames & Hudson, ISBN0-500-20313-X
^ abc"1890 Doll" in the collection of the Metropolitan Museum, New York; Harper's Bazaar, October 1916, p. 37
^Bigham, Randy Bryan, Lucile - Her Life by Design (2012), pp. 19, 273; Vogue, April 15, 1910, p. 27.
External linksEdit
Redfern evening dress in Staten Island Historical Society Online Collections Database
Wikimedia Commons has media related to Redfern.
October 18, 2023
redfern, couture, john, redfern, redirects, here, author, edith, pargeter, redfern, sons, later, redfern, british, tailoring, firm, founded, john, redfern, 1820, 1895, cowes, isle, wight, that, developed, into, leading, european, couture, house, active, 1855, . John Redfern redirects here For the author see Edith Pargeter Redfern amp Sons later Redfern Ltd was a British tailoring firm founded by John Redfern 1820 1895 in Cowes on the Isle of Wight that developed into a leading European couture house active 1855 1932 1936 1940 By the early 1890s the business had branches in London Edinburgh Paris and New York The Paris extension was operated as a couture establishment while its other branches functioned primarily as tailors and importers A tailored jacket with gold embroidery by Redfern c 1880 PFF collection An 1885 advertisement for the New York branch of the English tailoring house of Redfern Gilda Darthy in a dinner dress and coat by Redfern Les Modes February 1908 Contents 1 History 2 Gallery 3 Further reading 4 References 5 External linksHistory EditJohn Redfern 11 November 1820 22 November 1895 started out as a tailor in Cowes in 1855 following in the sartorial footsteps of his father also John Redfern who first opened a Cowes specialty clothing shop in 1811 1 2 With the support of sons Ernest Redfern and Charles Poynter Redfern 1853 1929 John Redfern opened tailoring houses in London and Paris in 1881 followed by two shops in New York in 1884 85 one for tailoring the other for furs The Redferns are credited with making tailored clothing chic for women Previously resigned to utilitarian wear finely tailored dresses and suits as introduced by Redfern quickly became a craze among sporting aristocrats on holiday at Cowes spreading soon to Paris 3 In the 1870s the Redfern yachting suit or dress was swiftly becoming the most recognizably English mode of fashionable apparel In this way the Redfern label was essentially the first high end sportswear brand By the early 1890s due largely to the patronage of British and European royalty Redfern s Paris house had developed into a full scale couture business 1 2 4 Ernest directed the London and New York branches while Charles and later John Poynter Redfern ran the Paris salon 1 2 From 1892 when Redfern s sons took control of the business the house became known as Redfern Ltd The firm s American outlet however did not prove a success and was eventually partly sustained by a commercial sideline for ready made corsets 5 The house in New York also did not function as a couture establishment but as an importer of other Parisian fashion brands which were sold alongside its own products 6 Like the Paris salon the New York branch was originally advertised as a ladies tailoring concern 7 The first English based couturier to open full scale American branches in the U S and to enjoy a lengthy success there was Lucile in the 1910s and 20s 8 It was in 1871 that the house of Redfern first expanded its tailoring business to include the design and sale of silk dresses and mourning clothes 1 But it was tailored garments for women who rode played tennis and went yachting that remained the Redfern specialty Although intended for specific sporting pursuits these tailored dresses and suits were increasingly adopted as everyday wear by influential Redfern clients 4 For example in 1879 the house created a simple jersey traveling dress for Lillie Langtry the noted beauty and actress popularly known as the Jersey Lily a name deriving from her birthplace in Jersey 1 The dress was widely copied and remained a favorite in the Redfern line for many years In 1888 Redfern was formally named Dressmaker By Royal Appointment to Her Majesty the Queen and H R H The Princess of Wales Redfern Ltd was credited with helping popularize the high waisted so called Grecian style of 1908 1 In the early 1910s the house s designs were often illustrated in Gazette du Bon Ton along with six other leading Paris couturiers Cheruit Doeuillet Doucet Paquin Poiret and Worth In 1916 Redfern created the first officially designated women s uniform for the Red Cross 1 The Paris headquarters of Redfern closed in 1932 briefly reopened in 1936 and closed again in 1940 4 Gallery EditRedfern designs as illustrated in La Gazette du Bon Ton 1912 14 nbsp Blanc et Noir Theatre coat 1912 1913 nbsp De la Pomme aux Levres Serpent fancy dress costume February 1913 nbsp Vous Dites Cancan II Dress for the races March 1913 nbsp Une Rose Parmi Les Roses Garden party dress April 1913 nbsp Sera t Il Vainqueur ou Les Angoisses d une Joueuse Suit for the races July 1913 nbsp Les Preparatifs de Noel Afternoon dress January 1914 nbsp Rugby Hobble skirted suit April 1914Further reading EditNorth Susan 2008 John Redfern and Sons 1847 to 1892 Costume 42 pp 145 68 North Susan 2009 Redfern Limited 1892 to 1940 Costume 43 pp 85 108References Edit a b c d e f g Callan Georgina O Hara 1998 The Thames and Hudson Dictionary of Fashion and Fashion Designers London Thames amp Hudson ISBN 0 500 20313 X a b c 1890 Doll in the collection of the Metropolitan Museum New York Harper s Bazaar October 1916 p 37 Harper s Bazaar October 1916 p 37 a b c Redfern suit circa 1911 in the collections database of the Victoria amp Albert Museum London Newark Daily Advocate April 13 1885 Women s Wear Daily April 8 1915 Harper s Bazaar May 1916 p 96 Vogue October 1 1915 p 131 Vogue November 9 1893 p 511 Bigham Randy Bryan Lucile Her Life by Design 2012 pp 19 273 Vogue April 15 1910 p 27 External links EditRedfern evening dress in Staten Island Historical Society Online Collections Database nbsp Wikimedia Commons has media related to Redfern Retrieved from https en wikipedia org w index php title Redfern couture amp oldid 1115722356, wikipedia, wiki, book, books, library,
