Lucy, Lady Duff-Gordon

Lucy, Lady Duff-Gordon (born Lucy Christiana Sutherland, 13 June 1863 – 20 April 1935) was a British fashion designer in the late 19th and early 20th centuries. She used the professional name Lucile as a designer. Duff-Gordon was a widely known innovator in couture styles and in fashion industry relations.

Duff-Gordon was born in London, and died at 71 in Putney, London, of breast cancer. She also survived the RMS Titanic disaster in April 1912 alongside her husband Cosmo Duff-Gordon.

 Fashion innovations 
Using the first professional models, Lucy started the fashion show known as a "mannequin parade". These were the first runway or catwalk-style shows. She launched slit skirts and low necklines. She popularized less restrictive corsets, and simpler lingerie.Etherington-Smith, Meredith & Pilcher, Jeremy 1986. The "It" girls, Lady Duff Gordon, the couturiere 'Lucile', and Elinor Glyn, romantic novelist. Watermill Books,  56–57. De la Haye, Amy & Mendes, Valerie D. 2009. Lucile Ltd. V&A Publishing, 22, 26. 

Duff-Gordon opened branches of her London house, Lucile Ltd, in Paris, New York City, and Chicago, dressing royal and noble clients, and stage and film personalities.O'Hara, Georgina & Donovan, Carrie 1986. The encyclopedia of fashion. London: Thames & Hudson, 164. Bowles, Hamish November 1999. The look of the century. Vogue, 453.

 Books 
Duff-Gordon, Lucy 1932. Discretions and indiscretions. Jarrolds. Her autobiography.

 References 

Category:British fashion designers
Category:Cancer deaths in England
Category:Deaths from breast cancer
Category:People from London
Category:RMS Titanic survivors
Category:1863 births
Category:1935 deaths