caption death_date death_place birth_place label_name nationality birth_date image article_title name
lucile in 1919 , photographed by arnold genthe 20 april 1935 putney , london , england london , england lucile ltd. english 13 june 1863 ladyduffgordon-1919 . jpg lucy , lady duff-gordon
 lucy , lady duff-gordon
lucy , lady duff-gordon

lucy christiana , lady duff-gordon -lrb- née sutherland -rrb- -lrb- 13 june 1863 -- 20 april 1935 -rrb- was a leading fashion designer in the late 19th and early 20th centuries , best known as `` lucile '' , her professional name .
lucile , the first british-based designer to achieve international acclaim , was a widely acknowledged innovator in couture styles as well as in fashion industry public relations .
apart from originating the `` mannequin parade '' , a precursor to the modern fashion show , and training the first professional models , she launched liberating slit skirts and low necklines , popularized less restrictive corsets and promoted alluring and pared-down lingerie .
opening branches of her london house , lucile ltd , in paris , new york city , and chicago , her business became the first global couture brand , dressing a trend-setting clientele of royalty , nobility and stage and film personalities .
duff-gordon is also remembered as a survivor of the sinking of `` titanic '' in 1912 , and as the losing party in the precedent-setting 1917 contract law case of `` wood v. lucy , lady duff-gordon '' , in which judge benjamin n. cardozo wrote the opinion for new york 's highest court , the new york court of appeals .
