Juli Lynne Charlot, the inventor of the iconic poodle skirt, passed away at the age of 101 in Tepoztlán, Mexico. Born Shirley Agin in Manhattan to Jewish immigrants, she stumbled upon the design for the poodle skirt out of necessity when she had no money for a party outfit. The skirt, made of felt with appliquéd figures, became a symbol of 1950s fashion and youth culture.
Charlot, a former Hollywood singer married to a British viscount, had no sewing skills but managed to create a skirt that became a sensation. The poodle skirt, with its voluminous fabric and playful designs, was a hit among women and adolescent girls in the postwar era.
Despite her lack of business skills, Charlot’s poodle skirt factory thrived with the help of investors and orders from exclusive department stores. The skirts, adorned with various appliqués, sold for a hefty price in the 1950s.
Charlot’s personal life was as colorful as her designs, with four marriages to millionaires and nobility. Her marriage to the viscount did not last, but her legacy as a fashion designer endures.
In her later years, Charlot focused on creating contemporary Mexican wedding dresses in Tepoztlán. The poodle skirt may have been replaced by the miniskirt in the Swinging Sixties, but its impact on fashion and culture remains undeniable.
Even Queen Elizabeth II was captured wearing a poodle skirt at a hoedown in Canada in 1951, showcasing the widespread popularity of Charlot’s creation. The poodle skirt will always be remembered as a symbol of a carefree era and youthful exuberance.
