Chapter 3 : Poétesse
"Poétesse" [Fr, noun]: A weaver of words, she captures the essence of the world in verse.
Poétesse is a piece born from a desire for poetry and escape, for volume and refined details.
A high collar, puffed sleeves, embroidered trims — so many elements inspired by period shirts, yet making it a thoroughly contemporary piece, steeped in history. Classic in its references, resolutely modern in its silhouette.
FRENCH SAVOIR-FAIRE
To bring the embroideries of Poétesse and Esquisse to life, we collaborated with a historic workshop in Northern France — the cradle of mechanical embroidery since the 19th century. Heir to a savoir-faire passed down through three generations, the atelier blends tradition and innovation to create unique patterns using high-precision embroidery machines. Together, we designed two exclusive trims inspired by the friezes of the Hôtel de Bourrienne — a tribute to heritage and elegance.
THE FRIEZES OF THE HÔTEL DE BOURRIENNE
Built in 1787, the Hôtel de Bourrienne is a jewel of Parisian heritage. As the last remaining witness of its era, it still preserves the Directoire era decor — frescoes, moldings, friezes — that continue to whisper echoes of another time.
Some of these friezes inspired the embroidery on two iconic pieces from our collection: Esquisse and Poétesse. The Esquisse design features the delicate motifs of Fortunée Hamelin’s bedroom — a flamboyant muse of the Merveilleuses, who turned the Hôtel into a vibrant hub of social gatherings. The Poétesse shirt, meanwhile, draws inspiration from a hand-painted fresco nestled in the intimacy of her bathroom.
SIGNATURE DETAILS
THE BOURRIENNE CUT
We created the Bourrienne cut to offer a new silhouette in shirting, inspired by the romantic volumes of the past. A series of gathers at the back panel adds movement and ease. Our signature fit.
THE EMBROIDERIES
The Maison has chosen to embroider its logo in white-on-white, as well as on the hirondelle (the small shoulder pleat). Similarly, the name of each shirt is embroidered on the inside of the right cuff.
Written by Bourrienne Paris X
