Jacques

No, Jacques Marcel was not a real designer. He was a fictional character mentioned on the television show I Love Lucy in the 1956 episode “Lucy Gets a Paris Gown.” In the show, Lucy wants to purchase an expensive gown from a Parisian fashion designer, but Ricky attempts to trick her by sewing a Jacques Marcel label into a dress made of a flour sack. Today, the faux Marcel-designed frock is displayed at the Lucille Ball & Desi Arnaz Museum in Jamestown, New York. Although his dress wasn't made of burlap, Hubert de Givenchy did unveil a dress nicknamed the Sack dress in the 1950s. It featured a straight cut and was fashioned out of soft materials, giving it a fluid, draped appearance. On 1stDibs, explore a wide range of vintage dresses.

A few things characterized the work of Émile-Jacques Ruhlmann. By the end of his career, he was best known for being a skilled ensemblier, a term for a designer who not only makes furniture and decorates spaces but personally crafts each and every piece required in the space, from doorknobs to sofas. This practice ensured that the space was harmonious and consistent with Ruhlmann’s vision, and it contributed to the lasting popularity of his designs. While the Arts and Crafts and Art Nouveau movements were early influences, he is renowned for the modernity of his Art Deco designs, which reflected the opulent nature of the era, involving luxurious materials like Macassar ebony, amboyna burl, ivory and precious metals and skilled craftsmanship and construction techniques. Explore a variety of Émile-Jacques Ruhlmann furniture on 1stDibs.