I've always considered any garment by Paul Poiret to be my Holy Grail of vintage finds. If I ever do find a Poiret, you might hear me screaming across the country or across the ocean. This Paul Poiret coat dates to about 1919 and is in the collection of the Metropolitan Museum of Art. The coat itself is a black silk/wool blend adorned with white leather that has been intricately cut into a filigree pattern. The leather is sewn by hand onto the black fabric. A fur collar finishes off the garment.
Detail shot of the leatherwork and hand stitching.