Pauline Adam de la Bruyère (1900-1984) was one of the great Parisian milliners of the 20th century. She began in 1921, in a small millinery shop established with a friend. She took the name Paulette in 1929 and in 1939 started her famous Paulette-Modes.
Paulette is credited with the popularization of the turban during the years of WWII. The story goes that she developed the idea for her turbans while bicycling around Paris. It was a practical head covering that was in step with the needs of a war-torn era.
Paulette had a very long career, working until the later years of her life. In the 1960s she worked extensively in fur. She also designed hats to go with the collections of various couturiers, including those of Chanel, Ungaro, and Laroche.
Written by fuzzylizzie
from a late-1930s hat
Courtesy of Rue de la Paix
from an early 1950s hat
Courtesy of fuzzylizzie.com