Marcel Rochas

Marcel Rochas (1902–1955) was a Parisian couturier who opened his fashion house on Place Beauvau in 1925 at age 23, encouraged by Jean Cocteau, Christian Bérard, and Paul Poiret. He pioneered 2/3-length coats and, alongside Elsa Schiaparelli, padded shoulders in 1931, dressing clients including Mae West, Marlene Dietrich, and Carole Lombard. He launched Rochas's first perfume in 1934 and closed his couture house in 1952 to focus fully on fragrance, including Eau de Roche (1946). He died in 1955; his wife Hélène took over the business, which continues today as a major fragrance house.