Mimi Monette
1914: Born on August 15th in Seattle.
1929: Graduated from Franklin High School, Seattle.
1930: Parents divorce. Mimi and her twin sister move with her mother to
Los Angeles to live with Dr. Elmer Belt, and his wife Ruth, who was sister of
Mimi's mother. Enrolled in fall of 1930 at UCLA to study art.
1934: Graduate in June from UCLA with Bachelor of Education. Trained to teach art. Sister married a German surgeon. Turned down a proposal from an architect named John Boit Cabot.
1936: Moved to Paris to study fashion illustration at the Ecole des Beaux Arts.
1939: After war was declared the American Embassy in Paris arranged for her return to USA by ship. Enrolled at Parsons School. Studied under Van Day Truex.
1942: Returned to Los Angeles to work for Twentieth Century Fox under Travis Banton. Designed costumes for the lesser leading ladies in a movie, as well as details on costumes for Rita Hayworth, Carole Lombard, Sonje Henie, Anne Baxter.
1943: Went to study mural painting in Mexico at The University of Mexico. Met a man who worked at the American Embassy in Mexico City. Got married.
1946: After a disastrous marriage, and divorce, Mimi began her career as a fashion illustrator on the staff at Bullock's Downtown. Worked for Frank Rice, who was
head of advertising.
1955: Moved to Bullock's Wilshire, but as Free Lance.
1960: Moved to I.Magnin on the staff, and then Free Lance.
1985: Worked for Rizzoli, and for several smaller dress shops in Pasadena, and for a NYC manufacturer.
2000: Retired.
Mimi Monette and Jack Potter:
1942: Met Jack Potter at a social event at Art Center. Potter was spotted by Mr. Adams as a promising student, and ultimately worked as a teacher at Art Center.
Potter was younger than Mimi, but introduced himself. He often used her as a model. She was NOT a professional model, and only did this work for Potter.
1949: Mimi claims that she was the person who encouraged Potter to move to NYC.
1954: Potter became friendly with Eric.
1958: Eric died in NYC. Potter helped dispose of works in his studio. Three drawings were bought by Mimi, and now sold to me. Came from studio sale.