Juli Lynne Charlot

Juli Lynne Charlot (born Shirley Ann Agin; October 26, 1922 – March 3, 2024) was an American singer, actress, and fashion designer. She first became a singer, appearing in several films, and also performed alongside the Marx Brothers. She created the poodle skirt in 1947, and made circle skirts during her career as a fashion designer. Later on, she made variations of Mexican dress while in Mexico, which led to her purchase of a manufacturing plant in Mexico City to produce and sell the variations.

Early life and career Born Shirley Ann Agin on October 26, 1922, in Manhattan, New York City to a Jewish family. Charlot began taking voice lessons at the age of 13. Charlot appeared on stage at the Ziegfeld Theatre in The Red Mill in 1945 and also appeared in several films, including Night in Paradise in 1946 in which she was cast as a singer.

Fashion designer In 1947, at age 25, Charlot was invited to a Christmas party in Los Angeles and planned to create a dress for the event. Having little money, though, she decided to make her own skirt to wear, instead. Charlot stated in February 1953 "If I had known how to sew, or had the money to purchase better materials, I would have never made the circle skirt." Additionally, Charlot's mother owned a factory which used felt, which allowed her to use that material.

While in Mexico in the 1980s, Charlot took interest in a classic Mexican wedding dress and decided to create variations on it. This resulted in her purchase of a manufacturing plant in Mexico City to produce and export these dresses worldwide. In early 2009, the Izcalli Boutique in Cuernavaca presented an offering of some of the original designs that were still in Charlot's possession. The trunk show was a huge success and was accompanied by a Juli Lynne Calendar full of photos from her career.

Charlot died at her home in Tepoztlán on March 3, 2024, at age 101.