The Architect of American Elegance In the early decades of the twentieth century, a transformative spirit emerged from the heart of America, challenging the long-standing hegemony of Parisian fashion. Jessie Franklin Turner, born in St. Louis in 1881, was not merely a designer; she was a visionary who sought to define a uniquely American aesthetic. Raised in an environment rich with the textures of singing, painting, and sculpture, Tur…