Emilie Martin

Emilie Martin 1920 ~ 2007 Emilie Martin, whose legendary sense of style and glamour inspired generations of Salt Lakers, died in Salt Lake City on July 2, 2007 at the age of 87. She was born Emilie Segil in Salt Lake to parents Henry and Julia Segil on February 22, 1920 and grew up in one of the city's fashionable new East Bench bungalow neighborhoods, Westmoreland Place. She graduated from East High. In the 1950s, she and her brother Adrien took over their parents' business and established Adrien 'n Emilie, a millinery shop on Main Street. The store gradually expanded to include women's apparel and moved to a beautiful, new, three-floor location on Main where, by the mid-1960's, it was regarded as the most chic, the most au courant of boutiques in a bustling pre-mall downtown. At its pinnacle, Adrien 'n Emilie dressed its patrons in an international stylishness that would have looked hip in London's Carnaby Street or Paris or New York. Many women remember that Emilie, ever the marketing innovator, utilized an atomizer above the entrance to spray a dash of Adrien 'n Emilie's irresistible Parisian perfume out to the street, doubtlessly enticing many shoppers through the door. Male clientele remember holiday gift-buying and having Adrien whisk them down the spiral staircase and into a lower level bar where, ever the gracious host, Adrien would offer a pre-shopping (and probably illegal) cocktail. In 1962, Emilie married the love of her life, William Martin. "Bill", as everyone called him, was handsome, dashing, charming and everything Emilie wanted. He was known to their many friends as "the Cary Grant of Salt Lake". Together, they were enduring arts supporters, ceaseless entertainers and they traveled the world. At the end of her life, there was almost no place on earth Emilie hadn't been. Bill died in 1988. Emilie is preceded in death by her brother, Adrien Segil and her husband, William Martin. She is survived by her cousins, Marshall Smith and Robert Segil. In her last few years Emilie was befriended and devotedly cared for by Mayte Bastida. There will be a viewing at Evans & Early Mortuary on Friday, the 6th of June from 7-9 p.m. At Emilie's request there will be no memorial service. But she will be remembered by her family and friends for her optimism, gratitude, appreciation of the good things and joie de vivre. As Emilie always said, "Here's to more!"