 'Chanel'
by Francois Baudot contains 68 pictures of Chanel, her couture and Lagerfeld
on a total of 80 pages. The front cover shows a superb picture of Coco
Chanel in 1935 when she was photographed by Man Ray. This book truly captures
the essence of Chanel who was a great beauty in her day. It shows old black
and white pictures of Chanel dressed up in 1920s gear, features Chanel
with her various lovers and is lovingly illustrated by Karl Lagerfeld.
The book is very much alive as it also features sleek models in Lagerfeld's
Chanel revival design. Chanel - this grand woman of the 20th century will
always stay a legend. Karl Lagerfeld has managed to preserve this legend
and with his interpretation of it to create a counterweight to Milan's
Pret à Porter culture.
Hardcover, 80 pages, Medium Size 16x22 cm Official Price: USD 19, GBP 13, DEM 34 To order in the US or world-wide: Amazon.com To order in the United Kingdom: Amazon.co.uk To order in Germany (auf deutsch): Amazon.de |
 'Dior'
by Marie-France Pochna has some superb pictures of Dior's various haute
couture models. The couturier who gained world fame with his 'New Look'
in 1947, sought to create a more feminine silhouette with small waists,
wide skirts and low-cut décolletés (necklines). Pochna is
an expert on Dior as she has published an earlier biography on the fashion
designer in 1994 ('Christian Dior' by Marie-France Pochna, Flammarion Publishing
House, 1994) By comparison this book has been published in 1997.
For more than 50 years the name of Dior has been a synonym for luxury and
fashion. Born into a well-to-do family, Dior must have been influenced
at an early age by his elegant mother. Good luck enables him to meet Marcel
Boussac, one of France's most powerful men in the mid 1940s, who agrees
to provide finance.
Hardcover, 80 pages, Medium Size 16x22 cm Official Price: USD 19, GBP 13, DEM 34 To order in the US or world-wide: Amazon.com To order in the United Kingdom: Amazon.co.uk To order in Germany (auf deutsch): Amazon.de |
 'Jean
Paul Gaultier' by Farid Chenoune recounts the experiments of the 'Enfant
Terrible' (French for 'terrible child') of French fashion. Inspired by
the streets of London and Paris, Jean Paul Gaultier's fashion is for the
trendy, creative set - the avant-garde young. Gaultier likes to shock,
to be non conformist. This book does capture the essence of Gaultier -
shocking, punk and Parisian. Of the 80 pages, there are 51 photos. Don't'
miss the excellent pictures of glamour girl Madonna and the one with Naomi
Campbell naked - at least that is what it looks like. At the end of the
book there is a comprehensive CV of Gaultier's life - complete with his
early days at Pierre Cardin, the two years at Patou, his time in Manila,
the founding of his own couture house and the numerous collections. For
all Gaultier fans a book that is not to miss.
Hardcover, 80 pages, Medium Size 16x22 cm Official Price: USD 19, GBP 13, DEM 34 To order in the US or world-wide: Amazon.com To order in the United Kingdom: Amazon.co.uk To order in Germany (auf deutsch): Amazon.de |
 'Christian
Lacroix' by Francois Baudot has similar to Baudot's Chanel book many
photos of Lacroix couture models, a good introductory text and informative
biography of the fashion designer himself. 49 pictures, sketches and photos
show the designer himself, his wife Francoise, sketches for his dresses,
pictures that have inspired him, haute couture models and Lacroix jewellery.
The book has a total of 80 pages.The introductory text gives a good overview
of what has influenced Lacroix, whose couture house was sponsored by elegant
Frenchman Bernard Arnault who chairs luxury group LVMH (Louis Vuitton Moet
Hennessy).
Hardcover, 80 pages, Medium Size 16x22 cm Official Price: USD 19, GBP 13, DEM 34 To order in the US or world-wide: Amazon.com To order in the United Kingdom: Amazon.co.uk To order in Germany (auf deutsch): Amazon.de |
 'Yves
Saint Laurent' by Pierre Bergé recounts the story of the 'Wunderkind'
of French couture - Yves Saint Laurent. The book is lovingly written by
Yves Saint Laurent's business partner Pierre Bergé. The two adventurous
young men decide, after Saint Laurent has left Dior, to open a new couture
house together and without any money. They make it - as we now know. In
1962 they manage to present their first couture collection to the public.
Over the years more than 70 collections are presented. Yves Saint Laurent
also designs costumes for the theatre, the ballet and the cinema. Many
famous actors have their costumes made by YSL. He is also a couturier that
has been largely inspired by modern art: Mondrian, Andy Warhol and Lichtenstein
have all had their influence on the designer.
Hardcover, 80 pages, Medium Size 16x22 cm Official Price: USD 19, GBP 13, DEM 34 To order in the US or world-wide: Amazon.com To order in the United Kingdom: Amazon.co.uk To order in Germany (auf deutsch): Amazon.de |
 'Emanuel
Ungaro' by Christine Urban captures the essence and style of Ungaro.
Urban, a great friend of the couturier, interviews Ungaro and interprets
his style on a total of 80 pages. Many pictures are included. She explains
that Ungaro dresses women for himself and then for his fellow men. This
is what makes the Ungaro women so desirable. Ungaro, who trained with Cristobal
Balenciaga (1895-1972) the couturier of the couturiers, has not only followed
in his master's footsteps. Famous women such as Catherine Deneuve, Isabelle
Adjani, Anouk Aimée and Sharon Stone can testify that as it was
Ungaro who provided the costumes for many of their films. But also a Mrs.
Onassis, Mrs. Niarchos, Madame Bettencourt and a Marie-Hélène
Rothschild have enjoyed the style of Ungaro.
Hardcover, 80 pages, Medium Size 16x22 cm Official Price: GBP 13, DEM 42 To order in the United Kingdom: Amazon.co.uk To order in Germany (auf englisch): Amazon.de |
 'Balenciaga'
by Marie-Andrée Jouve depicts the life and the 4 couture houses
of the 'couturier des couturiers' - Cristobal Balenciaga. Crowned heads,
the European nobility, American moneyed aristocracy, millionaires and stars
were his clients: The Queen of Spain, Queen Fabiola of Belgium, Princess
Grace of Monaco, the Duchess of Windsor, Princess Bismarck, the Duchess
of Cadiz, Pauline de Rothschild, Gloria Guinness, Marlene Dietrich, Barbara
Hutton, Ginger Rogers and Ingrid Bergmann - to name a few. Superb pictures
of his extravagant models (hats with wood grouse feathers, balloon dresses,
ermine collars, paletots, ladies' suits with tiny waists, boleros, evening
dresses) and photos of the designer himself.
Hardcover, 80 pages, Medium Size 16x22 cm Official Price: USD 19, GBP 13, DEM 34 To order in the US or world-wide: Amazon.com To order in the United Kingdom: Amazon.co.uk To order in Germany (auf deutsch): Amazon.de |
 'Lanvin'
by Elisabeth Barillé tells about Jeanne Lanvin's life (1867 - 1946),
the close relationship she had with her daughter Marie-Blanche, who later
marries the Count Polignac, her fashion house and the creation of the Lanvin
perfumes. The book has a total of 80 pages and contains 52 photos and pictures.
Similarly to the books on the other fashion designers it gives an extremely
good and abbreviated insight into Lanvin, without having to read a more
voluminous biography. As the eldest of 11 children Lanvin is set for a
fashion career from the very start when she spends her childhood designing
and making clothes for her dolls. It is no wonder that at the age of 18
she is ready to found her own fashion house. At the height of her career
Lanvin lets her models parade on transatlantic cruises between Paris and
New York.
Hardcover, 80 pages, Medium Size 16x22 cm Official Price: DEM 34 To order in Germany (auf deutsch): Amazon.de |
Fashion Overview Books:
 'Vogue
Twentieth Century Fashion - 100 Years of Style by Decade and Designer'
is another superb book, which we recommend. Written by Linda Watson it
is very informative and also has the status of a coffee table book. The
book contains the biographies of 245 international fashion designers and
couturiers. It starts off with a description about the various fashion
decades of the 20th Century. Entertaining are the quotes from old Vogue
magazines about the latest fashion trends. The oldest Vogue, which is quoted
is from 19 August 1909. Needless to say that there are many pictures and
photos on each page.
Hardcover, 254 pages, Large Size 24x28 cm Official Price: USD 28, GBP 19, DEM 79 To order in the US or world-wide: Amazon.com To order in the United Kingdom: Amazon.co.uk To order in Germany (auf englisch): Amazon.de |
 'Fashion
- The Twentieth Century' by Francois Baudot is the book to read if
you really want to gain an insight into 20th century fashion trends. Its
five page bibliography is the most comprehensive list of any fashion book
we have come across. Baudot is an expert and this is what makes the book
so enjoyable. There are many pictures and the text flows and is very informative.
There are also separate features on the important designers/couturiers
of the 20th century. A historical review of fashion is presented at the
beginning of the book and at the start of each of the eleven sections.
Paperback, 400 pages, Medium Size 15x21 cm Official Price: USD 24, GBP 21, DEM 68 To order in the US or world-wide: Amazon.com To order in the United Kingdom: Amazon.co.uk To order in Germany (auf englisch): Amazon.de |
 '20th
Century Fashion' by John Peacock contains 1100 colour illustations
/sketches about couture wear, underwear, leisure wear, day wear, evening
wear, bridal wear and accessories of the 20th century. The sketches and
descriptions are divided into 10 year periods to cover the years from 1910
to 1990. The preface has been written by French couturier Christian Lacroix
who starts by saying: "You have just opened a book which would have been
one of the most wonderful gifts anyone could have given to me when, as
a child and a young man, I searched avidly for information about the fashions
of the early twentieth century." Historical and existant couturiers are
mentioned with their biographies at the end. Also the development of 20th
century fashion is charted in 5 year periods explaining what the silhouette,
neckline, sleevves, skirt, fabric and accessories looked like in the respective
period.
Hardcover, 240 pages, Large Size 21x29 cm Official Price: USD 28, GBP 24, DEM 79 To order in the US or world-wide: Amazon.com To order in the United Kingdom: Amazon.co.uk To order in Germany (auf englisch): Amazon.de |
 'The
Art of Haute Couture' is illustrated by photographer Victor Skrebneski's
breathtaking closeups of the master couturiers' finest creations. It is
a sumptuous coffee table book, which explores the art of haute couture,
its line, texture, drape & pleat, sweep & volume, ornament, illusion
and drama. The text is by Laura Jacobs. The book also contains a bibliography
of the famous couturiers - past and present. Amazing dream dresses are
modelled by beautiful women. Superb dresses by Ungaro,Givenchy, Féraud,
Claude Montana for Lanvin, Gianfranco Ferré for Christian Dior,
Christian Lacroix, Scherrer, Geoffrey Beene, Valentino,Guy Laroche, Galanos,
Karl Lagerfeld for Chanel, Worth, Paul Poiret, Madeleine Vionnet, Balenciaga,
Versace, Gérard Pipart for Nina Ricci, Vera Wang, Erik Mortensen
for Balmain - to name a few.
Hardcover, 176 pages, Large Size 25x33 cm Official Price: USD 75, GBP 55, DEM 170 To order in the US or world-wide: Amazon.com To order in the United Kingdom: Amazon.co.uk To order in Germany (auf englisch): Amazon.de |
 The
book 'Haute Couture' by Martin and Harold Koda was published to
accompany an exhibition at the Metropolitan Museum's Costume Institute
in New York. Chanel's Karl Lagerfeld and Gianni Versace have not only written
the introduction to the book but have also contributed to the exhibition.
The book explores what constitutes haute couture and recounts its origins
starting with the French House of Worth in the middle years of the 19th
century. Paul Poiret's Orientalism is recalled as well as the popular appeal
of Christan Dior's 'New Look' in 1947. Gabrielle Chanel, Jeanne Lanvin
and Jean Patou are other legends that are named. Madeleine Vionnet, Alix
Grès, Elsa Schiaparelli, Cristobal Balenciaga, Christian Dior, Pierre
Cardin and Yves Saint Laurent are also covered. A substantial part of the
book are the many photos of couture dresses that are presented on mannequin
dummies.
Hardcover, 118 pages, Large Size 22x29 cm Official Price: USD 45, GBP 30, DEM 34 To order in the US or world-wide: Amazon.com To order in the United Kingdom: Amazon.co.uk |
 The
book 'Haute Couture & Pret-à-Porter' by Ietse Meij has
been written on occasion of the new Fashion Gallery of the Municipal Museum
of The Hague. It covers fashion from 1750 - 2000. Ietse Meij, who is the
Curator of the Costume Collection of the Municipal Museum of The Hague,
presides over one of the most authoritative international collections of
Western fashion clothing. The collection, which starts in 1750 comprises
more than 45,000 items of fashion clothing. The book is an excerpt of what
is probably the best couture dresses the collection has. Needless to say
there are many pictures of the models on presentation. Ietse Meij presents
models from Worth, who is seen as the originator of Haute Couture, Madeleine
Vionnet, Alex Barton (Madame Grès), Coco Chanel, Cristobal Balenciaga,
Christian Dior (the 'New Look'), Hubert de Givenchy, Emanuel Ungaro, Yves
Saint Laurent and Jean Paul Gaultier.
Paperback, 128 pages, Large Size 23x30 cm Official Price: USD 30, GBP 21, DEM 68 To order in the US or world-wide: Amazon.com To order in the United Kingdom: Amazon.co.uk To order in Germany (auf deutsch): Amazon.de |
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and world-wide, Amazon.co.uk for the UK or Amazon.de for Germany. |