The Golden Age of Couture: Paris and London 1947-1957Claire Wilcox In 1947, Christian Dior's "New Look" was greeted with both shock and delight, making headlines around the world. Accompanying the exhibition opening at the Victoria and Albert Museum in September 2007, this lavish book focuses on Parisian and British couture between 1947 and 1957, the decade Dior hailed as fashion's "golden age." The "New Look" symbolized a new femininity. The full skirts and hourglass silhouettes were considered highly decadent, synonymous with luxury and prosperity, in marked contrast to the austerity of the WWII years. Nevertheless, the "New Look" caught the public imagination and ushered in a period of remarkable creativity. The Golden Age of Couture features stunning gowns and exquisite tailoring from Dior as well as from such designers as Balenciaga, Balmain, and Givenchy, along with evocative photographs by the likes of Richard Avedon and Cecil Beaton. This beautifully designed book reveals the skill and craftsmanship of haute couture along with the inner workings of the exclusive design houses, and the inspiration behind some of the most famous styles of all time. |
From inside the book
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Page 84
... cocktail dress . The bodice's composition of curving pleats with a pattern suggestive of waves fits closely to the body ; the dress then tapers to a narrow waist , and swells into a full skirt of soft pleats . Referencing the colouring ...
... cocktail dress . The bodice's composition of curving pleats with a pattern suggestive of waves fits closely to the body ; the dress then tapers to a narrow waist , and swells into a full skirt of soft pleats . Referencing the colouring ...
Page 221
... dress 5.11 coat 5.12 dresses 49 , 172 , 7.9 , 7.15 , 7.17 , 7.18 , 8.17 , 8.25 stockings 2.18 Fémina magazine 192 ... cocktail dress 4.16 dresses for Princess Margaret 179 , 8.3 ' Flowers of the Fields of France ' evening gown 106 , 164 ...
... dress 5.11 coat 5.12 dresses 49 , 172 , 7.9 , 7.15 , 7.17 , 7.18 , 8.17 , 8.25 stockings 2.18 Fémina magazine 192 ... cocktail dress 4.16 dresses for Princess Margaret 179 , 8.3 ' Flowers of the Fields of France ' evening gown 106 , 164 ...
Page 222
... dress 2.17 suits 94 , 2.2 , 4.4 , 4.5 theatre ensemble 8.4 , 8.6 , 8.7 Mosca , Bianca 91 , 102 , 106 , 4.2 , 4.11 ... cocktail dress 8.2 waspie 2.8 Poole , Henry 16 Pope - Hennessy , John 20 , 160–61 , 167 Provost , Jean 51 Q Quant ...
... dress 2.17 suits 94 , 2.2 , 4.4 , 4.5 theatre ensemble 8.4 , 8.6 , 8.7 Mosca , Bianca 91 , 102 , 106 , 4.2 , 4.11 ... cocktail dress 8.2 waspie 2.8 Poole , Henry 16 Pope - Hennessy , John 20 , 160–61 , 167 Provost , Jean 51 Q Quant ...
Contents
List of Contributors | 6 |
The New Look Claire Wilcox | 60 |
5 | 113 |
Copyright | |
3 other sections not shown
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