Golden Age Of Courture: Paris And London 1947 1957

Description

Secondhand.

This lavish book focuses on Parisian and British couture between 1947 and 1957, a decade that Christian Dior described as fashion's 'golden age'. Dior's 'New Look' collection of 1947 shocked and delighted the fashion world, creating a style that symbolised a new femininity. The full skirts and hour glass silhouettes were considered highly decadent, synonymous with luxury and extravagance, in marked contrast to the austerity of the war 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 designers such as Balenciaga, Balmain, Givenchy, and Dior as well as evocative photographs by the likes of Richard Avedon and Cecil Beaton.

Author description

Claire Wilcox is Senior Curator in the V&A's Textiles & Fashion department. She curated the highly successful exhibitions Vivienne Westwood (V&A 2004),The Art and Craft of Gianni Versace (V&A 2002) and Radical Fashion (V&A 2001) and edited the accompanying books. She is also the author of Bags (V&A 1999) and Modern Fashion in Detail with Valerie Mendes (V&A 1998).