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Couture, the Great Designers
Offers profiles of the top fashion designers of the past and present, shows examples of their work, and describes the innovations and characteristic styles of each designer
- GenresFashion
430 pages, Hardcover
First published September 1, 1997
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Displaying 1 - 4 of 4 reviews
January 17, 2008
Pros: Designers are divided by the prevailing aesthetic of the house rather than chronologically. Sections include The Founders who made couture what it is; The Purists who focus on functional clothes for the active woman; The Entertainers who treat couture like theater; and The Architects who focus on construction.
The section on the originators of modern couture was particularly interesting. That felt like an honest evaluation of a career while some of the chapters on contemporary designers felt slightly fawning.
The big, colorful pictures are such eye candy I think my pupils may need to start a New Year's diet.
Cons: It was published in 1985.
Not only does Milbank lean toward a preppy aesthetic (see 1985), but she almost completely ignores British and Italian fashion houses. Oddly enough, the author seems dismissive of Parisian powerhouse Dior.
Favorite tidbits: Coco Chanel was a peasant orphan, a past she never tried to hide. She wore piles of costume jewelry to mock "kept" women.
Modern couture was created by an Englishman.
The section on the originators of modern couture was particularly interesting. That felt like an honest evaluation of a career while some of the chapters on contemporary designers felt slightly fawning.
The big, colorful pictures are such eye candy I think my pupils may need to start a New Year's diet.
Cons: It was published in 1985.
Not only does Milbank lean toward a preppy aesthetic (see 1985), but she almost completely ignores British and Italian fashion houses. Oddly enough, the author seems dismissive of Parisian powerhouse Dior.
Favorite tidbits: Coco Chanel was a peasant orphan, a past she never tried to hide. She wore piles of costume jewelry to mock "kept" women.
Modern couture was created by an Englishman.
February 10, 2017
A great way to read about all the famous old couture designers. Wonderful photos
May 4, 2013
Great reference book.
November 2, 2016
A must read for any fan of fashion history.
Displaying 1 - 4 of 4 reviews