What do you think?
Rate this book
Fashion: 150 Years of Couturiers, Designers, Labels
Fashion - that means glamour, creativity and always the expression of a certain attitude toward life. This book is devoted to the legendary world of fashion from its origins in the nineteenth century until our own time. Which social, historical and cultural developments coalesced to allow fashion to become what it is today? Which designers had especially significant impact on their fashion eras, and what did their creations look like? Informative chapters that introduce each era coupled with extensive portraits of the groundbreaking fashion icons and countless expressive photographs work together to form a comprehensive portrayal of the rapid development that took fashion from the liberation of women from the corset all the way to the creations of modern designers.
512 pages, Hardcover
First published November 1, 2010
19 people are currently reading
416 people want to read
Ratings & Reviews
Friends & Following
Create a free account to discover what your friends think of this book!
Community Reviews
Displaying 1 - 6 of 6 reviews
January 11, 2022
New drinking game: Take a shot every time Seeling uses the same tone for "corset" or "hedonist" in the exact tone a Karen's Karen would speak of "the Devil's cabbage" while clutching her pearls.
Well, this sat on my dresser for over a year before I finally cracked it open. As a survey, it's half decent. In a rare moment of kindness, I will say the copy needs another round and a half of editing at least. The information was generic, dripping with hostile opinions (until they became favourable opinions c.1970s), and just bad. According Seeling, ALL women in the 1950s had no aspirations other than being picture perfect wives, consuming all and sundry, and with no further ambition than to be perfectly subservient to their husbands. Beg pardon? Did this person read an outdated textbook and forget that a decent chunk of women from the 1950s are still alive? Given how all women pre-1920s flappers received the same broad statements, I'm going assume possibly?
There were several points where something interesting would be thrown in out of context with no follow-up. Just like the presented information, the included pictures were generic, almost painfully so. If this had been published in 2000 rather than 2010, having these pictures would make sense. In a post-Google images world, however, it takes Seeling's efforts from half-hearted to outright lazy as most of the pictures would be in the first to pop up if you searched a designer's name.
I'm still disappointed in this book, but at least I'm not angry anymore. And it's more thing off my TBR.
Well, this sat on my dresser for over a year before I finally cracked it open. As a survey, it's half decent. In a rare moment of kindness, I will say the copy needs another round and a half of editing at least. The information was generic, dripping with hostile opinions (until they became favourable opinions c.1970s), and just bad. According Seeling, ALL women in the 1950s had no aspirations other than being picture perfect wives, consuming all and sundry, and with no further ambition than to be perfectly subservient to their husbands. Beg pardon? Did this person read an outdated textbook and forget that a decent chunk of women from the 1950s are still alive? Given how all women pre-1920s flappers received the same broad statements, I'm going assume possibly?
There were several points where something interesting would be thrown in out of context with no follow-up. Just like the presented information, the included pictures were generic, almost painfully so. If this had been published in 2000 rather than 2010, having these pictures would make sense. In a post-Google images world, however, it takes Seeling's efforts from half-hearted to outright lazy as most of the pictures would be in the first to pop up if you searched a designer's name.
I'm still disappointed in this book, but at least I'm not angry anymore. And it's more thing off my TBR.
December 7, 2017
Great book !
April 9, 2013
A beautiful book, whose scope and clarity will no doubt be a joy for readers interested in fashion and cultural history. I particularly liked the way fashion and designers' trends are described in the context of the ideas of their time and the business challenges & opportunities of the fashion industry.
Fashion designers (even beginners) will probably find the book wanting in details about the craft itself --- but the huge scope of the book does not allow Seeling to focus on more than a few signature elements of style. My feeling was that considering the space dedicated to each designer or trend, it is a highly informative book.
One serious omission, however, is that of the names of the stylists and photographers involved in making the often splendid pictures included in the book. To believe that the strength of these pictures --- or in fact of the brands --- rests only on the work of the designers would be totally wrong. It is a pity, considering Seeling's approach (which analyzes the overall complex in which fashion is embedded), that these central actors of the world of fashion are not mentioned along with their work.
Fashion designers (even beginners) will probably find the book wanting in details about the craft itself --- but the huge scope of the book does not allow Seeling to focus on more than a few signature elements of style. My feeling was that considering the space dedicated to each designer or trend, it is a highly informative book.
One serious omission, however, is that of the names of the stylists and photographers involved in making the often splendid pictures included in the book. To believe that the strength of these pictures --- or in fact of the brands --- rests only on the work of the designers would be totally wrong. It is a pity, considering Seeling's approach (which analyzes the overall complex in which fashion is embedded), that these central actors of the world of fashion are not mentioned along with their work.
May 12, 2013
I should have spent more time but I do not have it.
It introduced these big names, with not only these style, but also their personal lives and influence.
I have learned:
Dior is the guy created the frequency of twice a year.
Channel's cloth is loose.
Correges is a revolution even a little bit too much, but he kicked out these heavy and former dress.
Viviene is so funny and punk, I remember her fur g-string.
Fashion changes with history, such as WWII.
Right now, people dress for business more than for salon or social event.
It introduced these big names, with not only these style, but also their personal lives and influence.
I have learned:
Dior is the guy created the frequency of twice a year.
Channel's cloth is loose.
Correges is a revolution even a little bit too much, but he kicked out these heavy and former dress.
Viviene is so funny and punk, I remember her fur g-string.
Fashion changes with history, such as WWII.
Right now, people dress for business more than for salon or social event.
November 30, 2012
Pretty thorough, well researched, with beautiful photos. I would have given it 5 stars, but there were quite a few really great designers either left out or diminished in the text.
December 14, 2012
t was the best book
Displaying 1 - 6 of 6 reviews