Dior Glamour: 1952-1962

Description

A collection of the lavish and iconic gowns of Christian Dior, from the 1950s and 60s, captured by the legendary photographer Mark Shaw. Iconic photographer Mark Shaw documented the ultra-exclusive Parisian fashion world, focusing on Paris s long-standing top couturier Christian Dior. Shaw s photographs some of the first fashion photographs ever shot in color capture the most stunning and extraordinary fashion of the era. This lavish volume embodies the glamour of that time, from rare moments of Christian Dior during fittings to editorial-style photographs of models, socialites, and actresses posing in Dior s ballgowns, day suits, and haute couture collections. Shaw s photojournalistic style changed fashion photography forever: his approach was to photograph wide, giving the subject a sense of context, creating an environment as exquisitely transformative as the subject and garment. With an eye for intimacy and opulence, this book features more than 200 color and black-and-white photographs, many never published before, having only recently been found in a secret vault by his estate. Dior Glamour: 1952 1962 captures the drama and elegance of the period s style and will be treasured by lovers of photography, fashion, style, history, and cultured living. Review: Five Stars - Beautiful book. Review: The Golden Age of Dior. - Christian Dior was founded in 1946 by the eponymous designer and maintains its tradition today as a creator of recognized haute couture. In 1946 Marcel Boussac known as the richest man in France, invited Dior to design for Philippe et Gaston a Paris fashion house launched in 1925. Dior refused, wishing to make a fresh start under his own name rather than reviving an old brand. On 8 December 1946, with Boussac's backing, Dior founded his fashion house. The first collection was presented on 12 February 1947. From this came the phrase ‘New Look’ coined by Carmel Snow the editor-in-chief of Harper’s Bazaar at the time. Dior's designs were more voluptuous than the boxy, fabric-conserving shapes of the World War II styles. Dior was a master at creating shapes and silhouettes, his look employed fabrics lined predominantly with percale, boned with bustier-style bodices, hip padding, wasp waisted corsets and petticoats that made his dresses flare out from the waist, giving his models a more curvaceous form. His clothes were not comfortable to wear and there was some backlash to Dior's designs due to the amount of fabrics used in a single dress or suit, but opposition ceased as the wartime shortages ended. Of course the ‘New Look’ revolutionized women's dress and re-established Paris as the centre of the fashion world after the second world war and this became the start of what has become known as a ‘golden age of couture’. For me this book covers the very best period of the house of Dior and a time of fabulous dressing. We see a collection of lavish and iconic gowns from the 1950’s and 60’s with the pictures capturing the most stunning and extraordinary fashion of the era. We see Dior during fittings, editorial-style photographs of models, socialites, and actresses posing in Dior s sumptuous ball-gowns, day suits, and haute couture collections. With an eye for intimacy and opulence, this book features more than 200 photographs, many never published before, having only recently been found. Dior Glamour: 1952-1962 captures the drama and elegance of the period's style and is a must for lovers of haute couture, fashion, style, fabulous luxury and all things beautiful.