In the 1920s; fashion magazines were the principal source for news of the latest Paris couture. One of the most famous and long-lived of these journals was LArt et la Mode; published from 1880 to 1967. LArt et la Mode captured the glamor that was Paris in the Twenties; from days at the races to nights at the opera; from Sundays at the Ritz to Saturdays at the Folies-Bergegrave;re; and it followed the glittering circuit that flourished from Longchamps to Deauville to Cannes to Biarritz. The magazine was read avidly not only by the rich who patronized the couture; but also by the woman who relied on her "little dressmaker" to copy the styles depicted in the periodical. This lavishly illustrated volume offers 138 dazzling pages from LArt et la Mode featuring fashions for all occasions by the great French couturiers of the Twentiesmdash;Patou; Worth; Molyneux; Doucet; Paquin; Vionnet; Lanvin; and Chanel among them. Selected by JoAnne Olian; curator of the famed Costume Collection at the Museum of the City of New York; a wealth of designs include stylish outfits for winter sports; hunting season; tennis; golf; and other athletic pursuits; as well as high-fashion ensembles for soireacute;es and all manner of chic divertissements. In addition to choosing the plates; Ms. Olian has also provided an excellent introduction discussing the magazine; the period; and its fashion trends. The result is a beautifully illustrated; sumptuous look back at one of haute coutures most influential decades. It is also an outstanding and inexpensive source of copyright-free fashion illustrations for use by designers and craftspeople.
#3287014 in eBooks 2012-12-03 2012-11-05File Name: B00A3YNPAA
Review
29 of 29 people found the following review helpful. Updike at His Relaxed BestBy Great Faulkners GhostArguably Americas last great man of letters; the late John Updikes interests ranged from art; to literature; childrens books; and occasionally to golf. With the exception of literature; in which he wrote from the perspective of a foremost practitioner; he was; as he admits himself; more of a well-informed dabbler. Therein lies the charm of this book; capturing his observations on art by collecting various pieces he wrote; primarily for the NYRB; New Republic; and for honorary lectures. They are not the observations of an "art critic" per se; but of a professed non-expert (like most of us); who was at the same time; one of the most profoundly literate; and intelligent men of his era. In short; he approached art in the way most of us do; as an amateur; yet with far greater artistic gifts and sensibilities than certainly I; and probably most people; could ever dream of. Thus; I found his observation to be so helpful to me -- like; "yes; that is exactly the same question I had; and; of course; that is exactly what I was sorta thinking; but couldnt quite get too." In short; I enjoyed lingering on every page of this book; with its lovely reproductions of the art Updike is describing (I only wish that more of the painting/art were actually pictured); and of course; the mind of John Updike himself; who loved art; and who took time from his too short; but marvelously productive literary life to explain art to those of us who shared his passion for it; using the full range of his immense intellectual and humanistic gifts.0 of 0 people found the following review helpful. An interesting path in the art and literature.By Edoardo AngeloniHere Updike defines his back-ground by a point of view of art. First we can learn the characteristics of important painters of landscapes; or of human faces of great personalities. Those aspects run with a certain interest by the lector; but; when Updike passes to consider the great painters of our times; the context becomes of true importance. In fact the author is so able to make an approach between art; phylosophy and literature; producing connections between several aspects of the modern culture. We know sufficiently the role of Updike as teacher of the word; here we can see the same fact about the image: therefore a great interpreter of the modernity. A great lesson which today is still unease to forget.0 of 0 people found the following review helpful. Great book.By Edith LorahI love this book. Pictures and comments are great.