Charles James: Beyond Fashion
By Harold Koda and Jan Glier Reeder; With a preface by Ralph Rucci and contributions by Sarah Scaturro and Glenn Petersen
Charles James, often considered to be America's first couturier, was renowned in the 1940s and 1950s as a master at sculpting fabric for the female form and creating fashions that defined mid- century glamour. Although James had no formal training as a dressmaker, he created strikingly original and complex designs, including intricate ball gowns worn by members of high society in New York and Europe. This lavishly illustrated book offers a comprehensive study of James's life and work, highlighting his virtuosity and inventiveness as well as his influence on subsequent fashion designers.
Featuring exciting new photography of the spectacular evening dresses James produced between 1947 and 1955, this publication includes enlightening details of these intricate creations alongside vintage photographs and rarely seen archival items, such as patterns, muslins, dress forms, and sketches. A detailed and illustrated chronology of James's life describes his magnetic personality, his unorthodox design processes, his colorful supporters—such as Salvador DalÃ, Elsa Schiaparelli, Christian Dior, and Cristobal Balenciaga—and profiles of a number of his famous clients, such as Gypsy Rose Lee. With flair and style echoing that of its subject, Charles James brings to life one of the most fascinating and creative figures in American fashion.
By Harold Koda and Jan Glier Reeder; With a preface by Ralph Rucci and contributions by Sarah Scaturro and Glenn Petersen
Charles James, often considered to be America's first couturier, was renowned in the 1940s and 1950s as a master at sculpting fabric for the female form and creating fashions that defined mid- century glamour. Although James had no formal training as a dressmaker, he created strikingly original and complex designs, including intricate ball gowns worn by members of high society in New York and Europe. This lavishly illustrated book offers a comprehensive study of James's life and work, highlighting his virtuosity and inventiveness as well as his influence on subsequent fashion designers.
Featuring exciting new photography of the spectacular evening dresses James...See More
- Publisher: The Metropolitan Museum of Art
- Authors: Harold Koda and Jan Glier Reeder
- Pages: 264
- Illustrations: 315 in full color
- Format: Hardcover
- Dimensions: 9 3/4'' x 13''
- ISBN: 9780300204360
- Award: 2015 Book Industry Guild of New York Book Show
''Harold Koda's detailed examination of James's creative process and his oeuvre reveals the designer’s true genius This book is beautiful. The printed canvas cover cleverly opens to endpapers printed with James’s canvas toile. The photographs are bold and alluring But the real merit in this book is the sheer breadth of its source material and the depth of its examination. As the authors intended, James's status as a true artist cannot be doubted here. Rucci encourages us to approach this book with a willingness to be seduced. Even the most unyielding reader will be unable to resist its appeal.''Â
      —Costume: The Journal of The Costume SocietyÂ
'' a glamorous retrospective of the couturier Charles James’s work in the sumptuous exhibition catalogue, Charles James: Beyond Fashion."Â
      —AtlanticÂ
" lavishly illustrated offers a comprehensive study of James’ life and work, highlighting his virtuosity and inventiveness as well as his influence on subsequent fashion designers. Featuring exciting new photography of the spectacular evening dresses James produced between 1947 and 1955, this publication includes enlightening details of these intricate creations alongside vintage photographs and rarely seen archival items, such as patterns, muslins, dress forms and sketches This awesome book tells you everything."Â
      — Birmingham PostÂ
"...as sumptuous as his work...In their catalog, curators Harold Koda and Jan Glier Reeder encapsulate James' life and career in 264 pages of context and color.Â
      —Chicago TribuneÂ
"...magisterial monograph..."Â
      — Wall Street Journal
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