Celebrating the creativity and artistic legacy of female fashion designers from the eighteenth century to the present day
This elegantly designed volume, featuring all-new photography of more than 70 garments, celebrates the impact of fashions created by and for women—from unidentified dressmakers in eighteenth-century France to contemporary designers who are leading the direction of fashion today.
Women Dressing Women includes ensembles from French houses such as Vionnet, Schiaparelli, and Mad Carpentier; American makers like Ann Lowe, Claire McCardell, and Isabel Toledo; and contemporary designers including Rei Kawakubo, Iris van Herpen, Simone Rocha, and Anifa Mvuemba. The accompanying essays address notions of anonymity, visibility, agency, and omission, exploring how these concepts have impacted female designers and situating their creations in a larger social context, while an illustrated timeline visually traces connections between these celebrated women and their aesthetic sensibilities.
A long overdue look at women-led design, this volume is essential reading for anyone interested in the history of fashion and this major, under-recognized aspect of the narrative.
Published by The Metropolitan Museum of Art/Distributed by Yale University Press
Exhibition Schedule:
Metropolitan Museum of Art, New York
(December 7, 2023–March 3, 2024)
A compelling look at the aesthetic and historical significance of Lagerfeld’s work—from his elegantly tailored pieces for Chanel to the witty, playful ensembles that came to define the Lagerfeld brand
Presenting outstanding costumes and insightful texts about one of the greatest private collections of 20th-century fashion
This handsome volume explores the modern discipline of fashion collecting, presenting remarkable works from one of the greatest private collection of 20th-century costume. This group of clothing and accessories, assembled over several decades by Sandy Schreier, includes many rare and historically significant pieces that define key moments in fashion. Her collection features not only iconic garments by established designers but also looks by pioneering couturiers rarely represented in museum collections. Outstanding works, by designers that include Gilbert Adrian, Cristóbal Balenciaga, Boué Soeurs, Gabrielle Chanel, Christian Dior, Mariano Fortuny, Karl Lagerfeld, Paul Poiret, and Valentina, are illustrated with new photography by fashion photographer Nicholas Cope.
An informative introduction traces the progress of her collecting from its roots in Detroit to the present day. The book also includes descriptions of over 80 works, including garments, accessories, and rare designer drawings, in addition to a lively interview with Schreier by Andrew Bolton that reveals her collecting philosophy.
Published by The Metropolitan Museum of Art/Distributed by Yale University Press
Exhibition Schedule:The Metropolitan Museum of Art, New York
(November 26, 2019–May 17, 2020)
