This richly illustrated entry in the stylish series tells the story of groundbreaking designer Christian Dior and the fashion house he founded. Christian Dior's spectacular rise to the upper echelons of Parisian haute couture is one of the most compelling stories of twentieth-century fashion. An art gallerist with a contemporary vision, Dior’s debut collection invented the “new look” silhouette and revolutionized the way women dressed, shopped, and saw themselves. The House of Dior’s unique style blended the traditional, artisanal skills of the French fashion house—tailoring and intricate embellishment—with a modern sensibility. Dior himself helmed the company for only a decade, but it has flourished under the creative direction of some of the most storied names in fashion. Currently, Maria Grazia Chiuri steers the brand as it stays true to its identity—of opulence, femininity, drama, and what Christian Dior called “the complete look,” from garments to perfume and shoes. Little Book of Dior tells the story of Christian Dior’s early life, the brand’s inception, the triumphs of the couture collections on the catwalk and the red carpet, and the brand’s journey after the death of its founder.

Celebrating this family brand and representing a summary of Miuccia Prada's key collections and pieces, including the launch of the Miu Miu line, the brand's emphasis on understated elegance and luxury, technologically advanced fabrics and originality of design. We follow a biographical chronology leaping from the pages of the origins of the brand as a leather-goods manufacturer, the life and career of Miuccia Prada, and the collections, collaborations and themes, such as art influences and the perfume and beauty lines. Beautiful photography of her finished designs, along with close-up details, portray the innovation of this influential fashion house and the woman behind it.

"In Things a Woman Should Know About Style you will discover insider tips and tricks that will never let you down on such topics as choosing accessories, how to dress for the evening or office, plus how to prepare social events and avoid faux-pas. Most important of all, you will learn that style truly does come from within"--Back cover.

“Remarkable” —Hamish Bowles, Vogue The overdue restoration of Catherine Dior's extraordinary life, from her brother's muse to Holocaust survivor When the French designer Christian Dior presented his first collection in Paris in 1947, he changed fashion forever. Dior’s “New Look” created a striking, romantic vision of femininity, luxury, and grace, making him—and his last name—famous overnight. One woman informed Dior’s vision more than any other: his sister, Catherine, a Resistance fighter, concentration camp survivor, and cultivator of rose gardens who inspired Dior’s most beloved fragrance, Miss Dior. Yet the story of Catherine’s remarkable life—so different from her famous brother’s—has never been told, until now. Drawing on the Dior archives and extensive research, Justine Picardie’s Miss Dior is the long-overdue restoration of Catherine Dior’s life. The siblings’ stories are profoundly intertwined: in Occupied France, as Christian honed his couture skills, Catherine dedicated herself to the Resistance, ultimately being captured by the Gestapo and sent to Ravensbruck, the only Nazi camp solely for women. Seeking to trace Catherine’s story as well as her influence on her brother, Picardie traveled to the significant places of Catherine’s life, including Les Rhumbs, the Dior family villa with its magnificent gardens; the House of Dior in Paris; and La Colle Noire, Christian’s chateâu that he bequeathed to his sister. Inventive and captivating, and shaped by Picardie’s own journey, Miss Dior examines the legacy of Christian Dior, the secrets of postwar France, and the unbreakable bond between two remarkable siblings. Most important, it shines overdue recognition on a previously overlooked life, one that epitomized courage and also embodied the astonishing capacity of the human spirit to remain undimmed, even in the darkest circumstances. Includes Black-and-White Illustrations

Little Book of Schiaparelli chronicles the work of one of history's most influential and eccentric couturiers. Endowed with a strikingly imaginative and experimental approach to fashion, Elsa Schiaparelli cultivated a combination of the witty and the surreal, the cutting edge and the elegant, from her garments and jewellery to her collaborations with Salvador Dalí, Jean Cocteau and Alberto Giacometti. Exquisitely illustrated and expertly written, the book follows a biographical chronology detailing her life, career and primary creative themes of her work. Images of Schiaparelli's finished designs, along with close-up details and illustrations of her personal sketches, showcase the brilliance of her innovative oeuvre, and the legacy that lives on in the House of Schiaprelli to this day.

One of the oldest Italian fashion brands in existence today, Gucci was founded in Florence in 1921. Guccio Gucci established his company with the goal of creating opulent luggage for Italy's wealthy and fashionable upper-classes. With the signature Gucci print of dark brown diamonds on a tan background, interlocking G logo and red and green stripe, the brand has gone on to become the last word in Italian luxury. Gucci's signature items - the belt, the bag, the loafer - transcend fleeting fashion trends, and have remained central to the house's identity into the twenty-first century. Under the stewardship of Tom Ford, Gucci epitomized the louche and mischievous 1990s aesthetic. Today, under Alessandro Michele, the brand's combination of romance and toughness is in hot demand. The Little Book of Guccitells the story of this historic yet flourishing house, and the visionary looks that have cemented its place in fashion history.

This monograph on Coco Chanel chronicles the life and legacy of one of history's most influential couturiers.