The 1950s were the golden years of haute couture, captured by iconic images of glamorous models wearing dramatic clothes. Yet the real women who wore these clothes adapted them to suit their own tastes, altered them to extend their life, and often could not bear to part with them long after the dresses had outlived their use. This gorgeously illustrated book demonstrates why so many of these designs are still in existence and why we are fascinated by them fifty years later.Couture and Commerce investigates how and why postwar couture fashion was important in its own day. The Paris couture houses survived due to the enthusiasm of the North American fashion press and commercial buyers. Alexandra Palmer traces the European haute couture trade with North America by following actual surviving couture dresses from the design house sketch, through the model used in New York fashion shows and as a template for copies and knock-offs, and finally to the consumer.Couture and Commerce is a remarkable mixture of accessible text, color photographs of the original garments, design house sketches and photographs, retailers’ advertisements, and society page images. Weaving together analysis of th... [Read More]

Costume designed in the UK by Orion Costumes, a company that pride themselves on inventive and inspiring party costumes, whatever the style and whoever the customer. From the truly hilarious to the beautifully chic, there’s something for everyone at Orion

Costume designed in the UK by Orion Costumes, a company that pride themselves on inventive and inspiring party costumes, whatever the style and whoever the customer. From the truly hilarious to the beautifully chic, there’s something for everyone at Orion

Costume designed in the UK by Orion Costumes, a company that pride themselves on inventive and inspiring party costumes, whatever the style and whoever the customer. From the truly hilarious to the beautifully chic, there’s something for everyone at Orion