Avedon Fashion: 1944-2000
by Richard Avedon
The worlds of design and high fashion have always been closely aligned with magazines. But publishing has also been closely aligned with the business of haute couture. Publishing houses like Taschen, Assouline and Rizzoli regularly salute the most influential designers and the greatest fashion photographers with heavyweight tomes filled with eye-catching images.
Fashion books can become highly collectible. The extreme example is Sumo by Helmut Newton with AbeBooks selling a copy in 2009 for $10,867 / £ 6,500 – it was signed by Newton and from a limited edition print run of 10,000 copies. Four other copies of this massive book (the aptly named Sumo is so large it comes with a stand) have sold for prices in excess of $3,000.
This selection isn’t just photography (although the greatest fashion photographers of the 20th century are showcased below). These books examine the careers of designers like Norman Hartnell, Yves Saint Laurent, Alexander McQueen, Coco Chanel and the French enfant terrible Jean Paul Gaultier, and provide historical insight into the development of fashion industry during the 20th century.
You will also learn about the supermodel’s perspective (Kate Moss), the influence of a rock star on fashion (David Bowie) and how costume design can influence a movie (Cecil Beaton and My Fair Lady). One thing is sure – these books are going to be easy on the eye.(Many thanks to Caroline Bermudez for recommending many of these books.)
Edward Steichen: In High Fashion. The Conde Nast Years 1923-1937
by Todd Brandow & William A. Ewing