Paris, the undisputed capital of the fashion world, is rich in talented designers, skilled craftsmen and native chic. It has been a magnet for stylish men and women since the seventeenth century. While fashion and the industries surrounding it have evolved considerably since then, the City of Light's preeminence remains a constant. Fashion Show explores the ideas and inspirations that have driven Paris fashion through the ages, and it investigates why, in an era of globalization, this venerable city remains an undisputed Mecca. An essay by Pamela A. Parmal, Chair of Textiles and Fashion Arts at the Museum of Fine Arts, Boston, outlines the history of the local fashion industry from its beginnings through the mid-twentieth century. Didier Grumbach, head of the esteemed Chambre Syndicale, Paris, discusses the current state of Paris fashion and its future, exploring the role of the runway shows. And work from a selection of the most influential fashion couturiers and designers of the moment--among them Valentino, Lacroix, Dior, Chanel, Azzedine Alaia, Viktor &amp; Rolf, Rochas and Yohji Yamamoto--appears with brief histories of the houses, profiles of the designers and photographs conveying the grand sweep of their work and their predecessors', from the age of the kings to the age of award shows. This is the world of fashion at its most exciting and glamorous, a visually stunning and widely accessible history and a celebration of the fine art and high style of Paris couture.

Fashion Show: Paris Style

Arts & Photography

Didier Grumbach

Susan Ward

Pamela A. Parmal

Lauren Whitley

Graphic Design

MFA Publications

* Accompanies an exhibition at the MoMu Fashion Museum, Province of Antwerp from September - February 2013 A remarkable couturier, with a career spanning half a century, Madame Alix Grès (1903-1993) was known for using delicate pleats which turned ordinary fabric into Grecian-style sculptures. This is the first monograph of her extraordinary work. Madame Grès launched her design house under the name Grès in Paris in 1942. Formally trained as a sculptress, she produced haute couture designs for an array of fashionable women, including the Duchess of Windsor, Marlene Dietrich, Greta Garbo, Jacqueline Kennedy, and Dolores del Río. Her signature was cut-outs on gowns that made exposed skin part of the design, yet still had a classical, sophisticated feel. She was renowned for being the last of the haute couture houses to establish a ready-to-wear line.

Madame Gres: Sculptural Fashion

Olivier Saillard

Alix Gres

Kaat Debo

Laurent Cotta

Alexandre Samson

Hannibal Publishing

See the best price to sell, buy, or rent books by Didier Grumbach. BookScouter helps to compare book prices from 25+ online bookstores and 30+ buyback vendors with a single search.

Books by Didier Grumbach