Vintage Fashion Couture

Traditional tailoring is a fascinating craft, which has not changed for many centuries, however, the techniques are now known only by a few practising in the best couture ateliers and bespoke tailor's workrooms. Nothing feels quite so luxurious or sophisticated as bespoke clothes, but the tailoring skills they require are often seen to be shrouded in mystery and the clothes therefore only accessible to the rich and famous. This practical book reveals the trade secrets of couture tailoring and brings vintage couture tailoring within the reach of all. With step-by-step photographs and professional tips throughout, it shows how a ladies' jacket is made and thereby introduces a range of fundamental tailoring techniques. These can be used for garments for either gender, as well as other sewing projects: moulding fabric to shape with the iron; employing loose interfacings; hollow shoulder construction; pad stitching canvas; interlining and weighting hems;making tailored and bound buttonholes;.... and many more forgotten techniques.Written by a tailor of international repute, Vintage Couture Tailoring is dedicated to all who appreciate the highest standard of craftsmanship, and who like using their eyes and hands to produce beautiful garments.Vintage couture tailoring is practised by only a few establishments around the world today and this practical book reveals the trade secrets of couture tailoring. An invaluable guide for professionals wishing to further their skills, and for enthusiasts with an interest in traditional tailoring. Shows how to make a ladies' jacket from preparation through to assembly and reveals the exquisite finishing details that are the hallmark of couture tailoring. Superbly illustrated with 417 colour step-by-step photographs.Thomas von Nordheim is a tailor of international repute.

"I thought I knew almost everything about the history of fashion until I met Kerry Taylor. The inside-out knowledge she has of garments will inspire both students and designers to look at fashion with fresh eyes." - Sarah Mower, US Vogue "This beautiful book by Kerry Taylor - the go-to woman for vintage and antique couture - is a treat for collectors and fashion lovers alike." - The Wall Street Journal "Whatever my question about vintage, Kerry Taylor has the answer. Her expertise, knowledge and historical anecdotes have raised the level of interest in this subject hugely." -Lisa Armstrong, Daily Telegraph Named one of Glamour Magazine's "Must-Read Style Books"! Profiled by Vogue and The New York Times and courted by style icons with wardrobes to sell and top designers in search of inspiration, Kerry Taylor is one of the world's leading experts on vintage fashion and couture. In this lavishly illustrated book, Kerry tells the story of a century of fashion through the work of its key design talents and the memorable women who have worn their creations. All the fashion stars are here from Poiret to McQueen via Lanvin, Chanel, Schiaparelli, Madame Grès, Dior, Balenciaga, Mary Quant, Ossie Clark, Vivienne Westwood, Alaïa, and Margiela. For each designer Kerry explores their career through a dazzling range of clothes and accessories, explaining what makes each item so desirable to the collector or wearer of vintage fashion. Each chapter includes at least one 'style icon' whose relationship with fashion has had a lasting impact, including Baba D'Erlanger, Lauren Bacall, Grace Kelly, Catherine Deneuve, Paloma Picasso and Kate Moss. Illustrated with a mix of gorgeous fashion photography plus images from Kerry's own astonishing archive, this book is set to become an invaluable guide for collectors of vintage (whatever their budget) and all those who love fashion. Contents includes... Foreword by Hubert de Givenchy Prologue by Christopher Kane 1900s - Paul Poiret - Lucile - Mariano Fortuny 1920s - Jean Patou - Jeanne Lavin - Chanel in the Twenties 1930s - Elsa Schiaparelli - Style Icon Wallis Simpson - Madeleine Vionnet - The Architect of Couture 1940s - The effects of War on Fashion in Europe - American Fashion in the Forties - Christian Dior - The Saviour of French Haute Couture 1950s - Pierre Balmain - Cristóbal Balenciaga - The Master - Style Icon Grace Kelly 1960s - Mary Quant - Hubert de Givenchy - Style Icon Audrey Hepburn 1970s - Yves Saint Laurent in the Seventies - Zandra Rhodes - Vivienne Westwood and Malcolm McLaren 1980s - Italian Masters - Azzedine Alaïa - John Galliano 1990s - The New Romantics - Thierry Mugler - Style Icon Kate Moss 2000s - Later McQueen - Style Icon Daphne Guinness - Collecting Vintage ..And so much more!

"I thought I knew almost everything about the history of fashion until I met Kerry Taylor. The inside-out knowledge she has of garments will inspire both students and designers to look at fashion with fresh eyes." - Sarah Mower, US Vogue "This beautiful book by Kerry Taylor - the go-to woman for vintage and antique couture - is a treat for collectors and fashion lovers alike." - The Wall Street Journal "Whatever my question about vintage, Kerry Taylor has the answer. Her expertise, knowledge and historical anecdotes have raised the level of interest in this subject hugely." -Lisa Armstrong, Daily Telegraph Named one of Glamour Magazine's "Must-Read Style Books"! Profiled by Vogue and The New York Times and courted by style icons with wardrobes to sell and top designers in search of inspiration, Kerry Taylor is one of the world's leading experts on vintage fashion and couture. In this lavishly illustrated book, Kerry tells the story of a century of fashion through the work of its key design talents and the memorable women who have worn their creations. All the fashion stars are here from Poiret to McQueen via Lanvin, Chanel, Schiaparelli, Madame Grès, Dior, Balenciaga, Mary Quant, Ossie Clark, Vivienne Westwood, Alaïa, and Margiela. For each designer Kerry explores their career through a dazzling range of clothes and accessories, explaining what makes each item so desirable to the collector or wearer of vintage fashion. Each chapter includes at least one 'style icon' whose relationship with fashion has had a lasting impact, including Baba D'Erlanger, Lauren Bacall, Grace Kelly, Catherine Deneuve, Paloma Picasso and Kate Moss. Illustrated with a mix of gorgeous fashion photography plus images from Kerry's own astonishing archive, this book is set to become an invaluable guide for collectors of vintage (whatever their budget) and all those who love fashion. Contents includes... Foreword by Hubert de Givenchy Prologue by Christopher Kane 1900s Paul Poiret Lucile Mariano Fortuny 1920s Jean Patou Jeanne Lavin Chanel in the Twenties 1930s Elsa Schiaparelli Style Icon Wallis Simpson Madeleine Vionnet - The Architect of Couture 1940s The effects of War on Fashion in Europe American Fashion in the Forties Christian Dior - The Saviour of French Haute Couture 1950s Pierre Balmain Cristóbal Balenciaga - The Master Style Icon Grace Kelly 1960s Mary Quant Hubert de Givenchy Style Icon Audrey Hepburn 1970s Yves Saint Laurent in the Seventies Zandra Rhodes Vivienne Westwood and Malcolm McLaren 1980s Italian Masters Azzedine Alaïa John Galliano 1990s The New Romantics Thierry Mugler Style Icon Kate Moss 2000s Later McQueen Style Icon Daphne Guinness Collecting Vintage Taking Care of your Collection ..And so much more!

Sheets of patterns are in an envelope inside the front cover, each sheet is doubled sided.

This definitive guide to vintage clothing and accessories covers every major fashion epoch and designer from the 1880s to today--from Charles Worth to Vivienne Westwood. With snapshots of the key designers to the pivotal pieces that defined each decade, fashion expert Funmi Odulate takes you through the history of each era. Included is an extensive country-by-country directory of vintage shops, fairs, and flea markets, with profiles of the major dealers and outstanding shops, from L.A. to Shanghai. Packed with insider tips about what to look for when buying vintage, how to recognize something of value and most importantly, where to find it, this is a stunning and sophisticated reference for all lovers of vintage fashion.

Here is the most ambitious guide to vintage womens fashion ever attempted. It is not just another history of fashion, but a survey of how fashion past continues to inspire fashion present. It presents over 1,000 stand-out examples, together with over 300 contextual illustrations, dating from the 1920s to the 1980s, including many icons of vintage fashion, from Marylin Monroe's bra to the Ossie Clark dress made so famous by David Hockney's painting.

This stylish introduction to vintage fashion showcases the key designs and styles of the main vintage eras of the 20th century. It will be an inspiration to vintage enthusiasts and general readers alike, including iconic designs, trends and styles from each decade. It also includes commentary on the social changes that influenced fashion throughout the 20th century, plus photographs of film stars (such as Audrey Hepburn and Grace Kelly) modelling classic designs, as well as garment illustrations and authentic model photo-shoots from all eras.

This volume is a visual journey through the decades, it is suitable for those interested in collecting vintage fashion items and also caters for the woman who is 'beyond fashion'. It provides an awareness of the fashion skills and techniques, as well as pointers on what to look for when sourcing original vintage pieces.