Whether woven, crocheted, bejewelled, feathered, dyed or painted, wearable art is meant to be animated by the human body. This work presents the work of 60 artists who have combined craft and art with the glamour of haute couture. 170 garments - each the product of intensive labour - are featured.

"This is the first publication to consider art to wear, also known as wearable art, as a discrete American movement with roots and intersections in fine arts, fiber arts, craft, performance, and fashion. It looks in depth at the generation of artists who came of age in the late 1960s and 1970s and trained primarily as painters and sculptors but broke well-established boundaries in their use of nontraditional forms, materials, and techniques to create one-of-a-kind works using the body as an armature. --

The book explores the use and meaning of the kimono in America and traces the transformation of the garment from its ethnic origins, through its many appearances in fine art, costume, and high fashion, to its role in the contemporary Art-to-Wear Movement. It explores the American use of the kimono as a garment, as a symbol, and as an art form.

A colorful survey of the often provocative and always highly creative relationship between art and fashion. A crocheted wool coat of exuberant textures and glowing colors, a dyed and pleated silk vest of baroque sensuousness, a headdress of ribbon intricately ruched in the shape of a leaping fish, an evening gown made from shredded dollar bills, a kimono that carries art appliquéd on its sleeve—these are just a few of the beautiful, imaginative, even surreal works of wearable art included in this richly illustrated book, published to accompany an exhibition at the Fine Arts Museums of San Francisco. Melissa Leventon shows that wearable art is the latest in the long line of aesthetic dress reforms that began with the Arts and Crafts movement. She then traces the history of this art form as it developed out of the hippie styles and studio fiber art of the 1960s and 1970s until today, highlighting many of the leading practitioners and discussing its characteristic forms and processes.The works brought together range from pieces that are only technically wearable to one-of-a-kind works that are at home either on one's back or on one's wall to limited-edition luxury clothing. Artwear will be invaluable to fashion designers and students, art and textiles professionals, craftspeople, and anyone with an interest in the fashion world. Curator of Textiles at the Fine Arts Museums of San Francisco from 1992 to 2002, Melissa Leventon is now an independent consultant specializing in costumes and textiles.

An eye-opening and richly illustrated journey through the clothes worn by artists, and what they reveal to us. From Yves Klein’s spotless tailoring to the kaleidoscopic costumes of Yayoi Kusama and Cindy Sherman, from Andy Warhol’s denim to Martine Syms’s joy in dressing, the clothes worn by artists are tools of expression, storytelling, resistance, and creativity. In What Artists Wear, fashion critic and art curator Charlie Porter guides us through the wardrobes of modern artists: in the studio, in performance, at work or at play. For Porter, clothing is a way in: the wild paint-splatters on Jean-Michel Basquiat’s designer clothing, Joseph Beuys’s shamanistic felt hat, or the functional workwear that defined Agnes Martin’s life of spiritua labor. As Porter roams widely from Georgia O’Keeffe’s tailoring to David Hockney’s bold color blocking to Sondra Perry’s intentional casual wear, he weaves his own perceptive analyses with original interviews and contributions from artists and their families and friends. Part love letter, part guide to chic, with more than 300 images, What Artists Wear offers a new way of understanding art, combined with a dynamic approach to the clothes we all wear. The result is a radical, gleeful inspiration to see each outfit as a canvas on which to convey an identity or challenge the status quo.

Crafters are altering everything -- clothing, shoes, handbags, journals and much more. They start with an existing item -- a cotton jumper or a jean jacket -- and embellish or alter it in a variety of ways to make it something new. "Altered Art" is the newest trend in the art and craft world. The first section of the book features tips and techniques that show how to do various creative alterations on fabric: ripping, tearing, painting and dyeing, beading, adding images and letters, and adding hardware such as grommets, snaps, jewels, and more. The second section of the book includes 30 altered clothing and accessory projects the avid crafter can make at home. Step-by-step photography details the techniques, and large, vibrant color photos of finished projects show off the fashionable projects. The book is filled with accessible, idea-inspiring projects for people interested in creating their own look.

Make an impression with Art to Wear &break;&break;Whatever your unique style, this book will show you how to create works of wearable art that match your personality. &break;&break;Whether you create original jewelry and accessories from metal, beads or found materials or add unique and stylish touches to clothing, wearing your art lets you express yourself in a very memorable way. &break;&break;Each of the projects in this book uses today's embellishment styles in a fresh new way to create one-of-a-kind works of wearable art that are just as fun and funky as you are. Author Jana Ewy shows you how to give jackets, sweaters, t-shirts and even flip-flops, jeans, purses, belts and gloves a touch of your personality by dressing them up with beads, fibers, fabrics, inks, and embellishments like Chinese coins. &break;&break;You'll be thrilled with the vast array of materials, mediums and techniques used to create the projects inside. And over 20 exciting variations will get you inspired to try your hand at your own unique creations. &break;&break;Show off your creative talents by adorning yourself and your friends with your own works of art!

The Art of Wearable Flowers reveals the secrets to creating gorgeous floral accessories that you can wear. This guide book provides how-tos for 40 floral wearables, including an eye-catching succulent ring, gorgeous hyacinth hoop earrings, a fabulous petal necklace, and a luxurious headpiece, plus bracelets, corsages, headbands, and more. ,br>Renowned floral artist Susan McLeary shares this stunning collection of 40 flower- and plant-based designs that you can try out for yourself. • Each project includes an ingredients list, styling tips, and easy-to-follow instructions paired with step-by-step photographs. • This flower arrangement books gets the ultimate makeover to elevate every outfit with natural beauty • Filled with essential information on tools, design techniques, and plant care, making it easy to create these remarkable arrangements at home Featuring hundreds of inspiring photographs presented in a beautifully designed book, The Art of Wearable Flowers is a must-have accessory for any modern woman. Susan McLeary's expertise in styling flowers—combined with breathtaking photos of her signature arrangements—makes this a wonderful gift for the florist-frequenter. • Not your average flower book, this book is for anyone who wants to make a show-stopping appearance at a wedding, birthday party, or any special occasion • Great for brides (and as a bridal shower gift!), florists, crafters, flower gardeners, and flower stylists • Perfect those who loved Paper to Petal: 75 Whimsical Paper Flowers to Craft by Hand by Rebecca Thuss and Patrick Farrell, The Flower Recipe Book by Alethea Harampolis, Seasonal Flower Arranging by Ariella Chezar, and The Flower Chef by Carly Cylinder

The LBD - or 'little black dress' - debuted over 70 years ago by legend Coco Chanel and is still a perennial fashion staple. As most women know, it's impossible to have a 'nothing to wear' crisis with this trusty item in your wardrobe. The Art of the Black Dress celebrates this essential wardrobe item, offering ideas on how to maximize the wears of your best-loved piece, and cataloging the most iconic black dresses throughout history. Dress it up with heels and jewelry, or dress it down with your favorite sneakers: the possibilities are endless. From sexy to timeless, bodycon to maxi and more, this book offers ideas on how to transform your dress from office-worthy to special occasion with a few simple accessory tweaks. As well as this, hear the stories behind some of the most iconic black dresses in history, from Audrey Hepburn's Givenchy number in Breakfast at Tiffany's, to Princess Diana's 1996 'revenge dress' and Elizabeth Hurley's game-changing Versace safety-pin piece, you will see why every woman should have one in their arsenal. Featuring stunning illustrations throughout by Libby VanderPloeg, this is the perfect read for anyone who loves fashion, and appreciates the power of the black dress.

"A tribute to a time when style -- and maybe even life -- felt more straightforward, and however arbitrary, there were definitive answers." -- Sadie Stein, Paris Review As a glance down any street in America quickly reveals, American women have forgotten how to dress. We lack the fashion know-how we need to dress professionally and beautifully. In The Lost Art of Dress, historian and dressmaker Linda Przybyszewski reveals that this wasn't always true. In the first half of the twentieth century, a remarkable group of women -- the so-called Dress Doctors -- taught American women that knowledge, not money, was key to a beautiful wardrobe. They empowered women to design, make, and choose clothing for both the workplace and the home. Armed with the Dress Doctors' simple design principles -- harmony, proportion, balance, rhythm, emphasis -- modern American women from all classes learned to dress for all occasions in ways that made them confident, engaged members of society. A captivating and beautifully illustrated look at the world of the Dress Doctors, The Lost Art of Dress introduces a new audience to their timeless rules of fashion and beauty -- rules which, with a little help, we can certainly learn again.