From Charles Frederick Worth to Nicolas Ghesquière, designers have propelled fashion from an elite craft into a cornerstone of contemporary popular culture. This brilliantly written analysis of the achievements of the 50 greatest names in international fashion explores their lives, both personal and professional, drawing on the latest academic research and on the best of fashion journalism, including the authors' own interviews with designers spanning a 30-year period.The designers' working methods and career highlights are outlined in detailed and wittily written entries that capture the spirit of their times. From Poiret and Patou to Gernreich and Galliano, the sometimes provocative selection of 50 names poses stimulating questions about the definition of a fashion designer in the modern era. A ground-breaking book, this is a definitive introduction to fashion designers that is essential reading for both students and general readers alike.

Some of the most important people in fashion Chanel, Alaia, Blahnik, Yves Saint Laurent, Pucci, Kenzo and Missoni are known for their public image and their iconic designs. But what kind of world have they cultivated behind closed doors? From France to Italy, from England to Morocco, come along on a private visit to the remarkable homes of the worlds great couturiers, stylists, muses and fashion personalities. Ivan Terestchenkos glorious photographs revel in the decor, works of art and the personal collections of these legendary designers.

This is a comprehensive survey of 50 of the most influential designers, ranging from early celebrity designers such as Paul Poiret to current cutting edge designers such as Hussein Chalayan. The names chosen are there because they have had an extraordinarily powerful influence on fashion and collectively they are responsible for almost the whole fashion story of the last 100 years. Each designer's iconic creations are shown in detail, and graphic timelines and cross references show not only why these pieces were extraordinary in their own time, but why they are still influencing designers today. The timelines demonstrate design influence through the generations. The result is a fascinating look at the fashion world that will appeal to anyone interested in fashion as well as being a useful resource for all fashion students.

This comprehensive guide explores the fundamental sewing methods fashion designers need and teaches professional garment construction. Chapter One introduces sewing tools and machinery (including industrial machines). It discusses how to work with patterns and explains cutting-out methods. Chapter Two is devoted to different fabrics and how they work, focusing on the construction of a garment, including fastenings and trimmings, and the use of materials to support structured pieces, such as corsets. Hand-sewing techniques and basic seams are explored in Chapter Three. Techniques are demonstrated with step-by-step photographic guides combined with technical drawings. A guide to making garment details and decorations, such as pockets, waistlines, and necklines, is found in Chapter Four. Chapter Five addresses fabric-specific techniques, for everything from lace to neoprene. The best technical approaches to use for patternmaking and construction are discussed for each fabric. Catwalk images demonstrate how these kinds of techniques are employed by designers.

Current fashion is a complex phenomenon. In a constant state of constant flux, contemporary fashion combines a mix of the different cultural aspects that inform the modern individual. Atlas of Fashion Designers is born out of this proposition, and features a compilation of the most important fashion designers and their work in the past five years, selected from a multi-disciplinary perspective that display the heterogeneous mix of today’s fashion world. Featured designers all have one trait in common: they were singled out, not only for the quality of their work, but also because they illustrate different perspectives in their approach to fashion. This book includes designers with a wide array of visions, from classical haute couture to those who experiment with developing fields such as anthropology, new textiles, high technology, architecture, art, or recycling. From Ricardo Tiscci, Nicholas Ghesquière to Sybilla, to artists who are primarily concerned with pure fashion such as Lucy Orta, or to those investigators who concern themselves with innovation in the fields of textile research and technology, such as Issey Miyake or Hussein Chalayan. Atlas of Fashion Designers is a very relevant and useful reference in a hybrid society, which is composed of ever increasing heterogeneous elements. By offering a synthetic, fluid and diverse approach to the subject, the “Atlas� draws a map of the complex world of fashion at present time, and looks forward to what it may be tomorrow.

Covers the history of couture and its top designers.

A "collection of original sketches and illustrations by 60 of the world's most celebrated fashion designers"--Jacket.

"Chanel, Alaa̐, Courrg̈es, Pucci, Kenzo, and Missoni . . . but also Yves Saint Laurent, Manolo Blahnik, Franca Sozzani, and Christian Louboutin. From France to Italy, from the UK to Morocco, with stops in the Egyptian desert and the Aegean islands, we are invited on a private visit to the remarkable homes of couturiers, stylists, muses, and fashion personalities. Far from the pressure of the catwalk and atelier, Terestchenko shows the dčor, the works of art, and the personal collections of these highly talented designers. Some interiors, such as Chanel's apartment at 31, rue Cambon, are mythic, while others like those of Victoire de Castellane, the designer of Dior's jewelry line, or Vanessa Seward, the designer of Azzaro, are completely unconventional. Minimal (Nicole Farhi), exotic (Franca Sozanni), and deceptively simple (Loulou de La Falaise) Beyond Chic is for anyone who loves fashion, interiors, and design"--

Mary Gehlhar, author, industry authority, and consultant to hundreds of designers, including Zac Posen, Twinkle by Wenlan, Rebecca Taylor, and Cloak, gives readers behind-the-scenes insights and essential business information on creating and sustaining a successful career as an independent designer. With advice from fashion luminaries including Donna Karan, Tommy Hilfiger, Cynthia Rowley, Diane von Furstenberg, Richard Tyler, and top executives from Saks Fifth Avenue and Barneys New York, this fully updated and revised edition of The Fashion Designer Survival Guide addresses the latest trends in apparel and accessories, the newest designers, an updated introduction, and a new foreword by Diane von Furstenberg, Designer and President of the Council of Fashion Designers of America (CFDA). The Fashion Designer Survival Guide provides the necessary tools to get a fashion line or label up and moving on the right track, including: How to create a viable business plan Figuring out how much money you need, where and how to get it, and how to make it last, including the latest on private equity The best sources for fabric and materials Navigating the pitfalls of production both at home and abroad Marketing, branding, and getting the product into the stores and into the customer’s closets Romancing the press, dressing celebrities, and creative publicity techniques Producing a runway show that will get results

This fun volume from fashion experts Fashionary tracks the rise to fame of the most influential designers in fashion. This visual book walks you through the stories of the world's greatest designers, across the decades. Explore each of the legend's life choices, learn how they adapted to trends and adversities, and discover how the fashion industry has changed over the years. Filled with timelines and fascinating graphics that place each fashion designer on the world stage. This volume shares appraisals of 50 of the most important fashion designers and their iconic status. Alongside star designers such as Coco Chanel, Karl Lagerfeld, Cristóbal Balenciaga, and the most influential fashion designers in the fashion industry, it is filled with historical information about the brands and biographies. A special treat for anyone who loves fashion. Fashion Legends included: Coco Chanel, Cristóbal Balenciaga, Christian Dior , Pierre Balmain, Emilio Pucci , Pierre Cardin , Hubert de Givenchy , Mary Quant , Sonia Rykiel , Valentino Garavani, Oscar de la Renta , Karl Lagerfeld , Giorgio Armani , Azzedine Alaïa, Yves Saint Laurent , Issey Miyake , Kenzo Takada, Ralph Lauren, Roberto Cavalli , Vivienne Westwood , Rei Kawakubo , Calvin Klein , Yohji Yamamoto , Jil Sander , Paul Smith , Gianni Versace , Diane Von Fürstenberg, Donna Karan , Miuccia Prada , Franco Moshino , Tommy Hilger , Jean Paul Gaultier , Helmut Lang , Martin Margiela, Dries Van Noten, Domenico Dolce & Stefano Gabbana, Micheal Kors , Ann Demeulemeester , John Galliano , Alber Elbaz , Tom Ford , Marc Jacobs , Thom Browne , Raf Simons , Hedi Slimane , Alexander Mcqueen , Hussein Chalayan , Nicolas Ghesquière, Stella McCartney, Riccardo Tisci