Haute Couture

by Harold Koda, Metropolitan Museum of Art

This is a survey of the history of haute couture, from the formation of the House of Worth in mid-19th-century Paris to the major designers of the present day. The book focuses on the highly skilled crafts that are essential to the production of haute couture. Separate chapters examine tailoring techniques and finishes, weaving, draping, and the intricate decoration produced by embroiderers, feather-makers, and other craftspeople on whom couturiers rely for the execution of their ideas. [This book was originally published in 1995 and has gone out of print. This edition is a print-on-demand version of the original book.]

Genres: Fashion, Nonfiction, Art

118 pages, Hardcover

First published December 1, 1995

About the author

Harold Koda (3 January 3, 1950) is an American fashion scholar, curator, and the former curator-in-chief of the Anna Wintour Costume Center at the Metropolitan Museum of Art

Reviews

[Phoenix · Rating 3 out of 5]

I give this three stars, mostly for a few photographic gems of Worth House dresses that I wouldn't have seen otherwise. It's a very thin book and if you're an avid fan of fashion, there's not much more you're going to learn about the history of Haute Couture that you haven't learned already. Likely, an okay introduction to the subject, but otherwise I'd recommend Fashion Show: Paris Style by Didier Grumbach and Pamela A. Parmal for a better essay on Haute Couture and its origins.

[Claudia Santos · Rating 4 out of 5]

Súper rápido de leer, precioso y directo al grano en cuanto a la descripción de las prendas; pero solo es eso.

[Aditya · Rating 2 out of 5]

Thank God most people associated with this are dead or dying

[Lisapins · Rating 4 out of 5]

Gorgeous as a coffee table book, not really all that instructional.

[Mia · Rating 3 out of 5]

A nice coffee table book with beautiful photos, but nothing too educational or outstanding.

[Sanaa · Rating 5 out of 5]

girls only want one thing and it's pathetic (raiding MOMA costume center)