Florence Muller

By far, this is the most comprehensive illustrated history of Yves Saint Laurent that I've read thus far, and it is definitely a key addition to any fashion history collection. The focus is clearly on the fashion that Saint Laurent created, rather than his personal life of the work done by subsequent heads of the fashion house, and it is thus made clear how the innovations of Saint Laurent changed the course of modern fashion. I would have liked to see a chapter on modern reinventions of the Saint Laurent style (such as the sculpted pieces seen in McQueen's work that clearkly reference similar methods from Saint Laurent's catalogue), but overall I thought that the book was very well crafted. The short sections dedicated to Saint Laurent's favourite colours (that contain a quote and examples of his work) were my favourite, because they gave readers a break in between the narrative chapters and showcased the focus on colour that Saint Laurent employed.… (más)

This is a wonderful selection of photos from Dior over the years, for the most part. The only ones I did not care for were Terry Richardson's, as I don't like his aesthetic at all. I think there was only one, though. The book gives insight to the art behind the photos. In fact, one of my favorite captions came next to Robert Pattinson's brooding photo - "For me, photography is the opposite of detachment. It is a way of touching the other..." Nan Goldin. I would definitely recommend this book for fashion lovers, especially for those that have an affinity for Dior.… (más)