Laurence Benaïm

Christian Dior and Christian Bérard met at the end of the 1920s. They immediately became friends, nourished by elective affinities and an incredible complementarity. If Christian Dior marks his time with his architectural work as a couturier who will redesign the silhouette of women for a long time, Christian Bérard is a jack of all trades – painter, illustrator, and theatre designer for Jean Cocteau among others. Both have a crucial influence on their respective careers. With more than 100 images from the Dior archives, this book immerses the readers in the heart of the lives of Christian Dior and Christian Bérard.

Yves Saint Laurent s impact on fashion is legendary, yet he remains an enigmatic and compelling figure. Tracing the development of Saint Laurent s visionary work through his charmed yet tumultuous life, respected fashion writer Laurence Benaim s newly translated and updated biography of the famed designer explores how this unassuming prodigy became a legendary, celebrated public icon who changed the face of fashion, style, and celebrity. Enriched by the author s exclusive interviews from Saint Laurent s partner Pierre Berge to family members, his atelier staff, and muses such as Catherine Deneueve, LouLou de la Falaise, and Paloma Picasso this fascinating biography chronicles early glimpses of Saint Laurent s talent in Oran and his star trajectory, from leading the House of Dior at the age of twenty-one to his fall from grace and subsequent forging with Pierre Berge, fashion s most enduring and successful professional partnership. In portraying the man behind the timeless icons of the Mondrian-print shift dress and the Le Smoking trouser suit who partied with Warhol in New York and relaxed with the jet set in his Marrakesh hideaway Benaim powerfully illuminates both the glittering world of haute couture and the business empire that revolutionized the fashion industry.

What do we know about René Lacoste? That he was a French tennis legend, the founder of the Lacoste brand, and a remarkable inventor? Lacoste (1904–1996) was an elegant player with an acute sense of fair play, a demanding designer who revolutionized sports apparel, and a passionate engineer who invented the first tubular steel tennis racket. From the tennis court to the golf course, accompanied by family members or friends made along the way, the man called “the Alligator” was a determined visionary with an eye for authenticity and detail. René Lacoste remains to this day a timeless yet remarkably contemporary fashion icon. Published to celebrate the Lacoste brand’s 85th anniversary, this lavishly illustrated work includes a wealth of photographs and archival documents, some published here for the first time, and original drawings by the renowned French illustrator Floc’h.

The family home in Granville, Normandy, was a haven where Christian Dior s creative identity first began to unfold. In the 1910s and 1920s, he discovered a love of flowers and gardens in the villa s grounds, and was initiated into the arts and fashion as the Diors called on artists to decorate the villa, had their portraits paint, and collected exquisite objets d art. The tranquil, nourishing atmosphere of the villa was enriched by the booming, optimistic climate of the Belle Epoque echoing in the entrepreneurial endeavors of the Dior family and in the town of Granville, that had become a fashionable seaside resort. Accompanying the exhibition at the Musee Christian Dior in Granville, this volume traces how Dior s hometown became fertile ground for his talent and gave rise to the House of Dior. It foregrounds gardens as a key source for couture and perfume; examines how Granville s social life summer fetes to its carnival fired his imagination; and shows how his family s business acumen underpinned the future maison. Featuring rare archives, campaign photography and emblematic creations by successive artistic directors inspired by the Belle Epoque, the book illuminates the origins of Dior s enduring aesthetic and the visionary spirit that continues to guide the maison today.

Azzedine Alaia (1935 2017) was regarded as a contemporary fashion genius. Edited by his close friend, Carla Sozzani, and life partner, Christoph von Weyhe, this new volume presents an unprecedented view into Alaia s early life and career, from his native Tunisia and 1956 arrival in Paris, to his breakthrough 1982 New York show. From apprenticeships to encounters with Paris s creative and society crowds, this book pays homage to Alaia s evolution. Chronological chapters depict a designer devoted to his work while enjoying friendships with such individuals as Arletty, Orson Welles, Claudette Colbert, Jean Cocteau, Louise de Vilmorin, and Andre Malraux. Quotes by Alaia accompany gorgeous photographs of iconic dresses and lesser-known designs, providing captivating stories behind the inspirations for his creations, while interviews share intimate anecdotes from Serge Lutens, Thierry Mugler, Carlyne Cerf, and more. Accompanying an exhibition at the Azzedine Alaia Foundation, this unique publication delves into rare archival materials, private photographs, and prominent publications to powerfully illustrate the fascinating journey of a fashion legend.

The history of the quintessential Parisian perfumer Guerlain both influenced and was shaped by Parisian life, savoir faire, and culture. The house of Guerlain is a Parisian institution. Guerlain aficionados--from royalty and empresses, to celebrities, writers, and artists--have been featured in novels, song lyrics, movies, and artistic creations, all while exemplifying Parisian savoir faire and luxury. The Guerlain headquarters and laboratory on the rue de Rivoli in the heart of Paris feature a new scent laboratory and a rose garden, intrinsically binding the famous house to the city of light, which it so perfectly captures in each bottle of perfume. Traveling through two centuries of history at Guerlain, this book highlights the inextricable links between the house and the city: Guerlain changed Parisian life with its cosmetics and perfumes, yet could have existed nowhere else but in Paris. Guerlain's creations, especially its perfumes, are put into historical and cultural context through a combination of interviews, images, and portraits of the people and products that played a role in the house's story. This celebration of Guerlain, the quintessential Parisian perfumer, combines fashion, Parisian life and savoir faire, history, and the essence of beauty.

In 2005, two brothers with a background in the music industry decided to channel their love for sound into a different medium: fashion. Laurent and Arik Britton’s Paris-based brand IRO remixes Parisian sophistication with New York sass, a look that’s both chic and rock ’n’ roll. Introspection marks IRO’s 15th anniversary and highlights the spirit of a brand that has influenced style worldwide, with more than 45 stores in New York City, Los Angeles, Miami, and beyond. This beautifully designed book features 20 fashion campaigns photographed by major names including Benoît Peverelli, Karim Sadli, and Alex Cayley, among others. Accompanying essays by fashion writer Laurence Benaïm showcase the brand’s identity and follow the designers throughout the making of a campaign.

The Ch teau de Versailles--the indisputable birthplace of fashion--continues to inspire glamour and style today.The royal residence of Versailles--this unparalleled seat of power and seduction--is an important influence on contemporary fashion, inspiring passions and vocations. Since the establishment of the world's first dress codes under the rule of Louis XIV to incite the whims of the queens and royal mistresses, fashion at Versailles has been a constant and inexhaustible source of inspiration for designers, photographers, decorators, and directors and has launched countless fashion revolutions. Courtesan Madame de Montespan launched the "innocente" robe to camouflage pregnancy, Sofia Coppola memorialized Marie-Antoinette in extravagant wigs and pastel hues, and Annie Leibovitz captured Kirsten Dunst in a delicate taffeta-and-chiffon Alexander McQueen gown against the dramatic backdrop of a peristyle at Versailles. Haute couture in the 1950s launched the cinched-waist "neo-trianon" trend. Karl Lagerfeld used the ch teau's gardens as the runway for his 2013 cruise collection featuring Versailles-influenced crinoline dresses and brocade jackets. This stunning volume showcases the best of fashion inspired by Versailles, set against the exquisite background of the most spectacular palace in the world.