Books like Dior by Alexander Fury

Christian Dior’s autobiography reveals the rise of the ‘New Look,’ the workings of a Paris haute couture house, and the private life of the famed designer.

A comprehensive visual chronicle of Christian Dior’s 1947‑1957 oeuvre, showcasing over 150 first‑time photographs of his iconic designs and the evolution of his signature style gestures, the ‘Diorisms’.

"Although it is appealing to think that fashion turns away from conventions, is this really the case? Or are "pioneering" designs simply part of a cyclical revival of forgotten fashions? Looking at some of the most influential designers of the twentieth century--from Yamamoto to Gaultier to Lagerfeld--Vinken considers the politics and philosophies that have been the driving force directing their sense of style. Vinken shows how fashion trends are informed by the past. Chanel, under the direction of Karl Lagerfeld, is viewed as the only fashion house to have remained fresh after one hundred years, yet is this success essentially proof of the self-referential qualities fashion has adopted? What inspired the fetish for labels at the end of the twentieth century? Answering these questions and many more, this thought-provoking book shows how beauty, gender, sexuality, commerce, and dandyism have persisted in defining the fashion system." http://www.loc.gov/catdir/description/hol053/2004020615.html.

Nancy J. Troy examines how French designer Paul Poiret bridged haute couture and mass production, revealing the intertwined links between fashion, art, theater, and the broader consumer market in early twentieth‑century Europe.

Explore the life and legacy of Charles James, America’s first couturier, whose sculpted fabrics and elegant designs redefined 1940s–1950s fashion.