Bill Blass: An American Designer [Hardcover]

Helen O'Hagan (Author), Kathleen Rowold (Author)

Book Description

Publication Date: October 8, 2002

Favoured by First Ladies, celebrities and women of style, American designer Bill Blass's sophisticated gowns and impeccable suits embody modern sophistication. This volume features over 100 new images and an array of historical images by Richard Avedon, Irving Penn, Horst, and Guy Bourdin, in addition to Blass's own sketches. It is published to accompany a retrospective of the designer's 50-year career.

Editorial Reviews

From Publishers Weekly

A homegrown, internationally renowned women's apparel designer, Blass died this past June at 79. This loving overview, based on an Indiana University Art Museum exhibition, showcases decades' worth of Blass's work in 227 illustrations (190 in full color). Graceful lines, unexpected fabrics, sophisticated ensembles and witty approaches to women's wear are all captured in wide-angle and close-up shots: an abstract floral, painted velvet balmacaan (a jacket that is long enough to be an above-the-knee skirt) looks as fresh today as in 1994, as does a white, double-faced, wool gabardine coat with printed twig motif from 1967 featured on the book's cover. Besides the beauty of the designs, the book itself makes quite an impression: the contemporary shots are perfectly lined up and reproduced; the text is nonintrusive, smoothly fonted and spaced; and period shots of Jacqueline Kennedy, Aretha Franklin, Nancy Reagan and others lend moments of delightful surprise. The foreword by Blass and two brief essays on his contributions to the development of a U.S. postwar style are followed by 200 pages of glorious fashion photography and sketches, interspersed with quotations from the designer and other notable taste makers-a fitting tribute.
Copyright 2002 Reed Business Information, Inc.

About the Author

Bill Blass was born in Fort Wayne, Indiana, in 1922, moved to New York City before he was 20, and worked as a fashion designer for 60 years until his retirement in 2000. He has won countless awards for his work and is recognized as America's most important fashion designer. He lives in New York City and Connecticut. Helen O'Hagen was, for 38 years, vice-president in charge of public relations and special events for Saks Fifth Avenue. She lives in New York City and Charleston, South Carolina. Kate Rowold is the curator of the Elizabeth Sage Historic Costume Collection at Indiana University in Bloomington, Indiana, where the Bill Blass archives are located. She lives in Heltonville, Indiana. Michael Vollbracht is a fashion designer, portraitist, and widely published illustrator. He lives in New York City and Florida.

Product Details

• Hardcover: 272 pages
• Publisher: Harry N. Abrams; 1St Edition edition (October 8, 2002)
• Language: English
• ISBN-10: 0810932806
• ISBN-13: 978-0810932807
• Product Dimensions: 12 x 12 x 1.2 inches
• Shipping Weight: 5.5 pounds
• Average Customer Review: 5.0 out of 5 stars  See all reviews (1 customer review)
• Amazon Best Sellers Rank: #895,732 in Books (See Top 100 in Books)

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Customer Reviews

Most Helpful Customer Reviews

0 of 2 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars Blass from the Past, December 7, 2007

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Stylemaven - See all my reviews

This review is from: Bill Blass: An American Designer (Hardcover)

Wonderful overview of this prolific designer's work. Love especially the interior shots. A wonderful tribute.