The Model as Muse: Embodying Fashion (Metropolitan Museum of Art) [Hardcover]

Harold Koda (Author), Kohle Yohannan (Author)

Book Description

Publication Date: May 26, 2009 | ISBN-10: 0300148933 | ISBN-13: 978-0300148930

Model as Muse explores fashion’s reciprocal relationship to iconic beauties that represent the evolution and changing face of the feminine ideal. Featuring a brief historical overview of the phenomenon of the supermodel, the book begins in the early 20th century and continues to the present day. Dorian Leigh and Lisa Fonssagrives in the 1940s are joined in the 1950s by Dovima, Sunny Harnett, and Suzy Parker. They are followed by Jean “The Shrimp” Shrimpton and Twiggy in the 1960s and Lauren Hutton in the 1970s. The 1980s witnessed such enduring personalities as Cindy Crawford, Christy Turlington, Naomi Campbell, and Linda Evangelista, while the 1990s brought on Kate Moss, whose edgy, street-inflected style has inspired not only fashion designers, editors, stylists, and photographers, but artists such as Chuck Close and Lucien Freud.

With an emphasis on styles from the 1950s onward, the book features designs from the great ready-to-wear and couture houses—Madame Grès, Christian Dior, and Balenciaga in the 1950s; Rudi Gernreich, Yves Saint Laurent, and Cardin in the 1960s; Giorgio di Sant’Angelo and Halston in the 1970s; Christian Lacroix, Versace, Comme des Garcons, and Calvin Klein in the 1980s; and Marc Jacobs, John Galliano, and Alexander McQueen in the 1990s.

Editorial Reviews

About the Author

Harold Koda is Curator in Charge at The Costume Institute at The Metropolitan Museum of Art, New York, and the author of many fashion books including Extreme Beauty: The Body Transformed, Chanel, and Poiret, all available from Yale. Kohle Yohannan is an independent curator and the author of Claire McCardell and John Rawlings: 30 Years in Vogue.

Product Details

• Hardcover: 224 pages
• Publisher: Metropolitan Museum of Art (May 26, 2009)
• Language: English
• ISBN-10: 0300148933
• ISBN-13: 978-0300148930
• Product Dimensions: 13.4 x 10.9 x 0.9 inches
• Shipping Weight: 4.5 pounds (View shipping rates and policies)
• Average Customer Review: 4.5 out of 5 stars  See all reviews (6 customer reviews)
• Amazon Best Sellers Rank: #36,027 in Books (See Top 100 in Books)
  • #21 in Books > Arts & Photography > Photography > Fashion
  • #41 in Books > Arts & Photography > Photography > Photo Essays
  • #43 in Books > Arts & Photography > Fashion

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Customer Reviews

Most Helpful Customer Reviews

20 of 23 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars iconic review for the millenials, May 16, 2009

By 

Ben C, "Trend Forecaster" (New York City, NY) - See all my reviews

This review is from: The Model as Muse: Embodying Fashion (Metropolitan Museum of Art) (Hardcover)

The Model as Muse is simply a must-have encyclopedia couture. Whether you are from the generation of Baby Boomers, the Generation X or the Millennials... this book will provide you with an in-depth overview of the past, the present and interesting theories and perspectives for you to form your own views of the fashion and the design world.

THIS BOOK IS EXCELLENT!

Fashionable as it may sound... The Model as Muse certainly captures everything you need to know about the models and the world of fashion. Yohannan certainly proved to us as being the pioneer in hybrid fashion and intellectual analysis with this fantastic docu-literary of everything from photographers and their photographs, models and their lives, designers and their creations, and a surprisingly, a fresh, yet intellectual and contemporary analysis of what you need to know to speak intelligently about this industry.

If you are an outsider and you see the fashion industry as shallow then you must read this book! If you are an insider and if you think you know it all, then you must read every pages of this book as it will share with you the intricate details of the foundation of fashion 101. The writing is superb and very Vogue, styled with a hint of academia.

It is an excellent Muse for all of us who constantly seek everyday inspiration.

PS: It is also a great gift for any Lindsay Lohan fans who love the Devil Wears Prada and listen to Madonna and read Vogue... and think that is all to know to speak intelligently about fashion. Be-Muse yourself with this book and you will actually learn something!

5 of 7 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars Wonderful book, July 16, 2009

By 

Jose Manuel Sampedro (La Coruna, Spain) - See all my reviews
(REAL NAME)   

This review is from: The Model as Muse: Embodying Fashion (Metropolitan Museum of Art) (Hardcover)

If you love fashion world, models and photography this is your book. Wonderful pictures of the best photographers and the main models through the fashion history. You won't regret it!

5.0 out of 5 stars It's a beautiful book!, March 9, 2011

By 

monnie09yo (San Francisco, CA) - See all my reviews

Amazon Verified Purchase

This review is from: The Model as Muse: Embodying Fashion (Metropolitan Museum of Art) (Hardcover)

I have this book on my coffee table and it just stands out. I love Kate Moss, and I was so happy to see so much on her in this book. There are many other beautiful models in this one. There are some nude images but it's still amazing. haha. It's definitely worth the price :)