Fashion a la Mode: The Pop-Up History of Costumes and Dresses (Hardcover)

~ Dorothy Globus (Author), Isabelle de Borchgrave (Designer)

Editorial Reviews

Product Description

Fashion-à la Mode is a sumptuous jewel of costume and fashion history seen through a dazzling parade of dolls that pop up on the page, accompanied by extraordinary interactive apparel, such as removeable fans, parasols, and shoes. The costumes in the book are created by Isabelle de Borchgrave and are based on her one-of-a-kind, hand-painted paper dresses.

With short texts and numerous costumed figures that pop up in three dimensions, the book is organized chronologically into themes: Egypt and the beginning of costume, the Elizabethan period, 18th-century France, the Victorian Opera, the kimono, Chanel and the liberation of women's clothing, and fashion as art (Fortuny and Miyake).

The text is written by Dorothy Twining Globus, Director of the Museum at the Fashion Institute of Technology in New York. Also included are enthusiastic essays by such notable fashion authorities as Hubert de Givenchy, Karl Lagerfeld, Myra Walker, and Sue North.

Product Details

• Hardcover: 14 pages
• Publisher: Universe Publishing (November 10, 2001)
• Language: English
• ISBN-10: 0789305070
• ISBN-13: 978-0789305077
• Product Dimensions: 12.2 x 8.3 x 1.6 inches
• Shipping Weight: 1.6 pounds
• Average Customer Review: 4.4 out of 5 stars  See all reviews (5 customer reviews)
• Amazon.com Sales Rank: #854,524 in Books (See Bestsellers in Books)

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Customer Reviews

Most Helpful Customer Reviews

41 of 44 people found the following review helpful:

3.0 out of 5 stars Nice, but with problems., January 21, 2002

By	sfbibliophile "sfbibliophile" (San Francisco, CA USA) - See all my reviews

This book contains seven spreads:
-Egypt
-The Court of Elizabeth I
-The Court of Marie Antoinette
-At the Opera
-The Art of the Kimono
-Coco Chanel: Liberating the Ladies
-Fashion as Art

My favorites are the kimono and art(Mariano Fortuny and Issey Miyake) spreads. I really love the Fotuny paper doll in her Delphos gown and loose fitting cloak, despite their being less than well rendered.

As a pop-up collector and hobbyist, I'm disappointed with this book. Though a great subject, the form and function of the pop-ups don't mesh well for me. There's an assortment of pull tabs, lift the the flaps, accordion fold outs and free standing pop ups that can be totally detached from the book. The many movable items are well organized by theme, but the parts are always catching on each other. I also had some trouble securing the freestanding stuff back into the book because it's not immediately obvious how the tabs and slots work with each other. For the price, I think the illustrations could have been better looking. In the end, the mish mash of the contents and sometimes ugly illustrations killed this book for me. I didn't hate it enough to go through the trouble of returning it, but it sits in its plastic wrapper collecting dust.

15 of 15 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars Paper dresses to make us dream, January 20, 2002

By	Diane de Spoelberch (Humbeek Belgium) - See all my reviews

Belgian artist Isabelle de Borchgrave has made an amazing lifesize collection of period paper dresses which have been exhibited all over the world. Silks, brocades, taffetas and lace are recreated by painting on various types of paper. In this wonderfull popp-up book, some of the costumes come alive. Wonderful little details will enchant young girls, such as beautiful lace collars which unfold, a fan you can actually use, bags which open to reveal charming secrets and a model which steps out of the book onto the catwalk. A wonderful gift, full of inspiration and creativity.

14 of 14 people found the following review helpful:

4.0 out of 5 stars A(Fun!) Pop-Up Book For Grownups, March 15, 2002

By	Robyn Lee Markow "webcat1" (Northridge, CA United States) - See all my reviews (REAL NAME)

I have always loved pop-up books and this one is no exception. Each page has an interesting new surprize. The illustrations are bright and well-rendered. The only quibble I have is that the ladies are a bit tricky to set up. In other words,be gentle or you might rip them a tiny bit(yes,it happened to me.) This book would make a lovely gift for anyone who enjoys fashion and or novelty books..