Pret-a-Porter, Paris and Women: A Cultural Study of French Readymade Fashion, 1945-68

Alexis Romano's book "Prêt-à-Porter: Paris and Women" is the first critical history of French ready-made fashion, examining cultural sources such as garments, magazines, film, photography, and interviews to connect previously disparate historical narratives. It reveals how the French ready-made and fashion photography developed in tandem, and how popular conceptions of fashion and modernity shifted in the period 1945-68. The book connects national and personal histories to demonstrate the importance of the ready-made to broader narratives of postwar reconstruction, national identity, gender, and international dialogue.

Format: Paperback / softback
Length: 264 pages
Publication date: 16 June 2022
Publisher: Bloomsbury Publishing PLC

In a groundbreaking exploration of French ready-made fashion, Alexis Romano delves into a rich tapestry of cultural sources, encompassing surviving garments, fashion magazines, film, photography, and interviews. This comprehensive critical history weaves together previously disparate historical narratives, resulting in a seminal volume titled "Prêt-à-Porter: Paris and Women." This remarkable work situates the ready-made within broader cultural discourses, including art, design, urbanism, technology, and international policy. Through a meticulous examination of fashion magazines such as Vogue and Elle, Romano unveils the intricate relationship between the French ready-made and the flourishing genre of fashion photography in France. By analyzing representations of space, women, and prêt-à-porter in these magazines, alongside other cultural ephemera such as contemporary film, documentary photography, and family photographs, Romano demonstrates how popular conceptions of fashion and modernity underwent significant shifts during the period from 1945 to 1968. By seamlessly bridging national and personal histories, "Prêt-à-Porter: Paris and Women" reveals the profound significance of the ready-made to broader narratives of postwar reconstruction, national identity, gender, and international dialogue. This groundbreaking work not only sheds light on the fashion industry but also offers valuable insights into the social, cultural, and political transformations of a pivotal era.

Weight: 590g
Dimension: 158 x 232 x 19 (mm)
ISBN-13: 9781350215931