Women Dressing Women: A Lineage of Female Fashion Design

This survey of women-led fashion design emphasizes the creative agency and artistic legacy of female creators, tracing a historical and conceptual lineage across more than 70 designers from the eighteenth century to the present. It includes fashion houses such as Mad Carpentier, Elsa Schiaparelli, and Madeleine Vionnet, as well as contemporary designers like Rei Kawakubo, Anifa Mvuemba, Simone Rocha, and Iris van Herpen.

Format: Hardback
Length: 212 pages
Publication date: 28 November 2023
Publisher: Metropolitan Museum of Art

This comprehensive survey of women-led fashion design spans the twentieth and twenty-first centuries, highlighting the remarkable creative agency and artistic legacy of female creators. Authored by fashion historian Elizabeth Wilson, the book delves into the rich tapestry of fashion, exploring the diverse contributions of over 70 female designers from various eras and cultures. From the anonymous dressmakers of eighteenth-century France to the contemporary visionaries shaping the fashion landscape today, the book offers a profound exploration of the women's impact on fashion.

In insightful essays, the book examines themes of anonymity, visibility, agency, and absence/omission, shedding light on the ways in which women have shaped and influenced the field of fashion. It showcases celebrated designers like Mad Carpentier, Elsa Schiaparelli, and Madeleine Vionnet, as well as lesser-known figures who have left an indelible mark on the industry. The publication also features fashion houses from different regions, including France, the United States, and contemporary designers such as Rei Kawakubo, Anifa Mvuemba, Simone Rocha, and Iris van Herpen.

New photography, specially commissioned for this volume, employs light, shadow, and reflection to create a captivating visual narrative that connects the garments to the themes explored in the essays. A fold-out genealogical chart further enhances the reader's understanding of the connections between the makers featured, providing a genealogical map of women's fashion design.

This overdue examination of women-led design is a vital resource for anyone interested in the history of fashion. It offers a fresh perspective on the contributions of women designers and challenges prevailing narratives of gender and creativity. The book serves as a testament to the enduring power of fashion to inspire, transform, and empower women throughout history.

Published by The Metropolitan Museum of Art/Distributed by Yale University Press, the exhibition schedule for this captivating book includes a prominent display at the Metropolitan Museum of Art in New York from December 7, 2023, to March 3, 2024.

Weight: 1318g
Dimension: 305 x 204 x 26 (mm)
ISBN-13: 9781588397201