Poiret

Traces the life of the Paris fashion designer, shows examples of his costumes, dresses, coats, hats, and shoes, and discusses his work with perfumes, textiles, and wallpapers

At nearly $100, and with under 50 pages of text, this album of Paul Poiret's contribution to 20th-century fashion is a major investment. The photographic documentation of Poiret's inspired use of soft, draped lines and exquisite fabric and of the interior designs produced in his Martine workships is as exquisite as the master's work itself. The late Yvonne Deslandres's text is somewhat sentimental, however, and the English translation is idiomatic and moves with difficulty. As a picture-essay the book is a must-have; as scholarship it is an expensive choice. Sally R. Sims, Univ. of Maryland Lib., College Park
Copyright 1987 Reed Business Information, Inc.