Ballgowns : Britsh glamour since 1950 / Oriole Cullen, Sonnet Stanfill ; photographs by David Hughes

London : V&A Publishing, 2012. First Edition. Hardback. An exceptional copy; fine in an equally fine dust wrapper. Particularly and surprisingly well-preserved; tight, bright, clean and especially sharp-cornered. Literally as new.; 8vo 8"" - 9"" tall; 128 pages; Physical description128 p. : ill. (chiefly col.) ; 30 cm.ISBN9781851776849NotesPublished on the occasion of an exhibition held at the Victoria and Albert Museum, 19 May 2012 - 6 Jan. 2013.Designed by Adam Brown 01.02.Printed in China.Black paper case binding; col. ill on dust jacket.Includes bibliographical references (p. 127).ContentsIntroduction: pictures worth a thousand words / Magdalene Keaney -- The magic circle: designing the ballgown / Oriole Cullen -- Ballgowns: the rituals of dressing up / Sonnet Stanfill -- Ballgowns: the plates -- Inventory of dresses -- Notes -- Further reading.SummaryThis innovative book presents dynamic and interpretive photographs of British ballgowns spanning 60 years and includes designs by Alexander McQueen, Bellville Sassoon, Bill Gibb, Erdem, Gareth Pugh, Stella McCartney and Zandra Rhodes. The specially commissioned photographs, by fashion photographer David Hughes, are supplemented by essays exploring the ballgown as a particularly British garment, with designers, clients and occasions unique to Britain. The social season of debutante parties and private balls, weddings and charity events have long provided Britain's fashion designers with opportunities to design elaborate, tour de force eveningwear. In more recent years the ballroom has been replaced by the red carpet. Though the context has changed, the ballgown remains a staple in many designers' collections and continues to serve as an expression of status, protocol and taste, while simultaneously embodying elements of drama and fantasy.BiographySonnet Stanfill is curator of 20th century and contemporary fashion at the V&A. Oriole Cullen is curator of modern textiles and fashion at the V&A. David Hughes is a portrait, still life and fashion photographer. Magda Keaney is Curator of the Fashion Space Gallery at the London College of Fashion.Subjects; Fashion photography - Great Britain. Evening gowns - Great Britain - History - 21st century. Evening gowns - Great Britain - History - 20th century - Pictorial works. BRITISH FASHION - 20TH CENTURY - 21ST CENTURY.