The Beautiful Fall - Alicia Drake

The Beautiful Fall
Little, Brown and Company
Alicia Drake

Nonfiction / History / Fashion

The 1970s were a time of tumult and revolution in fashion. And Paris was ground zero. Fashion reporter Alicia Drake paints a vivid picture of Paris and other fashion hot spots in THE BEAUTIFUL FALL. Of course, no one book could really encompass the entire fashion scene of the time. Instead of taking the broad approach, the book tells the stories of two fashion giants: Karl Lagerfeld and Yves Saint Laurent. These two designers, perhaps above all others, were instrumental in rejuvenating haute couture and its relevance to society at large. They managed this by making couture, once the province of staid ladies who lunch, both accessible and desirable to the international jet set.

Despite their similar iconic status, the two men were virtually polar opposites. While Saint Laurent was quiet and introverted, Lagerfeld was a flamboyant extrovert. Using interviews with an amazing array of friends, colleagues, and fans, a very clear picture emerges of each man and his vision and impact. Anyone from the most casual fashion watcher or student of cultural trends, to “Project Runway” addicts, to dedicated fashionistas will be enthralled with this work. Far from a dry recitation of facts, the author makes those decadent and heady days come alive again. The photo section alone is a time capsule, and worth the price of admission. A very enjoyable, and fashionable, social history.

Rating: 8 ½
September 2006
ISBN# 0-316-76801-4