V&A Publishing

A beautiful gift edition of the autobiography of famed fashion designer Christian Dior Christian Dior (1905-1957) found fame with his first collection in 1947 when the "New Look" took the world by world by storm. This charming autobiography gives a fascinating insight into the workings of a great fashion house, while revealing the private man behind the high-profile establishment. Originally published in English in 1957, with a translation by Antonia Fraser, this beautifully designed new edition features three updated plate sections, including iconic photographs of Dior creations by Richard Avedon, Cecil Beaton, and Horst P. Horst.

Capturing the highlights of the major Victoria and Albert Museum exhibition, Christian Dior: Designer of Dreams, this stunning souvenir celebrates the House of Dior from its foundation in 1947 to the present day. Haute-couture gowns by Christian Dior and the illustrious creative directors who followed him -Yves Saint Laurent, Marc Bohan, Gianfranco Ferre, John Galliano, Bill Gaytten, Raf Simons and Maria Grazia Chiuri-are showcased here, each described by Oriole Cullen and atmospherically photographed by Laziz Hamani.

The kimono is the ultimate symbol of Japan, revered within the country as the embodiment of national culture and regarded internationally as an exotic fascination. The iconic garment is often viewed as traditional, unchanging and timeless, but this book counters that conception, presenting the kimono as highly dynamic and fashionable dress. The cultural and sartorial significance of the kimono is explored in historical and contemporary contexts, both in Japan and the West, where its impact on clothing styles has been felt since the seventeenth century. Beautifully illustrated, the book features over 250 kimono and kimono-inspired garments from the V&A and collections around the world, revealing its sartorial influence on pop stars from David Bowie to Bjoerk and examining the ways in which fashion designers such as Issey Miyake, John Galliano and Alexander McQueen have reworked its legacy.

A world without cars would be unrecognizable. They have altered the shape of our cities, transformed our nations and landscapes, revolutionised the way we make and buy things, and profoundly influenced our relationship with speed itself. From the Ford Model T and the legacy of mass production, to the GM LaSalle and the birth of style and obsolescence, and from the original Volkswagen expression of national identity to the GM Firebird and the desire for frictionless movement, this book presents the car as the driving force that accelerated the twentieth century. It takes an in-depth look at the history of the automobile and its impact, to better understand where we might want to go in the future. Published to accompany the V&A's exhibition Cars: Accelerating the Modern World (5 October 2019 - 20 April 2020)

Paul Poiret (1879-1944) led the fashion world in the first decade of the twentieth century and his autobiography tells the extraordinary story of his meteoric rise to fame. From his humble Parisian childhood to his debut as a couturier, to his experiences during the First World War, Poiret reveals all in this captivating tale, first published in 1931. An astute businessman, Poiret translated the spirit of Art Deco into revolutionary garments, and his memoir brings this astonishing period to life.

Sir Norman Hartnell (1901-1979) dominated London couture during the inter-war years, gaining international fame as dressmaker to the British royal family, designing Princess Elizabeth's wedding gown in 1947, and her magnificent Coronation dress six years later. Best known for romantic eveningwear shimmering with beads and embroidery, he cemented London's position as an innovative fashion centre. Silver and Gold, first published in 1955, describes an extraordinary life with elegance and panache.

Capturing the highlights of the major Victoria and Albert Museum exhibition, Christian Dior: Designer of Dreams, this stunning souvenir celebrates the House of Dior from its foundation in 1947 to the present day. Haute-couture gowns by Christian Dior and the illustrious creative directors who followed him -Yves Saint Laurent, Marc Bohan, Gianfranco Ferre, John Galliano, Bill Gaytten, Raf Simons and Maria Grazia Chiuri-are showcased here, each described by Oriole Cullen and atmospherically photographed by Laziz Hamani.

Originally published in 1966, Quant by Quant is the hugely entertaining story of Mary Quant's early career and life with husband and business partner Alexander Plunket Greene. After opening the groundbreaking Bazaar boutique on the King's Road in 1955, Quant soared to international fame with her brand of witty fashion style which fitted perfectly with modern life about town. Just as her signature styles have become synonymous with the Pop culture of the Swinging Sixties, her joyful, evocative autobiography captures the world in which she found inspiration - and which she ultimately helped to define and change.

A fun activity book for children (and adults), the paper dolls in this book are designed to be cut out and dressed with costumes taken fro the V&A's extensive fashion collections. On the reverse of each lovingly illustrated dress is a line-drawing of it - which you can colour in to make the dress entirely your own.

C.F.A. Voysey (1857-1941) was an architect-designer who advocated honest and thoughtful design, and championed high standards of craftsmanship applied only to the finest materials. The resulting objects - simple yet elegant, often enhanced by beautiful and symbolic decoration - were considered revolutionary in their time and continue to enchant audiences today. The first substantial monograph to be published in 20 years, this comprehensive book focuses on Voysey as a designer of furniture, metalwork, and textiles, providing a new analysis of his characteristic motifs and designs. It draws on the greatest public and private collections of his work to give a complete and fully illustrated account of Voysey's output and his vision for domestic life at the turn of the twentieth century. Original drawings and plans, archive photography and images of a vast selection of surviving objects are brought together here in a fresh examination of the Arts and Crafts pioneer. The authors' extensive new research documents the personal and professional relationships that enabled Voysey to become a great and prolific designer.The book draws together new information on how he ran his business; how he promoted, exhibited, and sold his work; who his clients were; who was responsible for manufacturing his designs; and what a Voysey house and interior looked like.

David Bowie is a pioneering artist and performer whose career has spanned nearly 50 years and brought him international acclaim. He has sold over 140 million albums, and been cited as a major influence on contemporary artists and designers working across the creative arts. This is the first book produced with access to the David Bowie archive of performance costume, ephemera and original artwork by the artist, which is brought together to present a completely new perspective on his creative work and collaborations. The book traces his career from its beginnings in London, through the breakthroughs of Space Oddity and Ziggy Stardust and the Spiders from Mars, and on to his impact on the larger international tradition of twentieth-century avant-garde art. Essays by V&A curators on Bowie's London, image, and influence on the fashion world, are complemented by Christopher Frayling, Mark Kermode and Philip Hoare on film; Howard Goodall on musicology; Camille Paglia on gender and decadence; and Jon Savage on Bowie's relationship with William Burroughs and his fans.

I don't understand how a woman can leave the house without fixing herself up a little - if only out of politeness. And then, you never know, maybe that's the day she has a date with destiny.' Coco Chanel Amy de la Haye brings together the secrets of style from the world's greatest fashion designers, their famous clients and others from the world of fashion in this delightful illustrated dictionary. Preserving the wisdom of fashion's big names, from Chanel on perfume, to Dior on elegance and Schiaparelli on hats, this charming compendium is illustrated with newly commissioned line drawings of accessories and clothing from the V&A's celebrated fashion collection by Emma Farrarons. A to Z of Style, a handy guide full of timeless advice, is the perfect gift for anyone with a sense of style or fun.