One Hundred Dresses

📖 The Scoop

Harold Koda is curator in charge of the Costume Institute at the Metropolitan Museum of Art. His introduction to this pretty book says it all: it is merely a sampling of the institute's extraordinary and renowned holdings of 35,000 costumes and accessories. While such considerations as "historical significance, rarity, or technical virtuosity" are very much in play in the selections, Koda admits that "the 100 dresses in the book are often simply the special favorites of one or another of The Costume Institute staff." And what favorites they are: arranged chronologically, the dresses (mostly evening ensembles) are from the late 1800s to the 2000s and display luxe and meticulousness beyond compare. The illustrations are lovely and clear (the few runway images are a bit jarring among all the mannequins), and the descriptions are brief but interesting--on a par with what one might see in an exhibition. Koda suggests that a follow-up book would not be out of the question. If so, an index by designer, provenance for each dress in the text (rather than having this information relegated to the "credits" at the end), and a select bibliography should accompany the glossary. This reviewer votes for inclusion of Jean-Paul Gaultier's 2001 Des Robes qui se Derobent. This is by no means a scholarly work, and likely will not be used in a library setting; the Costume Institute's Web site is well developed and offers considerable information. This volume would be suitable for comprehensive fashion and clothing collections or an excellent gift for a favorite fashionista. Summing Up: Optional. General readers and practitioners. General Readers; Professionals/Practitioners. Reviewed by C. Stevens.

Genre: Art / Collections, Catalogs, Exhibitions / Permanent Collections (fancy, right?)