The Impossible Collection of Fashion

THE IMPOSSIBLE COLLECTION OF FASHION

The 100 Most Iconic Dresses of the Twentieth Century Text by Valerie Steele

"When a woman smiles, then her dress should smile too. ¿ Madeleine Vionnet ¿ 

In this limited edition, Ultimate Collection format linen clamshell and handmade oversized book, Valerie Steele flexes her curatorial muscle by showcasing the most iconic dresses of the twentieth century. From Poiret to Pucci, Doucet to Dior, Vionnet to Valentino, Steele selects one hundred dresses that caused a stir either on the runway or entering a room and ultimately inspired new directions in fashion. Steele¿ selections include Paul Poiret's figure-liberating 1907 gown, Madame Gres's¿ sublimely draped goddess creation from 1938, Jean Paul Gaultier's shockingly exaggerated cone-bust corset dress circa 1984, and Hussein Chalayan¿ awe-inspiring remote-control fiberglass Airplane dress from 2000. The compilation, while certainly subjective, is sure to receive nods of recognition along with a gasp or two of surprise.