num_pages: 336
description: The first illustrated monograph dedicated to the history of the House of Worth the worlds pioneering haute couture label Arriving in Paris in 1845 at the age of twenty and with only a few francs in his pocket Charles Frederick Worth would go on to build the most prominent innovative and successful fashion house of the century. He was inspired by a love of fine art luxurious fabrics and his vision of the female ideal and was the first to set out to dictate new styles and silhouettes to his elite clientele not the other way around. He hosted them in his rue de la Paix salons which included groundbreaking sportswear and maternity departments as well as silk velvet and brocade rooms and a special salon with closed shutters and gas lighting designed to allow clients to try on ball gowns in lighting conditions precisely matched to those of the event at which they would be worn. Organized chronologically and illustrated with striking ensembles paintings and documents sourced from both private family archives and the best fashion collections from museums around the world The House of Worth is an inspiring tribute to the house that started it all. 500 illustrations in color and black and white
language: English
title: House of Worth: The Birth of Haute Couture
publisher: Thames & Hudson