{"id":4010,"date":"2013-11-05T06:33:19","date_gmt":"2013-11-05T13:33:19","guid":{"rendered":"http:\/\/fashionhistorian.net\/blog\/?p=4010"},"modified":"2014-02-06T13:05:14","modified_gmt":"2014-02-06T20:05:14","slug":"gift-books-for-the-fashion-historian-jean-patou-a-fashionable-life","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/fashionhistorian.net\/blog\/2013\/11\/05\/gift-books-for-the-fashion-historian-jean-patou-a-fashionable-life\/","title":{"rendered":"Holiday gift books (Part 1): “Jean Patou: A Fashionable Life”"},"content":{"rendered":"
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\"\"<\/a>Released just a few weeks ago, Jean Patou: A Fashionable Life <\/em><\/a>by Emmanuelle Polle highlights the extensive private archives of the Patou heirs for the first time. This oversize monograph from Flammarion that Polle spent two years researching, features 250 color and black-and-white illustrations, including the much of the early days of fashion photography (such as those by Baron de Meyer).<\/p>\n

The book is divided into three sections: a biography of Jean Patou, his work in Paris, and his work in the United States. Pages are covered from edge to edge with fashion sketches, photographs of garments (sportswear, swimwear, day-wear, etc, gowns), fashion photographs (including both street fashion and studio photographs), focused on the 1920s and 1930s – the height of his powers. It also includes information related to his famous perfumes-Joy<\/em> and Que Sais-Je<\/em>.<\/p>\n

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In New York in 1924, Jean Patou poses in one of the eighty-odd suits he claimed to own.<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n

Though his career lasted a short fifteen years, his use of embroideries, jersey, and interest in day pajamas, and sportswear made him a rival of Chanel. The book also includes discussion and visual representation of the inspiration he gained during World War I-even including some garments he collected and kept as inspirational pieces. The book discusses his clientele, his friends, his lovers and gives an in-depth look at the man and his design work (much of which researched from private letters, diaries, and other previously unpublished material).<\/p>\n

This book is a welcome addition to fashion history literature – as it is the first book to focus solely on the short but substantial career of Jean Patou since the 1980s. Jean Patou: A Fashionable Life<\/em><\/a> is one of those rare gems that will be of interest to both established fashion historians, archivists, libraries, museums and\u00a0 fashion enthusiast alike. Especially those interested in Paris, and the Art Deco period.<\/p>\n

For a ‘sneak peak’ of the interior, check out the small gallery below.<\/p>\n