Wednesday 15 September 2010Wedded Perfection: Two Centuries of Wedding Gowns

Wedded Perfection: Two Centuries of Wedding Gowns, to be published by D Giles Limited in association with Cincinnati Art Museum, is a beautifully illustrated volume which explores the compelling allure of the white, single-use wedding dress for modern women and its iconic stature in Western cultures.

The volume presents full-length colour plates and exquisite details of nearly 60 wedding gowns and dresses from the late 18th century to the present day drawn from Cincinnati Art Museum’s internationally renowned permanent collection, and supplemented with loans from major designers. These include work of some of the most notable designers of the 20th and 21st centuries, including Jeanne Lanvin, Christian Dior, Paco Rabanne, Vera Wang, Bob Mackie, Yohji Yamamoto and Zac Posen.

Historically, wedding dress styles have charted the evolution of women’s status. Cynthia Amnéus’ essay examines the role of women within society and the institution of marriage and parallels it with the evolving aesthetics of wedding gowns. She explores the ideas and social mores surrounding the wedding and the way in which they have influenced bridal wear. Two further essays discuss the establishment of the bridal industry after World War II and the democratization of the white wedding gown for working class brides.

An interpretive entry is provided for each gown detailing construction techniques and fashionable characteristics. This is accompanied by a full length colour image of the gown, details of embellishments and fabrics, original bridal photos, comparative illustrations, and information about the designers. The book also includes a select bibliography and an index.

Publication coincides with the opening of a major exhibition at Cincinnati Art Museum October 9, 2010 to January 30, 2011

The Authors
Cynthia Amnéus is curator of fashion arts and textiles at the Cincinnati Art Museum. She has taught at Xavier University and the University of Cincinnati and is the author of A Separate Sphere: Dressmakers in Cincinnati’s Golden Age, 1877–1922 (2003), which won the 2004 Victorian Society of America Publication Award. Sara Long Butler is professor of Costume Studies, Miami University, Oxford, Ohio. Katherine Jellison is associate professor, Department of History, Ohio University

WEDDED PERFECTION
Two Centuries of Wedding Gowns
RRP US$45.00/UK£30.00
Hardback
ISBN 978-1-904832-84-3
272 pages
279 × 229 mm, (9 × 11 in.), portrait
136 colour and 21 b & w illustrations
Publication date: October, 2010
Publisher: D Giles Limited, London

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