Vogue: The Gown

Reviews for the limited edition: (A) sumptuous love letter capturing the essence of Vogue: beautiful women in beautiful gowns. --Library Journal

An art book about gowns must be as opulent and enchanting as its lavish subject. So it is with this grandly produced and mesmerizing celebration of Vogue's devotion to the ultimate haute couture confection. --Booklist

This landmark book is a beautiful celebration of haute couture dresses from the early 20th century to today. More than 300 photographs are grouped into five thematic chapters: Classical, Fantasy, Drama, Decorative and Modernist. More than a collection of photographs of dresses organized in categories, it is a curated exploration of 20th-century fashion and fashion photography.

The photographers and their set designers, stylists, hair and make-up assistants were inspired by literature, art, history and current trends when they created these elaborately detailed fantasies. The model and the gown are part of a whole yet also the focus.

Extended captions with date, photographers, designer and model place the gowns and the models in the history of couture and fashion photography. Many of the fashion superstars are here: Linda Evangelista, Naomi Campbell, Kate Moss, Twiggy, Scarlett Johansson, Christy Turlington, Cate Blanchett, Marlene Dietrich, Bianca Jagger, Jennifer Lawrence, Cindy Crawford and Vivien Leigh.

The gowns are from the world's great fashion houses -- Versace, Givenchy, Galliano, McQueen, Cavalli, Chanel, Marc Jacobs, Gucci, Dior, Dolce and Gabbana, Yves Saint Laurent, Hermes, Ralph Lauren, Lagerfeld, Valentino, Armani, Jean Paul Gaultier, Stella McCartney, Christian Lacroix, Prada and more.

Vogue: The Gown is an evocative celebration of almost a century of fashion history and a stunning collection of work from the very best fashion photographers, including Mario Testino, Helmut Newton, David Bailey, Herb Ritts, Corinne Day, Cecil Beaton and Horst.

Presented in saturated color printed on heavy stock with Cate Blanchett on the jacket, Vogue: The Gown is a mesmerizing exhibition of the best and most iconic images from the pages of the world's most fashionable magazine.

Jo Ellison was features director of Vogue from 2005 to 2014, when she became fashion editor at The Financial Times. She has worked extensively in the Vogue archive and written numerous features about the magazine's illustrious relationships with photographers past and present.