Hats By Madame Paulette| William Helburn Seventh and Madison

New titles from Thames & Hudson

Hats by Madame Paulette, Yves Saint Laurent, William Helburn: Seventh and Madison. Book Photos courtesy of Thames & Hudson.

HATS BY MADAME PAULETTE:

Paris Milliner Extraordinaire ($50.00 hardcover, 9780500517314) highlights the life and work of famed milliner Madame Paulette, whose incomparable creations were worn by such film stars as Greta Garbo and Audrey Hepburn, and such royals as Princess Grace of Monaco and the Duchess of Windsor.

I was sent this book and the others featured here by the publishers Thames & Hudson. The pictures in Hats by Madame Paulette are just stunning. This is not a flip through coffee table book, but an enjoy-every-picture and spend-a-Sunday-afternoon with it book. I actually delighted in the sketches as much as the photographs. Madame Paulette created the stunning creations in My Fair Lady! I also didn’t know that no two hats she created were ever alike. When you view her creations, you will surely agree with Karl Lagerfeld, who said of Paulette:

She was the last of a line of artists of this kind. She had something in her fingers, a magic touch…

YVES SAINT LAURENT

YVES SAINT LAURENT ($50.00 hardcover, 9780500517604) is a dazzling portrait of the designer and his world of fashion over the last 25 years of his career by legendary backstage fashion photography pioneer Roxanne Lowit.

I have not received this book yet as it has a release date of Nov. 4, 2014. The subject intrigued me because he defined the 1970s in terms of cool cutting edge fashion. An accomplishment I particularly admired is that he:

He revolutionized women’s evening wear when he introduced le smoking, a woman’s tuxedo, and made couture accessible to a younger generation. ~ From Thames & Hudson website.

WILLIAM HELBURN: SEVENTH AND MADISON

WILLIAM HELBURN: SEVENTH AND MADISON ($65.00 hardcover, 9780500517659) captures striking fashion and advertising images by the go-to photographer for many of the top agencies in New York during the 1950s and 60s Advertising Revolution.

I have not yet received this book has a release date of Nov. 11, 2014. The reason I wanted to review it is that ’50s and ’60s advertising was among some of the best this country has ever seen. I am eagerly anticipating viewing Helburn’s body of work.

As well as cars and cosmetics, Helburn shot Coca-Cola, Canada Dry, whiskeys, clothing lines, airlines, jewelry, cigars and cigarettes, and any number of other products. He worked with the top models of the day, from Dovima and Dorian Leigh to Jean Patchett and Barbara Mullen to Jean Shrimpton and Lauren Hutton.