Cecil Beaton's fashionable world

Abstract

"A virtuoso in capturing beauty, glamour and star power, Cecil Beaton was an extraordinary force in the 20th-century British and American creative scenes. Renowned as a photographer, fashion illustrator, costume designer and writer, his impact spans the worlds of fashion, photography and design. From his early snapshots of the Bright Young Things and his breakthrough as Vogue's star photographer at just 24 years old, to his portraits of royals, celebrities and models and culminating in his award-winning turn as a costume designer, Beaton created an oeuvre of glamour, resilience and creativity that continues to captivate audiences today. Cecil Beaton's Fashionable World, the catalog accompanying the exhibition of the same name at the National Portrait Gallery, London, is the first publication to delve into Beaton's groundbreaking fashion work, spanning from 1922 to 1963. The book documents designs from Balmain, Schiaparelli, Balenciaga, Chanel and more. This pivotal aspect of his career would lay the foundation for his later successes. A chronological exploration of his most triumphant years includes his most iconic portraits of Greta Garbo, Julie Andrews, Audrey Hepburn, Mona Williams, Elizabeth II and many more, together with his rarely seen watercolors, collages and even outtakes."-- Vendor website.

Contents

Director's foreword / Victoria Siddall -- Images to Swoon For: A Preface / by Hamish Bowles -- Introduction / by Robin Muir -- Gallery of Beauties -- The Rise of the Curtain -- Boy Wonder -- Symphonies in Silver -- The Speed of Life -- The King of Vogue -- A Race of Gods and Goddesses -- The Stuff of Magic -- The Menace of Danger -- In Arcadia -- The Gleam of an Eye -- Glittering Prize -- The Essence of Artiface.