An essential sourcebook of prints from a key fashion decade.
The 1950s was the decade when an analytical approach to design, with a
lightness and freshness, combined with whimsical imagery and
idiosyncratic subject matter. Showcasing hundreds of print designs, this
book celebrates the heyday of postwar fashion design.
From Lucienne Day and Robert Stewart to Maija Isola of Marimekko, the
designs and influences of the print icons of the time are all covered.
In addition to finished prints, the book contains exclusive
illustrations and original artworks.
The major themes of the period are explored, including: narrative and
novelty; abstraction, exploring the distorted and attenuated forms used
in print; artistic licence and the influence of contemporary art on
fashion print; and finally kinetic prints that capture the influence of
the era's 'mobiles, doodles and spasms'. Each short chapter introduction
is followed by a range of illustrations with captions to give provenance
and relevance, making this a unique sourcebook for contemporary
designers and students.