In the same format as Wood’s book, Lussier offers a complete look at fashions of the 1920s and '30s from clothing to shoes and other accessories. The illustrations include drawings of lovely ladies in flowing gowns and actual photographs of fashionably clad women sporting fur collars and cloche hats, among other nifty ensembles.
The author also touches on influential designers of the period such as Lanvin and Chanel, and takes a look at make-up and hairstyles of the Art Deco era.
While the text is very informative, the photos chosen for this history lesson of a book are just short of mesmerizing. Actually, anyone enamored with vintage styles for any number of reasons –- movie buffs, history fans, those interested in women’s studies -– would be impressed with this little number.
These aren’t price guides, so be sure to keep that in mind. You won’t be given a clue about how much Uncle Harry’s Art Deco styled clock is worth and the value of his wife’s fur stole is nowhere to be found. What you will find here are two concise books you’ll read and then look through again just to admire the illustrations. They’re that good.
If you’re still wondering exactly what defines a piece as Art Deco, I read somewhere once that if Art Nouveau was curves, then Art Deco was angles. It’s a culmination of exotic cultures, geometric shapes and the modern attitudes of the jazz age that resulted in an enduring legacy that still influences designers today.
