50 Contemporary Fashion Designers. by Doria Santlofer

If haute coutre fashion is your thing, this is just the book for you. Santlofer covers the major players in the world of fashion from the well known Victoria Beckham, Rodarte, and Sarah Burton (who designed the Duchess of Cambridge's wedding dress) to lesser known and newer designers such as Mandy Coon and Creatures of the Wind.

Contemporary Fashion Designers presents a brief synopsis on each designer with a picture of at least one of their creations alongside the bio. There is also a small portrait of the designer on the sidebar with a short timeline of their education and development as a designer. The book gives a basic overview of each designer and his approach to fashion.

Among those included in the book are the following:

Olsen twins, Ashley and Kate who created the Row whose signature look is elegance, luxury, and simplicity.

Danish designer Camilla Staerk who incorporates leather and lace with a tendency towards a gothic look.

Olivier Theyskens, once considered an avant garde designer, is a major force in the New York fashion world. He once designed gowns for Rochas that were very expensive and one of a kind.

Seattle born Chris Benz studied at Parsons and presented his first ready to wear collection in 2007. Michelle Obama wears Benz.

One complaint about the book is some of the rail-thin models who are nothing more than living clothes hangers for the fashions. Also it would have been helpful to have references so that readers could undertake further research on specific designers of interest.

Book Details:
50 Contemporary Fashion Designers you should know. by Doria Santlofer
New York: Prestel
153 pp,