100 Unforgettable Dresses Hardcover – November 5, 2011

There are a lot of fashion books out there but this one lives up to its name. It's not the 100 BEST Dresses but rather the 100 UNFORGETTABLE Dresses -- and unforgettable they are. Not only does the book include dresses that are memorable for their beauty but ones that are known for being "unforgettable" such as the curtain dress parody "Went With the Wind" (a riff on "Gone With the Wind") on the Carol Burnett Show. I love that about this book because it isn't just the best looks. I also like that it includes not only the celeb red carpet dresses that we've all seen but also dresses from films and the runway.In addition to the photos are great storytelling. Hal has a distinct voice that is really wonderfully engaging. You know he just loves talking about these dresses and the history behind each of them.This is a great book for anyone who is interested in fashion journalism as well as just fashion fanatics. Readers of In Style will like Hal's signature touch on each look -- reminiscent of his monthly feature "The Look." Again, it's not always about being the best looking dresses but more about the ones that you can't get out of your head.One dress I thought was 'missing' was the Shalom Harlow McQueen paint-splattered dress. But I'm sure I'm one of the many that can say, "OH, but you forgot THAT dress!" The great thing? It doesn't matter because this is his book and his 100!Great gift. Go buy it for yourself or for someone you love.

I just purchased this through Amazon. I was initially wary of the title as I've been rather disappointed with most of the fashion-themed books published this year and for the last few years (and I've been buying fashion books for decades including anything with the word "couture" or "Vreeland" or "Yohji" or "Comme" in the title). However, it was a sheer joy to read from page 1 till the end; even the acknowledgements are so well-written. The author is witty, perceptive, sensitive to the ephemeral pleasure and excitement of fashion shows, alert to the technical details or innovations in a dress, fashion conscious (as opposed to some of the new titles written by bloggers or associate professors in design with no fashion passion and no references in the history of fashion) - there is delight in a superbly apt description of the dress and of that very moment when the dress made that impact. If you enjoyed the passion of Martin Gottfried in Broadway Musicals (1986), then you will know what I'm referring to. All through, there are little known delicious tidbits associated with each dress; for example, the seams on Carolyn Bessette Kennedy's Narciso wedding dress (not a favourite dress of mine but that's not the point) and a wonderful little story about the cutting of the dress (which I cannot spoil for the next reader). One doesn't have to agree with all his choices but I was thrilled that he chose Anne Margaret's dress in the opening sequence of Bye Bye Birdie. The description of Carmen Kass walking in the Chanel rtw ostrich feathered dress is gorgeous. I'm probably overreacting (slightly) here but this is not fashion writing, this is prose.

Now this is a coffee table book worth reading! From Coco Chanel's little black dress introduced in the 1920's, to Kate Middleton's wedding dress in 2011, this book spans the decades from 1926 to 2011. As the title says, these dresses are unforgettable - not necessarily beautiful in the conventional sense - but they are included because of their enduring style, iconography, popularity, and/or cultural significance. The author, Hal Rubenstein of Instyle magazine, reveals the behind-the-scenes dish about the creation of each dress and really captures, in concise terms, why a particular dress is unforgettable, providing the cultural context and craftsmanship and construction that makes it memorable. It's obvious he has a special fondness for the special place each dress has in the modern history of women's fashion, and it's his enthusiasm that provides the reader with a greater appreciation for the work of each designer, whether she is a fan of a particular dress or not. Why only 4 stars and not 5? Some of the photos included do not provide the best views of the dresses, leaving something to be desired. Plus, there were a couple of mistakes in the dates and designers of the featured dresses. But overall this book is a fun read and provides a fascinating peek inside the creation of an unforgettable dress.

This is a visually beautiful book. It is well written and the photos are fantastic. I bought this for my nearly 90 year old mother in law. After she read it we spent a wonderful afternoon as she thumbed back through and told me stories about what was happening in her life at the time each dress was in the spotlight. Interestingly, although I'm not especially into fashion or the famous, I recalled having seen many of these dresses in those same timeframes and it was interesting to consider the different places she and I were at in our lives at those points in time. She's had the book for a few months now and she still picks it up frequently.

I bought this book to give as a Christmas gift, but I just couldn't part with it. It's a beautiful book - great for leaving out for guests to look over. The photographs are beautiful and the accompanying stories are interesting.I really love this book and so does everyone who sees it at my house. It's irresistible.

Some were truly gorgeous. Some were only unforgettable because of the woman who wore the dress. Very interesting history of the designers made the book worth the reading.

I bought this for my coffee table and I love the look of the cover as well as seeing all the dresses. For anyone who loves fashion, they will remember a lot of these iconic dresses.

Although there are a couple dresses that I had to raise my eyebrows at, on the whole the book is a beautiful collection of amazing dresses. I purchased it for my daughter who loves fashion and sewing, but everyone in the family has paged through it more than once. A great addition to our collection of books.

!😘

Ho comprato il libro credendo di trovare al suo interno delle sezioni dedicate a 100 abiti che hanno fatto la storia e dei paragrafi che ne spiegassero la creazione e ne illustrassero il successo. In realtà chi è protagonista del libro non sono gli abiti ma le dive o gli stilisti che li hanno celebrati. Le fotografie sono a colori e grandi, ma non analizzano nel dettaglio il singolo capo. Scritto in inglese fruibile non lo consiglio a chi ha voglia di studiare, ma è comunque molto utile per avere spunti interessanti di riflessione e creazione, per chi lo lascia a vista da far sfogliare!!Consegna rapidissima e precisa!!

Este libro enseña diferentes vestidos que han adquirido notoriedada por uno u otro motivo, principalmente por quienes los han vestido o diseñado.

I got this for Christmas and have read it cover to cover. Some of the Dresses were not to my taste and some I thought (like Marilyn Monroe and Jane Russell in the Pink strapless gowns in "Gentlemen prefer Blondes", not there (seeing Madonna has also copied it)) and some odd choices of questionable taste, but it did open my eyes to some gowns I did not know existed so overall it was a great read.

何度見てもうっとりする作品ばかりです。さすが選ばれた100着です。ほんの状態もとても良く割安に入手できこんなに素晴らしい作品が観れることに大満足です。一見の価値ありです。