REILLY DAVIDSON | DATE 5/16/2019

'Charles James: The Couture Secrets of Shape' should be required reading for anyone interested in the evolution of design

The iconic shapes of American couturier Charles James transcend those of any other house of his time—or the present, for that matter. Relentlessly creative and open-minded, James famously lived at the Chelsea Hotel from 1964 until his death in 1978, paving the way for future generations of cross-pollination and experimentation in the arena of couture; today, he is rightly counted among the ranks of legends such as Christian Dior and Coco Chanel. New from Spector Books, Charles James: The Couture Secrets of Shape is a beautifully designed, 398-page exploration of the designer's enigmatic life, from the perspective of his collaborators, those who have drawn inspiration from him, and the writings and archives of James himself. With more than 400 color reproductions, a facsimile of his 1973 manual, The Charles James Approach to Structural Design, instructions for making patterns and forms, and in-depth texts by such noted contributors as Valerie Steele, Dorothea Mink, Carolin Roider, Rick Owens and Homer Layne (James’ last assistant), this massive, one-of-a-kind volume should be required reading for anyone interested in the evolution of design. Not to mention, the overall construction of the book makes it perfect for any fashion lover’s coffee table! Featured photograph, by Juan Ramos at the Everson Museum in Syracuse, New York, captures James with model Jerry Hall wearing the silk crepe scarf dress in 1975.