Hollywood Costume -- Glamour! Glitter! Romance!

New York: Harry N. Abrams, Inc. / A Balance House Book. Fine in Near Fine dj. [1976]. First Edition. Hardcover. (upholstered floral-pattern cloth, in printed acetate dust jacket) [no discernible wear to book; jacket has a few tiny and unobtrusive scuff marks, but no cracks or tears]. (color and B&W photographs A lavish and attractive volume, essentially a catalogue of the exhibition "Romantic and Glamorous Hollywood Design," presented by the Metropolitan Museum of Art in New York. As such, the focus of the (admittedly fabulous) photographs is strictly on the costumes themselves, as they appeared in the movies and also in real life -- i.e. there are no reproductions, for instance, of any costume sketches or drawings, and the discussion of the creative process doesn't get much beyond the anecdotal. The book is organized (as was the exhibition itself, presumably) by decades, with each having its "theme" (e.g., "1930s: The Fatal Woman and The Hoofer"). Although the jacket copy pays lip service to "the designers, dressmakers, hairdressers, technicians, and directors who made and selected these stunning clothes," the emphasis throughout is on the performers who wore them -- primarily actresses, of course, although there's an occasional nod to one or another male (Rudolph Valentino, Fred Astaire, and a few others). There's a short section at the back of the book that presents mini-biographies of a couple of dozen of the most famous costume designers, and the text makes use (per the jacket copy) of personal interviews, but as far as in-depth history of movie costume design is concerned, this volume is strictly from coffee-tableland. **** NOTE that additional shipping charges will be requested for international shipping of this heavy book, or for Priority Mail service to U.S. destinations. If this concerns you, please contact us for a shipping quote before placing your order. **** .