100 Dresses

An irresistible look into more than 300 years of fashion through an exquisite collection of designer dresses

What woman can resist imagining herself in a beautiful designer dress? Here, for the first time ever, are 100 fabulous gowns from the permanent collection of the renowned Costume Institute at The Metropolitan Museum of Art, each of which is a reminder of the ways fashion reflects the broader culture that created it.

Featuring designs by Paul Poiret, Coco Chanel, Madame Grès, Yves Saint Laurent, Gianni Versace, Vivienne Westwood, Alexander McQueen, and many others, this one-of-a-kind collection presents a stunning variety of garments. Ranging from the buttoned-up gowns of the late 17th century to the cutting-edge designs of the early 21st, the dresses reflect the sensibilities and excesses of each era while providing a vivid picture of how styles have changed—sometimes radically—over the years. A late 1600s wool dress with a surprising splash of silver thread; a large-bustled red satin dress from the 1800s; a short, shimmery 1920s dancing dress; a glamorous 1950s cocktail dress; and a 1960s minidress—each tells a story about its period and serves as a testament to the enduring ingenuity of the fashion designer’s art.

Images of the dresses are accompanied by informative text and enhanced by close-up details as well as runway photos, fashion plates, works of art, and portraits of designers. A glossary of related terms is also included.

Published in association with The Metropolitan Museum of Art

“"What better way to spend a cold winter night, than snuggled by the fire with a great book to flip through? From opulent court dresses to frocks by the modern masters, 100 Dresses showcases beautiful creations from The Costume Institute at the Metropolitan Museum of Art's extensive collection.”

"Features page after page of swoon-worthy concoctions. . . ."—The Washington Post

"This one's perfect as a fashionable primer of classic style. . . . Details on the pieces offer historical and cultural context and the whole package may send readers right over to the Met to see the collection in person."—New York Post

"Features page after page of swoon-worthy concoctions from bold-faced names."—Holly E. Thomas, Washington Post magazine

"100 Dresses will satisfy a broad audience of students and historians, fashion insiders and general consumers. The volume has great visual impact from the cover image...and equally startling pink endpapers; to insets of intricate hand-worked surface decorations; to fine art reproductions and fashion plates; to portrait photos of designers and shots taken on the runway. . . ."—Studio International

Harold Koda is Curator in Charge of the Costume Institute at The Metropolitan Museum of Art.

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