Harper's Bazaar: First in Fashion

A fascinating look at one of the most groundbreaking publications in the world, this volume traces its colorful history and the important figures who have shaped it, influencing fashion -- and more broadly, culture -- decade after decade.

Harper's Bazaar has long been revered for its contributions to fashion, photography, and graphic design and has remained a cultural icon since 1867, showcasing the visions of legendary editors, photographers, and stylists - as well as works by notable literary writers and journalists. Based on the exhibition at the Musée des Arts Décoratifs in Paris, this volume traces the magazine's story -- from visionary founding editor, Mary Louise Booth, to Glenda Bailey, who has helmed the magazine for the last two decades and is known for commissioning dazzling visual features that frame fashion in the context of contemporary pop culture and aesthetics.

Featuring groundbreaking work by the greats of fashion photography and designs by fashion luminaries, from Madeleine Vionnet and Cristobal Balenciaga to Yves Saint Laurent and Christian Dior and up to the present with Karl Lagerfeld, Tom Ford, and Alexander McQueen, just to name a few, this book is a must-have for anyone interested in fashion. The book goes on to profile eminent contributors who were instrumental in maintaining Bazaar's ongoing relevance including Diana Vreeland, Jean Cocteau, Dali, Man Ray, Richard Avedon, Truman Capote, and many others.

Organized chronologically, the selections showcase the breadth of creativity and artistry that has been published in the magazine for more than a century and prove that Harper's Bazaar is more than just a fashion magazine.

About the Author:

Marianne le Galliard is an independent art historian focusing on history of photography and modern art. Éric Pujalet-Plàa became curatorial attache for the fashion and textile department at the Musee des Arts Decoratifs in Paris. Olivier Gabet is the director of the Musée des Arts Décoratifs. Glenda Bailey has been the editor-in-chief of Harper's Bazaar since 2001.