Publisher Description

In 2016, the London Stereoscopic Company, under the direction of its proprietor Dr Brian May, will publish its first book on fashion! In keeping with the magical and mysterious themes which characterise this highly original, and quality driven publishing list, our contribution to fashion literature is far from conventional. Crinoline: Fashion's Most Magnificent Disaster is about a fashion which died a natural death more than 100 years ago, and was itself responsible for the deaths of thousands - literally fashion victims!

Notes

Includes 3D images of exhibits from the V&A museum's exhibition Undressed: A Brief History Of Underwear, which runs from April 2016 - February 2017. Presents a comprehensive history of the development of crinolines, from the Victorian era to contemporary designs from the likes of Dame Vivienne Westwood and John Galliano. 300 images.

Author Biography

Brian May, CBE, PhD, FRAS, founding member of the rock group Queen, is a world-renowned guitarist, songwriter, producer and performer. He is now also known as a leading animal rights campaigner, astrophysicist, author and publisher. Crinoline is Brian's seventh book, and the London Stereoscopic Society (LSC) publishing company, which Brian owns, has pioneered the return of 3D photography to popularity. Denis Pellerin is a photohistorian, photographer, author, and stereoscopic projection specialist. He taught English in France for over 30 years. He graduated as an MA in Art History at the Sorbonne, and since the 1980s has had a passion for stereoscopic images, specialising in the study of French and British Victorian genre views. Denis' first book coauthored with Brian May and Paula Fleming was Diableries, in 2013, and in 2014 he coauthored The Poor Man's Picture Gallery.

Review

"A very special and wonderful book with enlightened research unveiling fascinating facts ... Great examples of 3D pictures totally in keeping with its historical importance, complete with 3D viewer." Zandra Rhodes

Long Description

The voluminous crinoline underskirt was immensely popular between the years of 1856 to 1867, but was by its very nature severely impractical: a strong gust of wind would blow the dress up exposing the womans legs and undergarments; worse still, the crinolines were cumbersome, caused accidents and proved to be a serious fire hazard. As the shapes of crinoline garments grew more and more extreme, artists were inspired to capture the absurdities and misfortunes of the wearers through stereo photos, as well as in cartoons and drawings. Just as Crinoline came into fashion, the stereoscope _ the equivalent of TV and Film for the Victorians _ became a huge craze. Stereo photographers capitalized on the ridiculous spectacle of the women in crinolines, giving impoverished Victorian husbands some consolation in laughter. Although the hoops and inflatable frames disappeared, this wonderful humorous imagery produced during the Crinoline decade has lasted intact over the centuries _ and is rediscovered in this book. Crinoline _ the book _ begins with the emergence of the steel petticoat and the initial onset of the "Crinoline Age", and then takes the reader on a fascinating visual journey, including a wealth of colourful 3-D imagery, to the historical moment when women began to protest against the "cage" and it was eventually phased out. However, contemporary designers such as the late Alexander McQueen, Zandra Rhodes and Vivienne Westwood have reintroduced the crinoline to the catwalk, bringing the dramatic garment of the 19th century all the way into the 21st century with a modern twist.

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