"Clothes should look as if a woman were born into them. It is a form of possession, this belonging to one another." This statement sums up the design philosophy of one of this country's most innovative couturiers. For more than 30 years, Beene, a one-time medical student from Louisiana and an eight-time winner of the prestigious Coty Award, has revolutionized feminine fashion, liberating women from the "conventional mechanics of dress" by removing paddings and interlinings, zippers and fasteners from his lighter-than-air jumpsuits and gowns. He has also turned the traditional fashion show upside down, abandoning runways and star models in favor of art installations and dancers whose leaps and grand jetes display the luxurious freedom of movement his clothes allow. This beautiful volume, lavishly illustrated with 120 photos by the world's great fashion photographers, is not a chronological retrospective of Beene's work (although his structured 1960s dresses are presented) but rather an aesthetic appreciation of his artistry. Following an introduction by Richard Martin and Harold Koda, curators of the Metropolitan Museum of Art's Costume Institute, fashion journalist Cullerton examines Beene's unique qualities?his geometric designs, his bold use of color, his juxtaposition of luxurious fabrics with the humble (satin with gingham). For academic and larger public library fashion collections.?Wilda Williams, "Library Journal"

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