Olivier Theyskens coffee table book is finally available for pre-order
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Designer Olivier Theyskens’ ascension in the fashion world was nothing less than meteoric. At 20, the lank-haired youngin’ dropped out of design school to create his first collection. Soon after, Madonna wore a gothic-inspired Theyskens dress to the Oscars, putting the designer’s name on the map on an international scale.
But since that halcyon debut, Theyskens’ path has been rocky; he was charged with reinvigorating two legendary fashion houses, Rochas and Nina Ricci, only to leave both (Nina Ricci just last year) after reports that he was unwilling to commercialize his oft-extravagant creations in the name of maximizing sales (which, undoubtedly, was only part of the story in both instances).
But through it all, few have doubted Theyskens’ ability to create breathtaking clothes -- dreamy confections that alternately conjure fairy tales and nightmares. And now many of the designer’s jaw-dropping creations are being featured in a new book, ‘Olivier Theysken: The Other Side of the Picture,’ published by Assouline and now available for pre-order online for $120.
Written by Sally Singer, director of fashion news and features at Vogue, the photo-heavy tome is a memoir of sorts, looking back on Theyskens’ life and career through storytelling and images taken by Julien Claessens -- who was given no-holds-barred backstage access to Theyskens’ fashion shows (the resulting photos capture the designer’s darkly romantic aesthetic sublimely).
A retrospective book on any other 33-year-old designer might feel premature, but considering how much Theyskens has already accomplished in his career, the timing feels about right.
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