Ralph Rucci: Autobiography of a Fashion Designer

.This beautifully produced, limited edition is a unique gift for those who love beautiful objects and design. A true collector's item .Not just for the fashion lover, this book offers inspiration for any designer and appeals to anyone interested in the process of creation .The story effectively unfolds though the obsessive reliance on the photogrid, offering up a different version each time one looks through the book "It's a treasure of a book. By which I mean it's beautiful and interesting, and will be a collector's item (after the printing is over), because of the brilliance of the content and its quality, as well as the quality of the book itself. A keeper." David Patrick Columbia, New York Social Diary Through a wealth of stunning photogrids, the book delves deeply into the private and public worlds of fashion designer, Ralph Rucci. His eclectic and beautiful home is revealed through a compelling series of closely cropped photographs - everything from his boxing gloves to the contents of his refrigerator, the Elsa Peretti pieces displayed throughout the rooms and his extensive book collection on muses from Cy Twombly to Cristobal Balenciaga. The images of Rucci's design processes are equally captivating; bolts of exquisite fabrics, spools of thread, and racks of dress patterns are presented in grids, alongside notebooks rich with inspiration for past collections. No less interesting are the photographs of his file cabinets and stacks of old fashion magazines he started collecting at age 14. Behind-the-scenes pictures of model fittings, photo shoots, and runway stagings are the finale of this luxurious book. Rucci's creative genius is brilliantly displayed through a unique portfolio of his numerous award-winning designs."

Ralph Rucci is an American fashion icon, widely praised within the fashion world for his exquisite technique. His work attracts an exclusive high-end clientele, including the socialite Deeda Blair and interior designer Charlotte Moss. Michelle Dockery ofDownton Abbey was unforgettable at the 2013 SAG Awards in her vintage Rucci dress. Born and reared in Philadelphia, Rucci earned a philosophy degree at Temple University, before entering the fashion business, training under Halston and a Balenciaga patternmaker. He held his first formal show in 1981, and launched his own house, Chado: Ralph Rucci, in 1996. In 2002, Rucci was invited by the Chambre Syndicale de la Haute Couture to show in Paris - the first American-based designer to ever receive the honor. In Autumn 2012 he received his ＂Fashion Walk of Fame＂ plaque on Seventh Avenue in Manhattan. In April 2012 Rucci was the keynote speaker at the seventh annual Design Leadership Summit in Marrakech. Photographer, Baldomero Fernandez, has been taking pictures since age 14. His work has appeared in Life, The New Yorker, Vanity Fair and W Magazine. His many honors include the Communication Arts Magazine Editorial Award of Excellence, received in 2005 for his work done in Cuba.