Following its exhaustive 2009 art tome The Impossible Collection, which culled the 100 most coveted artworks from the modern era, Assouline is releasing a glossy, fashion-focused sequel next week. In The Impossible Collection of Fashion, priced at a cool $650, Museum at F.I.T. curator Valerie Steele selects the 100 most iconic dresses of the twentieth century. The 144-page book is a stunner, featuring full-page photos and illustrations of flounced, beaded, padded, and feathered gowns from the likes of Balenciaga, Christian Dior, Rei Kawakubo, and John Galliano. Here’s a sneak peek inside the upcoming coffee table must-have.

The Impossible Collection of Fashion (Assouline, October 1)

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Filed Under: first looks, assouline, balenciaga, books, christian dior, comme des garcons, john galliano, marc bohan, rei kawakubo, roberto capucci, slideshow, yves saint laurent