Showtime: Le Défilé de Mode

Catalogue published on the occasion of the exhibition Showtime, le défilé de mode presented at the Palais Galliera from 4 March to 30 July 2006.

The first book to be devoted entirely to the fashion show, this catalogue takes us behind the scenes of this special moment in fashion, tracing its history from the end of the 19th century to the present day, through analysis and a wealth of richly illustrated accounts and testimonials.
How does the catwalk make an image? Through literary representations, the iconography of "professional walkers" who became top models, and the evolution of the photographic profession, the image of the fashion show gradually reveals its strategic and economic stakes. Through the voices of witnesses and players in the fashion world, archaeologists of the contemporary field, historians and researchers, a chronology emerges, punctuated by iconography that marks the high points in the history of the catwalk. Finally, the study of subjects inherent or ancillary to the fashion show - the model, cinema, sound, the invitation card and photography - completes this panorama.