Hanae Mori Style (edited by Yasuko Suita)

Hanae Mori is a legendary Japanese fashion design icon, considered the 'Grand Dame' of Japanese fashion design. She presented her first collection in New York in 1965 to great acclaim, and has since grown her business into a multi-million dollar empire, expanding to menswear and perfumes. She is the first Asian to join the Chambre Syndicale de la Haute Couture, of France. She has a famous love of butterflies, so of course their imagery has become a vibrant and beautiful signature of many of her pieces over the years.

"Hanae Mori Style" is a retrospective of her work from 1965 to 2001, with images especially selected by her. There are 2 introductions, one from Hidekazu Yoshida and one from Suzy Menkes. I think its true that Hanae Mori's style is an amazing fusion, incorporating Japanese fashion influences like the striking patterns and colours of kiminos, shaped in Western forms, while incorporating the delicate and beautiful imagery of butterflies and nature.