Cecil Beaton’s Fashionable World

From high-concept couture to portraits and magazine editorials, Beaton’s fashion photographs receive a fitting tribute in the form of this glamorous, elegant volume

A virtuoso in capturing beauty, glamour and star power, Cecil Beaton was an extraordinary force in the 20th-century British and American creative scenes. Renowned as a photographer, fashion illustrator, costume designer and writer, his impact spans the worlds of fashion, photography and design. From his early snapshots of the Bright Young Things and his breakthrough as Vogue’s star photographer at just 24 years old, to his portraits of royals, celebrities and models and culminating in his award-winning turn as a costume designer, Beaton created an oeuvre of glamour, resilience and creativity that continues to captivate audiences today.
Cecil Beaton’s Fashionable World, the catalog accompanying the exhibition of the same name at the National Portrait Gallery, London, is the first publication to delve into Beaton’s groundbreaking fashion work, spanning from 1922 to 1963. The book documents designs from Balmain, Schiaparelli, Balenciaga, Chanel and more. This pivotal aspect of his career would lay the foundation for his later successes. A chronological exploration of his most triumphant years includes his most iconic portraits of Greta Garbo, Julie Andrews, Audrey Hepburn, Mona Williams, Elizabeth II and many more, together with his rarely seen watercolors, collages and even outtakes.
Cecil Beaton (1904-80) was both a member and photographer of Britain’s Bright Young Things. He began working for British Vogue full-time in 1927 and over the succeeding decades became known for his portraits of fashion models and royalty. In the 1950s and 1960s, he won four Tony Awards and two Academy Awards for his costume designs.