Marcel Rochas

The first fashion monograph dedicated to Marcel Rochas, a key twentieth-century women’s wear designer, written by his daughter.

Marcel Rochas (1902–1955) left an enduring legacy on the world of fashion, inspiring a range of contemporary designers. In this illustrated biography, Sophie Rochas provides an intimate first-hand account of her father, providing insights into his talents as an innovative designer, revered socialite, attentive parent, and demanding husband.

Rochas’s trademark designs included exaggerated shoulders, the wasp-waisted bodice, a strapless girdle that defined the female silhouette of the 1940s and 1950s, his Sirène gown, the surrealist Oiseau dress, and the signature perfume Femme. His myriad creations were favored, both on-screen and off, by Hollywood starlets including Carole Lombard, Marlene Dietrich, and Mae West.

This monograph includes rare family photographs, portraits by the great fashion photographers, as well as Rochas’s iconic perfume bottles, style inspirations, and most significant creations, which have since become milestones in the history of women’s wear.