Advertisement
SUMMER STYLE:

This 'flattering' dress is 'perfect' for summer weddings — and it's only $40 on Amazon

It's cute, comfy and chic. What more can you ask for?

Hal Rubenstein’s New Book Is a Delicious Read for Pop Culture Fiends & Hopeless Romantics

  • <p>Held at the incredibly ornate Palais Garner opera house, Rubenstein describes John Galliano’s spring/summer 1998 show for Dior thusly: “The presentation was an authentic spectacle, a fashion show every sartorial client, industry professional, and fashion enthusiast dreams of witnessing, though we never have imagined what a mind-blowing experience could be.” <i>Photo: MCV Photo</i></p>
    1/6

    Shalom Harlow at the presentation of the Dior spring/summer 1998 collection

    Held at the incredibly ornate Palais Garner opera house, Rubenstein describes John Galliano’s spring/summer 1998 show for Dior thusly: “The presentation was an authentic spectacle, a fashion show every sartorial client, industry professional, and fashion enthusiast dreams of witnessing, though we never have imagined what a mind-blowing experience could be.” Photo: MCV Photo

  • <p>“Heralded by harpsichords and violins and initially framed against snow-blanketed backdrops, it is physiologically impossible not to marvel at the frosty-cheeked, genetically blessed loveliness of Ali MacGraw and Ryan O’Neal.” <i>Photo: Courtesy Everett Collection</i> <br></p>
    2/6

    Ryan O’Neal and Ali MacGraw in “Love Story,” 1970

    “Heralded by harpsichords and violins and initially framed against snow-blanketed backdrops, it is physiologically impossible not to marvel at the frosty-cheeked, genetically blessed loveliness of Ali MacGraw and Ryan O’Neal.” Photo: Courtesy Everett Collection

  • <p>Rubenstein points out that Baz Luhurmann, fresh off of Moulin Rouge, enlisted his star, Nicole Kidman, for this three minute, $30 million dollar commercial. The star wore a Chanel dress that was comprised of 140 meters of silk tulle, 10 meters of silk organza, 250 ostrich feathers, and 2,000 silver crystals that that took 10 couture seamstresses 700 hours to make. <i>Photo: Baz Luhrmann / Chanel </i></p>
    3/6

    Nicole Kidman in the Chanel No. 5 film shot by Baz Luhrmann, 2004

    Rubenstein points out that Baz Luhurmann, fresh off of Moulin Rouge, enlisted his star, Nicole Kidman, for this three minute, $30 million dollar commercial. The star wore a Chanel dress that was comprised of 140 meters of silk tulle, 10 meters of silk organza, 250 ostrich feathers, and 2,000 silver crystals that that took 10 couture seamstresses 700 hours to make. Photo: Baz Luhrmann / Chanel

  • Stay in the know at a glance with the Top 10 daily stories

    Yahoo News is better in the app

    Stay in the know at a glance with the Top 10 daily stories

  • <p>“<i>Flashdance</i> looks like high-gloss, paper-thin entertainment, but it is actually an invaluable time capsule, uncannily incorporating seismic changes in how almost every element of youth culture — from sex to style— was drastically shifting away from the mores and manners of the previous generation.” <i>Photo: Paramount / Courtesy of Everett Collection </i><br></p>
    4/6

    Jennifer Beale in “Flashdance,” 1983

    “Flashdance looks like high-gloss, paper-thin entertainment, but it is actually an invaluable time capsule, uncannily incorporating seismic changes in how almost every element of youth culture — from sex to style— was drastically shifting away from the mores and manners of the previous generation.” Photo: Paramount / Courtesy of Everett Collection

  • <p>“I really did think it smelled like sex,” Calvin Klein admits to Rubestein in the chapter that covers the designer’s grainy Bruce Weber-lensed Obsession ads from 1985. The author is quick to point out that he was hardly alone. Sales of the fragrance were $30 million in the first year and more than $100 million by 1987. <i>Photo: Bruce Weber / Courtesy Calvin Klein </i><br></p>
    5/6

    Calvin Klein’s Obsession ad, 1985

    “I really did think it smelled like sex,” Calvin Klein admits to Rubestein in the chapter that covers the designer’s grainy Bruce Weber-lensed Obsession ads from 1985. The author is quick to point out that he was hardly alone. Sales of the fragrance were $30 million in the first year and more than $100 million by 1987. Photo: Bruce Weber / Courtesy Calvin Klein

  • <p>Don’t let the romantic cover photo by Nick Knight fool you, this tome is not just fashion and froth but rather an insightful and satisfying glimpse into how pop culture and style are forever intertwined. </p><p><i>The Looks of Love: 50 Moments in Fashion That Inspired Romance</i>, $30, <a href="http://www.amazon.com/The-Looks-Love-Moments-Inspired/dp/0062279696" rel="nofollow noopener" target="_blank" data-ylk="slk:amazon.com;elm:context_link;itc:0;sec:content-canvas" class="link ">amazon.com</a> </p>
    6/6

    “The Looks of Love: 50 Moments in Fashion That Inspired Romance” by Hal Rubenstein

    Don’t let the romantic cover photo by Nick Knight fool you, this tome is not just fashion and froth but rather an insightful and satisfying glimpse into how pop culture and style are forever intertwined.

    The Looks of Love: 50 Moments in Fashion That Inspired Romance, $30, amazon.com

<p>Held at the incredibly ornate Palais Garner opera house, Rubenstein describes John Galliano’s spring/summer 1998 show for Dior thusly: “The presentation was an authentic spectacle, a fashion show every sartorial client, industry professional, and fashion enthusiast dreams of witnessing, though we never have imagined what a mind-blowing experience could be.” <i>Photo: MCV Photo</i></p>
<p>“Heralded by harpsichords and violins and initially framed against snow-blanketed backdrops, it is physiologically impossible not to marvel at the frosty-cheeked, genetically blessed loveliness of Ali MacGraw and Ryan O’Neal.” <i>Photo: Courtesy Everett Collection</i> <br></p>
<p>Rubenstein points out that Baz Luhurmann, fresh off of Moulin Rouge, enlisted his star, Nicole Kidman, for this three minute, $30 million dollar commercial. The star wore a Chanel dress that was comprised of 140 meters of silk tulle, 10 meters of silk organza, 250 ostrich feathers, and 2,000 silver crystals that that took 10 couture seamstresses 700 hours to make. <i>Photo: Baz Luhrmann / Chanel </i></p>
<p>“<i>Flashdance</i> looks like high-gloss, paper-thin entertainment, but it is actually an invaluable time capsule, uncannily incorporating seismic changes in how almost every element of youth culture — from sex to style— was drastically shifting away from the mores and manners of the previous generation.” <i>Photo: Paramount / Courtesy of Everett Collection </i><br></p>
<p>“I really did think it smelled like sex,” Calvin Klein admits to Rubestein in the chapter that covers the designer’s grainy Bruce Weber-lensed Obsession ads from 1985. The author is quick to point out that he was hardly alone. Sales of the fragrance were $30 million in the first year and more than $100 million by 1987. <i>Photo: Bruce Weber / Courtesy Calvin Klein </i><br></p>
<p>Don’t let the romantic cover photo by Nick Knight fool you, this tome is not just fashion and froth but rather an insightful and satisfying glimpse into how pop culture and style are forever intertwined. </p><p><i>The Looks of Love: 50 Moments in Fashion That Inspired Romance</i>, $30, <a href="http://www.amazon.com/The-Looks-Love-Moments-Inspired/dp/0062279696" rel="nofollow noopener" target="_blank" data-ylk="slk:amazon.com;elm:context_link;itc:0;sec:content-canvas" class="link ">amazon.com</a> </p>
Sarah Cristobal
·Editor

If you’re a fashion and pop culture junkie, or a cinematic daydreamer who often relates real life experiences to those witnessed on film, you’ll love this dreamy new tome by fashion industry icon Hal Rubenstein. The Looks of Love: 50 Moments in Fashion That Inspired Romance, is like VH1′s Pop Up Video in book form, providing little known details and the author’s first hand insights behind everything from Courtney Love’s initial wardrobe choices (she handmade all of those baby doll dresses, btw) to Dior’s elaborate haute couture shows in Paris to how to replicate that iconic gray off-the-shoulder sweatshirt worn by Jennifer Beale in Flashdance.

“I don’t think the idea was never not with me,” Rubenstein tells Yahoo Style upon explaining the impetus behind the book. “I have always been fascinated by how powerfully certain pop-cultural images insinuate themselves into our emotional behavior.” Enlisting pals such as Calvin Klein, Debra Messing, John Galliano, and Michael Kors to chime into the conversation, Rubenstein offers a enlightening and gossipy read, a touchstone for anyone who lived through these moments (or wishes that they had).

As for his favorite moments? “I won’t ever forget the hysteria of John Galliano freaking everyone out at Versailles with his Amazonian warrior collection for Dior inspired by The Matrix,” he says. “I had the pleasure of introducing my friend Versace to South Beach. However, I do have a perverse adoration of Flashdance, the movie I hold responsible for allowing everyone at the airport to look as if they just got out of yoga class and basketball practice.”

Here, we provide are a handful of excerpts from the book.

Follow us on Instagram, Facebook, and Pinterest for nonstop inspiration delivered fresh to your feed, every day.