Marjorie Merriweather Post was one of America’s most powerful women, a director of General Foods, Inc., philanthropist, patriot, and internationalist, with a keen interest in art, and a magnificent wardrobe collected over seventy years. ‘Ingenue to Icon’ is a beautifully illustrated new volume dedicated to Post’s love of fashion and how she used it to create her unique style: the luxurious, embroidered dresses; exquisite shoes dyed to match her gowns; and fabulous jewels that defined her style offer glimpses into a life of exceptional elegance and wealth. Post worked closely with fashion designers across Europe and the United States to create her distinctly elegant appearance over the course of her adult life. More than just a catalogue of her wonderful evening gowns, ‘Ingenue to Icon’ illustrates a spectacular collection of costume, combining numerous images of accessories-shoes, hats, handbags, fans and parasols, and related portraits and photographs of Post wearing them-with a wealth of printed ephemera and personal letters, to put them in context. Four chronological chapters chart the progression of Post’s development into an icon of elegance during a century of huge change in fashion. This book will appeal to all those interested in fashion and style of the twentieth century. AUTHOR: Howard V. Kurtz is the associate curator of costumes and textiles at the Hillwood Museum and Gardens in Washington, DC, and a professor of theatre at George Mason University in Fairfax, Virginia. Nancy Rubin Stuart is an award-winning author and journalist. SELLING POINTS: . A stylish, beautiful book, full of the fabulous clothes and accessories that turned Marjorie Merriweather Post into a fashion icon. . This book will appeal to all those interested in fashion and style of the 20th century, as well as specialists in costume design, and the study of fashion and textiles 200 colour illustrations