Perry Ellis

The first complete monograph on Perry Ellis, the preeminent American sportswear designer. Perry Ellis remains a force in the fashion world nearly three decades after his untimely death. With his first solo-collection for the fall of 1978, Perry Ellis promptly established his signature look--classic, young, sporty, free, sensible yet inspirational--at once, American. With his focus on natural fibers such as cotton, linen, and wool, neutral colors, hand-knit sweaters, soft skirts, khaki pants, and oxford shirts, his effortless designs remain timeless and continue to inspire the global fashion world today. For the first time, the rich career of Perry Ellis the designer is celebrated completely and beautifully. The book collects each season of the preeminent American sportswear designer Ellis's rich career (cut short due to his untimely death), including numerous editorial and ad campaign photographs culled from the verdant archives of photographer Erica Lennard, whom Ellis worked with almost exclusively from 1977-1986 and also includes rare interviews with those who were close to Ellis. The book offers a window into the work of an artist at the height of his creative powers--allowing readers to accompany the designer on his creative journey through gorgeous photography that has never been assembled in one volume until now. Traversing and illuminating Perry Ellis's indelibly rich career, the book also includes ephemera, sketches, and never-before-published photos from the personal collections of the designer's friends and family, adding insight to Ellis's unique aesthetic, while further solidifying his place as one of the key designers of American fashion.