Heroines by Bettina Rheims | Photo Book

How do women feel in expensive dresses? What do the dresses do for the women, and vice versa? Bettina Rheims' 2005 photo series Héroïnes features 50 women in the latest Parisian haute couture, providing surprising and provocative answers. Rather than focusing solely on fashion photography, Rheims allowed her models—who include not only professional models like Laetitia Casta and Milla Jovovich—but also women from various backgrounds, to interact with the luxurious textiles freely. She challenges conventional beauty ideals and rejects the fashion industry's claims of perfection and glamour. Her aesthetically high-level images subtly undermine both commercial and voyeuristic male gazes, offering unsettling insights into the world of haute couture and those who wear it. Héroïnes, Rheims' fourth book with Schirmer/Mosel, was created in close collaboration with designer Jean Colonna, responsible for the layout and design, while art critic Catherine Millet contributed the introduction.

Print Length: 128 Pages

Language: French

Publisher: Schirmer Mosel

Published in 2007

ISBN: 978-3-8296-0298-3