8 Fascinating Fashion History Books

Fashion history is full of stories that are stranger than fiction. The clash between high art and commercial interests tends to provoke ridiculous behaviour. The luxury lifestyles fostered by the fashion industry lead to the excesses of fashion as we know it today, from oversized streetwear looks to jewel-encrusted couture on the runways of various fashions. cities during Fashion Week. Fashion history books can focus on anything from the development of a particular item to a global fashion movement. Clothing and accessories serve the dual purpose of communicating status and affiliation to the community (much like bookish fashion), while also being a functional daily part of our lives.

The history of fashion is not just crime: fashion has a long and complex history because, as Stanley Tucci said in The Devil Wears Prada, “it’s more important than art because you live your life in it.” Fashion sits at the intersection of art, innovation, and everyday life. You can always find an impressive fashion book at a museum that has an exhibit focused on a certain designer, decade, or cultural movement.

Fashion aesthetics also shapes literature and the trends in it. We could joke about Ebony Dark’ness Dementia Raven Way describing her Hot Topic wardrobe in great detail, but the way the characters choose to dress communicates status, time period, and how they want to be seen. That’s why the history of fashion is so important: it reflects counter-cultural trends, changing social mores, and personal expression.

There are many different angles to reading about fashion, so I’ve tried to include a few different categories: books on specific fashion items, memoirs of fashion figures, and broader cultural history of fashion books.

fashion specifications

make a show cover

Putting on a Show: A Fashion History of Eyeglasses by Jessica Glasscock

Glasses are perhaps the ultimate fashion example of a functional and stylish item. Jessica Glasscock is a writer and curator, taking an expansive museum-like approach to the history of eyewear. She features the various iconic shapes for both eyeglasses and sunglasses, such as aviators and bug eye glasses that became popular in the 1960s. Glasses serve a daily function and designers are always trying to innovate the shape. so that people can express themselves more fully through their glasses.

on cover intimate detail

In Intimate Details: How to Choose, Wear and Love Lingerie by Cora Harrington

Cora Harrington is the internet’s leading lingerie expert, and her book is the perfect compendium for fans and people who want to better understand their underwear. Lingerie is an attractive subject, but it can be intimidating due to the specialized care that high-quality fabrics require. Harrington not only discusses all the different types of underwear and basewear available to people of all budgets, but she urges readers to view her lingerie as a tool for confidence and comfort.

Audiobook Promotions Newsletter

Sign up for Audiobook Promotions to receive special offers, new products, and exciting listens from the world of audiobooks!

Thanks for signing up! Keep an eye on your inbox.

By registering you agree to our terms of use

Luminaire memories

diana vreeland memos the cover of the fashion years

Diana Vreeland Memos: The Vogue Years by Diana Vreeland, edited by Alexander Vreeland

Before Anna Wintour, Diana Vreeland was the creator of fashion discourse through her directing of American Vogue. There would be no Vogue as it is today without the work of Diana Vreeland. Alexander Vreeland compiled more than 250 pieces of personal correspondence from Diana, who worked with luminaries of art and culture to create Vogue. Each chapter is completed with writings from editors who reported to Diana. For those who love the ephemeral, this collection is fascinating for the way you get to see the inner workings of one of America’s most dominant fashion publications.

the chiffon trench cover

André Leon Talley’s chiffon trench coats

For an alternative look at the world of luxury fashion, André Leon Talley is the perfect guide. As one of the few black men in fashion, Talley always stood out. He truly leaves no stone unturned in this memoir: he reveals the ugly realities of the fashion industry and his experiences with racism. However, Talley persisted in this world because he believed in the power of fashion and its potential to transform beauty. His rise in the industry marked an important moment in 20th century fashion and what it could mean for people.

cover dressed in dreams

Dressed in Dreams: A Black Girl’s Love Letter to the Power of Fashion by Tanisha C. Ford

Throughout the history of fashion, black communities in the United States have set trends and innovated style on shoestring budgets. In his memoir, Ford explores the clothing aesthetics that shaped his social groups and how he experimented with various aspects of black culture in his fashion. His autobiography is also a broader exploration of black fashion in America. His story is a celebration of fashion, from his broader socio-cultural history to how he lives in an individual body.

Fashion and its Accessories

Fashion has a long cultural reach: portraits from centuries ago can be analyzed right down to jewelry to discover a subject’s place, community, and social status. Fashion continues to be a way that people declare social allegiances, as well as display personal preferences. Even if most of us aren’t dealing with pieces that one would define as “wearable art” every day, each piece of clothing has a long artistic and cultural history.

If you want to learn more about fashion, there are books on the damage done by fast fashion, the importance of sustainable fashion, and stories about behind-the-scenes models.

Source: news.google.com