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20 Incredible Books Covering the History of Fashion
Fashion — although some dismiss it as superficial — connects us both most intimately to our bodies as well as to wider social and cultural norms, making it an overarching element of our world. Here are 20 books that will take you on a journey through the history of fashion.
20 of the Best Fashion History Books
The Secret Lives of Color by Kassia St Clair
Adapted out of St Clair’s Elle Decoration column, this book uses color as a prism for exploring the social and cultural history of the world. Arranged by color, St Clair reveals that there’s more to a shade than meets the eye.
Fashion History From The 18th To The 20th Century by TASCHEN
Three centuries of fashion are covered in depth in this book, demonstrating how attire is intricately connected to social and cultural norms. Insightful essays are accompanied by brilliant photography in this revealing book.
Inside The Royal Wardrobe: A Dress History Of Queen Alexandra by Kate Strasdin
Academic Kate Strasdin provides a fascinating account of how Alexandra used fashion to symbolize her varying roles in life. As a mother, wife, and queen, fashion was a key tool for switching between these modes.
Fashion Victims: The Dangers of Dress Past and Present by Alison Matthews David
A thrilling book about the dark side of fashion! Murder and madness are the themes in this book about fashion at its most “drop dead” gorgeous.
Vogue: The Gown by Jo Ellison
“This fabulously illustrated book features glamor on every page,” says Eddie Parrish, a fashion blogger at State Of Writing and Paper Fellows. “This is one for the supermodels out there.”
The Fashion Chronicles: The Style Stories of History’s Best Dressed by Amber Butchart
Butchart uses fashion as a means of gaining insight into the lives of individuals throughout history. In doing so, she reveals the profound connections between fashion and social and political standing.
How to Read a Dress by Lydia Edwards
Fashion aficionados will understand the subtleties and nuances of this world that make it fascinating. Lydia Edwards takes us on a deep dive into the world of dress design in this engrossing volume.
The Wedding Dress: The Fifty Designs That Changed The Course of Bridal Fashion by Eleanor Thompson
From classic white gowns to experimental design, Thompson presents the authoritative account of wedding dress fashion. The theory and practice of wedding dresses are covered completely.
Most Beautiful Haute Couture Wedding Dresses
The Dress: 100 Iconic Moments in Fashion by Megan Hess
Fashion moments become timeless as they seep into our collective consciousness. Hess has drawn the most powerful moments from history into this compelling collection.
The House of Worth, 1858-1954: The Birth of Haute Couture by Chantal Trubert-Tollu et al.
Charting the incredible journey of Charles Frederick Worth, this is the story of a man whose creativity and entrepreneurship changed the face of fashion forever.
Harper’s Bazaar: First in Fashion by Marianne Le Galliard and Éric Pujalet-Plaà
“Harper’s Bazaar has been reporting on fashion for over 150 years and has been enormously influential in fashion trends,” says Anna Williams, a writer at Essayroo and OX Essays. “This book explores how fashion and culture have been shaped by one magazine.”
Fashion: A Timeline in Photographs: 1850 to Today
This visually stunning edition takes the reader on a journey through fashion. Discover changing trends and enduring styles through the images in this book.
The History of Fashion by the Decade, 1900 – 2000
The Dictionary of Fashion History by Valerie Cumming
Cumming’s complete account of fashion from the mainstream to the esoteric profound countless hours of fascination. Opening a random page in this book – what is a Welch wig? – reveals interest on every page.
The Anatomy of Fashion: Why We Dress the Way We Do by Colin McDowell
McDowell breaks fashion down through the use of physiology. That fashion is, ultimately, about the body is a fact often overlooked – McDowell brings it into stark clarity.
Tom Ford by Tom Ford, Bridget Foley et al.
Tom Ford turned Gucci into a global brand and influenced fashion across the 20th century. Including over 200 lush photographs, this compendium offers unprecedented detail about Ford’s life and designs.
On Our Shelf | Supreme Models: Iconic Black Women Who Revolutionized Fashion
Louis Vuitton: The Birth of Modern Luxury by Paul-Gerard Pasols, Pierre Leonforte
Now in an updated edition, Louis Vuitton dives into one of fashion’s most elegant houses. The lives of its founder and heirs, inextricable from the shape of the company, are explored in great depth.
Alexander McQueen: Savage Beauty by Andrew Bolton
The infusion of race, class, and religion in McQueen’s designs provide one of the most potent realizations of fashion’s political power. This biography reveals McQueen’s genius.
GUCCI: The Making Of by Frida Giannini (ed.)
Photography accompanies insightful essays exploring the reach of Gucci’s designs beyond the world of fashion in this stunning collection.
Behind the Scenes: The Gucci Story
The Impossible Collection of Fashion by Assouline
A giant, beautiful book which in its own design screams of fashion. In this volume, Valerie Steele has collected 100 powerful dresses and their implications for the future of fashion.
Chanel: The Impossible Collection by Assouline
A stunning work exploring the house of Chanel, from Chanel herself through to Karl Lagerfeld’s work elevating it into high fashion. Featuring glossy images taking the reader on a journey through 100 iconic looks, this book is a work of art.
Fashion is art, politics, and culture together. The history of fashion is truly a history of the world and these books will help you discover it!
About the Author:
Katherine Rundell is a fashion writer at Essay Writing Services UK and Academized.com. She has a love for shopping vintage and writes about fashion, history and culture from the 1850s to the present day. She is also a proofreader at Legit essay writing service.
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Wow! This is an amazing collection of books. I am a fashion designing student and have read all these books. I referred them all when I was doing my qualitative research methodology writing for my dissertation. These books are very informative and interesting as well. I have also read the English translation of a French book named ‘Costume Histories’. It holds the global history of clothing styles. The fashion industry is the world to me.