This unique four-volume encyclopedia examines the historical significance of fashion trends, revealing the social and cultural connections of clothing from the precolonial times to the present day. This sweeping overview of fashion and apparel covers several centuries of American history as seen through the lens of the clothes we wear—from the Native American moccasin to Manolo Blahnik's contribution to stiletto heels. Through four detailed volumes, this work delves into what people wore in various periods in our country's past and why—from hand-crafted family garments in the 1600s, to the rough clothing of slaves, to the sophisticated textile designs of the 21st century. More than 100 fashion experts and clothing historians pay tribute to the most notable garments, accessories, and people comprising design and fashion. The four volumes contain more than 800 alphabetical entries, with each volume representing a different era. Content includes fascinating information such as that beginning in 1619 through 1654, every man in Virginia was required to plant a number of mulberry trees to support the silk industry in England; what is known about the clothing of enslaved African Americans; and that there were regulations placed on clothing design during World War II. The set also includes color inserts that better communicate the visual impact of clothing and fashion across eras.

In this comprehensive study, fashion historian Daniel Delis Hill chronicles women’s and men’s fashion accessories from 1800 to the new millennium. Each chapter includes a historical overview of the era and an introduction to the principal fashions worn by women and men. Accessories are arranged by category and include hats, shoes, handbags, jewelry, gloves, parasols and umbrellas, fans, neckwear, belts and suspenders, handkerchiefs, hosiery, walking sticks, and eyewear. With more than 800 illustrations—many never before seen in book form—this well researched study is a valuable resource for the fields of fashion history, fashion design and merchandising, theatre costuming, and American popular culture.