Many people consider haute couture died in 1950 when ready-to-wear fashion came on the market. Since then fashion has undergone fundamental changes. Nonetheless, there will always be a certain demand for beautiful, individually made clothes, but the future will never be as lavish and as magnificent as the period here investigated. The author traces its history from Charles Frederick Worth, the first global fashion dictator and Imperial French dressmaker, to Geoffrey Wallis who wished to make good design available to all.

Many people consider haute couture died in 1950 when ready-to-wear fashion came on the market. Since then fashion has undergone fundamental changes. Nonetheless, there will always be a certain demand for beautiful, individually made clothes, but the future will never be as lavish and as magnificent as the period here investigated. The author traces its history from Charles Frederick Worth, the first global fashion dictator and Imperial French dressmaker, to Geoffrey Wallis who wished to make good design available to all. -- Google books

This new edition of a bestselling textbook is designed for students, scholars, and anyone interested in 20th century fashion history. Accessibly written and well illustrated, the book outlines the social and cultural history of fashion thematically, and contains a wide range of global case studies on key designers, styles, movements and events. The new edition has been revised and expanded: there are new sections on eco-fashion, fashion and the museum, major changes in the fashion market in the 21st century (including the impact of new media and retailing networks), new technologies, fashion weeks, the rise of asian fashion centers and more. There are twice as many illustrations. In its second edition, A Cultural History of Fashion in the 20th and 21st Centuries is the ideal introductory text for all students of fashion.

The History of World Dress and Fashion presents a comprehensive survey of dress from around the world including China, Japan, India, Africa, the Islamic Empire, and the Ancient Americas. This extensive study features descriptions and analysis of men’s, women’s and children’s clothing, accessories, and cultural styles from prehistory into the twenty-first century. Lavishly illustrated in color throughout, it features more than 1600 images - and is a valuable resource for fashion designers, theater costumers, textile researchers, costume collectors and curators, and anyone interest in clothing and style customs of the world.

The first edition of this book established itself as required reading for all those interested in the development of the fashion business. There are other books on contemporary dress, but this account gives particular weight to the commercial organization of the industry; from designer and textile manufacturer right through to the consumer. This completely revised edition brings the story up to the 1990s with new text, 280 illustrations and 16 color plates. Fashion in this century has ceased to be the private domain of the wealthy. The era when such names as Worth, Paquin and Sciaparelli could dominate has given way to one where style and 'look' can be taken from a host of various sources: designers and manufacturers, department and chain stores, the boutiques or the streets. This established reference work looks behind the scenes for an understanding of the social, economic and technical changes that have caused this revolution. It is a story of fashion shocks: two world wars, the impact of new fibers and manufacturing techniques, and the succession of youth explosions: mini-skirts, punk and sportswear. The narrative is based on research into the history of couture houses, retailers and manufacturers and the authors' experience and contact with the fashion business.

This volume of style clues for fashion detectives weaves fascinating elements of social history into tales of how, why, and when fashions evolved. Hundreds of illustrations accompany highly readable comments and explanations.