This collection of essays brings together many separate but related issues which form the focus of contemporary research into the history of dress. Historically, in Britain at least, investigations of dress were primarily informed by historical and empirical protocols, although the symbolic meaning of dress was explored by anthroplogists and sociologists, who tended to concentrate on either non-Western cultures or British or Western sub-cultures. In recent years these approaches have moved closer together partly as a result of the impact of feminism.

The creative evolution and versatility of the dress over the past century is showcased in 101 groundbreaking pieces by iconic fashion designers. Featuring one dress from each year since 1914, this timeline of extraordinary dresses charts the creative evolution of fashion over the past century. These experimental designs reveal the potential of the dress both as a wardrobe item and as a work of art. A multitude of top international designers are featured including Yves Saint Laurent, Chanel, Dior, Vivienne Westwood, Martin Margiela, Kenzo, Helmut Lang, Comme des Garçons, Paco Rabanne, Dolce & Gabbana, Lanvin, Thierry Mugler, Elsa Schiaparelli, Yohji Yamamoto, Alaïa, and many more. Curators at the Musée des Arts Décoratifs in Paris delved deep into their archives to select the most iconic and revolutionary dress of each year. Specially commissioned photographs are accompanied by detailed captions indicating the dress's name, brand, designer, season, and fabric or material, along with a quotation contextualizing the dress in its time. Bursting with color and full of extravagant textures, shaping, and detailing, these dresses mark the metamorphosis of culture and serve as a regenerative form of inspiration. From sequins to silk, corsets to kimonos, designers continually seek fresh and daring ways to create memorable garments and mark fashion history.

?Why do some women exude confidence and look great in their clothes and others never feel good about how they look, no matter what they wear? And why do we claim we have “nothing to wear” when our closets are bursting with choices? Clothing and dressing anxiety — what Tracy McWilliams calls closet trauma — occurs because we lack a clear sense of self and we have not defined the image we wish to express.

GO FROM THRIFT-SHOP CHEAP TO RUNWAY CHIC EACH AND EVERY DAY! Based on her wildly popular blog of the same name, guerrilla seamstress Marisa Lynch shows you how to easily (and affordably!) transform your wardrobe from frumpy to fabulous! With just a snip here and a stitch there, your basement bargains will rival anything in designer collections. Yes, with a little imagination—and DIY tools like needles, thread, and safety pins—you too can update an outdated castoff. Inside you’ll discover how to • ace the sewing basics (remember: safety first!) • create DIY designer look-alikes • cut Flashdance-inspired sweatshirts • make an old, tired muumuu a smashing must-have • give bridesmaid dresses a second life • dye your way to a vibrant new wardrobe • whip up accessories in seconds • style the same dress seven different ways Complete with colorful before-and-after photos, fun sidebars, and even a groovy sewing song playlist to get you in the zone, New Dress a Day proves that you don’t need a sewing machine or a big budget to turn unfashionable trash into stylish treasure.

Sew stylish DIY dresses with an elegant flair using this easy-to-follow sewing book. For parties, weddings, banquets—any occasion that calls for that special dress—this is the book that lets you DIY sew something stylish and elegant, for a lot less than you'd pay for ready-made. These 26 dresses and separates range from short to long, from sweet to sophisticated, and from simple to dramatic to suit your mood, your style and the event. Beautiful photos feature garments sewn in a variety of elegant fabrics to inspire you to choose colors, prints and textures for a dress that is just right for you and for the moment. Sewing patterns include: Gathered-skirt dresses with lacy overlays Simple, elegant shifts and empire-waist styles An easy, flattering shirtwaist dress A pintucked smock style dress Shirt and blouse combos that allow you to mix and match Dresses sporting a few well-placed frills for a look that's both girly and subtle Little bolero jackets for when you want a little more coverage And more… Full-size sewing patterns are offered in six sizes and can be altered to suit most body shapes and personal measurements. The instructions and diagrams are easy to follow. Pick up the book and browse. They're some of the easiest, prettiest DIY sewing projects you'll ever make.

A law professor and cultural critic offers an eye-opening exploration of the laws of fashion throughout history, from the middle ages to the present day, examining the canons, mores and customs of clothing rules that we often take for granted

Queen Alexandra used clothes to fashion images of herself as a wife, a mother and a royal: a woman who both led Britain alongside her husband Edward VII and lived her life through fashion. Inside the Royal Wardrobe overturns the popular portrait of a vapid and neglected queen, examining the surviving garments of Alexandra, Princess of Wales – who later became Queen Consort – to unlock a rich tapestry of royal dress and society in the second half of the 19th century. More than 130 extraordinary garments from Alexandra's wardrobe survive, from sumptuous court dress and politicised fancy dress to mourning attire and elegant coronation gowns, and can be found in various collections around the world, from London, Oslo and Denmark to New York, Toronto and Tokyo. Curator and fashion scholar Kate Strasdin places these garments at the heart of this in-depth study, examining their relationships to issues such as body politics, power, celebrity, social identity and performance, and interpreting Alexandra's world from the objects out. Adopting an object-based methodology, the book features a range of original sources from letters, travel journals and newspaper editorials, to wardrobe accounts, memoirs, tailors' ledgers and business records. Revealing a shrewd and socially aware woman attuned to the popular power of royal dress, the work will appeal to students and scholars of costume, fashion and dress history, as well as of material culture and 19th century history.