20th Century Dress In The United States

Looks at the history of dress in the United States from 1898 to 2004. Examines the social, economic, cultural, artistic and technological themes that shaped the fashion of that era, both in high and mass fashion. Profiles of important designers in their period of influence are also noted, as are major fashion photographers and illustrators.

Looks at the history of dress in the United States from 1898 to 2004. Examines the social, economic, cultural, artistic and technological themes that shaped the fashion of that era, both in high and mass fashion. Profiles of important designers in their period of influence are also noted, as are major fashion photographers and illustrators.

The 20th Century was a fast-paced race into modernization-but how did it affect what we wear? From revolutionary politics to the new machine age, from war and depression to growth and prosperity, 20th-Century Dress in the United States shows how fashion goes hand-in-hand with history. The authors examine American dress from 1898 to 2004 and find innovation at every turn. Diversity and complexity are key: far from the fashion stereotypes embodied by popular ideas of "the Twenties" or "the Sixties"-periods noted for their youthful upheaval and influence-we see how every era has its conformists and rebels, from the Arrow Collar Man and the Gibson Girl to flappers, bell-bottom-clad hippies, and Jackie Kennedy. Each chapter explores the social, cultural, economic, artistic, and technological themes that shape fashion in both festive and everyday clothing. Changes in retailing and manufacturing are also examined, from the sweatshops of yesterday to the Internet shopping of today. From high fashion to low, glitz to grunge, this vivid and comprehensive book explains what we wear on our backs-and why.

Originally published as: Modern fashion in detail.

Explains contemporary changes in making fashionable garments accessible to all classes of women, culminating in mass production of women's ready-to-wear.

Through his selection of 25 iconic vintage dresses, William Banks-Blaney tells the history of twentieth-century couture, the fashion designers who created the dresses and the women who wore them. Each dress is examined for its design and construction, its cut and embellishments, in order to evaluate the artistry of the couturier. With exquisite photography of arguably the finest examples of each of these landmark designers, and bolstered by fashion plates contemporary to the selected pieces, Iconic Dresses is the distillation of the knowledge and skill that William employs every day when fitting the world's most beautiful dresses to today's women.

Explores the history of women's and men's fashion in the twentieth century, offering information on important designers and styles.