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Bad Boys of Fashion: Style Rebels and Renegades Through the Ages
Sashay away, it’s the boys’ turn for the fashion spotlight. From Louis XIV to Kanye West, Jennifer Croll takes us on a tour of daring and different men throughout history who have all used fashion to get what they want. Just as she did in her award-winning Bad Girls of Fashion , Croll shows us the power of clothes and the links between fashion and politics, art, social movements, and more. Croll's lively and engaging prose draws in the reader, providing enough information to satisfy both budding fashionistas and pop-culture junkies alike. Aneta Pacholska’s illustrations are modern and fun, perfectly complementing the text and making the book as exciting to look at as it is to read. In-depth features include Louis XIV, Oscar Wilde, Marlon Brando, Malcolm X, Andy Warhol, Karl Lagerfeld, Clyde Frazier, Malcolm McLaren, David Bowie, and Kanye West, with a diverse array of shorter biographies enriching the text.
184 pages, Paperback
First published April 9, 2019
2 people are currently reading
58 people want to read
About the author
Jennifer Croll
12 books28 followersJennifer Croll is the author of
Free the Tipple
,
Bad Girls of Fashion
and
Fashion That Changed the World
and has written for magazines including NYLON, Adbusters, and Dazed and Confused. She lives in Vancouver, British Columbia.
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Displaying 1 - 17 of 17 reviews
November 9, 2024
النسخة الولادي من الكتاب اللي قرأته قبل ده وهو Bad girls of fashion
الكتاب ده معجبنيش اوي حسيته ضعيف ومركز اكتر ع المغنيين السمر ومن وجهة نظري جزء منهم لبسهم عادي يعني
يعني مثلًا مالكوم اكس إيه الواو ف لبسه؟
فين مايكل جاكسون مثلًا من القائمة دي 🤔كفاية حفلاته ولبسه ف الأغاني
هصور الكتاب من جوا ع انستجرام
mai.designer92@
الكتاب ده معجبنيش اوي حسيته ضعيف ومركز اكتر ع المغنيين السمر ومن وجهة نظري جزء منهم لبسهم عادي يعني
يعني مثلًا مالكوم اكس إيه الواو ف لبسه؟
فين مايكل جاكسون مثلًا من القائمة دي 🤔كفاية حفلاته ولبسه ف الأغاني
هصور الكتاب من جوا ع انستجرام
mai.designer92@
June 11, 2020
I was very excited to read Bad Boys of Fashion after Bad Girls of Fashion had been so informative and delightful, and I wasn't disappointed. With a great blend of common knowledge, obscure historic and fashion tidbits, and vibrant illustrations and photographs, Bad Boys of Fashion serves as a great introduction to men's fashion and the ways it has profoundly impacted our world today.
The ten main featured men in this book are given full short biographies that show us ways that fashion has impacted every part of the world and that give us cultural and historical contexts for images that are so ingrained in our societal memory. Ranging from sports to movies to art to politics to civil rights, the base we are given is broad. While I did wish there was a bit more diversity in the men featured (of the ten main men, half of them were USAmerican and all of these ten were either Black or white with no other races featured), but the men featured in the Fashion Spotlight and Iconic Look sections helped to add some diversity, with more countries and races represented.
Overall, this YA nonfiction offers up so much of what makes YA nonfiction great for even adults to read. Bad Boys of Fashion teaches us about fashion, history, culture, and the world in a way that is easy to grasp and enjoyable to follow. It is definitely worth the read for anyone interested in these subjects, and I would recommend it for sure.
The ten main featured men in this book are given full short biographies that show us ways that fashion has impacted every part of the world and that give us cultural and historical contexts for images that are so ingrained in our societal memory. Ranging from sports to movies to art to politics to civil rights, the base we are given is broad. While I did wish there was a bit more diversity in the men featured (of the ten main men, half of them were USAmerican and all of these ten were either Black or white with no other races featured), but the men featured in the Fashion Spotlight and Iconic Look sections helped to add some diversity, with more countries and races represented.
Overall, this YA nonfiction offers up so much of what makes YA nonfiction great for even adults to read. Bad Boys of Fashion teaches us about fashion, history, culture, and the world in a way that is easy to grasp and enjoyable to follow. It is definitely worth the read for anyone interested in these subjects, and I would recommend it for sure.
March 18, 2024
Why would you make a book of fashion icons and not include a ton of pictures of their various looks? Multiple times this book just starts describing clothing I want to SEE. Most books don’t need pictures, but this one does. Only two or three per person isn’t enough!
3 stars because including Mao Zedong in here is hilarious.
3 stars because including Mao Zedong in here is hilarious.
June 2, 2019
Came for Bowie. Was not disappointed.
April 3, 2019
@kidlitexchange #partner
Thank you to the @kidlitexchange network for the advance copy of this book.
I've never been big on fashion, but I love history. Bad Boys of Fashion is an interesting take goes through decades of fashion trends and trendsetters detailing their history and impact on history. Each chapter consists of a main article (the bad boy who best embodies the chapter's theme), a shorter fashion spotlight article, and a very brief iconic look section. This examines how each of these men changed the face of fashion and how their cultural period influenced them and was influenced by them. The author looks at fashion rulers, aesthete, machos, revolutionaries, artists, characters, athletes, provocateurs, role-players, and idealists.
I wasn't sure at first if this book would hold my attention as I'm not really into fashion. However, it had a huge focus on history which totally sucked me in. I loved learning about each icon's life and how it impacted their fashion choices. I also really liked the illustrations throughout the book which added a great aesthetic to the book. I also got a completely new perspective on people that I had previously learned about/studied in school, but never viewed them as playing a role in fashion. Overall, I really enjoyed this book and believe that YA readers will too.
Thank you to the @kidlitexchange network for the advance copy of this book.
I've never been big on fashion, but I love history. Bad Boys of Fashion is an interesting take goes through decades of fashion trends and trendsetters detailing their history and impact on history. Each chapter consists of a main article (the bad boy who best embodies the chapter's theme), a shorter fashion spotlight article, and a very brief iconic look section. This examines how each of these men changed the face of fashion and how their cultural period influenced them and was influenced by them. The author looks at fashion rulers, aesthete, machos, revolutionaries, artists, characters, athletes, provocateurs, role-players, and idealists.
I wasn't sure at first if this book would hold my attention as I'm not really into fashion. However, it had a huge focus on history which totally sucked me in. I loved learning about each icon's life and how it impacted their fashion choices. I also really liked the illustrations throughout the book which added a great aesthetic to the book. I also got a completely new perspective on people that I had previously learned about/studied in school, but never viewed them as playing a role in fashion. Overall, I really enjoyed this book and believe that YA readers will too.
August 29, 2019
Featured in "History Books for Young Readers" on Intellectual Recreation.
Bad Boys of Fashion: Style Rebels and Renegades Through the Ages would a fantastic choice for any fashion lover. In ten chapters, Jennifer Croll takes her readers through small biographies of big names in fashion from Louis XIV to Oscar Wilde to David Bowie.
I really enjoyed how this book was organized with three thematically related fashion icons in each chapter. Not only will readers learn a lot about each individual figure, but they will also learn about how their fashion responded to and influenced events in history. One of the best parts about this book is seeing how fashion and history collide, mingle, and respond to one another. Also, this book has good diversity in terms of race and sexuality.
I liked this book so much that I now really want to read the author's related title, Bad Girls of Fashion: Style Rebels from Cleopatra to Lady Gaga.
Review copy from NetGalley.
September 21, 2019
This is a series of features of iconic fashion men who used their clothes to promote their lives. It starts with King Louis XIV and runs through Kanye West, with detailed chapters alternating with shorter essays and then one page homages.
In each case, the emphasis is how their clothes affected their lives, how they deliberately used their fashion sense to shape their careers and their influence. Artists and sportsmen crafted images that helped sell their work or gain them additional employment. Some guys seemed more cynical about manipulating the world while others wanted to be authentically themselves and force the world to accept that.
I wanted to see more of the ties between people; the book was good about pointing out the future effects and echos each man left behind him, as many kids wouldn't have heard about their names but do know some of the people benefitting from their pioneering ways. The photos were a bit dim (many are old) but the illustrator's bright work highlighted the image the men worked on. I liked the quotes in each chapter although a few times they appeared next to photos but the two weren't actually related, which was slightly confusing. I also appreciated the matter-of-fact approach to both sexuality and drug use -- the book assumes that homosexuality or bisexuality is a fact of life that history didn't always treat well, and that drug use had many ill effects but didn't immediately end all lives it touched.
In each case, the emphasis is how their clothes affected their lives, how they deliberately used their fashion sense to shape their careers and their influence. Artists and sportsmen crafted images that helped sell their work or gain them additional employment. Some guys seemed more cynical about manipulating the world while others wanted to be authentically themselves and force the world to accept that.
I wanted to see more of the ties between people; the book was good about pointing out the future effects and echos each man left behind him, as many kids wouldn't have heard about their names but do know some of the people benefitting from their pioneering ways. The photos were a bit dim (many are old) but the illustrator's bright work highlighted the image the men worked on. I liked the quotes in each chapter although a few times they appeared next to photos but the two weren't actually related, which was slightly confusing. I also appreciated the matter-of-fact approach to both sexuality and drug use -- the book assumes that homosexuality or bisexuality is a fact of life that history didn't always treat well, and that drug use had many ill effects but didn't immediately end all lives it touched.
June 30, 2021
- High heel at one point was used in the military, thus at the time was associated with masculinity (men's dress shoes still have heels to this date)
- T-shirt at one point was military wear. It wasn't until a movie that made t-shirt a household item
- In the 60s and 70s, Mao's sympathizers in the west would wear Mao's iconic suit (which was developed originally by Sun Yat-Sun)
- Nelson Mandela was born in royalty, and always chose his wardrobe later in life to reflect African heritage
- There are no "right" or "wrong" in fashion, rather its an expression of oneself. Kayne West famously wore preppy look for a long time, until moving towards "Street wear" of today
- T-shirt at one point was military wear. It wasn't until a movie that made t-shirt a household item
- In the 60s and 70s, Mao's sympathizers in the west would wear Mao's iconic suit (which was developed originally by Sun Yat-Sun)
- Nelson Mandela was born in royalty, and always chose his wardrobe later in life to reflect African heritage
- There are no "right" or "wrong" in fashion, rather its an expression of oneself. Kayne West famously wore preppy look for a long time, until moving towards "Street wear" of today
August 5, 2019
There's at least one or two a generation. A Beau Brummell who just needs to stand out. Yeah, these guys are a hoot. Trend setters- sometime. Other times just interesting. But they do have a tendency to liberate us all. Some of these looks are just sooo iconic; others are just plain, nope. But I loved looking at the style peacocks through the ages. So entertaining! Fashionistas will love love this book!
July 11, 2019
Fantastic illustrations and formatting made this visually fun. I'm by no means a fashionista, but this managed to draw me in. I love that it's a celebration of men in fashion and is inclusive of men regardless of orientation or identity. By the end, I was a little tired of reading about fashion, but that is less an issue with the book itself and more just my own interests.
September 1, 2022
I was hoping for a book with just graphics but the additional information provided didn't do much for me. Actually made me say screw this and just skim through. Weird seeing Kurt Cobain in a dress. Thought that was something new, but apparently not.
December 15, 2019
Neat look at lots of guys who influenced fashion and culture with bold illustrations, some photos, and an easy-to-read style.
Want to read
March 12, 2020Note: I received a digital review copy of this book from the publisher through NetGalley.
February 23, 2023
I already reading it
This entire review has been hidden because of spoilers.
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June 16, 2019Intruiging look at famous men who used fashion to create an identity & further their careers. Some of the history is a little glossed over while other parts have very specific details.
January 28, 2019
This was an incredibly interesting read. The author looks at the history of fashion, pointing out people who helped define generations, or who stood out of the crowd for being forward thinking. Each chapter you have the main figure looked at like David Bowie, followed by someone in the same power circle who took cues from or changed the power circle in the same way as the main figure. For example, would grange even be a style if Kurt Cobain hadn’t formed Nirvana and took over the world. It’s then followed by a one page iconic look. Like Biggie Smalls. There were parts where I thought the book got too political, but it made the reader think about cloths and politics. Overall I think this was an excellent book. However, I wish there were Story credit to the little sections that read like sightings of these fashion figures.
February 7, 2019
I am not a fashionista…. I am the girl who is rooting for Grunge to return, the sooner, the better. So I wasn’t sure if I was the best person to read and review a book all about men’ s style. To my surprise and delight, I really enjoyed this colorful, historical roundup of some of the most famous icons of men’s fashion. Right along with the Rebel Girls, this book is a celebration not just of clothing and accessory choices but of iconic men, some of whom have been marginalized in their time and in history.
What is there to learn from a fashion history? Well, let’s start with an explanation of one of America’s favorite children’s songs in the history of the Dandies. Yankee Doodle’s macaroni reference was finally revealed to me as (gluten-free) slang . Or what about the origin of The Fonz’s perfect bad boy style? I and my long suffering grandmother have Marlon Brando to thank for influencing my father’s teenage clothing choices. By far, though, I learned the most from the story of Oscar Wilde, an intense and unique author who took cosplay and capes to the extreme.
The frank discussion of homosexuality (including a definition of ‘sodomite’) will be appreciated by older students who are the logical target for this tome. The art (a combination of photos and modern graphic stylings) and direct writing approach should appeal to adults and teens who are interested in historical art and biographies, as well as fashion. I especially recommend this book for people who enjoyed Brazen which shared a novel graphic styling while telling intense and relevant stories.
@jencroll @AnnickPress @BadBoysofFashion
What is there to learn from a fashion history? Well, let’s start with an explanation of one of America’s favorite children’s songs in the history of the Dandies. Yankee Doodle’s macaroni reference was finally revealed to me as (gluten-free) slang . Or what about the origin of The Fonz’s perfect bad boy style? I and my long suffering grandmother have Marlon Brando to thank for influencing my father’s teenage clothing choices. By far, though, I learned the most from the story of Oscar Wilde, an intense and unique author who took cosplay and capes to the extreme.
The frank discussion of homosexuality (including a definition of ‘sodomite’) will be appreciated by older students who are the logical target for this tome. The art (a combination of photos and modern graphic stylings) and direct writing approach should appeal to adults and teens who are interested in historical art and biographies, as well as fashion. I especially recommend this book for people who enjoyed Brazen which shared a novel graphic styling while telling intense and relevant stories.
@jencroll @AnnickPress @BadBoysofFashion
Displaying 1 - 17 of 17 reviews