The Classic Ten: The True Story of the Little Black Dress and Nine Other Fashion Favorites

by Nancy MacDonell Smith, Nancy MacDonell

Nancy MacDonell Smith explores the origins, meaning, and remarkable staying power of the ten staples of feminine fashion:
* the little black dress
* the white shirt
* the cashmere sweater
* blue jeans
* the suit
* high heels
* pearls
* lipstick
* sneakers
* the trench coat
Tracing the evolution of each item from inception to icon status, she reveals the history and social significance of each, from the black dress's associations with danger and death to the status implications of the classic white shirt. Incorporating sources from history, literature, magazines, and cinema, as well as her own witty anecdotes, Smith has created an engaging, informative guide to modern style.

Genres: Fashion, Nonfiction, History

224 pages, Paperback

First published January 1, 2003

Reviews

[Joan · Rating 4 out of 5]

Too bad that this book was published in 2003, and I didn't get around to pulling it from my unread pile until just now. The writing is clever and enjoyable, and the accounts of the origins of fashion favorites like the LBD (the Little Black Dress of the title), the cashmere sweater, pearls and sneakers, are properly researched and well-presented.

The only problem, mine, not the author's, is that it is 2019, and so much has happened in the fashion world, and the world at large, in the past sixteen years. It would be great to see an updated edition that is edited for the current time.

If you can get past the break off in time, and enjoy the topic, you're likely to enjoy this book, and if you aren't too busy, you can read it in one sitting.

And, since it is a work of non-fiction, there is a good bibliography that will probably lead you to more reading on this topic, which also encompasses history, politics and social change.

[Eustacia Tan · Rating 5 out of 5]

2021 Reread: I learned that there was a phase for something called the "Granny Look" and "As Ellen Melinkoff notes, the granny look “seemed to express our back-to-nature, return-to-a-simpler-time, antiplastic yearnings. We needed some assurance that the world wasn’t changing too fast. For comfort we turned to home-baked bread, macrame, and Laura Ashley dresses.” " - Perhaps this was the precursor to Cottagecore?

This is my second time reading The Classic Ten, and I'm still glad that I got the book. I've forgotten most of the information already, so it might as well be my first reading.

The Classic Ten is a collection of the histories of ten pieces of fashion items, from the LBD to sneakers.

Each chapter looks at the history of the item, and how it impacted society of that time (and of course, when it was in style). Plus, what the author thinks of the style item - these sections are pretty short and almost always just one anecdote, so I quite liked them.

If you're familiar with pop culture/pop history, you'll probably recognise many of the references here. For me, Audrey Hepburn and The House of Mirth are the things I know. The pro-sports players and fashion icons: not so much. It was interesting, though, and I've got a hankering to watch Breakfast at Tiffany's again, given that the movie and Audrey Hepburn get their fair share of ink.

Another book she mentions a lot is a book called Elegance by Gabrielle Dariaux. I wanted to read it, so I did a quick Google search, but the only book I could find that resembled it was by a Genevieve Dariaux. This is starting to feeling like Princess Starla/alt name and the Jewel Riders again. At any rate, the selected bibliography is a few pages long, and I saw quite a few books that I'd like to read.

If you're interested in the history behind some (not all, since I doubt many people in a tropical country will own a trench coat - I don't own one either. Just a regular coat) of our everyday items, this is a good book to pick up.

This review was first posted at Inside the mind of a Bibliophile

[Miriam · Rating 3 out of 5]

ten items every woman should have in her wardrobe -- and why -- and how to wear them -- and when to wear them -- and how to pair them. what more could you want? a little history behind these clothing items? it's here. the little black dress, pearls, jeans, the plain white shirt, the trench coat, etc. it's all here and it will make you examine your closet and wonder why some of these icons are missing.

[Pam · Rating 3 out of 5]

I did learn new things which was nice but as a non-fashion crazed female it was hard to connect with the authors mooning over her finds. The book is informational and interesting. Leaving the ‘chapters’ just with the history and influence of the chosen pieces would have been enough. Also pictures of some of the items mentioned would have been a nice
touch. A companion one about men’s fashion would be nice.

[Louise · Rating 3 out of 5]

I realize that a lot of folks think of beauty and fashion as “vapid” interests, but these industries combined account for well over 400 billion dollars of business done in the U.S. alone. I also think that some people dismiss these things because they’re seen as traditionally feminine, and I think it’s silly to dismiss entire trades or avocations just because they’re marketed in pink. So I’m really glad for books like these, which discuss seriously some of the behind-the-scenes culture and history behind the beauty and fashion industries!

Mini-review at Lone Star on a Lark

[Towntaker · Rating 3 out of 5]

Tone was too anecdotal and while I appreciated the bibliography, footnotes or endnotes would have helped this feel more authentic and less like the author was just making stuff up.
https://x.com/towntaker/status/179986...

[Jane Pollack · Rating 4 out of 5]

Light, breezy review of ubiquitous items in a wardrobe. Some items don't wear well: Jeans don't have the popularity they once did, and neither do high heels.

[Blane Rivera · Rating 5 out of 5]

Such a fun read and the Too ten still hold true to this day.

[Cameron Toney · Rating 3 out of 5]

I picked up this book expecting it to be light, entertaining, and a bit inspirational, and it hit all three nails on the head.
I was impressed with just how much history and trivia was in this book- I've read similar things that just proclaim the virtues, without any history or interest, so this was a nice surprise.
If the book has a fault, its that it meanders a little to fit in all the interesting things it wants to say (Regency fashion in the jeans chapter, anyone?) but its interesting, and enthusiastically delivered, so I can forgive it.
A quick read, and not a scholarly work, but fun, and you'll leave wishing for a lot of fancy sweaters and some interesting trivia.

[Jennifer · Rating 3 out of 5]

Yay for more random trivia to file away.
(For instance, did you know that sweaters are quite aptly named, seeing as their original purpose and heavy-knit construction was to make the wearer sweat, which was considered a healthy bodily function? What a lovely origin.)

A collection of delightful vignettes tracing the history and pop culture significance of ten fashion staples-- this was simply a fun read. (=

[Abigail · Rating 5 out of 5]

A great book on fashion history. Ms. Smith goes through the history of ten items that are familiar to any person such as pearls, blue jeans, or the little black dress. I found it incredibly interesting to learn about the history of some of these objects that are hanging in my closet, some of which go back hundreds or thousands of years. A very fun and interesting read on the history of clothing that nearly everyone owns.

[Sarah · Rating 4 out of 5]

I'm not sure what I expected from this book, but I think it was exactly what it should have been - a bit superficial and frivolous, yet full of fascinating tidbits of history concerning some of the most classic female fashion items. The other nine: 2) The Suit 3) Jeans 4) The Cashmere Sweater 5) The White Shirt 6) The High Heel 7) Pearls 8) The Trench Coat 9) Lipstick 10) Sneakers.

[Bryna · Rating 2 out of 5]

This was not a book for me. I guess I'm being a little mean on the rating, but I DID NOT enjoy it. I am passing the book along to a friend in the fashion industry. I'm sure she will enjoy it worlds more than I did. If you want to know the history of 10 classic items along with a lot of fashion designer names that I'm not familiar with, this is a book for you.

[Joanne]

3.5 stars. I really enjoyed this book! Well researched and fun to read. I was expecting this to be an interesting "fluff" book but there is a surprising depth to it. I would have liked to see photos of some of the specific items the author discussed but everything was described so well that this wasn't a great loss. Now I can't wait to go shopping!

[Jennifer · Rating 5 out of 5]

In telling the story of ten wardrobe staples, MacDonell highlights two centuries of our shifting views on gender, class, economics, sex, and morality. Great for discussion. One of the best works on non-fiction I've read in years.

[Dee · Rating 4 out of 5]

What do you know about those staples of fashion, "The Little Black Dress," "The White Shirt," "Pearls" and the "The High Heel?" Smith sends us on a journey showing us why we need each of these in our wardrobe, but it is a funny jaunt through her top ten fashion icons.

[Lucy · Rating 2 out of 5]

I only got two chapters into this book. It was mildly interesting but not enough to make me want to run home and read. After have it for a couple weeks and only getting a couple chapters in I decided there were better uses of my reading time and returned it to the library.

[Hillary · Rating 5 out of 5]

I really loved this!! I love "secret history"-type books, and this was absolutely fascinating.

[Georgi Marrapodi · Rating 2 out of 5]

I've read it years ago when it very famous. I read the critics on a newspaper and I bought it. It's entertaining and easy to read. Perfect for a trip.

[Birdbrain · Rating 3 out of 5]

Interesting and unexpected history but a little too much about clothing in movies and the media for me. Still, all in all I picked up some interesting facts and I enjoyed the book.