The Fan: Fashion and Femininity Unfolded

by Valerie Steele

"Women are armed with fans as men with swords, and sometimes do more execution with them."-- The Spectator , 1711

Fans have existed for at least five thousand years in cultures as diverse as ancient Egypt, India, and China. Arguably the most fascinating ornament in fashion, the fan has a deep and colorful history. The Fan is a visual celebration of the fan through time, richly illustrated with art culled from the world's premier fan museums and private collectors and with original photography. In an engaging overview of the fan throughout history, fashion curator Valerie Steele discusses the development of the fan, famous fans, fan artisans, and the fan's function at its height of glory during the eighteenth century and the Belle Epoque. The Fan is a beautiful, informative, and entertaining introduction to one of the most compelling fashion accessories of all time.

Genres: Fashion, Nonfiction, Art

128 pages, Hardcover

First published December 13, 2002

About the author

Valerie Steele is director and chief curator and Melissa Marra is associate curator of education and public programs, both at the Museum at the Fashion Institute of Technology, New York.

Reviews

[Lore · Rating 3 out of 5]

Very nice illustrations and photographs of fans throughout history, a little more text to accompany would have been nice.

[Bea · Rating 4 out of 5]

I would call this a coffee table book, in that it has a brief introductory text, then a whole bunch of sumptuous photos of gorgeous fans. 2 or 3 of the photos are poor quality, but the rest are sharp and clear. The photos show a nice selection across time and cultures. I'm surprised that so many have survived, considering how ephemeral fans are.

[Mckinley · Rating 4 out of 5]

Short introduction about the use and art of fans both in the East and West. Then lots of lovely photos.