20th Century Fashion

by Valerie D. Mendes, Amy de la Haye

Written by two experts in costume from the Victoria and Albert Museum in London, it explores movements and innovations in style for both men and women through the work of the most original and influential designers and couturiers. Organized around crucial shifts in style and major world events, the book places exciting, even revolutionary, developments in fashion within their socioeconomic, political, and cultural contexts. International in scope, it encompasses the century's most important designers and metropolitan fashion centers, including developments in accessories, hairstyles, and make-up. The importance of mass production, advances in man-made fibers, the growth of ready-to-wear, and the major influences of postwar subcultures on contemporary fashion are also discussed. A reference section includes an extensive bibliography and a glossary of designers.

Genres: Fashion, Art, Nonfiction, History, Design

288 pages, Paperback

First published January 1, 1999

About the author

Valerie D. Mendes, formerly head of Fashion and Textiles at the V&A, is a freelance fashion and textiles historian.

Reviews

[Shmuel Myers · Rating 5 out of 5]

Much more realistic than Linda Watson’s 100 Years Of Fashion, as it doesn’t divide into decades because reality isn’t that neat and ordered, but rather by movements. Also, it isn’t limited to presenting everything from Vogue’s eyes like the other one. Really informative.

[Nora · Rating 5 out of 5]

claro, concreto, fluido: es un buen punto de partida, sin ser exhaustivo brinda un panorama muy completo, interesante y accesible

[Skye Kennedy · Rating 5 out of 5]

great rundown of fashion through the 20th century, appropriately categorising by movements and subcultures rather than simply decade-by-decade. a comprehensive and enjoyable overview.

[Gabriella (Ferreira) · Rating 5 out of 5]

A captivating book on the trends of fashion in the 20th century. I loved the flow of the pages and chapters, and especially how well the authors blended one trend to the next in chronological order. They mention everything that could have influenced a certain trend from politics to weather and from music and art to customs. BUT my favourite favourite (yes, I repeat) was the fact that they mentioned past trends when referencing a newer one. It was really helpful to have this book around, which fits right in most of my purses, as a fashion student. The fact that I could easily write paragraphs about where the 70s originated their affinity for stars and glamour (the 1930s glamour!) only gave me extra points on my tests.

[Tanis · Rating 5 out of 5]

Fantastic book covering a wide range of costume at designer and high street level. It has enough detail to be interesting but not so in depth that the joy is sucked out. Well illustrated too. A keeper.

[Heather · Rating 4 out of 5]

Excellent Fashion Textbook.

[Beth]

I use this as a text for the second half of my Fashion History class

[Katerina Spilani · Rating 3 out of 5]

A book about the history of Fashion mainly focused on Hight Fashion. It has very good imagery. For a General and comprehensive guide, it is a very good choise