How to Read a Dress: A Guide to Changing Fashion from the 16th to the 21st Century
Fashion is ever-changing, and while some styles mark a dramatic departure from the past, many exhibit subtle differences from year to year that are not always easily identifiable. With overviews of each key period and detailed illustrations for each new style, How to Read a Dress is an appealing and accessible guide to women's fashion across five centuries. Each entry includes annotated color images of historical garments, outlining important features and highlighting how styles have developed over time, whether in shape, fabric choice, trimming, or undergarments. Readers learn how garments were constructed and where their inspiration stemmed from at key points in history - as well as how dresses have varied in type, cut, detailing and popularity according to the occasion and the class, age and social status of the wearer.
This new edition includes additional styles to illustrate and explain the journey between one style and another; larger images to allow closer investigation of details of dress; examples of lower and working-class, as well as middle-class, clothing; and a completely new chapter covering the 1980s to 2020. The latter demonstrates how the late 20th century and early 21st century firmly left the dress behind as a requirement, but retained it as a perennially popular choice and illustrates how far the traditional boundaries of 'the dress' have been pushed (even including reference to a newly non-binary appreciation of the garment), and the intellectual shifts in the way women's fashion is both inspired and inspires. With these new additions, How to Read a Dress, revised edition, presents a complete and up-to-date picture of 'the dress' in all its forms, across the centuries, and taking into account different sartorial and social experiences. It is the ideal tool for anyone who has ever wanted to know their cartridge pleats from their R camier ruffles. Equipping the reader with all the information they need to 'read' a dress, this is the ultimate guide for students, researchers, and anyone interested in historical fashion.Author: Lydia Edwards
Binding Type: Paperback
Publisher: Bloomsbury Visual Arts
Published: 11/18/2021
Pages: 280
Weight: 1.74lbs
Size: 9.70h x 7.55w x 0.56d
ISBN: 9781350172210
2nd Revised Edition
About the Author
Lydia Edwards is a lecturer at Edith Cowan University, Perth, Australia and author of the companion book, How to Read a Suit (Bloomsbury 2020).
Shipping Information
Orders are typically processed and shipped within 2-3 business days.
We are currently not shipping internationally.
We are not resposible for any delays due to the carrier due to location, time of year, and weather.
Customer Support
Please contact info@boscpapersupply.com with any questions or concerns. We typically respond within 24 hours.
FAQ’s
Do you accept returns?
Yes, please contact info@boscpapersupply.com within 21 days of purchase to exchange or refund your order.
Item(s) must be unused and returned in the same condition that you received it.
Only regular priced items may be exchanged or returned, sale items are final.
You will be responsible for paying for your own shipping costs for returning your item unless approved otherwise by our customer service rep. Shipping costs are non-refundable. If you receive a refund, the cost of return shipping will be deducted from your refund.
What happens if I receive a damaged item?
We take great care in packaging your order and if we make a mistake, we want to correct it immediately. Please notify us as soon as possible at info@boscpapersupply.com to resolve the issue.
Can I order books through Bosc?
Yes, please email info@boscpapersupply.com with the title of the book you are wanting to order and we will let you know if we are able to order it for you.
Contact Us
Email us at info@boscpapersupply.com for any questions, comments, or suggestions.