This work looks at Gabrielle Chanel's career, her workroom, her customers and her rivals. It focuses on Chanel the couturiere, her innovations and her influence on the way women choose to look in the modern world. The story is brought up to 1994 based on an interview with Karl Lagerfeld.

A comprehensive survey of all the significant developments in fashion during the 20th century. It focuses on the key movements and innovations in clothing for both men and women and discusses these through the work of the most original designers and couturiers.

Takes as its starting point a definition of 'fashion' as the cultural construction of the embodied identity. This title provides an international and interdisciplinary forum for the analysis of cultural phenomena ranging from foot binding to fashion advertising.

From the invention of the needle 40,000 years ago to the biggest names in fashion today, this is a classic guide to the landmarks of costume history and to the forms and materials used through the ages. Also included are the underlying motives of fashion and the ways clothes can express identity.