How to Read Fashion: A Crash Course in Understanding Styles - Softcover

Ffoulkes, Fiona

Softcover

ISBN 10: 140812839X ISBN 13: 9781408128398

Publisher: Herbert Press Ltd, 2010

Synopsis

Fashion is all around us, and few of us are unaffected by it. Yet how many people know the origins of the little black dress, or the bowler hat, or the ladies trouser suit? How many people can pin down the famous brand of leather jacket Marlon Brando wore in The Wild One, or why the Chanel bag is known as the 2:55 bag? How to Read Fashion identifies the main fashion trends of the past 200 years and shows how they relate to contemporary styles. From Neo-Classical to Gothic, Empire to Punk, Military, and Designer Branding, the defining characteristics of each 'look' are explained. Chapters on techniques and materials give additional technical grounding. The book then shows how all of these are applied in the world of men's and women's fashions, including formal, casual and leisure wear, as well as accessories, jewellery, hair styles and make-up. Both dip-in reference and stylish resource, How to Read Fashion will equip you with the visual vocabulary to understand, investigate and interpret styles.

About this title

About the Author

Fiona Ffoulkes has worked in fashion and costume design for the past 30 years, including 15 years as a stylist for BBC and ITV. She has lectured in textiles and fashion at St Martins College of Art & Design and at the American University in Paris. Fiona is continuing research into the history of the French luxury clothing industry and has contributed to several publications, including Consumers and Luxury: Consumer Culture in Europe 1650-1850 (1999).

From the Back Cover

How to Read Fashion is a highly illustrated look at the main fashion trends of the past 200 years and how they relate to contemporary styles. From Neo-classical to Gothic, Empire and flapper to Punk, Military and Designer Branding, the defining characteristics of each 'look' are explained. Chapters on techniques and materials give additional technical grounding. The book then shows how all of these are applied in the world of men's and women's fashions, including formal, casual and leisure wear as well as accessories, jewellery, hair styles and make up. The book also examines the enduring influence of iconic designers such as Yves St Laurent, Mary Quant etc. The result is both a useful reference and stylish resource for anyone interested in the fascinating world of fashion.

Edition details

• Publisher: Herbert Press Ltd
• Publication date: 2010
• Language: English
• ISBN 10: 140812839X
• ISBN 13: 9781408128398
• Binding: Paperback
• Edition number: 1
• Number of pages: 256